downsmail.co.uk
Village keeps curry house after rethink
COXHEATH will get to keep its much-loved curry house after a re- think by its owners. The Spice Lounge will be trans- formed into a smaller restaurant and takeaway, with a convenience store at the back of the building. A planning application was orig- inally put in for a retirement com- plex for over 50s and received the go ahead from planning officers at Maidstone Borough Council, but the plans were later rejected by elected members.
Owner Anhar Amir, pictured, then lodged an appeal on the deci- sion which was only approved by the council last month. In that time, Mr Amir put for-
ward a separate application for a convenience store to take the back half of the building in Heath Road, which has also been approved. Mr Amir said: “If anything, it’s just a satisfying feeling knowing that we were actually right, and the council was wrong.
“There has been some confusion that the retirement flats will still be going ahead, and that is not the case. I have decided to go forward with the second application. “It’s difficult because you just can’t make everyone happy. There has been a steady decline in the restaurant use, with an increased demand for the takeaway service. “We picked back up again dur- ing the Eat Out to Help Out scheme, but now its back to normal again.”
An MBC spokesman said: “Plan-
ning permission was granted by Maidstone Borough Council on ap- peal of the refusal of the demolition of the ‘Spice Lounge’ restaurant in Coxheath, and erection of 14 retire- ment apartments.
“More than one planning per- mission can be granted and it is therefore, for the owner(s) to decide which planning permission to im- plement.” Mr Amir confirmed he has re-
ceived offers from different retail- ers and work will begin by the end of the year.
News CCTV saved
ONE Maidstone is trialling live CCTV in the town centre after being phased out by the borough council.
Maidstone Borough Council (MBC) wanted to switch the ser- vice to a record-only, unmoni- tored system despite local concerns.
But business development group One Maidstone stepped in with an offer to provide and fund live, manned screening. A spokesman said: “Monitored CCTV is a priority for the busi- nesses we represent. We began the trial period in April and discus- sions are ongoing. The trial is to es- tablish One Maidstone taking responsibility for monitoring the town centre CCTV moving for- ward.”
Litter picking A MAIDSTONE litter pick will be
taking place on October 18. The meeting point will be at the
Tesco near Maidstone Hospital at 12pm. Organisers ask you bring hand sanitiser and gloves. A mask is not compulsory since it is an out- door setting, but social distancing will be in place.
Age UK Maidstone are here to help
Outlined below are the services we are currently
Meals on Wheels Hot, freshly-cooked two course meals delivered to your
Foot Care Clinics
Befriending
Independent Living Support
Gardening
info@ageukmaidstone.org.uk 01622 753618 11
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