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Housing | News Garden village protests heard
PROTESTS on behalf of hundreds of objectors were made to Maidstone Borough Council (MBC) about delays in reaching a decision about the proposed new “garden village” at Lenham Heath.
Steve Heeley, representing Save Our Heath Lands (SOHL), told the council’s Strategic Planning and In- frastructure Committee on March 9 there had been a huge response to the Local Plan review consulta- tion (held in the weeks around Christmas), involving thousands of hours of work.
Residents, many pictured here at a public protest meeting, now saw the report before the committee as “cursory” with no analysis. He said: “This debate is long overdue and cannot wait. This is a wrong devel- opment.” He pointed to objections from many other significant bodies, say- ing “the list goes on and on”. Mr Heeley was backed by Chris Hawkins, of DHA Planning, who stressed lack of support and called for council “transparency”. He said “this is the time to scruti-
nise” and questioned the commit- tee’s decision just to note the council officers’ report at this stage. Mark Egerton, the council’s strategic planning officer, said com- mittee members would have the chance to consider all the latest in- formation over the next few months, before moving to the next regulatory stage of the Local Plan review.
The committee agreed with a pro-
posal by Cllr Steve Munford (Ind) that members must consider not only individual sites in the Local Plan proposals, but also the overall strategic approach for the borough. They then noted the report. Cllr David Burton, committee chairman, said after the meeting: “Consultation responses will be considered alongside the evidence base which informed the consulta- tion document, the emerging fur- ther evidence and a number of other technical matters relating to sites and proposals.”
Consultation raises issues
THE council received 3,281 Local Plan consultation responses – with about 500 on Heathlands. The main issues were: Heathlands is not deliverable and there are bet-
ter alternatives; lack of local employment; impact on mineral safeguarding; housing density inappropriate; lack of capacity and impact on social in- frastructure; impact on North Downs AONB, landscape, archaeology, bio- diversity and heritage assets; availability of the site; marginal viability; congestion; loss of agricultural land; capacity of utilities infrastructure. KCC supports garden communities and town centre developments but
raised lack of capacity on the roads in south-east Maidstone along the A274. It believes journeys will be minimised due to the creation of local jobs and facilities. KCC believes impact on education can be mitigated by expanding existing schools, but a new primary will be needed.
Strong views on Lidsing plan Council fears ASHFORD
ABOUT 1,700 responses were received by Maidstone Bor- ough Council on a proposed new garden village at Lidsing, with powerful views expressed by neighbouring Medway Council.
The main issues are:
l lack of capacity and impact on
social infrastructure (healthcare and education); l increased congestion and air pollution; l loss of green space, impact on North Downs AONB; l negative impact on land- scape, heritage, wildlife and surrounding ancient wood- land, coalescence of Lordswood and Hempstead; l availability due to landowner issues; and l potential flood risks. Medway Council has ob- jected on transport, environ-
mental and social infrastruc- ture grounds.
It feels transport proposals are unsustainable as a scheme has not been fully tested, it would create issues in Med- way and would not promote sustainable travel due to its proximity to the M2.
On the environment, Med-
way Council refers to the im- pact on protected sites near Lidsing, the Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), Purple Hills Site of Special Scientific In- terest and Medway Estuary Special Protection Area and Ramsar.
KCC says a new primary school will be needed. Highways England says fur-
ther work is required to assess the impact of the proposal on the M2 motorway, at junctions
3 and 4. NHS Kent and Med- way Clinical Commissioning Group comments that ex- panded healthcare provision would be needed in surround- ing facilities to accommodate growth.
Natural England raised con- cerns about the impact on North Downs AONB. Historic England has called for a her- itage assessment.
Borough
Council
raised concerns about the impact on local roads, the rail network and local services in Charing. It adds: “Infrastructure require- ments need to be assessed to mit- igate impacts in Ashford borough. “Concern is raised in relation to flood risk, waste water drainage and water supply and added pres- sure on educational facilities with its own district.”
Borough councillor for Box- M20 impact
ley, Cllr Anne Brindle, who also sits on Boxley Parish Council, told the Maidstone committee a more detailed analysis was required, espe- cially for all who had spent many hours submitting to the consultation. Boxley Parish Council is worried about the effect building work will have on local traffic volumes.
HIGHWAYS England fears gar- den communities impacting on junctions 5,6,7,8 of the M20 and adds that a Leeds/Langley relief road is advisable. It is concerned the Lenham Heath
development would not support a new M20 junction. South East Water, Southern Water, Southern Gas, and the National Grid com- mented on upgrading required. Openreach is happy to provide internet services.
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