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downsmail.co.uk Lenham scheme moves ahead
THE controversial 4,000-home development at Lenham Heath has inched a step closer after Maidstone Borough Council (MBC) agreed to join forces with a housing provider.
MBC will join forces with Gov- ernment-backed Homes England, accelerating the likelihood of a planning application being sub- mitted for the “garden” commu- nity. Pressure group Save Our Heathland (SOHL) claims three of the landowners are implacably op- posed, but MBC’s officer in charge, William Cornall, denies this. MBC, the self-styled “master de-
veloper”, was forced to redraw the boundaries of the scheme after a torrent of opposition to the original 5,000-house proposal.
But 18 smaller landowners, threatened by MBC lawyers with compulsory purchase or demoli- tion, who wished to be removed
Victim, 50s, tied
up by robbers A WOMAN was attacked by four masked robbers who broke into her Staplehurst home. The victim, in her 50s, was tied
up before the men stole jewellery, a watch, cash and mobile phones. The suspects are described as
wearing dark clothing, bala- clavas, and black gloves. A Kent Police spokesman said: “The incident happened between 8pm and 8.20pm on Tuesday, March 16, at a private address in Clapper Lane.”
Anyone with information is
urged to call Kent Police on 01622 604100, quoting crime reference 46/46418/21. You can also contact the inde- pendent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.
M20 footbridge opens
A NEW footbridge over the M20 is now officially open to the public. The pedestrian bridge at Addington was partly demolished by an HGV
carrying a digger in August 2016. Two other lorries and a 73-year-old mo- torcyclist were caught up in the drama, but no one was killed. The new 16-metre-long bridge was lifted into place in November last
year. A pedestrian access ramp was also fitted on the southern side. Peter Philips, from Highways England, said: "I’m very grateful to every-
one who has worked so hard to get this bridge open again and I’d like to thank everyone for their patience while the work took place.”
from MBC's plans have been obliged. The scheme could cost taxpayers up to £3m, half of which may be met by MBC directly.
SOHL spokesman Kate Ham- mond, pictured, said: “MBC has been told that landowners do not wish to sell their land.
“The promised new motorway junction and high speed rail station has evaporated. Lenham is an in- herently unsustainable location and the existing infrastructure will not be able to accommodate the thousands of homes proposed." Mr Cornall told the policy and resources committee on March 24: "If they weren't on board why
"high stakes poker game" if they are not on board.
Independent Cllr Fay Gooch praised Mr Cornall’s “determined approach” in making the council a master planner. Author and journalist on hous-
ing issues, Peter Bill, writes in this edition of Downs Mail to call for an “early abandonment” of the Lenham Heath scheme.
would they be in talks on it?” He said there are two land agents representing the landowners. Labour member Cllr Malcolm McKay accused MBC of playing a
He adds: “There are 49 ‘garden’ towns and villages planned in England, with a capacity for 400, 000 homes. Many have been on the stocks for decades. No more than 14,000 homes have been built.” l Read Mr Bill’s column on page 47
Road to close ONE of Maidstone’s busiest roads
will close overnight for Southern Water works. The A229 Loose Road will shut from 7pm on April 15 to 6am. Traffic will be diverted from the Wheatsheaf junction, along the A274 Sutton Road, along the B2163 Plough Wents Road and Heath Road, and back to the A229 at the Linton Crossroads, and vice versa.
Train attack
A BOULDER was thrown at a moving train near Maidstone. Services between Ashford and Maidstone East were disrupted for more than three hours and passen- gers were evacuated from the train. A Tweet by Southeastern said:
"It’s suspected it was a deliberate act, so the police are investigating."
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