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Liberal Democrats on Kent County CouncilThe Official Opposition on Kent County Council |
KCC SILENT ON PROTECTION FOR THE MALLING COUNTRYSIDE
November 22, 2004 3:06 PM
Malling's countryside has no protection from housing development
Trudy Dean, County Cllr for Malling, failed to get assurances on countryside protection for the Malling area from today's meeting of KCC's Cabinet.
The Government is proposing large scale development in Thames Gateway which stretches from Dartford to Sittingbourne. In the summer, the Government's study of Thames Gateway was extended to include a neighbouring "Zone of Influence" from Swanley, through the Malling area to Maidstone.
Trudy became concerned, when a Regional Planning Committee held on November 8th received a report suggesting that the zone of influence "should now formally become part of the Thames Gateway". KCC has now sent the government's Regional Assembly a "Sub Regional Strategy" which points out that the "zone of influence could be affected by growth in Thames Gateway....there could be an increase in the market pressure for housing." In order to be able to compete with the new growth area , it says, "the hub of Maidstone will be developed as a major town centre at which retail, leisure and service uses will be concentrated.".
Sir Sandy Bruce-Lockhart replied to Trudy's concerns by saying that KCC was committed to defending the Green Belt, and the Medway Strategic Gap.
Trudy said " The Malling area could find itself threatened by overspill housing either from the Gateway, or from Maidstone. Whilst I welcome Sir Sandy's commitment to the Green Belt, and the Medway Strategic Gap , the countryside between Leybourne, East Malling, West Malling and Kings Hill does not lie within either, and KCC has in the last year refused to include it. I wanted a clear commitment from KCC to defending this countryside from development, and I didn't get it.".