St. Andrew’s Park is a beautiful listed (grade II) building that was previously part of Barming mental hospital. Around 5 years ago, it was converted into apartments with a lovely amount of open green space around it. Sadly though there have been issues with the development and it’s been difficult to get the developer to complete the works to the standard expected. Local homeowners have campaigned hard to have many of the problems fixed and have felt they’ve met with silence from the developers and that the council hasn’t offered the support they expect.

Today saw a meeting held with members of staff (known as officers) from Maidstone Borough Council, residents of St. Andrews Park and myself. Finally, things are moving along with this. The developers have been written to with a letter which states all that needs fixing and clearly states a time frame in which it should be done. A schedule of works should be submitted by 2nd December, followed by completion of works three months after that.

The items to be fixed on the building are:

• rendering on blocked out windows
• rendering & colour of both walkways under the buildings
• repointing
• replacement of plastic drains with metal ones

Separately, officers will be meeting with the developers on site to discuss the problems with the open space. This area should have been ‘adopted’ by the council by now. However, it is in such a poor state that they are unable to. The issues that will be raised here include:

• The lighting (poor quality, mostly broken inappropriate street lights)
• Poor finish and maintence of site - trees and grass etc
• Bins not emptied (the developers responsibilty until council adoption)
• Pavillions - what will/can be done

In addition the officers are investigating whether local residents can begin to lock the gate by the lodges in the evening (a condition disallows this on the plans). Currently the poor quantity of working lights means the area is full of youths getting up to no good and then disappearing into the darkness (which is what happened on halloween). With the gates locked, hopefully these problems will calm down.

In mid December, officers, residents and myself along with Peter Hooper will re-meet to discuss what’s happened. If the schedule of works has not been received by this time, the issue of enforcement will be ‘brought to the table’.

Coriander Drive 

• Case opened 18th Sep ‘07 - Lamp posts have been placed around the shops on the Oakwood Hospital estate without proper consultation with neighbours. I am investigating the possiblitiy of having them moved.
• Update - 25th Sep ‘07 - Have confirmed that these are not Kent County Council lamp posts and have been placed by the developer as this land on which they’re placed will not become ‘adopted’ by the Council. Am now investigating whether planning permission was sought and gained, or whether it wasn’t necessary prior to placement. Will then approach developer to discuss.
• Update - 4th Oct 07 - These lamp posts were not part of the conditions of building or included in the original developments permission. Therefore the lamp posts must come down and planning permission applied for. Developers have been informed and have agreed to meet with Cllr Hooper to discuss proposed new siting.

If you have any views on this siting of these lamp posts, please contact Cllr Peter Hooper on 729302 or by email here.

I’ve sent the following into the Letters page of the KM today:

Dear Sir,

I refer to Councillor Pollington’s letter (KM 21/09/07) regarding Maidstone’s local planning policy.

Had Councillor Pollington attended some of the planning training provided for all elected Councillors, he would have heard an independent trainer praise the fact that our local plan is signed by representatives of all political groups on the Council.

Indeed, had he ever opened the local plan, (which I would expect every person who ever sits on the planning committee to have done) he would have seen this signed testament clearly stating it has cross party support.

Perhaps Councillor Pollington’s time would be better served helping his constituents, rather than just spouting nonsense – the facts of which he has clearly never investigated.

Cllr Julia Batt
Heath Ward, Maidstone Borough Council
01622 721432

I know as local Councillor’s we’re all supposed to be ‘politicians’ but quite frankly, I’m sick of all the ’spin’ that goes on for the sake of a few illegitimately won votes. It’s not rare for me to lose my rag privately, but to put down on paper something like this shows I’m really cross!

To ease some anti-social behaviour occuring on the Freshlands Estate, it has been agreed that one of the pieces of trim trail equipment will be moved.

Currently, one of the pieces is just a few feet from a property and has become a ‘hang out’ bench, rather than the fun activity it was designed for. To discourage people using it as somewhere to sit and have a cigarette, or ‘nose’ into the neighbouring property, it will be moved to a site behind the playground, further away from houses.

The cost of moving it will be covered by the developers, so there will be no cost to any individuals or the council.

Whenever a new development is built, the council can ask for a contribution (known as section 106) towards the local area. It can cover contributions towards highways, local Doctors facilites, local education/schools, and play equipment (as in this case) as well as many other things. The design of the Freshlands estate was established and approved well before I was elected, but I really think the developers and council got it right - with a great play area, and a good amount of beautifully maintained green space.

My kids and I often wander around the edge of the estate playing on all the pieces of equipment culminating with a trip to the play area. This is one of our favourite activities and is, of course, FREE - making it that much the better!