Full steam ahead as Local Plan gets Javid’s green light
After years of examination, debate and protest, Maidstone’s Local Plan has been adopted.
Councillors voted in favour of the divisive document, which sets out sites for 17,660 new homes to be built in the borough between 2011 and 2031, on Wednesday.
The decision follows an 11th- hour intervention by MPs Helen Grant and Helen Whately, who last month forestalled the vote by writing to Sajid Javid, Minister for Communities and Local Government, asking him to issue a “holding direction” to stop proceedings.
They were concerned about the potential damage to Leeds Castle, the Kent Downs and villages such as Headcorn, Harrietsham and Lenham.
However, Mr Javid waved through the plan, insisting on its importance in combating speculative development.
Cllr David Burton (Con) proposed the motion to adopt the Local Plan. It was seconded by Cllr Matt Boughton (Con), who said: “The Local Plan was first discussed by the council in 2005 – 12 years ago. I am 24, so this council has spent half of my lifetime discussing it. So the idea that there were no opportunities to have a consultation is nonsense.
“Everyone, including me, can find much in the documents to object to. But the time for debate is over. The inspector found our plan to be sound and the argument over specific sites was won years ago.”
Some 40 councillors approved the plan, nine were against and one abstained.
Voting against were Conservatives Louise Brice, Mike Cuming, John Perry, Shellina Prendergast, Denis Spooner, Paulina Stockell and Nick de Wiggondene. They were joined by Ukip’s Gordon Newton and Eddie Powell.
Liberal Democrat Brian Mortimer abstained.
A webcast of Wednesday’s meeting has been uploaded.