School expansion plans are given the green light
Plans to expand a Maidstone school have been given the go ahead despite warnings it could cause parking chaos for neighbours.
Eleven members of Kent County Council’s 13-person planning committee voted in favour of a £6m proposal to build a three-storey teaching block at Maplesden Noakes School to cater for its growing intake. It will enable the student population, including that of the sixth form, to increase by 280 from 1,220 to 1,500 - by September 2025.
Four letters of objection were sent to KCC and concerns raised over congestion and “nuisance” student parking, worsened due to Maplesden’s close proximity to three other schools.
Cllr Dan Daley (Lib Dem), who represents the area, urged the committee to introduce parking restrictions in nearby Buckland Road, Buckland Hill and Leafy Lane during the public meeting at County Hall last week. He said: “We have already got problems with the school due to the size of it. To add two-form entry at this time, I would call it madness.”
The number of parking spaces at the Buckland Road school will increase to 111, but the extra 22 spaces will be dedicated to staff. Committee member Cllr David Brazier (Con), said the school needed three times as many spaces.
The new building, to be paid for by KCC using government grants, will include four IT suites, nine classrooms and a learning resource centre. The canteen will also be expanded under the plans. After the decision, Maplesden head teacher, Richard Owen, said: “This is an incredibly exciting time for the school and we cannot wait to begin the process of creating a brand new, state-of-the-art environment.”