Petition for Broadway plan that ‘doesn’t tick any box’
The residents’ campaign against Maidstone council’s ambition to redevelop the Broadway Shopping centre is gaining momentum. A group of objectors were in Maidstone’s Week Street on Saturday collecting signatures from shoppers on a paper petition to add to the more than 3,155 who have already signed an online petition against the plan.
They are opposed to the council dedicating the shopping centre as one of Maidstone’s five “opportunity sites” and suggesting that Lidls, Matalan, truGym and the other businesses there could be moved to make way for 281 flats, including a 15-storey tower block.
One of the protesters, Graham Jones, said: “It’s already a busy area. Building 281 flats is simply going to increase the amount of traffic and with traffic comes more pollution. Plus it’s going to be a huge eyesore.”
The council’s proposal has to go before the borough’s strategic planning committee for approval on Tuesday, November 5, where at least one councillor is opposed.
Cllr Patrick Garten (Con) said: “A skyscraper with tiny cramped apartments certainly doesn’t tick my box and won’t get my vote.”
But if residents think that means the centre is safe, that may not be the case. Cllr Garten said he would support a less dense redevelopment. He said: “Flats for families in a nice riverside development that is attractive would be acceptable, just not some concrete block in the middle of Maidstone.”
There is no formal planning application for a tower block, instead the proposal has been drawn up by Maidstone Borough Council to inform any future plans developers may have for the area.
The idea came with the suggestion of improving road networks, including widening the bridge over Broadway to accommodate pedestrian, bicycle and vehicle traffic. To sign the objectors’ online petition, visit: https://tinyurl. com/broadno.