Hard day at coalface as merchant faces closure
Yard for storing supplies subject to application for homes
One of the last coal merchants serving Maidstone and Malling is facing closure due to plans to build houses.
Tony White is calling for help after being given a six month notice to move out of his site in New Hythe Lane, Larkfield. The owner of T White Coal Merchants has been running the firm for more than 10 years and serves around 500 customers. But he was served with a notice to say he had to leave the Old Coal Yard by April 2020. The 54-year-old said: “I am the last coalman in this area. I took over the business in 2002 but it has been running for 40 odd years.
“There is no open storage space to move to, we have asked the council for help but there is nothing they can do.
“I don’t want to give the business up but I don’t have a choice.”
The dad-of-one has been searching to find a new location, but so far has not been able to find an outdoor venue which can accommodate his delivery lorry.
“Unfortunately I can’t reduce our deliveries because it will get too expensive.”
Mr White supplies customers with coal, wood, kindling wood, rock salt and parafin, with October
to April being his busiest time of year.
He said: “We have been preparing customers for the worst and they have all been doing so much to help, they have been looking for places for us.”
“But if I haven’t found anything by February then I will have to give it up.
TAL Investments Ltd has submitted an application to Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council to build nine homes. If approved East Malling and Larkfield Parish Council has asked to be consulted on the road name.