Approved despite planning officer’s concerns Villagers back bid for development in open countryside

Across the district, many villagers have been fighting tooth and nail to stop housing developments on their rural doorsteps.

But in Hoath, a scheme for a cul-de-sac of new homes on farmland behind the village hall has been welcomed with open arms.

And the reason? Forest Homes has offered to build an extension to the hall, a new 32-space car park and a village green as part of its proposal for nine houses accessed off Mill Road.

A city council planning officer had argued it was not enough to overcome planning policy against new developments in open countryside, and recommended the application be refused.

But there was overwhelming support from the village, including the parish council and village hall committee, which persuaded the council’s planning committee to approve the development.

At a meeting last Tuesday, parish council chairman Sue Chapman told members: “It’s the answer to our prayers.”

She said it would bring muchneeded young families into the village, and solve school-run parking problems.

Creating a village green for community activities, she added, was at the top of the list of the council’s priorities, but had simply not been affordable.

Village hall committee chairman Arthur Campbell-walter said an extension to the building was also an ambition to meet the demand for extra space.

The development will include five four- bedroom detached homes, two three-bedroom semis and a pair of two-bed semis.

Ward councillor Ann Taylor (Con) called it a “once-in-a-lifetime” opportunity for Hoath, which would help the village thrive in the future.

But some residents spoke against the application, saying it flew in the face of planning policy in the countryside and if allowed, could set a precedent.

The committee voted unanimously in favour of the scheme.

the other, it’s one less proper Kent offspinning all-rounder to get a place in the team.

I’ve watched Kent since 1948 when Bradman’s Aussies visited the St Lawrence ground. I’ve also read a book by Michael Parkinson when he told of driving his pregnant wife over the Pennines so that his son was born in Yorkshire and eligible for their cricket team. Well, Yorkshire abandoned this policy to my dismay in the nineties and signed an 18-year-old Sachin Tendulkar.

Cricket is in danger of becoming as stupid as football, where a club financed by an oil-rich state which also built their stadium, managed by a Spaniard, and with an XI from every part of the globe in some way, foreign to me, represents Manchester.

Let’s not let cricket become as stupid as football.