Anger over new housing proposals

THE people of Langley are not happy with Maidstone Council’s housing ambitions.

Almost 200 turned up at a meeting of the parish council called to discuss the new housing target for Maidstone of 14,800 homes.

Parish council chairman Cheryl Taylor-Maggio said: “There was a lot of anger. We feel that we will be impacted on enough by the housing proposals already put forward in the earlier draft of the Core Strategy, without this huge expansion being proposed.”

Villagers are particularly incensed by the proposal from Golding Homes for a 5,000 home “garden city” across open farmland in Langley and Otham.

Cllr Taylor-Maggio said: “There wasn’t one person in favour of it. We feel it’s a step too far. Enough is enough.”

The leader of Kent County Council, Cllr Paul Carter, and Cllrs Eric Hotson and Paulina Stockell were at the meeting. Cllr Taylor-Maggio said: “They were behind villagers in opposing these plans.”

But the leader of Maidstone Council, Cllr Chris Garland was not present.

Cllr Taylor-Maggio said: “We did invite him, but we never heard back. It’s unusual, I know he’s not a rude man.”