Issue - meetings

The Committee considered the report of the Head of Planning and Development.

In presenting the application, the Principal Planning Officer advised the Committee that:

·  Following publication of the agenda, representations had been received from the Maidstone Cycle Campaign Forum and the Medway Ecological Riverline Link Group.

·  There was a query about whether some of the informatives could be conditions, but it was his advice that they could not be because they related to matters that Maidstone Borough Council was unable to consider.

·  There was a query about cycle routes across the A20.  In this regard, there was a shared pedestrian/cycle route along the north side of the A20 which could be accessed by the existing controlled crossings at the junction which would remain in the improvement scheme.

·  There was another query about the proposed junction improvement being designed with priority for buses.  The improvement scheme ensured that the traffic impact was sufficiently mitigated and that would ensure that Park and Ride buses and other traffic were not delayed to an unacceptable degree.

Mrs Poletti of the New Allington Action Group, an objector, addressed the meeting in person.

Mr Chapman addressed the meeting remotely on behalf of the applicant.

Councillor Mrs Robertson (Visiting Member) addressed the meeting remotely.

Councillor Daley (Visiting Member) addressed the meeting in person.

RESOLVED:

1.  That permission be granted subject to the conditions and informative set out in the report with the addition of informatives calling for:

A trunking plan for underground services and utilities to facilitate tree planting and other landscaping;

Wildlife-friendly drainage infrastructure; and

The open space in Tonbridge and Malling to be a continuation of that at Bridge Nursery, following the route of the railway.

2.  That delegated powers be given to the Head of Planning and Development to:

  (a)  Finalise the wording of the additional informatives set out in resolution 1;

  (b)  Investigate with KCC Highways and Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council whether:

(i)  a Traffic Regulation Order can be progressed to provide double yellow lines at the junction of the site access (Romney Road) and Beaver Road and if this can be achieved with the applicant providing the appropriate funding; and

(ii)   a cycle/pedestrian route can be achieved through this development and any successive development to Barming Railway Station; and

(c)  Subject to the outcome of the investigation at resolution 2 (b), settle the Heads of Terms of any legal agreement in relation to the funding of a Traffic Regulation Order and finalise the wording of an informative in relation to the cycle/pedestrian route to Barming Railway Station.

Voting:  4 – For  1 – Against  8 – Abstentions