No Park and Ride at Linton

Maidstone Council have dropped the Linton Park and Ride proposal from the local plan because of it's negative impact on the Countryside. Hurrah for the power of public opinion. Thank you 38 degrees. http://www.keeplintongreen.org/

http://www.keeplintongreen.org/

http://live.webcasts.unique-media.tv/mbc175/interface
This is a link to the webcast of last nights first meeting of Maidstone's new Cabinet. Let's hope they now appreciate the need to think afresh about the flawed proposal for a Linton Park and Ride.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/MySurvey_EditorFull.aspx?sm=NeeJayabEsq_2Fk42s4yr7LavhCkPScvyxAq69gMViENQ_3D

http://meetings.maidstone.gov.uk/documents/s35222/140318%20MBC%20ITS%20Scutiny%20Report%20180314.pdf

http://www.downsmail.co.uk/publications/Maidstone_South_and_Weald_edition/

Councils take notice when petitions reach the 800 mark and we've just passed it. They take even more notice when they get individuals writing to them so please do so. Some of the questions you might ask are: "How valid is the research used to support this site" "Is a sample of 240 reliable????" If that research predicted 59% would use such a P&R, how come only 2% of motorists use the current ones? AND..have they been unduly influenced by the £5 million subsidy being offered for this particular site. Here's the link http://maidstone-consult.limehouse.co.uk/portal/maidstone_borough_local_plan_regulation_18_consultation_2014

Maybe this is the site referred to below? http://heathroad-coxheath.co.uk

Minutes of Maidstones Planning, Transport & Development Overview& Scrutiny Committee on 18th March are now available. At last it's becoming clear why they (unlike 800 of us) like the idea of a P&R at Linton Crossroads. Buried deep at 1.3.32A we discover "the developer" will chip in £5 million of its £6.3 million cost IF Maidstone agree to a RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT on a 4.2 hectare site to the North West. Draw your own conclusions.

The first Public Exhibition of Maidstones Local Plan consultation was supposed to be outside Boots at Chequers centre yesterday. Another case of wrong siting because they had to move it for security reasons. If you missed it, next one's at Headcorn Village Hall on Tuesday 8th April 2pm to 8pm
You can view the whole plan at www.maidstone.gov.uk/localplan and make comments at http://maidstone-consult.limehouse.co.uk/portal

Despite denials by Maidstone Borough Council, when pressed Kent County Council EXPOSED the truth. This site has been promoted SECRETLY by it's landowners Firmins: here's their January email "On the planning side at KCC, this is the first we have heard of any such a proposal relating to the site you mention. However, we have made some enquiries amongst other officers and understand that our highway officers have been approached by private landowners about the possibility of a park and ride site here. Whilst the Borough Council and Kent Highways have jointly identified the need for a park and ride site to serve the southern approach to Maidstone, if this site is being promoted for such use then it is by the landowners and not currently by either Local Authority. I also understand that KCC has not commissioned or undertaken any on-site surveys of the site you mention

Until exposed by Kent Messenger, Maidstone Council DENIED there were any plans, here's an extract from their response to my enquiry in JANUARY 2014..... "Upon speaking with our Planning Department and our Transport and Parking Services Department, I can confirm that there are no such plans currently or in the future, to develop a Park and Ride site on the land adjacent to ME17 4AL."