Last October the Local Plan Inspectors halted the Local Plan hearings over concerns that the Borough had failed in its ‘Duty to Cooperate’, in particular with regard to Sevenoaks.  The Borough Council sent a long and detailed response refuting the Inspectors’ conclusions. Now, by a further letter of 2nd March 2021, the Planning Inspectors say they […]

We want to hear from you you upon the proposal for a 20mph zone across East Malling. You can read details of the scheme, complete our survey, and read Trudy’s latest news bulletin at https://www.tonbridgeandmallinglibdems.org.uk/local_news…If you would like to receive Trudy’s email Bulletin direct to your inbox please email your request to trudy.dean@kent.gov.uk

Last autumn the examination of TMBC’s draft Local Plan ground to halt following receipt of a letter from the Local Plan Inspectors raising serious concerns as to whether the Borough Council has met its ‘duty to cooperate’, principally with Sevenoaks District Council. TMBC has now issued a lengthy response to the Inspectors which, in a […]

The Public Inquiry into the appeal against the refusal of planning permission for up to 250 homes at Forty Acres west of Winterfield Lane will be starting on 1st December at 10am. Local Parish Councils have come together and will be legally represented at the Inquiry. Through generous public donations over £10,000 has been raised […]

Last summer we held a drop-in meeting at the East Malling Institute Hall to enable residents to share their concerns regarding traffic related issues on High Street, Chapel Street and Wateringbury Road.  We collected data via questionnaires which we subsequently analysed.  Following further fact-finding and research we prepared a detailed 27 page report setting out the whole […]

Berkeley Homes have this week commenced a public consultation regarding their proposals for development on the site at Broadwater Farm that is included in the draft Local Plan currently undergoing examination. You can find the details on their website at http://www.berkeley-broadwater.co.uk Previously the proposals for development have been confined to the area south of Pikey […]

Work is continuing with the legal team representing the local Parish Councils on both the Forty Acres Appeal and the case for the wider issue of the proposed Green Belt extension. The Local Plan hearings began today although the Green Belt hearing is not due to take place until November. The Forty Acres Appeal starts […]

You may be surprised and confused to learn that developers, Wates, have lodged a second application to develop Forty Acres when the first application is heading for an Appeal on 1st December. A leaflet from East Malling & Larkfield Parish Council is in the process of being circulated (see copy further down within this post) […]

We are pleased to report that following pressure from Trudy Dean the blast monitoring results from Gallagher for both Hermitage Quarry and Blaise Farm Quarry are now available to view on KCC’s website.  Gallagher indicated some while ago that they were happy for the data to be available publicly but it has taken KCC some time […]

Following a number of concerns raised by residents we have been in touch with Hermitage Quarry regarding blasting.  There have been two particular occasions in the last few months when residents have reported that blasts were especially intense (on 2nd March and 27thApril).  There has been a further incident this week. As you can imagine, blasting is heavily […]