Decision Taken By: CABINET MEMBER FOR Planning and Transportation
Decision No: D110150MEM
Date: 16th November 2011
Decision(s) and Reason(s)
Maidstone Borough Council Core Strategy - Consultation
Minutes
The report sought endorsement of the Borough Council's response submitted in consultation with the Leader and Cabinet Member for Planning and Transportation in relation to Maidstone Borough Council's formal consultation on its draft Core Strategy. It was noted that the deadline for responses was 14 October 2011.
Members requested that serious concerns regarding the potential for traffic congestion affecting the M20, the A26 (especially the junction at the southern end of Hermitage Lane and at the Wateringbury crossroad) and the impact on the access to Maidstone Hospital to the detriment of residents be expressed in a supplementary response to the consultation. In addition, the increased traffic generation resulting from the proposed housing development should not worsen the air quality between junctions 4 and 5 of the M20 and west of Hermitage Lane on the A20.
Members also expressed concern about the implications of the emerging duty to cooperate and the uncertain confidence levels in Maidstone being able to meet its identified housing levels.
Following consideration by the Planning and Transportation Advisory Board, the Cabinet Member for Planning and Transportation resolved that the response to Maidstone Borough Council's consultation on its Draft Core Strategy, as set out in Annex A to the report, be endorsed, subject to the further concerns set out above being submitted in a supplementary letter and copied to the Kent Highways Agency.
Reasons: As set out in the report submitted to the Planning and Transportation Advisory Board of 16 November 2011.
Signed N Heslop (Cabinet Member for Planning and Transportation)
Signed Leader: M Worrall
Signed Chief Executive: D Hughes
Date of Publication: 18 November 2011
This decision will come into force and may then be implemented on the expiry of 5 working days after publication unless it is called in.