KCC LAND SALE THREATENS COMMUNITY SERVICES

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Thu 17th Apr 2008

destroy locally valued facilities ... mums and toddlers groups and a whole range of other activities

Maidstone community services and a thriving church are at serious risk. The site they occupy will be sold by Kent County Council (KCC) once the planning prospect for the site is established.

For over 30 years the site in London Road, Allington, Maidstone has been home to successive churches and now provides community services, halls and meeting rooms for local groups of all ages. KCC has identified the land as 'a surplus non-operational site which has been identified for disposal'. If the planning permission for the site is established, KCC will evict the tenants, sell the land for residential flats in an area already swamped with housing development and deprive the local community of these much needed services.

Local KCC Lib Dem Member Dan Daley says "My postbag is crammed with letters from families, pleading for the withdrawal of KCC's planning application. KCC says it prides itself on its commitment to provide locally based community services, but with this proposal KCC will do completely the opposite and destroy locally valued facilities".

Jeff Wilkinson, Chairman to the Trustees of Allington Baptist Church said "We are very disappointed that the County is not giving us the opportunity of securing a long lease on this site which is so centrally placed in the community. We provide services to schoolchildren, retired and disabled people, mums and toddlers and a whole range of other activities".

The decision to apply for planning permission has been called in to the Cabinet Scrutiny Committee by KCC Liberal Democrat Group and will be heard at the Committee meeting on the 23rd April at 10:30am. Members of all Political Parties are voicing their concern regarding the application.

Additional Information:

1. Cabinet Scrutiny Committee is webcast live http://www.kent.gov.uk/council-and-democracy/democracy-and-elections/webcasts.htm

2. Community Services at risk (alphabetically listed):

• After School Clubs - 2 available free, 20+ children regularly attend

• Babes & Toddler Group - 80 - 85 regularly attend

• Barn Dance (free)

• Bereaved Child Counselling, provided by charity Slide Away

• Birthday Parties and other private bookings

• Dance Instruction

• Diabetes Help Group, provided by charity Desmond - 20 - 25 regularly attend

• Disabled Christian Fellowship - 30 - 40 regularly attend

• Ethnic Church - 40 regularly attend

• Fun Day free annual event for local community

• Funerals & Wakes

• Kent Active Fellowship - Group meetings 100+ regularly attend, weekly Committee meetings 50+ regularly attend, Annual Parties / Outings.

• Oral Examination - free facilities to local secondary schools

• Parent Classes run by Brunswick House School for 15 parents

• Youth Club - 60+ young people regularly attend each week

3. Nick Chard, Cabinet Member for Finance and Michael Austerbury, Director of Property, will attend the Cabinet Scrutiny Committee meeting 23 April from 10:30am to 11:30am to answer Members' question on item.

4. Cabinet Scrutiny Committee Agenda Item E1. Proposed Disposal of Land

Background Information: This is a surplus non-operational site which has been identified for disposal via the Property Enterprise Fund. The site has not yet been marketed, but the intention is to do so once the planning prospect for the site is established. Any subsequent recommendation to dispose will be processed under the provisions of the Property Management Protocol, the Director of Property is very mindful of the current church and community use on the site. (See plan attached).

Purpose of Consideration: To explore in further detail the background to this proposal by the County Council for outcome, that further consideration is given to the views expressed by the Committee as part of the proposal to dispose of this surplus non-operational site.

Previous consideration: None

Background documents: None