News Release
Everyone can follow council’s KIG debate
Maidstone council is doing everything it can
to meet the public demand for information about the Kent
International Gateway.
The council’s planning committee will formally
consider the KIG application at 6pm on May 7 at the Maidstone TV
Studios, New Cut Road, Vinters Park. The meeting will be
broadcast live on digitalmaidstone.co.uk and
1,000 people will be able to attend in person to hear the
debate. There will be a link to the webcast on the home page
of the website.
The council has written to everyone who has
commented on the application to tell them about the meeting and the
webcast.
The venue has 300 parking spaces and Alison
Broom, Director of Prosperity and Regeneration wants people to car
share to ease the pressure on spaces and reduce traffic congestion
in the area. The venue is licensed for up to 1,000 people so
if more turn up they will have to be asked to leave.
The Committee is keen to hear the views of
people who have an interest in the application and will hear the
views of:
· Up to 10
objectors – This could be a petitioner, or a representative of a
Residents’ Association/Amenity Group or an individual
objector. Each objector will be able to speak for up to 3
minutes.
· Representatives
of the Joint Parishes Group. The parishes will have 30 minutes.
· The applicant or
his/her representative (including a supporter), or a
petitioner. The applicant and/or their representative will
have 30 minutes.
The slots for speakers to address the meeting
will be filled on a first come first served basis. Anyone who
would like to speak at the meeting will have to register to speak
by ringing the Council on 01622 602751 between 10am and 1pm on May
5, 2009. The line will close once all ten speakers and ten
reserve speaker slots have been filled.
Alison Broom says: “There is so much interest
in this application I am sure people will appreciate that due to
the expected volume of calls this is the only way we can be fair
and equitable in the registration of speakers. This will be
the only way to register to speak.”
The Committee agenda, including the planning
officer’s report on the application, will be on the council’s
online planning service, at digitalmaidstone.co.uk
from Wednesday, April 29 2009.
Any additional information received about the
application after preparation of the main report will be published
on the website one clear day before the committee meeting (i.e. on
the evening of Tuesday, May 5, 2009), and will be available at the
Maidstone Gateway, King Street, Maidstone. Any late
information will be reported on the night.
Date:
April 24, 2009
Ref:
RJA/090421