A council has done a U-turn over plans to extend a quarry. The new Maidstone administration – a rainbow coalition headed up by Green leader Stuart Jeffery – is setting “a clear statement of intent” and opposing the proposals. It comes admit concerns they threaten the ancient Oaken Wood in Barming. A 96-hectare expansion of the quarry, off Hermitage Lane, is proposed within Kent County Council’s draft Waste and Minerals Plan. It would allow Gallagher to mine an additional 20m tonnes of ragstone until 2038. But Maidstone council has now sent a letter to KCC stating it would result in loss or det…
