Residents of a quiet cul-de-sac spoke strongly against plans to close a care home on the corner of their street and convert it into 11 flats. Two public speakers, Dave Elsworth and Peter May, addressing Maidstone council’s planning committee argued that there was no justification for the scheme, since the borough was facing an acute shortage of residential care places and The Vale Care Home in Otterbourne Place currently provided 27 much-needed beds. Furthermore, the home had gained a Good rating in the last inspection by the Care Quality Commission, which had been carried out as recently as A…
