by Anna White
awhite@thekmgroup.co.uk

A further 100 tenants and 12 businesses have been told their homes and shops are likely to be destroyed under plans to regenerate a rundown estate.
The announcement comes on top of the 114 tenants of Park Wood, Maidstone, already told their homes will be reduced to rubble.
Another eight blocks of flats and a parade of shops have been earmarked for demolition if a £34million regeneration scheme is given the go ahead.
Demolition notices were sent last week to people in Balmoral House, Belvedere House, Grosvenor House, Nelson House, Reading House, Thanet House and in flats above the shopping parade. Golding Homes said it wants to incorporate the shops in its designs.
The 134 properties, all off Wallis Avenue, will be pulled down in phases two and three of the five-year project.
At least 114 tenants included in phase one were told of the plans last week.
It is hoped the first part of the scheme, which involves 100 flats in Washington House, Fairfax House, Wallis Avenue and Brishing Lane, will be complete by the end of this year.
By 2016, it’s expected 234 properties will have been knocked down and replaced with 185 homes – predominantly family houses – a new shopping area and public facilities.
Peter Stringer, chief executive of the housing association, said: “These are ambitious and exciting plans which demonstrate our commitment to improving the quality of housing and community facilities in this area.”
Current occupants will be able to use the Kent Homechoice scheme to choose where they are rehomed and can stay in the area if there is availability.
Families will not be given preferential treatment if they wish to live in the new homes. They will go through Maidstone council’s housing allocation system.
George Rist, 57, of Balmoral House, said: “I’ve lived here for 12 years and quite honestly, I’ve had enough. There is always trouble, noise and fights.”
Rachel Farrow, 34, said: “We’ve made a lot of friends here so would want to stay nearby but if we get moved elsewhere and settle in, then we might not want to come back.”
Golding Homes has stressed the scheme is still at an early stage.
More details will be available at the Fusion Healthy Living Centre, from Wednesday to Saturday, February 15-18.