Supermarket Idea for M20 Park and Ride Site
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Four editions delivered to over 88,000 homes every month downsmail.co.uk MallingMalling EditionEdition Maidstone & Malling’s No. 1 newspaper FREE Maidstone Town | Maidstone East | Maidstone South | Malling February 2016 No. 226 News Supermarket idea for TV show request MORE than 20,000 people have signed an online petition calling for a Maidstone footballer M20 park and ride site to host BBC’s Top Gear. 3 A PLAN to build a Waitrose supermarket on Maidstone’s doomed park Shopping boost and ride site at Eclipse Park has been unveiled. WORK is to start on a major re- The £14m proposal would see a vamp of the historic Royal 29,000sqft store developed close to Star Arcade, Maidstone. 5 the new Next shop near M20 Junc- tion 7, bringing an anticipated 200 new jobs. The store would be more Open space vision than twice the size of the existing A NEW cafe and visitors centre is 13,000sqft Waitrose in Allington the key part of a project to Park, which the retailer says it is boost Mote Park. 8 committed to retaining. Nick Yandle, chief executive of Mr Yandle outlined the vision, about traffic problems, Mr Yandle Youngsters concern Gallagher Group, the developer be- pictured, to Boxley parish council- said that vehicles visiting the store hind the proposal, said Maidstone lors and residents ahead of a plan- would be spread throughout the LOCAL playschemes could be remains a key target for Waitrose, ning application due to be day, whereas the park and ride traf- axed as the borough who would have built a store in submitted to Maidstone Council in fic was condensed at peak times. council looks to cut costs. 10 nearby Newnham Court but for late February. He said the single- No new highways work would Maidstone Council refusing Land storey building, next to the Tower- be required, with shoppers using Obituaries 22 Securities’ application in June 2014. gate office block, would have a the existing access by the Chiltern He said: “The investment in a simple and contemporary design, Hundreds pub or the new junction POP icon David Bowie had an Waitrose store is a sign of confi- in keeping with the surrounding re- near the Next store. interesting link to Maidstone. dence in the borough. It will rein- tail and commercial units and The existing park and ride facility force Junction 7’s importance as a would feature Kentish ragstone. closed on Saturday, February 6. Comment 46-4723 gateway to the Maidstone economy The car park would provide 300 If the plan is approved, building and will attract further investment spaces, with two hours free parking is expected to start in late 2016 with Crime Reports 24 and employment at Eclipse Park.” for customers. Replying to concerns the store opening early in 2018. A BURGLAR alarm frightened off RSPCA centre manager retires Age UK faces raiders in Wateringbury. Parish Councils 32-33 CHRISTINE Dooley has retired as budget cut manager of the RSPCA’s Leybourne LORRIES were said to be leaving Animal Centre in West Malling. CORE services for the elderly are fast-food litter in Birling; urgent Christine (56), who opened the under threat, Age UK Maidstone electrical work costing £1,600 Castle Way centre in 1996, has has warned. was authorised for a clock in Ec- helped to rescue, rehabilitate and It follows a request to the organ- cles; a Ford television advert was rehome about 35,000 animals in isation from KCC to cut its costs in featuring Kings Hill; a councillor that time. West Kent by £10,000 next year. in Mereworth called for the She was previously deputy Age UK says it has not received a parish precept to rise by 25%; manager of the charity’s real-term increase from KCC in six dog fouling was a nuisance in Southridge Centre in Potters Bar in years for the core services it pro- Wateringbury; deer shooting a career with the RSPCA spanning vides Kent’s elderly residents and was causing concern in West 30 years. already receives less per pensioner Peckham. RSPCA spokesperson than anywhere else in the country. Darren Parrish said: “The 6 Age UK’s chief executive in Maidstone, Paul Coles said: “We have a good relationship with Town Talk KCC’s adult services and under- A LOTTERY grant of up to stand it has difficult decisions to £25,100 was awarded for All make to balance its budget, but we Saints’ Church in Snodland. are already the poor relation to For more details see Town Talk other voluntary service providers. in the central pages of this “We are a lean organisation, so month’s Downs Mail. The bi- YOUR LOCAL PROPERTY EXPERT monthly independent maga- [email protected] this request to trim our 01622 690290 funding needs further will 5 zine is dedicated to Snodland 23 Pudding Lane • Maidstone • Kent translate into the closure of and Halling residents. 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Leaking Gutter Joints Down Pipes So To Ensure Your Gutters Are Flowing Prices Start From As Little As £20.00 Blockage Free This Winter Call Our Team For A Free & Friendly Quote 2 Malling February 2016 downsmail.co.uk News New hope for cancer patients Call for ‘Undateable’ GROUND-breaking technology to diagnose lung cancer earlier is being used by Maidstone and Tun- bridge Wells NHS Trust – one of Alex to host Top Gear only two acute trusts to offer the service. MORE than 20,000 people have tion continues to gather momen- Doctors believe the electromag- signed an online petition to have tum. One fan wrote: "Alex has a netic navigation bronchoscopy Top Gear presenter Chris Evans natural talent and such charisma. (ENB) procedure will have a posi- deposed by Maidstone footballer I'd love to watch him every week." tive impact on survival rates and Alex Martin. Another said: "Alex is a ledge." patients’ quality of life. Alex (22), who plays for Maid- Alex, a student at Hadlow Col- The ENB equipment, which has stone United’s disability football lege, says his dream car would be been funded by the Peggy Wood team The Raiders, shot to fame last the "Bugatti Veyron Supersport, Foundation, uses X-ray, CT or PET year as one of the stars of Channel top speed 268 miles per hour, scan images to create a three-di- 4’s The Undateables. nought to sixty in two point five mensional roadmap that allows But in a recent episode, he re- seconds". doctors to guide catheters through vealed his first love is for fast cars Alex says his autism makes him airways to diagnose and prepare – although he only drives a Vaux- nervous around new people, par- treatments for lung cancer. hall Corsa. ticularly girls. The procedure requires patients Alex, who is autistic, had never He said: “I start blushing, my to be sedated, but explores deep had a date when he first appeared cheeks go red like a Ferrari then, into the lungs, where nearly two on The Undateables in January when it comes to doing the talking, thirds of lesions are found, and 2015. He has since fallen for 21- the words just don't want to come takes a biopsy. The process is far year-old Eloise from Surrey, and Evans has been struggling with the out.” less invasive than surgery and both were featured last month en- mantle he has inherited from the Alex, from Halling, took Eloise means most patients can go home joying a romantic break at his fam- show’s founder Jeremy Clarkson to Brands Hatch for their first date the same day. ily’s holiday home in the Loire with one commenter suggesting he and they have since been featured Consultant respiratory physician Valley. “can’t talk and drive at the same out and about in West Malling. Dr Syed Arshad Husain, the trust’s The petition was set up on time”. He said the five years spent with lead on the new ENB service, said: change.org by Jake Tasker, who However, this month the BBC Maidstone United Raiders had “Our trust is totally committed to believes Alex would make a great played its trump card by revealing played a large part in boosting his improving lung cancer outcomes. presenter for Top Gear. The show that former Friends star Matt confidence. and the show even This system aims to improve detec- returns to our screens in May, with LeBlanc will co-host the show, in a more so. tion times and will have a positive Radio 2 breakfast show broad- bid to appeal to a wider, transat- The online petition is addressed impact on survival rates and qual- caster Evans at the helm. lantic audience. to bosses at the BBC, who have de- ity of life.” There is speculation online that In the meantime, the online peti- clined to comment. Advertisement feature downsmail.co.uk 01732 617557 Malling February 2016 3 News downsmail.co.uk Spade raider sent to jail Waterside Park A BURGLAR who left his DNA on spades used to break into his vic- tims’ homes has been jailed for two years and three months.