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 January 2016 No. 225 News Drinking ban plans to Medical concerns A DOCTORS’ surgery in East Peck- ham could close after the NHS said its lease was un- ‘clean up town centre’ likely to be renewed. 10 A NEW order making it illegal to drink in the street, beg or sleep rough Passengers wanted could be introduced to “clean up” Maidstone town centre. TRAVELLERS are being encour- aged to car-share to cut Maidstone Council says the Pub- crime and ASB data provided by the help and support in my book.” congestion in Maidstone. 14 lic Spaces Protection Order, which police and would extend from the He said the council had failed could be introduced as early as May, town centre along the river to homeless people in Maidstone, would help to cut crime and anti- Ringlestone, out to the Vinters Park where there are now seven times Congestion hope social behaviour (ASB) in urban estate, to Rock Road towards Penen- more than in 2010, adding: “The TWO sites off the M20 have Maidstone, where levels of ASB are den Heath, across to Mote Park, and council needs to focus its energy on been put forward to ease the fifth highest in the county. Waterloo Street and Campbell Road. providing shelter and support for Operation Stack chaos. 23 The order would include further Maidstone Green Party cam- homeless people.” measures to deter unauthorised col- paigner Stuart Jeffery said the plan A map of the proposed control lecting of money on the street, the to use the order to “criminalise the area can be viewed at www.maid- Tax office to shut use of “legal highs” and rough sleep- homeless” was appalling. stone.gov.uk/consultations, where HM Revenue and Customs is clos- ing on the street. Drinking alcohol in He said: “Homeless people need you can also have your say. ing its Maidstone office, public spaces, not including licensed support to get off the streets, support The consultation runs until Janu- which employs 200 staff. 28 premises, would also be prohibited that will often include help with ary 25, after which the results will be where it affects the quality of life for other issues rather than just finding considered by Maidstone Council’s visitors and residents. a place to live. Criminalising them communities, housing and environ- Comment 26-2746-47 The proposed order is based on through a PSPO is the opposite of ment committee. Crime Reports 27 A STATUE of a goddess with two Time up for cherubs was stolen from a front garden in Larkfield. free parking FREE parking in West Malling’s Obituaries 34 main town centre car park is set to end as Tonbridge and Malling Parish Councils 35-43 Council seeks to raise £350,000 in in- THE clerk was given a pay rise in creased charges across the borough. Addington; defibrillator training The busy car park behind the took place in Birling; children’s High Street is designed to operate parties were on the rise in East on a short stay basis to support local shopping and other visits, with mo- Peckham; a new church for Kings Praise for hospital staff torists allowed to park for three Hill was discussed; volunteers hours at no cost. were needed to help with Mere- HOSPITAL staff at Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells have been praised for But from April 1, charges will be worth Fete; a gate in Offham “going the extra mile”. imposed from 8am to 6pm each day was ‘closing too quickly’. Staff Star awards were presented to almost 30 team members following except Sundays, with motorists a poll of patients, visitors and colleagues. paying 30p for the first half hour, Prizes were presented by the trust’s chief executive Glenn Douglas, 60p for an hour, £1.20 for two hours chairman Tony Jones and actress Cheryl Fergison, who played Heather and £1.80 for three hours, which is Trott in EastEnders. the maximum length of stay. Winners included the League of Friends (pictured), who received a A review of the borough’s park- special recognition award. ing fees outlined historic problems, with long stay parking taking place in the car park near Tesco. Parking Inside this edition: used to be restricted to four hours, RESULTS from a survey fuelled but commuters and people working calls for a new visitors’ centre in in the town parked there all day. Leybourne Lakes Country Park. To stop this, the borough council For details, see the four-page sup- cut the time to three hours with a plement by Malling Action Part- pay and display ticket containing BEST WISHES FOR 2016 nership, which supports people, the vehicle’s registration businesses and events in the 11 number, and an additional parishes in the Malling area. ticket could not be obtained. 10 Kent’s Most Awarded Optician Book Now 01732 617557 www.optometrists.co.uk Advertisement feature downsmail.co.uk Expand your business on the web with Webexpand IF you are considering a new website, or “A Website should make you updating your existing website in line with your growing business, Webexpand can help. money, not cost you money” Established in 2004, by David McCord, local business Webexpand has helped hundreds of David genuinely took the time to business owners to achieve a strong on-line web fully understand our business and presence that is vital for creating and developing Webexpand created a fantastic new customers. website for us. We have had Webexpand became a limited company in 2008 many comments about the look and now has offices near M20 Junction 4, close and style of our website and it has to West Malling, plus offices close to M20 helped us stand out online, which Junction 8 Maidstone. It’s been a great pleasure to work with David is tough being a start up! Since Webexpand cut out the tech jargon and provide – he deserves recognition for his excellent then we have used Webexpand to expert advice in simple, plain English. With more work and customer service than 30 years experience, Webexpand will listen further develop our website to your ideas and then provide the best solutions friendly. We have achieved Google page 1 content, build an e-commerce for you. The firm will show you how many people positions for many businesses across a diverse site and more recently for SEO per month search for your business services and range of sectors and helped them expand, so if work. Our e-commerce site went advise on the best marketing methods to help you wish to expand your business on the web, call live for deliveries and we have your business grow on-line. us now on 01732 842454.” already had an unprecedented David said: “You can increase your enquiries by Webexpand can either advise over the telephone, level of sales through our web nearly five times if your website is mobile phone or if you prefer, face to face in a meeting. platform. What more can we say! Main Services include: Thank you Webexpand! • Marketing / Search Engine Promotion • Web Site Design Alex Auger - The Juice Executive • E-Commerce Websites • Hosting • Email • Web Site Maintenance www.thejuiceexecutive.co.uk 01732 842454 Webexpand Ltd www.webexpand.co.uk West Malling & Maidstone Kent 2 Malling January 2016 downsmail.co.uk News Chance to cut Mum trained to offer power bills THERE is still time for Tonbridge and Malling residents to register for round four of a collective switching help to young parents campaign which aims to help them reduce gas and electricity bills. NEW mums are receiving the sup- “It was really important that I The borough is working with port of an experienced “nanny” as had someone outside my family to Dover, Dartford, Tunbridge Wells part of a health service scheme to talk to and they were always there and Gravesham councils to operate prepare them for the challenges of when I needed them.” the Energy Deal scheme, because the being a parent. Family nurse supervisor Carol more people who register, the more Jordan Greenway (20), from O’Malley said: “Being involved in interested the suppliers are in gain- Allington, is the first of 35 such this programme is a serious, long- ing them as customers and so the young mums from Maidstone and term commitment and all those tak- better the deal they offer. Tunbridge Wells to graduate from ing part have shown how The scheme was launched in 2013 the Family Nurse Partnership pro- dedicated they are to improving and in the last round, those who gramme in West Kent. their lives and being the best mums could make a saving saw an average The scheme – an American idea – they can be to their children.” reduction of £236 a year. is being run by the Kent Commu- Colleague Cathie Burton says the It is open to households using gas nity Health NHS Foundation, of- programmes are important as a and/or electricity. It is free to register fering the advice and support of way of getting support and guid- and residents are not obliged to specially-trained family nurses for ance to young families early on. switch supplier. They can sign up two-and-a-half years to first-time She added: “We know early in- until Monday, February 1. Suppliers mums under the age of 20. tervention leads to much better will give their best offer at an energy Now mum to two-year-old Kay- outcomes for our children, devel- auction administered by iChoosr.