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November 2016 No. 235 Apples are the stars of fruit festival News WEAVERING’S apple-growing Downs Mail expands heritage was celebrated in style at DOWNS Mail announces the ex- a Festival of Fruit. pansion of its portfolio from four The event, which took place at editions to five - distribut- the Diamond Jubilee Orchard, ing 85,000 copies monthly. 3 was a celebration of all things apple, including apple pies, apple pressing and beekeeping. Rare bird in Leeds Mayor of Maidstone, Cllr AN extremely rare nutcracker Derek Butler, is pictured receiv- has been spotted in a gar- 3 ing a basket of fruit from Boxley den in Leeds village. Parish Cllr Vic Davies and assis- tant clerk Melanie Fooks. Full story on page 10 Local Plan inquiry THE public inquiry into the coun- cil’s Local Plan begins with MPs speaking out. 8 Has the Bearsted shop Let’s get militant VILLAGERS are threatening di- rect action to highlight traffic problems. 10
ba le come to an end? KCC consults on hike COUNTY council chiefs are to THE redevelopment of a popular shopping parade at Bearsted Green has consult the public on a council tax rise of 4%. moved a step closer after campaigners lost their fight to get it listed. 17 It is feared that the decision now build, with flats above. particular, should be preserved. leaves the way clear for developers The campaign was backed by MP However, English Heritage felt Ukip fraud denial to put forward a new scheme. Helen Whately, county councillors that the architectural and historical AN EX-Ukip MEP denies she knew The Bearsted and Thurnham Soci- Paul Carter and Jenny Whittle, as interests of the building did not meet of an expenses scam ety, which appealed against English well as three borough ward council- the criteria for listing, although it did run by an aide. 23 Heritage’s refusal to list The Parade, lors and the parish council. make a positive contribution to the expressed disappointment after the Listing would have given the character of the conservation area. Obituaries 34 original decision was upheld. building additional protection, The society then asked the De- Treasurer Roger Vidler said: “It is which the borough council would partment for Culture, Media and Comment 38-39 now very much up to the owners of have to consider when making a de- Sport to review the decision, making the building and what they propose cision. The existing businesses, a comparison with the grade II listed Parish Councils 50-51 to do. The ball really is in their court, butchers WJ Crouch incorporating Colonnade at Hawkhurst. but we have had huge support and Rickwood’s; Bearsted Computer So- Officials said the society had failed Crime Reports 51 remain determined to try and do lutions and Taylors the Newsagents, to provide evidence that the original everything to preserve it. would need to relocate during the decision was wrongly made. A YELLOW quad bike was stolen “There is very limited car parking reconstruction. Borough ward Cllr Val Springett from a garage in West Street in and this would be a serious problem The owners withdrew the first ap- said: “This decision is really disap- Harrietsham. for any future planning application.” plication and the second was refused pointing. Nothing will happen now Bearsted residents have fought to by MBC’s planning committee. unless the owners come forward save their shops, which have already The Bearsted and Thurnham Soci- with another application. been the subject of two planning ety hoped to persuade English Her- “There is nothing left that we can proposals by Hove-based owners itage to list the parade. It was do apart from hope they will respect Evenden Estates to demolish and re- thought that the Victorian canopy, in the wishes of the community.” Gyratory delay WORK on the Maidstone bridges Festive recycling gyratory system will not be com- CHRISTMAS is coming and we pleted on time. have advice on recycling festive The £5.75 million project was waste. For more, see the Maid- YOUR LOCAL PROPERTY EXPERT due to end in November but [email protected] stone Borough Council-sponsored 01622 690290 bosses now say it will be 12-page Borough Update inside. 23 Pudding Lane • Maidstone • Kent January 2017. 22
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2 Maidstone East November 2016 downsmail.co.uk News Downs Mail Rare nutcracker turns even bigger WELCOME to the November edi- tion of the Downs Mail, Maidstone up in a village garden and Malling’s number one news- paper. We have expanded the number of ONE of the rarest birds seen in our publications serving the county Britain, the nutcracker, has been town and surrounding areas from spotted in a village garden – almost four to five. 20 years after the last sighting was With the expansion of Maidstone officially recorded. and an increase in its housing stock, The bird was seen sitting unper- we want to reach out to new read- turbed on a weather vane by a ers. householder and a gardener friend Of course, we want to provide an in Forge Lane, Leeds, before it flew even better service to our advertis- off. The resident, who asked not to Ornithologist Paul ers by adding thousands of copies be named, was stunned when she Stancliffe and right, a being delivered door to door. saw the dark, heavily-spotted bird – rare nutcracker Mail Publications Chairman a member of the crow family – in her Claire Procter said: “At a time when back garden. tremely rare”, conditions this au- ing. Autumn 2016 with easterly air- some newspapers have declined, we The sighting is all the more re- tumn have been favourable for a flows has seen lots and lots of birds have decided to expand our offering markable because it is the second bird, which normally forages in the turning up from continental Europe. both to our family of loyal readers time a nutcracker has visited her forests of Scandanavia for pine nuts, While there have been no nutcrack- and our commercial partners. home in the village – the last one to be blown into Kent. ers reported as far as we know, Kent “The Downs Mail is soon to cele- several years ago. Paul Stancliffe of the British Trust would have been as good a place as brate its 20th anniversary and what She said: “I was with my friend for Ornithology said the last any for one to turn up.” better way to do so than to an- and he spotted this large, dark bird recorded nutcracker sighting in Non-indigenous British birds are nounce these exciting expansion sitting up on the weather vane. He Britain was in 1998 at Kingsdown, sometimes literally blown into the plans.” didn’t know what it was because near Dover. Mr Stancliffe (pictured) UK from parts of Europe on air Downs Mail now publishes five he’s not into birds but I did because said mid-Kent would be “as good a streams or extreme weather. Others editions across the Maidstone and I’d looked it up from the time before. place as any” for one to turn up after will disperse widely when harvests Malling areas with more than 85,000 “We were able to walk round it to continual easterly airflows from con- of their staple foods fail. copies delivered direct to people’s have good look. It was about the size tinental Europe. Such dispersals are known as “ir- homes and available for pick-up of a jackdaw, dark and with lovely He added: “Obviously, I can’t ruptions” and one example was four every month. markings.” confirm it yet, but we’d like to talk years ago when jays came in from All of our current and archived Ornithological experts say that al- to these residents in Kent. It’s very Europe in their thousands after the editions are also free to read on our though nutcracker sightings are “ex- interesting and really quite excit- annual crop of acorns failed. website at www.downsmail.co.uk 01622 738772 www.directorshairandbeauty.co.uk 7 Yeoman Court, Ashford Road, Bearsted Late night We have Christmas all wrapped up Thurs with our range of festive gift packs
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Maidstone East November 2016 3 News downsmail.co.uk ‘Hurry up’ on second school Recycling bank removal BOSSES in charge of funding a sec- ond primary school for Bearsted should “get on with it”, according to a local councillor. will be ‘retrograde step’ Kent County Council has identi- fied a number of sites for the school, SOUTHEASTERN has come under fire after removing community which is needed to meet growing demand for places. recycling bins from its station at Hollingbourne. The decision to get a school in place by 2018 lies with the govern- The decision to evict the well- in to town to find a new home for ing the bins will stop fly-tipping. ment’s Education Funding Agency used collection banks in Station their old clothes. He added: “Only this morning (EFA) which is resisting calls to make Lane has angered villagers and the “I am a big fan of providing there was glass, old videos and a decision. parish council, which has described every opportunity to the public and other rubbish down the lane and Bearsted’s borough councillor the move as a retrograde step. charities to benefit from recycling this has been made even worse by Mike Revell said: “It’s going very It is under- and this is a backward step as far as Southeastern’s street lights along slowly. They should get on with it.” stood that as I am concerned.” this isolated road being out of ac- These are sentiments echoed by well as a bottle A Southeastern spokesman tion for more than a month, leaving county councillor Jenny Whittle and bank, the Sal- maintained the bottle bank and re- the area in darkness.” MP Helen Whately, who has been in vation Army cycling skips needed to be removed The parish council now under- touch with the EFA for clarification. and Barnardos because of fly-tipping. She said: stands Southeastern will also need Mrs Whately fears that a Septem- were among “They have become popular for the to remove the concrete base on ber 2018 new build primary now the charities illegal dumping of house-hold rub- which the bins stood, take down whose recepta- bish and the site is being cleared to the fence and landscape the area seems “highly unlikely”. cles are to be reduce the risk of any accidents and has been advised by Maid- Downs Mail understands one of given their happening.” stone Council that if the train com- the proposed sites is at Eclipse Park Cllr Mike Bedwell marching or- It follows similar decisions else- pany fails to clear fly-tipping, it where there are seven acres of unde- ders. Hollingbourne Parish Coun- where in the borough to remove re- could be issued with an enforce- veloped land. cil chairman Cllr Mike Bedwell cycling bins, including at ment notice. The Education Funding Agency said: “These bins provided a val- Morrisons, on the Sutton Road, Southeastern confirmed an engi- declined to comment. ued service to villagers who have to Leeds village and Kingswood. neer had now been appointed to in- wait a fortnight for their recycling But Cllr Bedwell says Southeast- vestigate why the lights in Station Driver in court to be collected or now need to trek ern is mistaken if it thinks remov- Approach keep failing. A DISQUALIFIED driver stopped on the M20 in his car while nearly three times the drink limit has been Bus firm in given a suspended jail sentence. Chip shop boss in tribute Wojciech Uchronski (38), of Kings- ley Road, Maidstone, admitted safety move drink-driving, driving while banned to quake victim Matt STAGECOACH has agreed to an- and without insurance. swer safety fears by introducing a He gave a breath test that showed A BEARSTED fish shop is hoping that customers will ‘chip in’ to help raise request bus stop for Hollingbourne he had 92mg of alcohol in 100ml of money in memory of Matt Carapiet, who died in the Nepal earthquake children. breath on September 3. The legal last year. It follows pressure from the limit is 35. Uchronski was sentenced Matt (23), of Peverel parish council, parents and county to 84 days in prison, suspended for Drive, Bearsted, had councillor Jenny Whittle. 12 months, banned from driving for been helping to build the The offer, which will run from 42 months and ordered to carry out Self Help Community December 5, after the county coun- 180 hours of unpaid work in the next Centre in Siem Reap cil said highway changes to the A20 12 months. He must also pay £85 while he was travelling carriageway would not be cost effi- costs and a £115 victim surcharge. around Asia in 2015. cient or easy to introduce. Following his death It means the two 7.55am 10X last April, the Carapiet services, will now negotiate the A20 Store takeover family raised more than roundabout twice, to pick up school TALKS of a takeover will please vil- £11,000 to help children from the bus stop at lagers in Hollingbourne, who feared complete the school Hollingbourne Corner, rather than for the future of their general store. project and pay for students having to cross the busy There was concern that the store furniture and fittings. road to pick up their buses to and post office could close early next Matt had enjoyed fish school in Maidstone and on the year, after Christopher Rudgard’s and chips from his local Tonbridge Road in the morning. decision to retire after running the chippie – Marino’s Fish Cllr Jenny Whittle said: “I am de- store in Eyhorne Street for 12 years. Bar in Ashford Road – lighted that Stagecoach has agreed Mr Rudgard said: “Discussions whose owner Donda to tailor its 10X bus service to en- are taking place and I am hopeful Michaelis donated a able secondary school pupils who that by the last quarter these will day’s profits in use this service to be able to do so reach a satisfactory conclusion and September last year to safely from now on. the shop will continue under new the fund in his memory. “This should give parents peace ownership early next year.” The charity day raised of mind when their children board £2,000 towards the fund, and now Donda (pictured) is hoping that this the bus in future.” year’s event on November 1 will be even more successful. Stagecoach has said the new Bowls welcome He said: “I read about Matt in the Downs Mail and the story touched arrangement will need to be kept A WELCOME is on the mat for new- a nerve. He was a young lad from Bearsted, and having four children under review and relies on drivers comers at a village bowling club. myself, I thought it was so sad and I wanted to do something to help.” remembering the double move. Grafty Green Short Mat Bowls Donda will also be celebrating the 50th birthday of the family However, Hollingbourne parish Club needs new members. The club business which his father launched in the Midlands, before moving to council is urging pupils and parents meets at 2pm in the village hall and Maidstone where he opened the area’s first Marino’s in The Broadway. to help drivers remember and re- loan bowls are available. For details, The current site at Bearsted opened in 1989. porting any failures to the bus com- call Chris Wheal on 01622 858100. pany.
4 Maidstone East November 2016 downsmail.co.uk News
CALLING ALL Dr Clive Edmonds and left, the road damage in Leeds LANDLORDS Do you have a Sink hole ‘may property in Maidstone?
• We let most of • We can offer happen again’ our properties Smart rental within 7 days protection AN expert geologist claims a cata- were a contributing factor, Dr Ed- strophic sink hole which shut a monds added: “It’s difficult to • Successfully Kent village for six months is only gauge. Clearly, the roads have been • Most of our a burst water main away in other used for a long time until there was tenants stay on letting properties parts of the borough. too much water in one location. 1 in Maidstone for Much of the soil and deep level “We don’t think traffic levels were average for 2 /2 ground structure across Maidstone implicated although one might years over 20 years is of a similar nature to Leeds – argue that if you had a shallow void leaving it susceptible to sudden col- and you put a heavy load onto it, it lapses. wouldn’t be helpful.” Dr Clive Edmonds, a geohazards At the time of the sinkhole ap- expert specialising in sinkholes for pearing, local councillor Gary engineering giant Peter Brett Asso- Cooke said a separate series of in- INVITATION ciates (PBA), said the suspected leak dependent investigations had been there could trigger similar events carried out and found no imminent elsewhere. threat. But he claimed that the traffic Are you thinking of The collapse which occurred in levels going through the village Leeds in November 2014 is thought “can’t have helped”. becoming a landlord? to have been caused by a water es- The voids which collapsed were cape causing weaknesses in under- at depths of 25-30m. ground “voids” which eventually Downs Mail has obtained a copy If so, you are invited to come gave way. of the PBA survey into the orginal Dr Edmonds said: “In principle, Leeds collapse which hinted at and join us for a glass of wine the same geological circumstances wider possible problems in the are present in a wide area, not only Maidstone area. and an informal chat on in the village but the land around it Dr Edmonds studied geology at for that problem to happen. the University of Nottingham and “You need something to trigger it. holds a master’s degree in engineer- Thursday 3rd In Upper Street, Leeds, it was be- ing geology from Imperial College, lieved that a water main leaking was London. the probable trigger. He also holds a PhD in engineer- November 2016 “The geological conditions are ing geomorphology from Royal similar in other areas, not just in Holloway. Leeds but places like Maidstone and Dr Edmonds, a PBA partner, was 7-9pm West Malling.” called in provide expertise on the Asked if high volumes of traffic crisis which hit Leeds. at our Bearsted Office Make most of amphitheatre MAIDSTONE Borough Council plan to improve access, facilities Places are limited so please (MBC) says it wants to make more and activies in the area. The work is of its Roman-style amphitheatre on being overseen by the Maidstone phone to book your place now. the banks of the river near the Arch- River Park Group, recently formed bishops’ Palace. Described as one of to carry out the council’s Tourism the town’s “most delightful outdoor Destination Management Plan. Bearsted Office venues” the site has been branded The group has already recruited Bearsted Green, Bearsted ME14 4QZ by some as “a wasted investment” McDonalds’ staff from Maidstone and “a drug-dealing gang meeting who have been cleaning up the corner”. area. Tel: 01622 737800 The arena and stage, which seats A Maidstone Council spokesman 250 people, is one of the lasting said: “MBC would like to see more Penenden Heath Office legacy projects, funded in part by events taking place in the am- Penenden Heath, Maidstone ME14 2HN the National Lottery, to celebrate phitheatre and we would be very the Millennium. happy to work with event organis- The council says the amphithe- ers looking to book an outdoor Tel: 01622 671200 atre is now one of three priorities space either in this space or the identified in a three-year action River Stage at Whatman Park.” www.ferrisandco.net
Maidstone East November 2016 5 News downsmail.co.uk Two year ban A 27-year-old from Maidstone who ‘Kes res’ needs planning drove while over the limit and with- out insurance has been banned from the road for two years. Ionut Buse, from Union Street, was sentenced at Mid Kent Magis- permission, parish told trates’ Court, after admitting the of- fences. FEATHERS were ruffled over a allotments, one of the councillors He was stopped in a Nissan parish council’s plan to site a suggested that we install a kestrel Almera in Gabriel’s Hill, Maidstone, kestrel nesting box overlooking box. We consulted a wildlife expert on August 28 and gave a breath test its allotments. and had advice that we should put of 98mg of alcohol in 100ml of Boxley councillors thought that it on a pole near the site. We then breath. The legal limit is 35. providing a bespoke new home for contacted Maidstone Borough the birds of prey would be the Council and were horrified to be Coffee stolen ideal way to control the mice feast- told that you need planning per- ing on gardeners’ fruit and veg. mission to put a pole up and put a A MAIDSTONE man who stole cof- But they were stunned when box on it. It would cost us more fee worth £25 from a shop on the Maidstone Council officials told than £100 to apply. It’s absurd.” Loose Road has been given a sus- them that the “kes res” – a small Sara Humphrey, of the RSPB, said pended prison sentence. wooden box made by local Scouts the charity could not comment on Jason Collins (38), from Willington – would need planning permis- the individual box, but said: “Re- Green, admitted shoplifting on July sion. cent studies show we are losing 10 from the store. He was sentenced And they were even more horri- even more wildlife than ever in the at Mid Kent Magistrates’ Court to 12 fied to discover that submitting the UK, but individual actions can weeks in prison, suspended for 12 paperwork to the borough council make a difference. months. He must pay £25 compen- could cost at least £100. “Creating homes for nature in sation and £85 costs. Boxley chairman Bob Hinder Boxley Parish Council want to put a gardens and green spaces can help said he would be writing to Maid- kestrel box like this on their join up the pockets of land de- stone Borough Council’s chief ex- signed to protect wildlife, such as Village events allotments site to control mice TWO events are returning to Grafty ecutive Alison Broom for an RSPB nature reserves.” Green in December. explanation. Parish clerk Pauline Bowdery Maidstone Borough Council, of- The quiz night will be held on Sat- The idea for the nest box at Dove arranged for Scouts from the fering to discuss the issue further urday, December 3 and the craft fair Hill allotments emerged after the Grove Green group to make the with Boxley, said: “Should the on Sunday, December 4, both at the parish council provided funding box, along with two others for sites structure fall outside of ... permit- village hall. towards one fitted with a camera at elsewhere in the parish. ted rights then the appropriate Tickets for the quiz will be on sale Kent Wildlife Trust’s visitor centre Parish council chairman Bob planning permission would need at the shop from November. off Blue Bell Hill, near Maidstone. Hinder said: “When we created the to be applied for.”
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Maidstone East November 2016 7 News | Local plan inquiry downsmail.co.uk ‘Listen to public over local plan’ THE public have not been listened to over their concerns about the content of its controversial Local Plan, outspoken MP Helen Whately has claimed. Mrs Whately told planning in- posed in the borough by 2031 was structure. Asked specifically about spector Robert Mellor it was “vi- too high – the highest number of whether the proposed junction 8 Traveller sites tally important” the council gets it any borough in the county, bar Woodcut Farm employment site, right before proceeding – particu- Medway. off the M20, should be removed The MP also questioned the coun- larly on housing. Going further, she said that a from the plan, she said: “I seek cil’s allocation of traveller sites, ar- She told the in- four-week consultation period the deletion of this site from the guing that the council failed to take spector at the after the revised housing figure Local Plan. into account the Government’s lat- town hall in- had been released was clearly not “It is not an appropriate loca- est definition of what constituted a quiry: “I have long enough for parishes to consult tion for such a large industrial gypsy or a traveller. had hundreds of and respond in time. site.” This resulted in an over-estimate letters and emails This was particularly true of She added that the site was an of the number of pitches needed. on this issue. Few those where much of the housing integral part of the landscape be- She said: “Time and again, we topics have was being proposed, such as Head- tween Bearsted and Leeds Castle are seeing permissions (for gypsy sites) granted. MP Helen aroused such a corn, Harrietsham and Lenham, – an important heritage site that volume of so which she said would grow by attracts moe than 500,000 people "We are seeing permissions Whately much concern.” 110% if the Local Plan were ap- to the area every year. granted on the grounds of a lack of The failure of the borough coun- proved. Mrs Whately said development five-year supply, but this is leading cil to listen to the level of concern The MP said the housing figure around junction 8 had previously to the expansion of traveller sites in meant she was duty-bound to en- had to reflect local need and that of been rejected, adding: “We clearly totally inappropriate locations, sure the inspector left the inquiry preserving the countryside, while need to provide employment sites where we know planning permis- in no doubt that constituents felt also contending with the needs of within the area, but those that are sion for residential development the 18,560 new homes being pro- transport and investment in infra- accessible by public transport.” would not be granted.” 18,000 homes ‘not enough’ THE Home Builders’ Federation claims Maidstone should be build- ing MORE than the 18,000 houses it has proposed by 2031 in order to ease the capital’s housing crisis. James Stevens told the inquiry that all the boroughs in London – with the exception of Camden – have a shortage of housing stock. Mr Stevens (left) told the inspector: “There will be a significant under- supply in London and it would be prudent to factor this in.” Maidstone Bor- ough Council (MBC) said the au- thority had made allowances for this in its projected population growth. Government inspector Robert Mellor asked if the arguments had MP Grant against housing figure been heeded by other planning in- MAIDSTONE and the Weald MP housing developments. quiries and was told they had not. Helen Grant is to submit written Check the session programme for “Helen Whately (fellow local Mr Mellor is due to hear from rep- the public inquiry at representations to the planning MP) and I hosted a very well at- resentatives of local parish councils, www.maidstone.gov.uk developers, amenity groups, neigh- inspector hearing views on the tended public meeting to address bouring councils and highway au- borough's Local Plan. Council (KCC)”. these and other issues at the Maid- thorities amongst others. Government inspector Robert The MP told Downs Mail: “The stone Studios (pictured above). The inspector, who is bound by Mellor began hearing evidence focus for me has been what I con- “I have also held private talks the existing legislative frameworks, from the community on Tuesday sider an excessive number of new with the leaders of KCC and MBC can accept the proposals in the Local October 4. houses, which could be reduced and have made written represen- Plan or order significant changes. Mrs Grant is to lodge her objec- by reference to planning con- tations to MBC with particular ref- Robert Jarman, MBC’s head of tions on the “excessive number of straints. erence to the long-mooted Leeds – planning, said his authority had new houses” planned by Maid- “I have also been concerned Langley relief road scheme. risen to the challenge of setting local stone Borough Council (MBC) with manifest shortcomings in “I will be putting further writ- development targets “which are ap- and their traffic implications. constructive co-operation between ten representations to the plan- propriate for Maidstone”. She has also been concerned by MBC and KCC in the develop- ning inspector during the course This assertion is likely to be tested the “manifest shortcomings in ment of this plan, especially relat- of these public hearings to under- throughout the inquiry, with many constructive co-operation be- ing to mitigation of additional line and endorse the opinions I representatives fearful of the impact tween MBC and Kent County vehicle traffic arising from new have already made clear.” house-building will have on roads, schools, GP practices and other www.downsmail.co.uk amenities. For more local news go to
8 Maidstone East November 2016 REMEMBER... a Crouch’s turkey IS just for Christmas
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Maidstone East November 2016 9 News downsmail.co.uk Ge ing ‘militant’ over traffic VILLAGERS fed up waiting for a relief road have said they are ready to “get militant” if the authorities drag their feet over traffic issues for much longer. Residents in Leeds are planning to stage marches and other disruptive, Road on agenda but legal, actions to highlight the Even lollipop problems huge volumes of vehicle LEEDS’ county councillor Gary movements have on everyday life. Cooke, who sits on the Joint Trans- man ‘abused’ Borough councillor Gill Fort (pic- portation Board, wrote in the lat- tured) says she had heard of plans est parish magazine: “At the last THE head governor of Leeds by residents to “start making a lot of JTB, a resolution was made about and Broomfield Primary noise” as they no longer feel they are working with the borough council School says traffic outside its being heard by those in power. to promote the relief road. gates has become “a huge Apart from the daily traffic, vil- “However, we need to wait until issue” and is one she is con- lagers are growing increasingly fed we have gone through the ‘exam- cerned about. up with HGVs flouting a lorry ban, ination in public’ for the Local Plan For years vehicles and their speeding, reckless driving, hit-and- where we will promote the idea.” drivers have ignored the run prangs and aggressive conduct 20mph speed restriction, sped by some drivers. rush hour. “But there is definitely a mood of up to avoid being stopped by She said: “There is growing anger “I will support and help organise a frustration and anger among local the crossing patrol or hurled among people here and they are march or a series of demonstrations people. There’s just a lot of talk and abuse at the lollipop person. to highlight what is going on here.” threatening to get militant. One chap no action. Sometimes you have to Governors’ chairman Val The Joint Transportation Board I know wants to get a car and park it make people sit up and take notice.” Puncher said: “It’s a huge issue in the road, legally, but which will (JTB) – made up of county, borough Ukip borough councillor Eddie and of great concern. People go slow the traffic down. and parish council representatives – Powell added: “I’m 100% behind the too fast or they get angry when “I cannot and will not condone are mulling over three options for a villagers on this one – they’ve had anything illegal, but I can under- Leeds-Langley relief road. enough. they get stopped.” stand why he thinks that way.” These may eventually be put out “Even if the JTB could come up In a recent newsletter home Conservative Cllr Fort lives in the to public consultation, but critics ac- with a plan, how will it be paid for? to parents, head of school Julie heart of the village and says she un- cuse the JTB of stalling until after the In the great scheme of things, a Wellman reported “inappro- derstands villagers’ frustrations. county council elections next May. Leeds-Langley relief road is hardly priate language and unwel- She added: “Another villager I Upper Street resident Robert Jack- high up on the government’s come comments” directed at know reckons he can get two trac- son (38), said: “All we get is prevari- agenda, is it? This has been talked crossing patrolman Wayne tors to drive in opposite directions, cation because there’s an election about for 20 years and yet nothing English. very slowly, through the village at coming up. has been done.” Shop thief took Choir appeal King of apples star of show MUSICAL group Detling Singers, a food and wine mixed four-part choir which per- FAMILIES turned out to celebrate forms concerts in Kent, is looking for A SHOPLIFTER from Maidstone Weavering’s apple-growing heritage new members. has been jailed for 30 days after at a Festival of Fruit. The group has a repertoire includ- stealing from stores four times in a The fruity frolics and children’s fortnight. ing traditional songs, folk songs, se- fun at Weavering Diamond Jubilee lections from musicals, choral Douglas Frankham (29), from Orchard recalled the orchards which Cheshire Road, pleaded guilty to favourites, spirituals and hymns, once dominated the landscape. The all counts of shoplifting. carols and Christmas music. Re- celebration included apple pies, He stole food and drink worth £6 hearsals are once a week, on Mon- apple pressing, apple identification from a shop in Week Street, Maid- day evenings, in Detling. For further and honey and beekeeping. stone, on September 7; wine from a information, contact Mike Mortlock The event also celebrated the service station in Sheerness eight on 01634 862297. history of Warner’s King, once days later and a bottle of wine from known as the “king of apples” – a a supermarket in The Broadway, very old species which originated in Pie and quiz Maidstone, on September 20. Weavering and is still grown there. MAIDSTONE Mencap members are The following day he also stole holding their popular Apple Pie food and wine worth £5.67 from Mayor of Maidstone Cllr Derek Butler planted a Warner’s King Quiz Night at Cobtree Hall, Mote the same supermarket. Park, School Lane, off Willington He was sentenced at Mid Kent sapling at the community orchard which was rescued from dereliction Street, on Saturday, October 29 at 7 Magistrates’ Court and has been or- for 7.30pm. by Boxley Parish Council. dered to pay a £115 victim sur- Teams will be six to eight people A grant from Tesco, funded from charge. and admission is £6 per person, the 5p plastic bag levy, has paid for which includes apple pie and cream. an educational project for nearby St Parking is free beyond the wooden Strictly’s date John’s CE Primary School, in STRICTLY’S Anton Du Beke and gates leading to the hall. Provender Way and a new wooden To book, call Rita on 07790 643218. Erin Boag are coming to Maid- slide for the orchard. stone. Cllr Bob Hinder, chairman of the There’ll be a chance to book a 50- parish council, said: “From a near Promise auction minute dance workout with the wildlife desert in 2011, the orchard THE Friends of All Saints’ Church, pair, dinner, an overnight stay and is starting to blossom, and Ulcombe, will be holding an auction a performance by the professionals woodpeckers, blue tits and bats can of promises on at 7pm on Saturday, at the Mercure Hotel. be found.” November 19. Tickets for the event on Friday, Alexandra Knight (five) is pictured Details and a catalogue are avail- May 5, are £199 or £159 per person. choosings some apples. able from Molly Poulter on 01622 Tickets are limited. 842988 or [email protected].
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Maidstone East November 2016 11 News downsmail.co.uk Homes crisis COUNCIL chiefs say a combination of soaring property prices and wel- Li er police are back fare reforms could see social hous- ing organisations buying up sites in Kent. A new report by Kent County on beat after review Council delivers the warning against a backdrop of benefit caps MAIDSTONE’S “litter police” are and a tightening up of eligibility. back on duty after being hauled Butt of the fines It claims that housing associations over the coals by the borough fear a cut in social housing rents council … and one departure from A BREAKDOWN of the fines issued until 2020 could mean 600 fewer the sub-contracted team. since September 1 2015 shows homes being built each year in Kent. It follows complaints from the more than 2,000 fines were issued public about the council’s private for dropping cigarette ends, while enforcers being too heavy-handed. only about 130 were issued for Mummy scan A woman was fined £80 at Tovil dropping litter. THE Maidstone Mummy has been for feeding ducks – because the Fixed penalty notices were is- scanned to reveal the secrets of the warden maintained there were no sued for: 2,700-year-old teenager. birds around. The fine was later • Cigarettes - 2,043 Ta-Kush, who was 14 when she withdrawn by the contractor, King- • Food/food packaging/chewing died, has been scanned at a local dom Security. gum – 36 hospital in the hope her face can be It follows the return of 61 fines by The borough council’s head of • Dog fouling – 8 reconstructed and any other details the private enforcement firm since environment, Jennifer Shepherd, • Other litter (cellophane, plastic of her life revealed. the company won the £160,000 said enforcement officers would be stirrers etc.) – 98 It is also hoped to prove once and two-year contract to enforce the returning to duties following the • Literature – 16 for all that she is not, in fact, a he. council’s litter laws last June. review of the contract, which runs Total 2,201 Ta-Kush has been a favourite at But it appears this was the final until June next year. the St Faith’s Street collection and straw, leading the council’s envi- She added: “I can confirm there safe environment.” came to England in the 1820s. ronmental enforcement manager have been a number of personnel It is understood this will be a Martyn Jeynes to suspend the serv- changes which Kingdom have commitment to ensure officers re- Poppy appeal ice for a thorough investigation. made during the review and we an- ceive full training and regular re- THIS year’s Poppy Appeal is The suspension of the service, ticipate that two new officers will fresher courses about the way in launched at County Hall in Maid- which lasted 26 days, saw officers be joining the team. which they conduct themselves in stone on Wednesday, October 26. finally return to the streets on Oc- “We have been working closely response to the council’s enforce- Armistice Day falls on Friday, No- tober 12, minus at least one male of- with Kingdom to ensure officers ment requirements. vember 11, and Remembrance Sun- ficer, amid calls for better training are able to provide a service which Kingdom Security declined to day on the 13th. of all frontline staff. fulfils our priority of a clean and comment.
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Maidstone East November 2016 13 News downsmail.co.uk Trio jailed for ‘crime wave’ TWO men and a teenage boy have been jailed after they burgled five homes, including one in Bearsted and another in West Malling, before hijacking a car on the M20. Maidstone Crown Court heard the car also had paint on it, which driving and using a vehicle with- how Francis Conners (21), Michael matched that of a stolen safe. Fur- out third party insurance. Moorehouse (28) and the 15-year- ther enquiries led detectives to the Sentencing them on October 11, old left a trail of destruction on the stolen Honda Jazz in a parking bay Moorehouse, of no fixed address, motorway after their crime spree in in Otford, where blood stains in- received seven years and four which properties were targeted in side provided more forensic evi- months in prison. Conners, for- Kent, Sussex and London. dence. merly of Cherryfield Way, Dublin, The trio, who broke into homes, The investigation revealed that was sentenced to six years and the including those in Ryarsh Road after leaving the Honda, all three teenager, from Borehamwood, and Yeoman Lane on June 13, then Convicted: Michael Moorhouse and then boarded a train at Otford for Hertfordshire, two years at a attempted to flee in a BMW, stolen Frances Conners London. Close to the train station, young offenders’ centre. from a previous burglary. and thrown to the floor by one of officers recovered a glove and Detective Constable Mark How- At about 3.45pm their BMW col- the offenders, before the three stole baseball cap, which were found to ell said: “Moorehouse and Con- lided with a Vauxhall Astra on the his car and drove off. contain DNA of the teenage boy. nors, along with their teenage London-bound carriageway of the Jewellery, watches and rare coins The trio were arrested in Essex accomplice were responsible for a M20, between junctions 2 and 1, recovered from the BMW were on July 12. mini crime-wave…then left a trail forcing the gang to abandon the found to have been taken during Appearing at Maidstone Crown of destruction on a motorway vehicle. burglaries on the same day of the Court, they each pleaded guilty to which could easily have had fatal When the driver of a third vehi- collision, and DNA matched those counts of robbery and conspiracy consequences, before assaulting a cle, a Honda Jazz, stopped at the of Moorehouse and Conners. to commit burglary. Moorehouse man whose only intention had scene to offer help he was punched A sledgehammer in the boot of also faced charges of dangerous been to offer help and assistance.” Dog controls Sophie opens long-awaited play park under review YOUNGSTERS at Downswood are INCREASED fines and more con- enjoying a new-look play park – and trols on dogs are being considered have one of their friends to thank by Maidstone Council. Sophie Lawrie wrote to In a first move by the council to Maidstone Council when she was introduce tougher measures, it is nine, sending a petition signed by asking dog owners for their views her playmates and parents calling on a £25 hike in the fine for dog for improvements to the run-down fouling, along with other controls park and now – at the age of 15 – that would put dogs on leads in her prayers have been answered. more areas of the borough. The work has been completed The informal consultation on the after pressure from borough council’s RK9 Facebook page is councillor Gordon Newton, seen as the first step in updating Downswood Parish Council and fed- fenced area for younger children her neighbours in this and has the borough’s Public Space Protec- up residents in a jointly-funded with swings, a slide and remained community-spirited.” tion Order. initiative by the borough council roundabout. Sophie is in year 11 at Valley Park In addition to the suggestion of a and the parish council, amounting Sophie’s mum Katie said: “When School in Maidstone, where she is £100 fine for owners who fail to to about £40,000. the council removed the play also taking her Duke of Edinburgh clear up after their animal, views Sophie who had the honour of equipment all that time ago award and helps out at the Bubbles are being taken on further steps, cutting the ribbon on the new-look without telling anyone why, Sophie swimming classes for special needs such as insisting dogs are on leads Foxden Drive play area at the gave them a few weeks and then children at Mote Park. in shopping areas, excluded from opening ceremony. got on their case. Sophie is pictured cutting the any children’s play areas – not just The refurbished play area now “It’s a shame that funding issues ribbon held by Downswood Parish fenced ones – and giving officers includes benches, a pendulum has meant it has taken this long, Council chairman Cllr Roz but I’m very proud she supported Cheesman. the power to tell owners of nui- swing, a ball hoop, goal posts and a sance pets to put them on a lead. Burns victim in skydive to help foundation A WOMAN who suffered disfigur- lying in a coma in London with Country Market, and on June 24, ing burns in a holiday accident is to 85% burns, most of which were 2017, they will be holding a masked jump out of a plane for the founda- third degree. ball in the Tithe Barn in Lenham, tion which supported her during Six months after being released where Gez is the village crier. her recovery. from hospital, Danielle is hoping to Tickets for the ball, which will in- Danielle Branch was on holiday raise money for the Katie Piper clude an auction with TV star Vic with her mum Jan and her husband Foundation that helped her Reeves, including one of his own Gez Clark, from Lenham, on New through one of the toughest times paintings and tickets for the final of Year’s Eve at the Caravan Club of her life. X Factor, will also be available for park in Addington, near West Still healing from the burns on Danielle, before and after the fire sale at the Lenham Country Market Malling, when fire ripped through her face and body, she will be stall from October. their motorhome. The devastating scarred for life, but Danielle Sunday, October 16. Sponsor Danielle’s parachute fire put Jan and Gez in hospital for launched the fund-raising charge The family will also be raffling 12 jump on the Just Giving website or nearly a month, and Danielle – by her family with a 12,000ft tickets for the Leeds Castle Classi- for details of the ball, email whose injuries were far worse – freefall skydive over Headcorn on cal Concert from a stall at Lenham [email protected].
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