Has the Bearsted Shop Ba Le Come to an End?
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downsmail.co.uk MaidstoneMaidstone EastEast EditionEdition Maidstone & Malling’s No. 1 newspaper FREE 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 bale 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 Action packed Term A Crackin’ Christmas Holiday Club Time Only Wed 21st Dec - Fri 23rd Dec & Tues 3rd Jan Fully inclusive Fun days Nursery 7.30am - 6.30pm Places also 01622 737733 www.pennies.co.uk BOOK NOW! Available Newnham Court Shopping Village, Bearsted Rd, Maidstone, Kent ME14 5LH Nostalgic Days Out by Steam from MEDWAY or MAIDSTONE WINCHESTER OXFORD & WORCESTER CHRISTMAS MARKET SATURDAY 29 OCTOBER WEDNESDAY 14 DECEMBER Approx’ Times Rainham: Depart - 0700 Return 2330 Gillingham: Depart - 0705 Return 2325 Rochester: Depart - 0715 Return 2315 Meopham: Depart - 0730 Return 2255 Approx’ Times Maidstone: Depart 0915 - Return 2140 Join us on a steam train trip as we take you to the beautiful cities of Oxford Travel by steam on a nostalgic day out from Maidstone to Winchester Christmas and Worcester. Alight at Oxford to enjoy the beautiful architecture or enjoy the Market. Now recognised as one of the best in Europe with its unique location, high wonderful shopping available in the city centre. Alternatively go all the way to the quality exhibitors and bustling atmosphere. Wonderful Christmas gifts, decorations stunning Cathedral city of Worcester. and festive foods can be found in abundance. Diesel hauled between Kent and West London in both directions. Diesel hauled between West London and Maidstone on the return journey. PRICES OXFORD WORCESTER WINCHESTER Pullman Style Dining: £239 £249 £249 Premier Dining: £199 £209 £209 First Class: £149 £159 £159 Premium Standard: £99 £109 £109 4VIQMIV(MRMRKERH4YPPQER7X]PI(MRMRKTEWWIRKIVW[MPPVIGIMZIEIMXLIVEJYPP)RKPMWLFVIEOJEWXSVFVYRGLSRXLISYX[EVHNSYVRI]ERHEJSYVSV½ZIGSYVWIQIEPSRXLIVIXYVR Tel: 01483 209888 www.CathedralsExpress.co.uk AD512 Terms and Conditions apply We are proud to announce that Strictly Star Professionals Anton Du Beke & Erin Boag will be coming to Mercure Maidstone Hotel Friday 5th May 2017 for this fabulous event! We have three exciting packages available: - A 50 minute dance workshop with Anton & Erin, a Gala 4 course dinner, performance from Anton & Erin + Bed & Breakfast for £199 per person. - A Gala 4 course dinner, performance from Anton & Erin + B&B for £159pp - A Gala 4 course dinner and performance from Anton & Erin for £109pp All options include a Q&A session with the stars. Book today! Call 0844 815 9045 (option 3) or email [email protected]. There is a £50 deposit per person to secure tickets. MERCURE MAIDSTONE Ashford Road, Hollingbourne, Kent, ME17 1RE 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.