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Maidstone Town | Maidstone East | Maidstone South | Malling January 2016 No. 225
News Drinking ban plans to ‘Proceeds of crime’ A LANDLADY from Otham says she was “legally robbed” after po- lice seized more than ‘clean up town centre’ £89,00 from her pub. 10 A NEW order making it illegal to drink in the street, beg or sleep rough Tax office to leave could be introduced to “clean up” Maidstone town centre. HM Revenue and Customs is clos- ing its Maidstone office, Maidstone Council says the Pub- crime and ASB data provided by the help and support in my book.” which employs 200. 12 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-so- Ringlestone, out to the Vinters Park where there are now seven times Alfred Mynn awards cial behaviour (ASB) in urban Maid- estate, to Rock Road towards Penen- more than in 2010, adding: “The THREE community champions stone, where levels of ASB are the den Heath, across to Mote Park, and council needs to focus its energy on were honoured by fifth highest in the county. Waterloo Street and Campbell Road. providing shelter and support for Bearsted Parish Council. 24 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- Dorothy Lucy battle use of “legal highs” and rough sleep- homeless” was appalling. stone.gov.uk/consultations, where MORE than 2,500 people have ing on the street. Drinking alcohol in He said: “Homeless people need you can also have your say. signed a petition to save public spaces, not including licensed support to get off the streets, support The consultation runs until Janu- a Shepway care home. 26 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- New blood needed The proposed order is based on through a PSPO is the opposite of ment committee. VOLUNTEERS are required for the local Neighbourhood Protest to save shops £785 a day for Watch group. 28 ALMOST 300 people town planner Congestion hope protested at a plan to de- MAIDSTONE Council’s town cen- TWO sites off the M20 have molish a historic parade of tre troubleshooter Paul Spooner is been put forward to ease 29 shops in Bearsted Green. costing taxpayers £785 a day. Operation Stack chaos. Among them were By the time his six-month con- parish, borough and tract as interim director of regener- Comment 34-3546-47 county councillors, ation ends on February 23, 2016, including the leader of more than £80,000 of public money Obituaries 36 Kent County Council, Paul will have been spent on Mr Carter, who pledged: Spooner, according to the council’s Parish Councils 46 “This community will response to a Downs Mail Freedom stand united.” of Information request. A DESIRED pedestrian crossing at Landlord Evenden Mr Spooner, who replaced Zena Broomfield and Kingswood was Estates has applied to Cooke in August, works four days unlikely due to too few crashes. replace the three shops a week so his services are costing and build six apartments the annual equivalent of £163,280 – Crime Reports 47 on two storeys above. It exceeding that of chief executive CCTV was being viewed to find withdrew a similar Alison Broom, who earns up to the culprits who stole a golf scheme a year ago. £115,000 a year. buggy from Leeds Castle. Cllr Carter (pictured) Town planner Mr Spooner has urged residents to write worked on projects in Manchester, to each member of Birmingham and Portsmouth. In Maidstone Council’s 2013 he was Croydon Council’s in- Road doubt planning committee. terim executive director of plan- IT could be at least 15 years be- Referring to the council's ning and environment, costing the fore Maidstone gets its long- decision last year to equivalent of £242,666 a year in awaited south-east link road. approve 50 homes in Lilk wages and agency costs. Maidstone Council’s draft in- Meadow, south of Cross Keys, Bearsted, he said: “People power is so In Maidstone, Mr Spooner re- tegrated transport strategy says important. And we know some pretty irrational decisions have been made ceives £590 a day with the remain- the Leeds-Langley bypass may by elected members of Maidstone Borough Council in recent months.” ing £195 going to an agency, who only be deliverable after 2031. Full story – page six will have pocketed more Full story – page 32 than £20,000 by the time he 16
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2 Maidstone East January 2016 downsmail.co.uk News Free hall for your event Transport firm’s £1,000 COMMUNITY organisations can receive a boost from Maidstone Council in conjunction with Maid- stone Leisure Trust by applying for gift boosts young team free use of Mote Hall at Maidstone Leisure Centre. AN AYLESFORD haulage com- Each year, five free lets are avail- pany has given a group of Maid- able for events run by community stone youngsters a leg up on the organisations in the borough, ladder to sporting success. which must be sporting, cultural or Castledene Transport, based at unlikely to proceed without a free Millhall in Aylesford, gave £1,000 let, and non-fundraising. to the Maidstone United Rangers Preference is given to activities U7s, allowing them to buy not only that support young people. home and away strips, but also Successful applicants last year in- footballs, tracksuits, cones, a first cluded the Heart of Kent Hospice aid kit and all the other bits and and Combat Martial Arts, Maid- pieces they needed to get the team stone. up and running. If your community organisation Castledene directors John and would like to apply for a free let of Nicky Amey were approached by Mote Hall for an event between team administrator and self-em- The Maidstone United Rangers Under 7s show off their new strip April 2016 and March 2017, contact ployed lorry driver Mick Hydes Paul Caulfield in the council’s Although the lads haven’t had want to thank them for their great and were only too happy to help. parks and leisure department on too much success in the league so contribution, allowing these young Until then, the nine youngsters 01622 602584 or send an email to far, they did win two matches in boys the chance to develop their aged five to seven had been play- [email protected] the Autumn trophy, winning a game and learn to interact with ing in borrowed strip. The closing date for applications place in the final, only to be de- others by following the rules of re- The team were formed for the is Friday, January 15, 2016. feated by Tunbridge Wells Ridge- spect.” start of the season in September way Lions U7s. “The boys are absolutely thrilled and the boys play in the Saturday Mr Hydes said: “We had a group now that they finally have their U7s Maidstone Invicta League. of children who weren’t in a team own kit and don’t have to borrow Read our archived They play their home games at and saw the potential to set up a from others.” editions FREE online at the Gallagher Stadium, where they new side from scratch. The team train on Tuesday receive coaching from two of the “These boys have been given a evenings and play on a Saturday. www.downsmail.co.uk teenagers in Maidstone United’s great opportunity thanks to the If there is no game, they put in an football academy. support of Castledene, and we extra session of training. 01622 738772 7 Yeoman Court, Ashford Rd Bearsted, Kent ME14 4ND www.directorshairandbeauty.co.uk
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Maidstone East January 2016 3 News downsmail.co.uk Lorry service centre opens How volunteering gave A FLAGSHIP £6m commercial vehi- cle service centre for Scania has been opened at Brooklyn Park, Maidstone me a new drive for life by Sweden's Ambassador to the UK, Her Excellency Nicola Clase. A MAIDSTONE man has de- Throughout my working life, most you are compelled to help. The centre, just off Junction 6 of scribed how volunteering for In- of what I’d done had been on my “If I didn’t have the volunteering the M20, is the first of a new genera- volve’s community transport own and I’d always been self-re- there’s a fair chance I’d just be at tion of purpose-built UK premises service helped him to recover from liant. But then I suffered my break- home and wouldn’t have done any- created by Scania to serve the opera- a mental breakdown five years down and that self-reliance went thing. You stay active in this role, tors of its trucks, coaches and com- ago. out of the window. you’ve got to think about what mercial vehicles. Steve Cotton was employed as an “She said I needed to get involved you’re doing and where you’re The ambassador was joined at the engineer for 45 years, but after re- and be in con- going. You’re not thinking of your- ceremony by Mayor of Maidstone, covering from a head-on crash in tact with other self all the time, you’re thinking of Cllr Daniel Moriarty, Kent transport his work van, he suffered a break- people, and the people you’re helping because operators, senior Scania executives down. that it would many of them are pretty frail.” and representatives from Maidstone He said: “It totally changed do me the Steve recommends other people Council and Brooklyn Park’s owner, everything and I was unable to go world of good. get started with volunteering like Gallagher Properties. to work. I’d look in the mirror and I visited In- he did. “If you are capable, if you The site will employ 35 people and although it was the same person I volve’s office, have the time, volunteering is an operate 24 hours a day, following was looking at, my brain was did my DBS ideal thing to do, especially if you’re the relocation of the company’s Sit- scrambled.“ check and got on your own. You get out, you meet tingbourne facilities. The company He recalled: “My psychiatrist said started. people and they’re always grateful. hopes to be able to employ another I was burned out after working too “From the first client they gave If you have a couple of free days a 18 people over the next year. hard. She said if I hadn’t had the me, something sparked and I’ve en- week you can fit it around other Before the construction process breakdown the chances are I would joyed it ever since. It didn’t take me commitments. You can do as much got underway, great crested newts have had a heart attack or a stroke. long to settle. I’ve got people to talk or as little as you like.” were moved to a new habitat on the I was doing long hours; I’d be work- to, people you can understand. Community Transport provides a Allington Castle Estate. The pond ing from five or six in the morning They’re fun, they know a lot of his- low-cost alternative for Maidstone previously occupied by the newts to 10 or 11 at night and this hap- tory. I’ve been there ever since. and Malling residents who are un- has been preserved, with bat and pened regularly.” “We pick the clients up at the able to use public transport, bird boxes and other animal shelters. As he was unable to return to door, we take them where they whether due to disability, frailty or The premises also feature an un- work, Steve’s counsellor suggested want to go, then bring them home illness. Anyone who would like to derground fire-fighting water tank he started volunteering. “No pay, and make sure they can get to their become a volunteer driver should fed with rainwater from the roof, no work,” he responded. door. It evolves as much or as little call 01622 756662 or email commu- where photo-voltaic panels supply “My counsellor pointed out that as you want it to. [email protected] power to the development. it wasn’t just for other people. “There are certain people that for more information.
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4 Maidstone East January 2016 downsmail.co.uk News Split in shared planning service A SHARED service between three out of the partnership, leaving the councils – including Maidstone – remaining two boroughs to share designed to save costs and im- the costs of the service. prove efficiency has hit the Officers at Tunbridge Wells buffers. claimed 87% of its applications The Mid Kent Planning Support were registered within five days Service, a joint venture between prior to the merger, but only 34% Maidstone, Tunbridge Wells and of them were registered within that Swale, was set up in the summer of time afterwards. 2014. Maidstone’s applications consti- The shared service was sup- tuted 37% of the shared workload, posed to improve efficiency but it but it only contributed 27% of the immediately ran into trouble, with cost. many planning applications taking Maidstone officers believe the longer than the statutory eight service has now “bedded in” and weeks to determine, with a huge works in the way it was originally backlog of work building up. planned. The council’s share of the A disgruntled Tunbridge Wells cost will now rise by £56,000 to council has now decided to pull £283,239 a year. Barclays branch to close THE Sutton Road branch of Barclays in Maidstone is to close. Mid Kent MP Helen Whately is among those to have expressed concern about the closure, which will take place on February 26, 2016. Customers will have to travel to Fremlin Walk to use the bank’s in-branch services. Pupils running for success A CROSS-country club started by a Shepway primary school teacher has proved a runaway success. Since Wendy Ball started the after class club and lunchtime training FOR SALE sessions were started at Greenfields Community Primary School in EQUESTRIAN FACILITY, September, her running recruits have taken first HOCKERS LANE, DETLING, KENT place in the Maidstone schools’ cross country races and joint second place at county level. Wendy said: “I’ve been overwhelmed by the interest the running club has generated. I run with the children to encourage them and they think it’s great fun beating their teacher. “We had more than 40 children competing in the Maidstone races and more children are asking to join.” Their results in the Maidstone Schools’ cross country championships were: Year 4 Boys – 1st; Year 4 Girls – 1st; individual races: Ethan Smith – 1st; Ollie Collins – 3rd; Violet Smith – 1st ; Ruby Cunliffe – 4th; Ruby Wilson – 5th. And in Ashford Schools’ cross country championships, the Year 4 Girls’ team earned second place and Year 4 boys’ third. In the Kent County Championships, the Year 4 girls’ team took joint second place. Choir planning city concert OFFERS INVITED IN THE REGION OF £250,000 FOR its final concert of 2015, Bearsted Choral Society performed a se- Stable Yard, Brick Built lection of carols and readings for Christmas. Loose Boxes, Tack Room, Back in its familiar venue of Holy Cross Church, Bearsted, the choir, under conductor Andrew Lowen, sang many old favourites, joined by Hay and Feed Storage an enthusiastic audience. Organist George Inscoe performed two solos. Plus Grazing Paddocks The choir’s next concert will be at 7.30pm on Saturday, May 14, in the and Hay Field Colyer-Fergusson Hall, Canterbury where they will be singing Haydn’s Creation with the Canterbury Orchestra and Sittingbourne Orpheus Choir. Curtilage of 12 Acres
Maidstone East January 2016 5 News downsmail.co.uk
Ba le to save shops is back on RESIDENTS in Bearsted turned WJ Crouch would have to relocate out to protest at a plan to demolish The vision for during rebuilding and staff say it the historic parade of shops on The the shops would not be viable to return. The Green. (left) and plans have no provision for a base- As shoppers thronged the Christ- above, as ment, where equipment is stored. mas Farmers’ Market, dozens more they are now Mrs Richards said: “These shops gathered outside the shops to voice and right, are viewed as community assets, their fury at a planning application KCC leader providing a welcome alternative to from landlord Evenden Estates to re- supermarkets for the whole commu- Paul Carter place three shops and build six nity, but particularly for the elderly. apartments on two storeys above. with “Their presence is one of the rea- Residents have since bombarded protestors sons for Bearsted’s appeal as a place Maidstone Council with objections Culture’s three criteria for priority, a shortfall of 10 parking spaces, to live rather than the drab unifor- to the proposal. one of which is being “demonstrably which will add to the problems of mity found elsewhere. Evenden Estates withdrew its under serious threat of demolition or parking around The Green. “The utilitarian design is unsym- original application – submitted at a major alteration from a current plan- The closure of WJ Crouch Butch- pathetic to its setting and appears as similar time a year earlier – promis- ning application”. ers and the impact on the newsagent a monolithic structure with a large ing to come up with something The society has re-issued its plea and computer shop will affect the expanse of black weatherboarding – more aesthetically acceptable. to Historic England in the light of the livelihoods of 30 people. nothing like this exists in the vicin- It was a blow for the Bearsted and new application and wants the Mary Richards, secretary of the ity. It will significantly impact on the Thurnham Society when Historic council to put matters on hold until Bearsted and Thurnham Society, nearby buildings.” England said it was unable to pursue a decision has been reached. said: “All three businesses are flour- Comments on the application an application for listing, as it did Society members say the applica- ishing – they are not struggling and had to be filed with Maidstone not meet any of the Department for tion remains unsustainable and has do not require revitalisation.” Council by January 4. WINDOWS & DOORS REQUIRING T.L.C? DON’T REPLACE THEM MAINTAIN THEM! MAINTAINING YOUR EXISTING WINDOWS & DOORS IS CONSIDERABLY MORE COST EFFECTIVE AND MORE ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY THAN REPLACING. UPGRADING TO ENERGY EFFICIENT BFRC A & B RATED GLASS WILL HELP SAVE YOU MONEY ON BILLS. Fairdeal are local specialists in the repair, upgrade and maintenance of double glazed windows and doors. We repair PVCu, Aluminium & Timber Fogged double glazed Local Authority Approved glass units - replaced NO Call out charge with with energy rated glass Free Quotations & Advice Handles & mechanisms repaired & replaced Window and door hinges Thank you for the excellent product and efficient installation of our front porch. and stays “ A large congratulations for the co-ordination of survey, floor laying, door ordering, Leak and draught repairs supplying & fixing is very much appreciated ” Mrs Jupp - Orpington We supply & install windows, doors & conservatories including UPVC fascias, soffits & guttering & Call 01622 902005 FOR FAST FRIENDLY QUOTES & ADVICE www.fairdealwindows.co.uk Celebrating 22 years of continuous trading Find us at: Unit K, Orchard Business Centre, 20/20 Industrial Estate, Aylesford, Kent ME16 0JZ
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Maidstone East January 2016 7 News downsmail.co.uk Plan to boost traffic flow in town THE latest details of roadworks to ished by next Christmas and will High Street unaffected where pos- would be used on the M20 and “improve the Maidstone experi- reduce queues across the whole sible, to limit disruption. across Maidstone from March to di- ence” have been revealed to retail- junction by about 15% and 20% at However, town centre manage- rect traffic. ers and businesses. each end of the day. ment members were concerned The work is being paid for by Representatives from the Town The report was presented by Rus- about the benefits in light of ongo- South East Local Enterprise Part- Centre Management group heard sell Boorman, KCC’s project man- ing development in the area. The nership (£4.6m) and Maidstone that the £5.74m project to create the ager; Maidstone Council’s project team assured them that a Council (£1.14m). Maidstone bridges gyratory system economic development officer Abi 15% increase in traffic had been The public will get a chance to – creating a better flow of traffic to Lewis and James Pallett, from civil taken into account. The team also view the designs and ask questions all parts of town around the river – engineering firm Amey. addressed concerns about pedes- at a gazebo in Fremlin Walk on Jan- will start in May. Retailers heard that contractors trian access to the riverside and the uary 19. Work to upgrade the busy traffic would work extended hours and closure of some subways on the A dedicated website is also to be hub, serving a massive 5,800 vehi- seven days a week, where appro- High Street side. set up to receive any enquiries cles every morning and 5,700 in the priate. Road closures would be They were also assured that vari- about the work at www.maid- evening rush hour – should be fin- made overnight and access to the able and fixed message signs [email protected]. Health day MORE than 150 people attended a Lydia is world champion respiratory awareness day for pa- LYDIA Kelley (11), from East Farleigh has brought a gold tients with lung conditions held by medal back from Germany where she represented England Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells in the World Tap Championships. NHS Trust. Lydia, who has been dancing at Hilton Hall Dance The event at the academic centre Academy in Maidstone since she was three, and her dance at Maidstone Hospital was organ- partner Harvey Shulver, took the first place in the children’s ised by consultant respiratory duo tap class. The pair are pictured left. physician Dr Syed Arshad Husain, The pupil at Maidstone Girls’ Grammar School was with the help of the hospital’s re- selected for the England team in September and has been search unit. practising with Harvey since then. The event was opened by the Her mum Bev said: “Lydia and Harvey raised their game Deputy Mayor of Maidstone, Cllr and performed out of their skins in the finals. To stand on Derek Butler. the central podium, watch the English flag being raised The trust’s chief executive, Glenn and participate in our national anthem was an enormous Douglas, and medical director Dr experience. It has been an incredible few days for us all.” Paul Sigston also attended.
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