Four editions delivered to over 88,000 homes every month downsmail.co.uk MaidstoneMaidstone SouthSouth EditionEdition Maidstone & Malling’s No. 1 newspaper FREE Maidstone Town | Maidstone East | Maidstone South | Malling September 2016 No. 233 Results delight News IT was smiles all round for these GCSE Olympic gold students at Cornwallis Academy, A RIO gold medallist will visit where nearly half of entrants earned pupils to inspire a new five A*-C passes, including English and generation at her former 3 maths. school in Sutton Valence. Their efforts provided an 11% im- provement on last year’s results – just one of the many positive per- New homes delay formances put in by teachers and START on 800-home Langley students, who celebrated the rewards development could be of their studies with their GCSE and at least a year away. 8 A-level results at schools across the region. For all the details and the names of Cricket club setback some of the top performers turn to YALDING Cricket Club is page 25 and 26. struggling to survive after thieves took their mower. 10 By-election battle OPENING shots are fired in the Locals set to turn pub battle for a seat on Maidstone Council. 11 Cornfield fire into community hub FIREFIGHTERS at Marden used their new fire engine to VILLAGERS have put their money where their mouth is in Ulcombe and tackle a cornfield blaze. 12 are about to exchange contracts on their local pub. Wild birds slaughter A team of four from the village as a golden opportunity to provide and Charles’ sister Rosemary Cass- DUCKS were killed in an attack came up with the money for the “a heart” for the close community, well lives next door to The Harrow by a gang of men with Grade II Harrow Inn pub – where which has just 600 houses. Inn, as does the other share-holder dogs at a village pond. 12 the last pint was pulled more than a He said: “We Simon Odan, with villager Richard decade ago – after securing the back- have a hall, pri- Sim making up the four. ing of volunteers and pledges of fi- mary school and They say the business will be run Birthday girl is 111 nancial support from the village. a church that by an independent management A STAPLEHURST woman is Now they hope to be just days have lots going committee, with a licensee already heading towards being away from exchanging contracts on, but without stepping up. There are ideas of op- the oldest in Britain. 16 with plans to open the pub by a pub or a shop erating the business as a micro-pub, Christmas. it has always with guest ales and cider, and a café Dog waste bins to go The new owners have the supp- been hard work and possibly, a post office and BINS for dog waste are being port of local MP Helen Whately (pic- bringing people together. We used creche, too. removed in a bid to cut tured), who has promised to visit. to gather when the rubbish freighter Charles (55) said: “Had the pub council costs. It follows a failed attempt by the visited the village, but even that has been two miles down the road, none 20 current owners to sell the former stopped. of us would have been interested in drinking establishment, in the heart “We have received huge support buying it, but because it is in the Obituaries 36 of the village, at auction in London. from locals offering to get involved, heart of the village and our nearest Among those behind the fresh bid from gardening, to running the busi- pub is a mile away, this was a golden Comment 37 is fruit farmer Charles Tassell, who ness for us; it’s really exciting.” opportunity to make it our described the chance to buy the pub Church Farm backs on to the pub own. 6 Crime Reports 47 Flood insurance Twenty wooden storage bins for LOCAL NEWS THE landlady of the Chequers pub apples were burned at a farm in UPDATED DAILY in Yalding says businesses hit by East Farleigh; a climbing frame floods in 2013 are now facing huge and slide were stolen from a gar- EVENTS - SERVICES & INFORMATION - ITEMS FOR SALE insurance premiums. Julie Chalker, den in Langley; Thieves took a who runs the pub with her son heavy statue from a garden on www.downsmail.co.uk Linton Hill; and plants were re- Your community website Christopher, warns many traders may have to close. 3 moved in Marden. [email protected] YOUR LOCAL PROPERTY EXPERT 23 Pudding Lane • Maidstone • Kent 01622 690290 ALL BEDS COME WITH A 5 YEAR GUARANTEE SUPERIOR QUALITY BEDS MANUFACTURED IN KENT Chartwell 1400 •1400 traditional pocketed springs •Premium quality damask cover •Double sided mattress Mattress Divan Set only 2 drawer 3ft (Single) £349.99 £449.99 Free 4’ 6” (Double) £399.99 £549.99 delivery on all Memory Plus 800 orders •800 pocketed springs •Deep layer of memory foam •Easy care non turn mattress Mattress Divan Set only 2 drawer 3ft (Single) £249.99 £349.99 4’ 6” (Double) £299.99 £449.99 Express delivery Backcare Select 800 options •800 firm pocketed springs •Double sided winter / summer mattress available •Hand tufted damask cover Mattress Divan Set only 2 drawer 3ft (Single) £199.99 £299.99 4’ 6” (Double) £249.99 £399.99 0% Interest All beds available in non drawer and 4 drawer divan sets. Free credit 15 Royal Star Arcade, High Street, Maidstone, Kent ME14 1JL 01622 296680 upholsterybrands.co.uk Open Mon-Sat 9-5pm, Sun 11-4pm 2 Maidstone South September 2016 downsmail.co.uk News Golden girl to No help for flood-hit visit school BRITAIN’S hockey gold in the Rio Olympics was not just a success for Team GB and player Susannah traders, says landlady Townsend, but also for her old BUSINESSES in Yalding say false important, in the meantime, how- school of Sut- promises of help for flood victims ever, that the Government, Environ- ton Valence. will see the value of their proper- ment Agency and insurance The school ties go down the drain. industry work together to ensure boasts a num- Julie Chalker (51), who runs the communities at risk benefit from the ber of Chequers pub with her son Christo- right protections, so when Flood Re Olympians, but pher, says promises of help made by comes to an end, affordable insur- Susannah (pic- David Cameron, the Environment ance is available.” tured) is the Agency and the county council at He added: “Sadly, there is a strict first female to the height of the flooding in 2000 qualifying criteria for Flood Re and win a medal, and the first ever gold. and 2013 have failed to materialise. commercial properties are excluded. Susannah (27) was a member of Not only do the Flood Re rules in- The thought was that this cover the school’s 1st XI hockey team for troduced to offer more affordable would be available within the com- three seasons. She missed out on se- cover to homes in flood risk areas mercial insurance market, but this is lection for the 2012 Olympic squad, not apply to commercial operations, not the case. Insurers are either im- but her commitment and develop- they only have a 23-year lifespan. posing hugely increased excesses ment over the last four years was re- As a commercial operation with even though the risk is the same. and premiums or in many cases the warded at Rio. no flood risk assistance from the “Those selling domestic properties only quotation available excludes The school’s head of hockey, Government, her insurer insists on a in a few years’ time will find that flood cover altogether. David Matthews, a former GB £35,000 excess in the event of flood- buyers won’t be able to get insur- “Many business owners are now player himself, said: “We are so ing. ance or a mortgage for homes in considering whether it is financially proud of Susannah; we have Julie (pictured), who moved into Yalding if Flood Re is not extended.” viable for them to continue to oper- watched her progress with interest the pub 19 months ago, said: “I was- Mark Pickup, who runs insurance ate with the fear of further flooding as she developed as a player. The n’t worried about taking on the pub brokerage Lion Insurance, which is and are considering re-locating or team’s perseverance and unity was because we were assured flood vic- based near Yalding, has been work- even closing. If this happens it will outstanding and we are thrilled to tims would be helped. Now, nothing ing with MP Helen Grant and parish have a devastating impact on local see their hard work paying off.” is being done.” councils in the area to publicise communities.” Susannah will visit the independ- She added: “Businesses are ex- Flood Re to residents. Flood Re is a reinsurance scheme ent school to talk to students about He said: “Flood Re will be in place which enables insurance companies pected to pay more than 10 times the her success in Rio, and to inspire a until 2039 and homeowners need to to insure themselves against losses premium of domestic properties, new generation of Olympians. use it while it is available. It is vitally because of flooding. www.castle-cleaning.co.uk specialists in carpet & upholstery cleaning Experts in Cleaning Your Home Castle Cleaning is a small family run business operating across Maidstone for 10 years and we are dedicated to delivering the highest cleaning standards possible combined with excellent value for money.