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 July 2016 No. 231 News Fears as flood funding Reg’s bench tribute A LASTING tribute has been made to Reginald Fitzgerald, missed off a war memo- pledge ‘trickles away’ rial for 67 years. 5 New school to open RESIDENTS in Yalding and Collier Street who suffered their worst ever MAIDSTONE is to get a new flooding three years ago fear they could find themselves hung out to dry. school specialising in science and maths. 10 Kent County Council (KCC), ing on the pledge, claiming he al- Rural Affairs) said it would foot 50 which promised to match-fund ways said that the funding would per cent of the bill if the county flood defence improvements by need to be supplemented by cash council would pay the rest. Stones’new pitch £17.5m is now offering £4m of from the borough and parish coun- In February 2014, Cllr Carter said MAIDSTONE United will play pre- which, we understand, only £1.5m cils. Whilst KCC had put its £4m KCC would underwrite the costs of season friendlies away will be earmarked for Yalding. offer on the table, the borough building better flood defences for this summer. 13 Proposals put forward by the En- councils were still debating as to Yalding and Tonbridge and raise the vironment Agency (EA) following the size of cheques they could prof- £17.5m needed. the floods of Christmas 2013, in- fer, he said. But Mr Carter is looking to the Horse fraudsters cluded increasing the capacity of the Soon after the December disaster – Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) TWO fraudsters face jail this Leigh storage area and creating a which saw Prime Minister David Regional Growth Fund for financial month for mis-selling new Lower Beult storage area at a Cameron and HRH Prince Charles support and asking Maidstone and sick and injured horses. 16 total cost of £35m. heading a high profile list of visitors Tonbridge and Malling Councils to KCC leader Cllr Paul Carter has to the village – Defra (the Depart- each find £1m. denied he – and KCC – are reneg- ment for Environment, Food & He said: “We have put £4m 8 Grafty Green delay PLANS for developing the Grafty Green garden centrre site Summer Fest’s have ben delayed. 17 Castle ticket dodgers a big success LEEDS Castle’s finances are A SHARP downpour in the town being hit by visitors 26 centre did little to dampen the spir- dodging entrance fees. its of the thousands of people who turned out to enjoy the Maidstone Red kites returning Summer Festival. Staged at locations across RED kites spotted in the Maid- Jubilee Square, Fremlin Walk, stone area sparked hopes29 Brenchley Gardens and Week of the birds’ return . Street, the festival filled the streets with colour, noise and music. Rachel’s brave battle The event was put on by the Kent Community Events (KCE) and READ how Rachel Curley decided supported by One Maidstone with to fight her cancer diag- 32 Downs Mail as the media partner. nosis head on.. KCE spokesman Barbara Dunford said that despite one rain shower, Obituaries 34 the day was filled with sunshine and fun. Comment 36-3732 Picture special, page 18 Crime Reports 37 LOCAL NEWS MPs’ pledge TOOLS were stolen in Hunton. MPs Helen Grant and Helen Parish Councils 46-47 UPDATED DAILY Whately have pledged to accept the A SHOP saftety scheme to crack result of the EU referendum for the EVENTS - SERVICES & INFORMATION - ITEMS FOR SALE down on potenial crime for long-term good of their Kent con- Headcorn has been discussed. A www.downsmail.co.uk stituencies, the economy cleaner may be required for the and the nation. 3 Your community website pavilion in Chart Sutton. [email protected] YOUR LOCAL PROPERTY EXPERT 23 Pudding Lane • Maidstone • Kent 01622 690290 1%+VAT SELLING FEE Selling homes in MAIDSTONE since 1982 Roundwell £975,000 • Exquisite detached cottage • Set amidst a secluded 1/4 acre plot with delightful views • The property has undergone extensive programme of remodelling • 4 beds The Green, Bearsted £385,000 Hogg Hill, Bearsted £435,000 Weavering £365,000 • Unique Victorian Cottage overlooking the green • Rare opportunity to acquire this modern end of terraced • Beautiful and charming Grade II listed period cottage • Parking space for two vehicles at the rear. house • Parking for two vehicles. • lovingly restored and refurbished The Green, Bearsted £420,000 The Green, Bearsted £515,000 • Late Victorian terrace backing onto the village green • Set in private cul-de-sac 50 metres from the village green • Featuring sumptuously fitted bathroom and kitchen. • Set amidst a large plot • 1950's semi with 3/4 beds No tie in Dedicated A trusted local contracts experienced staff company Penenden Heath Office www.ferrisandco.net Bearsted Office Penenden Heath, Maidstone ME14 2HN Bearsted Green, Bearsted ME14 4QZ Tel: 01622 671200 Tel: 01622 737800 2 Maidstone South July 2016 downsmail.co.uk News Lier pickers MPs agree on need to are thwarted LITTER-pickers in West Farleigh have had their attempts to keep the verges clean thwarted by grass cut- unite over way ahead ting cutbacks. Volunteers who turn out THE shock result for Britain to 55.7% voted to leave and 44.3% to the utmost integrity and sincerity monthly were due to tackle a litter- ‘Brexit’ the EU in the recent refer- remain. and he has been an outstanding pick in June and early July, but the endum was in no small part due to Across all of Kent 59.21% were in leader, taking us out of the reces- grass was so high in parts of the vil- voters in Kent and the South East. favour of leaving the EU and sion and into a strong economy.” lage as to make it impossible. As one of the nation’s more afflu- 40.79% to stay. Attacking racist incidents in the The next ‘cut’ should be complete ent areas, the region was predicted Helen Grant, MP for Maidstone aftermath of Brexit, Helen Whately by July 10, with the next clean-up by some observers to vote ‘remain’. and the Weald, and Helen Whately, said: “The referendum campaign on Sunday, August 7. Instead, the electorate gave over- MP for Faversham and Mid Kent, has exposed divisions in the UK Contact Terry Baines on 01622 whelming support to the ‘leave’ both voted to remain. and left some people feeling uncer- 815267 or Brian Cushing on 812341. camp, with only Royal Tunbridge Mrs Grant said: “I am disap- tain, upset and angry. That is all the Wells voters seeking to stay. pointed with the result but what is more reason to pull together and In Maidstone, where the turnout done is done. We must now work reassert the values that unite us. Plan is held up was 76 per cent, 58.8 per cent of vot- together to preserve the unity of the “By voting to leave the EU, the COMPLETION of Headcorn’s ers asked the nation to leave, with United Kingdom and protect our people of this country made clear neighbourhood plan has suffered just 41.2 per cent seeking to stay. economy whilst we navigate a new that immigration needs to be con- another setback. In Tonbridge and Malling, where course in an uncertain world. trolled, but that doesn’t give xeno- After news that the plan would the turnout was higher, at 79.6 %, “David Cameron…is a man of phobia a free pass.” be the subject of a public hearing, the parish council was advised the original examiner has had her ac- James hopes his new ‘Buddies’ will soon be growing shoots creditation withdrawn, making the A DISUSED play space in Wallis Av- He said: “Gardening is such as plan subject to a further review. enue on the Park Wood estate will great way to relax and I am hoping soon be transformed into a commu- that the new garden will become a Hunton music nity garden, thanks to resident real community hub.” A MUSICAL extravaganza will James O’Sullivan and his family. The initiative, which has been take place on the Green, Hunton, James (pictured) is one of a team funded by Golding Homes in collab- on Sunday, August 1. of ‘Growing Buddies’ who have been oration with national charity Garden Advance tickets for Musicals of specially trained to encourage resi- Organics, aims to help tenants get in- the West End are £3 for adults, £2 dents to get growing and gardening volved in growing food as part of a under 13s, or £1 more on the day. across estates in the borough. healthy, active lifestyle. Visit www.huntonevents.com www.castle-cleaning.co.uk specialists in carpet & upholstery cleaning We have a passion for creating customised jewellery 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. We are IICRC registered company, we have to adhere to guidelines set down by IICRC. 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