FREE & Fortnightly Maidstone & Malling's No. 1 newspaper - downsmail.co.uk - August 5th downsmail.co.uk & Fortnightly No. 277
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FREE
& Fortnightly
Maidstone & Malling’s
No. 1 newspaper
July 23rd - August 5th downsmail.co.uk No. 277
Your is now available to pick-up from a store near you, every fortnight and FREE Store Address Town PostCode Taylors Newsagents The Green Bearsted ME14 4DN The Shop on the Green The Shop On The Green Chart Sutton ME17 3SB Delting Community Store The Village Green (next to the Village Hall) Detling ME14 3EY Newsagents 242 Bull Lane Eccles ME20 7HF Grafty Green, PO & Stores Headcorn Road Grafty Green ME17 2AN Halling Post Office 95 High Street Halling ME2 1BS Mace Stores 70-72 West Street Harrietsham ME17 1HU Post Office 28 High Street Headcorn TN27 9NE Woods of Hollingbourne 52 Eyhorne St, Maidstone Hollingbourne ME17 1TS New Avenue Stores 29 Charlesford Ave, Kingswood ME17 3PE Lenham Village Stores The Square Lenham ME17 2PG Stanley's of Marden Albion Garage, Albion Road, Marden TN12 9DX Station Newsagents Station Road Staplehurst TN12 0QH Haven Farm Shop/ Post Office Haven Farm, North Street Sutton Valence ME17 3HS Shay Service Station Maidstone Road Sutton Valence ME17 3LS Parkfoot garage 265 London Road West Malling ME19 5AE Post Office High Street Yalding ME18 6HS Tesco Extra Lunsford Park Aylesford ME20 6RJ Sainsburys Store Quarry Wood Industrial Estate Aylesford ME20 7NA Co-Op 33-37 Egremont Road Bearsted ME15 8LH Co-Op 1 Buckingham Drive Harriestsham ME17 1GF Asda Superstore 1 Alexandra Grove Kings Hill ME19 4SZ WM Morrisons New Hythe Lane Larkfield ME20 6PW Co-Op 31-33 Week Street Maidstone ME14 1QS Tesco Superstore Grovewood Drive Maidstone ME14 5TQ Tesco Superstore Farleigh Hill Maidstone ME15 6RQ Sainsburys Store Romney Place Maidstone ME15 6SF Co-Op 427 Willington Street Maidstone ME15 8HD WM Morrisons Sutton Road Maidstone ME15 9NN Ask me Point The Mall Maidstone ME15 6AT Maidstone Museum Café St. Faith’s Street Maidstone ME14 1LH Royal Star Arcade Café High Street Maidstone ME14 1JL A’n’D Bargain Foods 38 High Street Snodland ME6 5DA Co-Op 11 High Street Snodland ME6 5DA Tesco Metro 79 High Street West Malling ME19 6NA You can also read all editions online at: www.downsmail.co.uk or You can have the newspapers posted to you, every fortnight Annual subscription (24 copies) £25 Call: 01622 630330 or Email: info@downsmail.co.uk
Maidstone East Edition Maidstone & Malling’s
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October 2017 No.Maidstone
246 & Malling’s
No. 1 newspaper
News
Panto ahoy!
July 23rd - August 5th downsmail.co.uk No. 107,
Kate, 277 dies
THE cast of Cinderella, which is to be
staged at the Hazlitt Theatre in Maid- KATE Hart, a resident at an old
people’s home in Bearsted,
News
PM Boris drops in at primary school
stone, took to the River Medway to
launch this year's panto. has died aged 107, her son !3
On board The Kentish Lady were
national treasure Rustie Lee (Fairy
Victoria’s role
David has disclosed.
Godmother),
BORIS Johnson former
wasEastEnder
joined by Ste- MP’s
FORMERLocal Plan
Leeds Castle bid
boss
fan Booth
Kings (Prince school
Hill primary Charming), Eliza-
students Victoria Wallace has moved on
HELEN Whately asked the
beth Bright
earlier this week (Cinderella),
when he an- Craig after six years with the Common-
government to halt the
Anderson
nounced an(Buttons)
increase inand,
pupilpictured,
fund- wealth Warhousing
borough’s Gravesscheme. !4
Stephen
ing across Richards and Adam Bor-
the country. Commission. 6
zone
The(Ugly
Prime
Theyto
comed were
Sisters)
Thegreeted
.
Minster was wel-
by School
Discovery pupils by
from New
Plans woodland
for Dr Nigel
South
Tom Borough Primary
Tugendhat, School and
MP for Tonbridge FEARS of a lorry park on farmland
THE widow of GP Dr Nigel Minnet
members ofon
the media. July
The20.
panto off
and Malling, Monday, willthe
walkM20
the have
Grandbeen eased
runs from December 1-31. For tick- after a different site was !12
He met five-year-old Tony Canyon for charity.
ets go to www.hazlitttheatre.co.uk.
Hudgell, who raised over £1million found in Ashford. 7
for the NHS hospital that saved his
New mosque
Jason plan
Donovan date
CCTV call in a bid
life. Tony raised the funds by walk-
ing 10km with two prosthetic legs, RELIGIOUS
THE leaders atstar
former Neighbours Maidstone
brings
in 30 days. Mosque
his have
show to submitted new
the Hazlitt
plans for
Theatre May.place of !18
a £1m
next
8
Meeting brings hope
worship.
to stop fly-tipping
Fant speed limit
FANT could soon be covered by a
20mph limit after concerns about
of cut in new homes
speeding traffic in the
area. 11
CALLS for the installation of CCTV cameras to prevent fly-tipping on a Obituaries 33
country road have been made by the local borough councillor.
Burberry Lane, near Leeds and nearby, more than a year after it unlicensed waste carriers, but be-
Parishes 36
A GLIMMER
Broomfield, has beenof hopeby for
targeted wasa reduction
dumped and set onin
fire.the number of houses
lieves the cost being
to small firms of dis-
built in the borough emerged this week.
waste dumpers for years, but in re- The church car park has also seen posing of construction waste at a Comment
Obituaries 45-47
!32
cent months, the problem has be- many instances of illegal dumping. transfer station is proving a deter-
It follows
come a virtual meeting be-
more acute. ernment
But it is remains
a problemcommitted
in many rural to Grant
rent says:
that “Garden
is costing communities
councils more. Tip welcomed
Parish Councils !34-35
tween government
Construction officials
waste, andhard
rubble, the “garden communities”.
areas including Langley,Prime Min-
Otham could
Cllr beFortanmade
important part of the
her remarks as A NEW recycling centre at
core, windows
executive and household
of Maidstone fur-
Borough and Boris
ister Kingswood.
JohnsonWater Lane to
has pledged in solution
one of thefor Maidstone.
borough’s However,
closest trans- ASH dieback has been discovered in
niture islast
left Thursday.
illegally – often strewn Bearsted and build”
Pilgrims Way have theystations
fer must be properly
at North Farm,planned
Tun- Monks Meadow in ease
Allington is expected to Detling;
Council “build, build, Britain’s way pressure on the village
facility at
inMP
the middle of the road. alsoofbeen targeted recently. with appropriate
bridge Wells, announcedroad connections
it will be Hollingbourne fete stall-
Helen Grant
Cllr Gill noises
Fort said:
reported en-
“Every month
out an expected
Last year,slump.
economic post-
Maidstone Borough closed for 10 weeks.
Tovil. co-ordinator Jean Duffy
holder 12has
couraging about “some re- coronavirus and sufficient other facilities.”
we are having toilets, sinks and
duction’’ to the possible 10,500
Council cleared 911 cases of fly-tip-
Mrs Grant hinted there may be
ping and this year more than 163
She
MBC added: “If youthe
questioned go along
“ongoing the African resident
resigned; yellow lines are needed
for Buffkyn Way, Otham, to allow
construction waste dumped in the line of increasing
relevance of housingfines,figures
they have beingto
extra homes
village, required in
specifically in the Local
Burberry “potential”
have been for a reduction
recorded sincein April.
hous- be enforced.
A RARE
buses goose has
through beenPark;
Imperial spotted
rub-
ing based on the A 2014reduction
household in for-
the
in Boughton
bish bins in Monchelsea after in
the sports field
Plan
Lane,review.
where we Theareborough is al-
now thinking The requirements.
approaching darkerThe Ministry
evenings of charge
mationor offering itwhich
projections, free may... dohave
not
ready committed
of installing to 17,600.
cameras on private Housing,
will prompt Communities and
a rise in illegal Local
tipping. Kingswood
numbers spread
are to west
be moved over to
the desired
reflect similar
a falling effect.”
trend”.
But to
land, it oversee
spells danger for oppo-
the problem area.” Government will offeraMBC
Cllr Fort welcomed jointadvice
initia- the
frompicnic
Eastarea and rear exit.20
Anglia.
A three-monthly
MBC Lib Dem leader litter Cllr
pickMartin
on the
nents of theevent
A recent
saw ahouse
5,000 caravan
MBC’sinLenham
Burberry
burnedas
proposal, out
Heath
Lane
thewhile
Gov-a
on
tivedelivering
and the Driver
Writing
garden communities.
by the Environment
and Vehicle
in the Downs
Agency
Mail,Stan-
Mrs
mile-long
Cox said: “I stretch of road to
look forward
Leeds village produces an average
through
seeing Bob’sReports
Crime century !35
if the concerns we have raised and CHURCH organist
VEHICLES have beenBobdriven
Caudwell
over
torched car remains on a footpath dards Agency to clamp down on 32 black sacks of rubbish.
some of the mechanisms we have is celebrating
farmland in his 100th birthday
Lenham, causing
Cllr Fort, who also serves as a
suggested...will help us to reach a
parish councillor, says teaching with a card
damge from the
to crops; an attempted
more
children realistic
abouthousing target.”
social responsibility 25a
Queen. was reported in Detling;
break-in
MBC Labour group leader Mal- vehicle was vandalised in Bearsted
and
help
the issue
colmtakeMcKay
of litter
said: off
the issue
in schools
“I need
will
to be
the streets. Covid-19 heroes
Rd, Weavering; pumpkins were
convinced
She believesa with
development such as
every household stolen from antheallotment
WE CELEBRATE communityin
Lenham Heath,
receiving a weekly between a motor-
refuse collection Lenham.
heroes who faced the Covid-19
YOUR LOCAL PROPERTY EXPERT way and
service, therea railway
is no excuseline,for can be
litter crisis head on -
01622 690290 maidstone@martinco.com
23 Pudding Lane • Maidstone • Kent
called athrown
being
dumped
garden community.”
from vehicles or
in the road.
Mrs Grant’s column, page 47
Comment
pictures. !46-47
34-35
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downsmail.co.uk News
Grammar school holds Charity plea
A HOMELESS care charity has ap-
pealed for donations of food and
on to best in Kent title
money in the wake of the coron-
avirus pandemic.
Maidstone Day Centre volun-
teers have continued to work be-
hind the scenes to support people
MAIDSTONE'S Invicta Gram- living on the streets.
mar School (IGS) is celebrating Head Julie If you can help, contact Zofia at
after holding on to its crown as Derrick manager@homelesscare.org.uk.
Kent’s best state secondary and
celebrated Last month, the government an-
remaining among the finest in the
in a previ- nounced an £85m handout to help
country.
ous year councils look after rough sleepers.
IGS has climbed to sixth in Britain
in the Real School Guide. with GCSE A spokesman said: “We look for-
Maidstone Girls’ Grammar students at ward to receiving details of how
School came in fifth in the county, this will help the homeless in
Invicta
with a national ranking of 33rd. Maidstone.”
Grammar
IGS is part of the Valley Invicta
Academies’ Trust (VIAT). Head
teacher Julie Derrick acknowledged
School
A close call
A RECOVERY driver on his way to
the school’s “challenging year” in ceived this accolade has really given develop into confident young adults.
a collision was caught on his mo-
which A level and GCSE students everyone at Invicta Grammar We are proud of every one of them
bile phone.
were unable to sit their exams after School, and at VIAT, a great boost. and I hope this brilliant news gives
“We seek to develop the skills, tal- them even more motivation and Police saw the driver on the A20
after the school closed to prevent the
spread of the coronavirus. ents and interests of all our students pride in their studies.” in Bearsted on Sunday, July 19.
Mrs Derrick said: “We are de- as individuals. We have high expec- Two years ago, Invicta was rated Kent Police RPU tweeted: “A re-
lighted to have been rated the best tations and high aspirations for ev- seventh in the country and top in covery driver talking on his phone
secondary school in Kent and I am eryone, and our vision is one of Kent in the Real School Guide. to find out where his next job was
thrilled the hard work of our stu- academic excellence in a supportive VIAT is running the free, online — a collision, ironically.
dents and staff, and the support of and caring environment. Invicta Summer Academy from July “A ticket for using his mobile
our wonderful parents, has been “We offer all our students a range 27 to August 28. to help pupils who phone means six points and £200
recognised. We have had quite a of exciting opportunities and experi- have been absent from school for fine. There is so much technology
challenging year, and to have re- ences that we hope will help them months. available, or just pull over safely.”
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5
News downsmail.co.uk
Flower tower
JUDGES will be out with their sun-
flower measuring sticks soon as
Castle’s former chief
takes a city challenge
West Farleigh in Bloom reaches its
conclusion.
One competitor has already
reached 120cm, with challengers at
St Helen’s Corner not far behind.
Judging takes place on August THE former chief executive of
15. If their sunflowers are not visi- Leeds Castle, who quit to take up
ble from the road, entrants should the post of Director General of the
email bloom@thefarleighs.co.uk Commonwealth War Graves
with details of access. Commission six years ago, has
landed another big role.
Road closed Victoria Wallace, who lives in
Maidstone, will oversee the run-
A ROAD in Boughton Monchelsea ning of one of the Inns of Court in
will be closed until August 7. central London, where barristers
Green Lane will remain shut are trained.
near White Cottage and the alter- Her title is Under-Treasurer of
native route is via Green Lane, the Honourable Society of the Mid-
Church Street, and Heath Road. dle Temple.
The works to be carried out are Mrs Wallace, pictured, who lived
part of building development. in Battel Hall in Leeds during her Her time spanned important tive function for one of the Inns of
10 years at the castle, took up her centenaries and WWII anniver- Court, where barristers are trained
Body in woods new post in early July.
Her previous job was based in
saries, and she oversaw significant
internal changes to the commis-
after law school.
“It helps to look after the Temple
THE body of a man was found in Maidenhead, Berkshire, but she sion, including the preservation of Church, the 12th century home of
woodland near Detling on July 9. spent much of her time abroad, buildings. the Knights Templar, and has a
Police were called to Scragged away from husband Sean and Mrs Wallace, a law graduate fantastic double hammer-beam
Oak Lane at around 4pm and said daughters Emily and Georgia. from Exeter University, said: “It hall where Elizabeth I saw Twelfth
there were no suspicious circum- The CWGC maintains 1.7m has been very hectic and I’ve loved Night performed.”
stances.The man, in his 30s, was- graves and memorials to the fallen every minute of the job but I She added: “It also comes with a
from Sussex. His next of kin were of conflicts since WWI at 23,000 lo- wanted to get my life back. flat in central London, so what’s
informed. cations in 150 countries. “The new job is the chief execu- not to like?”
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downsmail.co.uk News
Woodland project ends Club boost
MAIDSTONE Lawn Tennis Club
has been given the go-ahead to
fear of huge lorry park
pull down its ageing, rotting club-
house and build a larger one.
The £45,000 project includes a
patio area for match teas for the
35-year-old club in Poplar Grove.
TWO years ago, residents in Platts
Maidstone Borough Council’s
Heath feared their green enclave
Resident Sally planning committee approved the
off the M20 was to be concreted
Alexander, plan on July 2.
over to make way for a post-Brexit
The club has 200 adult and ju-
lorry park. left, and
nior members and was named
Now they have learned the site Cllr Shellina
will, in fact, be given over to a 300- Kent Tennis Club of the Year 2019
Prendergast by the county's lawn tennis asso-
acre woodland, having been at a protest
bought by Forestry England. ciation.
meeting two
The sword of Damocles was
lifted by a recent Department for
Transport (DfT) deal to buy a large walking trails and cycle routes.
years ago
critic of the lorry park idea, Shel-
MBC buy-up
MAIDSTONE Borough Council
site near Ashford for a freight and Resident Kathy Hales said: “Peo- lina Prendergast, said: “I am de-
(MBC) has agreed to buy the lease-
customs facility. ple in Platts Heath are thrilled. lighted for the residents, who have
hold of 16 units at Park Wood in-
Residents were aghast when Forestry England were due to start had this thing hanging over them
dustrial estate in Maidstone for
they discovered Highways Eng- planting this spring, but, sadly, for two years. It is great news.”
£1.9m.
land was looking to carry out ex- coronavirus delayed all those The Ashford site will not have to
ploratory ecological work on land MBC, the freeholder, held an
plans.” clear the usual planning hurdles as
in the area. Lesley Feakes, of the Lenham Ar- the secretary of state has by-passed emergency meeting on Monday
They feared the land would be chaeological Society, was another the local authority process using a (July 20) of the policy and re-
used as an Operation Stack over- celebrating the “great news”. “special development order”. sources committee who voted 12-2
flow, a means of stopping illegal She said the area is rich in pre- Locals have expressed anger at in favour of securing the eight
parking but, more seriously, a 24- historic interest and has yielded potential noise and air pollution. small and eight large units before
hour customs clearance house. significant Bronze Age finds. She The site will, however, ease the they went to auction the next day.
Forestry England now plans a has written to Forestry England problems feared on the roads Tory members, Cllrs Patrik
diverse “wild land” and wood- with a view to further archaeology. around Maidstone, had the Ash- Garten and David Burton voted
land, to include the creation of County councillor and vocal ford solution not been found. against. One member abstained.
7
News downsmail.co.uk
Rats increase
THE Covid-19 lockdown has
sparked a huge rise in Maidstone’s
Mosque on hold as
plans are amended
suburban rat population.
Gary Bashford, manager at
Bearsted Pest Control, said: “We
had a lot of garden calls in lock-
down. With less litter on the streets
and restaurants being closed, rats
were looking for different food PLANS to rebuild Maidstone’s
sources.” mosque are on hold while a fresh
application is considered, Downs
Civic deputy Mail has learnt.
Faith leaders have abandoned Community
BARMING’S Cllr Fay Gooch has plans for three shop units in the member
been elected Deputy Mayor of £1m three-storey structure after re- Arshad
Maidstone and is in line to become configuring elements of the place Mahmood ,
Mayor in May. of worship. left, with
Mrs Gooch, of Heath Road, The ground floor will instead be Imam
Barming, represents Barming and used as an overflow prayer area, a
Muhammed
Teston Ward on Maidstone Bor- community meeting room, office
and washing facility. Shabbir
ough Council as an independent.
The mosque will have three tiers, Usmani
She is currently Cllr Martin Cox’s
deputy as borough council leader . with the highest at the front, look-
ing out into Mote Road. which may not be until September. The old mosque shut in Septem-
Cycling boost The first floor will house a
women’s prayer room and three
He said: “These applications
usually take about 12 or 13 weeks
ber 2018, with services relocating
to a hall in Park Wood. The first
CENTRAL Government has kitchens, while the top floor will to process so it might go before the plans were approved in late 2016,
agreed to contribute up to £150,000 have a three-bedroom flat for the planning committee sometime in and there is no reason to believe
for a new cycle hub at Maidstone Imam, a library and meeting room. September. The new layout means the new plan will be turned down.
East Station. The new mosque’s capacity is set the shops have gone. We received Earlier plans were opposed by
This will improve the cycle route at 550 worshippers. 13 applications from people look- right wing extremists who charac-
to Mote Park. Imam Dr Muhammed Usmani ing for retail units in the building, terised the place of worship as a
Government wants to see work said work cannot resume until the including a convenience grocery “mega mosque” and a “monstros-
delivered by November this year. council considers the new scheme, store and a bookshop.” ity”.
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downsmail.co.uk Business Focus
9
News downsmail.co.uk
Stay safe and Len House plan revealed
NEW plans are before Maidstone Borough Council to convert Len House,
prevent fires
the former Rootes site in Mill Street/Palace Avenue, into a residen-
tial/commercial development with riverside amenities.
A public boardwalk is proposed along the River Len pond frontage,
with a seated area off Mill Street around an iconic former petrol pump
area.
The ground floor of
FIREFIGHTERS are encouraging the existing building
Kent residents to stay safe this Summer advice becomes a large open
summer and help avoid fires. Keep barbecues away from commercial space
Following the sunniest spring fences or foliage; with a likely emphasis
on record in the UK, and the driest Keep children and pets well on food and drink.
May in 124 years, fires at this time away from lit barbecues; Eighteen flats are
could develop and spread quickly. Use recognised firelighters or proposed on the first
Hazards such as an increase in starter fuel for charcoal barbe- floor, with associated
barbecue use and garden bonfires, cues; car parking, with an-
can lead to a greater demand on Make sure barbecue ashes are other 62 in an exten-
emergency services. fully cool before disposing of sion.
Director of operations at Kent them Two further build-
Fire and Rescue Service, Chris Col- Make sure disposable barbe- ings of up to five storeys could house 79 housing units. There will be
gan, said: “There are incidents that cues are cool before disposal; 134 car park spaces.
are intrinsically linked to summer- Stub smoking materials out in The plan was deferred to the planning committee meeting – held just
time, like barbecues and grass a sturdy ash tray or on a non- after we went to press – after concerns about certain aspects of the
fires, but it doesn’t have to be that flammable surface like concrete scheme were raised by local business owners.
way if we all take care. or in a metal bucket. They feared residents could be upset by town centre noise, especially
“The smallest careless action can at night. These points were addressed in a council report.
result in a large fire putting life neighbours safe in the heat, espe- Featuring a cantilevered boardwalk, the new development would have
and property at risk – discarding a cially the elderly and very young floating island habitats for birds and other aquatic species.
warm cigarette, having a barbecue children, by checking on them … The scheme also includes opening up the River Len in the town cen-
too close to a fence, or throwing and giving them tips to stay cool, tre. The applicant has now agreed to transfer land at the eastern end of
away a disposable barbecue or ash like staying inside, keeping hy- the site to the council with an £80,000 contribution so this can be
before it’s cooled, for example. drated and closing curtains to achieved.
“Help to keep loved ones and keep their home cool.”
Family Funeral S ervice b rings its personal service to Headcorn
Family Funeral that has been helping families in the area for making funeral arrangements we have learned
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personal service to Michael Lawrence said: “We are pleased our meaningful service that celebrates life.
Headcorn branch in Headcorn High Street is now open. “Our approach is simple. We sit with you in
FAMILY Funeral We’ve worked hard to ensure the premises is our office or your home, taking you slowly and
Service has opened sympathetic to the village conservation area, methodically through the various decisions
a new base in with help from Nick Prior, at Woodland that you will face and the options available to
Headcorn, offering Carpentry, and provides a comfortable you. Sometimes, it’s just good to sit
its friendly service environment in which people can relax and talk and talk to someone with
to even more through their needs. experience and compassion
people across the “Jo will be our lady on hand to help before making a decision.”
Maidstone area. families looking to arrange a fitting tribute Contact Family Funerals on
for their loved ones. I will also be there daily Bearsted 01622 920305 or in
The family owned, and family run business offers a to meet families and help with their Headcorn on 01622 920306.
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Bearsted, Family Funeral Service is run by Michael added: “The loss of a loved one is never easy to
Lawrence and his son Robert, along with Kim at cope with, and the added stress of making
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10downsmail.co.uk News
Dentist forced to stop Police shut
down rave
free slots for children
MORE than 100 people were sent
home from an illegal rave in
Barming on July 11.
Police were alerted to a music
event in Springwood Road at
PARENTS face huge dental bills as practices are limited on the number around 11pm. DJ and sound
equipment were seized from the
of patients they can see in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. property, and the party-goers
sent home.
One surgery has written to par-
A Kent Police spokesman said:
ents saying it has stopped provid-
“Although lockdown restrictions
ing free NHS treatment to
have been relaxed, it remains ille-
youngsters with “great sadness”, gal to socialise in groups of more
as it is no longer financially viable. than six people outside your own
Roseacre Cottage Dental said a Laura Procter household.
once-sustainable £10 loss incurred faces higher “Those intent on holding unli-
during a child’s half-hour appoint- censed music events are poten-
dental bills for
ment has suddenly jumped to a tially committing criminal
her daughter
£70 deficit. offences and risk arrest and their
A letter sent to parents stated: Amelia, due to
equipment being seized.”
“We would obviously be unable to strict
sustain this financial hit for long
before the practice was forced to
guidelines
imposed due Burglar jailed
close.” to Coronavirus A MAIDSTONE man has been
The British Dental Association jailed for three years after bur-
(BDA) says that dentists, most of whether they provide one filling or tancing measures and pay for in- gling seven homes in a week.
whom are small businesses, are six. Covid-19 has been disastrous credibly expensive PPE. Jordan Macdonald (23), of Re-
for dentists and as small busi- “It’s not like a GP surgery which gency Place, stole cash and jew-
under huge pressure since they re-
nesses, they had to shut their doors is guaranteed a level of funding. So ellery from homes in Hawkhurst,
opened in June after lockdown was
for three months with no income many dentists are at risk of going Lamberhurst, Maidstone and
eased.
but all the overheads. bust.” Mereworth last year.
With decontamination costs, so-
“Now they have come back, they The cost of PPE, says the BDA, The crime spree started on
cial distancing and a massive hike
can only fit in about a third of the has rocketed by 600-1,000% due to September 17, 2019, but Macdon-
in personal protective equipment patients, but have to decontami- the high demand and lack of sup-
(PPE) prices, dentists are able to see ald left DNA at two crime scenes,
nate regularly, exercise social dis- ply. one sample on a rock and another
roughly one third of their normal
clientele, said a BDA spokesman. on a brick which were used to
Mum Laura Procter, whose
daughter Amelia (8) was a We’re all doing our best smash windows.
He admitted the burglaries and
a breach of bail at Maidstone
Roseacre Cottage patient, both pic-
RADHA Patel, manager of the for at least one hour after the pa- Crown Court.
tured, said: “We had such trouble Bearsted Dental Studio in tient’s appointment ends.
finding an NHS practice two years
ago and then this happens. I don’t
Cavendish Way,
which does not
Mrs Patel added: “It means we
can swap over and so we have
Charity golf
blame the practice and I’m re- have an NHS con- been able to provide about a A GOLF club has raised more
signed to it, but it is a shame.” tract, said her 75% service, which is better than than £8,500 for Yalding addiction
The BDA spokesman added: husband, Kartik, most. and homelessness charity, Ken-
“Successive governments have not is the sole dentist, “But we are a small village den- ward Trust.
addressed the financial anomalies allowing them to tal practice with one practitioner. Knole Park Golf Club at
of NHS contracts. Dentists must use two treat- I’d urge the public to be please Sevenoaks raised £8,506 for the
take on a set number of patients ment rooms. patient with us and be assured trust, which was badly hit when
but will receive the same amount Each must be decontaminated we’re all doing our best.” the Covid-19 pandemic struck
of money per unit of dental activity and caused a serious drop in
fundraising income.
Speed limit plan backed in Fant
Chief executive Penny Williams
said: “We are incredibly grateful
for the continued support of
THE whole Fant area of Maid- Harper, told the board the 20mph £6.4m to Kent to be used within Knole Park Golf Club. These
stone, which has 3,500 houses, area would be fast and economic weeks to create 20mph areas and funds will go towards updating
could soon be covered by a to set up, with few signs needed cycle routes. our dining room for our residents
20mph speed limit under a new for the compact area between A KCC Highways officer re- to create a more social space.”
Play area risk
Government finance scheme. Tonbridge Road and River Med- port to the board indicated a
The proposal won support way. Maidstone Lib Dem coun- 20mph zone was being investi-
from several councillors at the cillors also support the move. gated for the Fremlins Walk area
July meeting of Maidstone Joint Cllr Harper told the Downs of the town centre, to help shop- A CHILDREN’S play area had to
Transportation Board, and it al- Mail residents of this area with pers, cafes and restaurants. be shut after broken glass was
ready has the backing of a 1,000- narrow roads were very con- But councillors backed the found there.
strong public petition organised cerned about speeding traffic, Fant area, seeing a greater need, The playground at The Green,
by Labour councillors for Fant much of it on a rat-run in and out simplicity and financial econ- Bearsted, was closed earlier on
Ward. of the town centre. omy. The decision will be made July 3 and the parish council
One of the councillors, Paul Government has allocated by Kent County Council. claimed the mess had been “in-
tentionally made”.
11News downsmail.co.uk
‘3,000 jobs’ in
£180m plans Tip site approved, but
fears over extra traffic
AN £180m scheme earmarked for
the former Aylesford Newsprint
site could bring 3,000 jobs.
Speculative developer Panattoni
has revealed its plans for the 90-
acre brownfield site. It has been A NEW recycling centre at Alling-
vacant since 2015 when Aylesford ton has been welcomed as a means
Newsprint shut, ending 90 years of of taking pressure from the facility
printing with the loss of 230 jobs. at Tovil.
Tony Watkins, development di- County councillors gave the go-
rector at Panattoni, said: “It will ahead for the site, on the border of
deliver more than £140m per Maidstone and Tonbridge and
annum of economic value to the Malling boroughs, on July 15.
borough of Tonbridge and FCC Environment (UK) Ltd’s
Malling by attracting some of the proposal to develop the incinerator
world’s leading companies as well at 20/20 Business Estate, off Laver- noise and increased traffic. “The new facility in Allington on
as providing buildings to support stocke Road, was given over- Local Liberal Democrat borough the 20/20 park will take some of the
the growth of local companies. We whelming approval by Kent and county councillor Dan Daley pressure off Tovil and improve the
believe our proposals... come at the County Council's planning com- said: “It’s the best place to put it service locally for Maidstone resi-
right time, as the country consid- mittee. The centre will have 22 re- and, honestly, there’s nowhere else. dents.”
ers how to restart, renew and rise cycling container bays, meaning It’s a modern facility and will serve Up to 60 car parking spaces will
to the challenges resulting from residents in the north of the town that part of the borough well. No- be provided and a queuing system
Covid-19.” will no longer have to travel to Tovil body knows how much traffic will for 100 cars would be provided.
The site could include seven in- to dump bulky items of waste. be generated, but there is a concern At Tovil, cars regularly end up
dustrial buildings totalling around The proposal for the seven-days- that traffic from the Poppy Field spilling into Burial Ground Lane
1.9m sq ft of floor space and create a-week operation met with consid- roundabout is at the narrowest part and the B2010, causing delays. Op-
more than 3,000 jobs. erable local opposition, not least of the A20.” ponents have pointed to the addi-
It plans to submit a planning ap- from MP Helen Grant who de- Maidstone south east county tional traffic pressure and pollution
plication this summer. Construc- scribed the 13-hour opening sched- councillor Gary Cooke welcomed at Allington from plans for 840
tion could begin next year with ule as “highly antisocial”. the decision, saying it will take pres- homes on the Gladmans site near
completion scheduled for 2024. Residents voiced concerns about sure off the tip at Tovil. He added: Hermitage Lane.
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12downsmail.co.uk Business Focus
Stay Home and Release Equity – is this a way forward?
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how they are going to continue to pay Sarah says, “I have seen Equity Release
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continue to service the loan and for those confused”.
home owners over age 55 who are In Sarah’s opinion somebody consider-
concerned about their ongoing mortgage ing Equity Release needs advice, guidance
The last few months have seen such and the affordability of this, Equity Release and information that is relevant to their
immeasurable changes in every element may be an option to consider. particular situation and with over 27 years’
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has certainly adapted to try and cope with financial assistance for themselves but the time and care she takes with her clients.
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Local adviser, Sarah Ferrell, has been children struggle financially over the last
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13News downsmail.co.uk
£400k boost
to 999 care Anger as signs ban
walkers from wood
AN ASSESSMENT area at Maid-
stone Hospital’s Emergency De-
partment has more than doubled
in size to help ensure patients re-
ceive rapid treatment.
The number of bays in the VILLAGERS who for decades told what is planned.”
Rapid Assessment Point (RAP) have walked through woods are The parish council has ap-
has increased from three to seven. angry at signs which now prohibit proached Kent County Council to
The cost of the RAP expansion entry there. see if the path can be adopted as a
project, overseen by the Trust’s The notices appeared as work public right of way. According to
Estates Department, was started to clear trees near the pond RBT, a “deed of easement” was ap-
£400,000. on the old priory site in Leeds. plied for in 2015 which can allow a
Spokesman John Clulow said: For many years, walkers and dog landowner to make use of a nearby
“Patients who arrive by ambu- owners have accessed the area from piece of land for the benefit of his
lance are taken to RAP where playing fields in the village and chil- own land.
they are assessed by a senior clin- dren have played in the grounds But details of the deed are "se-
ical decision maker, such as an once landscaped by 18th century questered for 30 years after its cre-
emergency medicine registrar or landscape designer, Capability ation and is currently available only
consultant. Brown. doing the work and the signs are to the officers and agents of the
“That person can either refer One Farmer Close resident has pretty unfriendly.” Rochester Bridge Trust."
the patient to a speciality such as laid fallen branches with his daugh- The land is owned by the RBT said: “The land is privately
the medical or surgical teams or ters along the edges of the paths and Rochester Bridge Trust (RBT) and owned with no public footpaths, al-
order tests so those investigations even built a wooden bench for all to there are no recent planning appli- though it appears people have
are ready when they are assessed use, all of which have since been re- cations for Abbey Farm. walked through the wooded area.
by the next emergency clinician. moved. Parish and borough councillor “Scrub clearance is being carried
“Increasing RAP’s capacity al- But as work started to clear dead Gill Fort (pictured) said: “If it’s pri- out on the site to enable better access
lows rapid handover of the pa- trees and give the site a spruce-up, vate property, the owners are enti- by the tenant. The tenant may have
tient from SECAmb to our staff. signs appeared telling locals they tled to do it. But that bit of put up some keep out signs for pub-
The SECAmb crew is then able to are no longer welcome. woodland has been used by local lic safety. There is planning consent
get back on the road and respond One villager said: “There was no people for decades and it is such a on some farm buildings on the site,
to the next emergency call.” information about why they are shame they are not at least being to convert them to residential use.”
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17News downsmail.co.uk
Planners facing new blow
PLANNING officers at the borough council face having their powers
severely restricted if a new challenge is passed. Legal demand
The unelected civil servants at conduct in handling the Bellway TWO prominent local councillors
Maidstone Borough Council Homes development in Otham opposed to a housing develop-
(MBC) could be stripped of the and MBC's own massive 5,000 ment surrounding the ancient
means to bypass or "frustrate" home scheme in Lenham. church at Otham have been hit
elected members in important de- It took three committees to fi- with a legal demand to disclose
cisions, particularly on housing. nally thwart the officers’ recom- details of emails and phone calls
The Tory plan by Bridge ward mendation to approve and the related to the case.
councillor Jonathan Purle (pic- refusal is almost certainly going County councillor Gary Cooke
tured) cleared the first hurdle to be appealed by the applicant. and Downswood parish and bor-
ough member Gordon Newton
when it was passed by the democ- Cllr Purle wants to review the
have been asked by lawyers to sur-
racy and general purposes com- planning officers' ability to defer
render all correspondence from
mittee earlier this month with a decisions, move to closed session
August 2019 to June 2020.
Liberal Democrat seconder, Cllr or bounce matters to another
Bellway Homes wants to build
Michelle Hastie. body.
421 houses on the site and the
Cllr Purle has called for a major His letter states: "The role of un-
scheme has been included in the
scaling back of senior officers' elected planning officers should Local Plan of 2017, but elected
powers at the Liberal Democrat- county. Some elected councillors be to support elected members, members threw it out on July 13
led authority. claim the Lib Dem political lead- including where elected members on highways safety grounds.
In a letter to the council, Cllr ership has allowed the authority wish to refuse applications that Information gleaned from the
Purle claims officials have more to become "officer-led", a damn- planning officers had otherwise councillors could form part of the
capacity to "frustrate elected ing accusation in local govern- recommended for approval." appeal. A county council officer
members wishing to refuse a ment. It is unlikely a result of the pro- and a local parish councillor have
planning application" than seven There has a been a furious back- cess will be known until early also received requests.
other local authorities in the lash against the officers over their 2021.
Drugs charge
AN INVESTIGATION into
Lenham houses plan progresses
county lines drug dealing has re- COUNCILLORS have sent the Democrats and Labour members. new secondary school and high-
sulted in the arrest of a Maidstone controversial Lenham Heath pro- Protest group Save Our Heath- speed railway station.
man. ject for 5,000 houses onto the next lands (SOHL) told the meeting SOHL says this would mean the
Calvin Smith (36), of Wrangle- stage. that large scale garden connunities A20 would have to be dualled, an
den Road, is accused of being in- The Maidstone Borough Coun- “up and down the country are fail- “impossibility” at locations such
volved in the supply of heroin cil backed ‘garden community’ ing, with the recurring theme as Harrietsham.
across Medway and Maidstone. scheme was progressed by nine being that the schemes contain too Lib Dem Cllr Clive English said
He was arrested on July 1 and votes to six by the policy and re- many significant uncertainties, un- the committee’s decison to send
was later charged with one count sources committee on Tuesday defined parameters and open- the matter on was correct.
of being concerned in the supply night (July 21). ended time scales”. He added: “If we don’t send it
of heroin. A motion by Tory Cllr Jonathan MBC has now teamed up with through for proper examination,
Mr Smith appeared before Med- Purle to have the plan deferred for government-backed Homes Eng- we’d end up having to re-do the
way Magistrates’ Court by video a period of reflection was narrowly land as joint “master developers” Local Plan and goodness knows
link on July 2. He was remanded defeated by eight votes to seven. in the Lenham project. how many more houses we’d end
in custody to appear at Maidstone Conservative Cllr Annabelle But in the current phase, gone up with. It was the sensible thing
Blackmore sided with Liberal are plans for a new M20 junction, a to do.”
Crown Court on July 30.
The awardwinning Downs Mail newspaper is delivered fortnightly doortodoor in selected areas, and is
available to pick up from major supermarkets and local stores in the Maidstone and Malling boroughs.
The papers are free to read online, as is the Daily Downs Mail news service.
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We can post the newspaper to you for an annual subscrip"on of £25 for 24 edi"ons.
For details, email info@downsmail.co.uk or call a member of the team on 01622 630330.
Editorial Sales
Editor Simon Finlay simon.finlay@downsmail.co.uk Manager Bill Brett bill.brett@downsmail.co.uk
Editorial team: Accounts: accounts@downsmail.co.uk
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Lindsay Roberts lindsay.roberts@downsmail.co.uk Bearsted Green Business Park
Obituaries Bearsted, Maidstone ME14 4DT
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18Video calls with loved ones, a relaxing stroll in the garden, or having a
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19News downsmail.co.uk
Extra bin plan
on the agenda African goose finds
home in Kent ponds
THE possibility of another refuse
bin for households will be consid-
ered by Maidstone councillors as
part of the next waste contract.
Most households have a large
black bin for general waste, a green ONCE an ornament to the gen-
bin for mixed recycling and a small teel lakes of 17th century manor
container for food waste. Many also The rare Egyptian
houses, a wild but rather rare
pay for a garden waste bin. goose appears to be setting up Goose, which was
The plan was discounted by MBC home in our corner of Kent. introduced to English
in 2013, due to the cost of collection. The Egyptian goose, introduced country estates in
Modelling showed greater recy- from sub-tropical Africa, has for the 17th century
cling could be achieved overall three centuries survived in a before breeding in
through the current method. small corner of East Anglia. the wild, has now
Maidstone combines with Ash- But with milder winters and been spotted in the
ford and Swale in the current Mid warm summers, the birds have Maidstone area, in-
Kent Waste Contract. The service is spread westwards, with sightings
supplied by BIFFA under the con- cluding the grounds
in the Boughton Monchelsea area.
tract, which expires in 2023. The Egyptian goose, which eats of Leeds Castle
Now MBC’s Communities, seeds and grass and is related to
Housing and Environment Com- the native shelduck, has 1,100 indicates a species that has es- in a pond near Leeds Castle.
mittee has received a report from breeding pairs. caped and bred in the wild or has Its attraction to the 17th century
Director of Regeneration and Place Because the species was intro- been released into the wild." gentleman was its apricot breast,
William Cornall, to enable it to take duced, it does not have an conser- The goose has undergone white wing patch and the dark
an early look at possibilities. vation status from the Royal something of a population explo- brown patches over its eyes
The Government is increasing the Society for the Protection of Birds sion in recent years, leading it to which look like dark glasses.
national target for recycling to 65% (RSPB) but is classed as a orna- seek new territories. Now they The Egyptian goose likes to nest
by 2035, and Mr Cornall says that mental species which is now feral. are being recorded as far west as in holes in trees near freshwater
with our current level at around An RSPB spokesman said: "The Berkshire and Surrey, as well as lakes and breeds well before
50%, “Maidstone has a long way to 'introduced' classification is not a Kent. spring has arrived, hatching up to
go in the next 15 years”. conservation status category, but One report suggested a sighting 10 young.
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Contact us
For further information,
please contact us by:
2. Viewing webinars we will give T: 0800 130 3353
about the proposals online. These
E: allington@fccenvironment.co.uk
will cover different topics and be
repeated during the consultation P: Allington IWMF consultation,
period, offering the opportunity to c/o Newgate Communications,
ask questions about the proposals. Elizabeth House, Greywell Road,
You can register for the webinars Up Nately, RG27 9PR
on our website or using the contact
31 High Street, Snodland Tel: 01634 240458 details below.
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