Please don’t call time on our only pub
VILLAGERS have been fighting to save the only pub in Ulcombe from permanent clo- sure to become a private residence. The campaign to keep the Harrow as a public house was backed by the parish council who voted against a planning ap- plication for the change of use. Owners Philippe and Karen Debax-Latour
have continued to live in the Grade II listed building since the pub closed in December 2005. As the Downs Mail previously reported,
they now want to convert it into a perma- nent home, stating that their “sustained and genuine attempts” to develop the business over a number of years had proved unsuc- cessful and they were unable to sell it. Residents, who have organised a 130-sig- nature petition to Maidstone Council against the proposal, say that, despite hav- ing been closed for some time, the pub is an essential amenity alongside the church, school and village hall. The nearest pub, the isolated Pepper Box
Inn, is around a mile away and there is no bus service after 6pm. The small village, with around 350
houses, has already fought off several ap- plications including one by a previous owner which was refused by an appeal in- spector in September 2000. JamesHumphrey, who lives in The Street,
said: “The current owners had purchased, very aware the village had strong feelings about retaining the Harrow as the hub of the community, as the village had protested very strongly about any change of use. The government inspector dismissed the former owner’s application, and all the points raised by the current owner/applicant were previously covered and dismissed. We see nothing new in this application. “Clearly, if the church was failing, the
vicar would be replaced, in the case of the school, the local authority would replace
MAIDSTONE Council has been accused of not taking enforcement action after an earth bank and two trees collapsed at a housing site behindWare Street, off Hog Hill, Bearsted. After alleged breaches of planning approval, the developer had to submit an amended application for a terrace of three dwellings on land to the rear of numbers 13-21, which borders Snowfield. However, excavation works to the bank have continued and a 2m-high gabion retaining wall has been erected, leading to concerns that the em- bankment will remain unstable. Residents claim that a wall over twice the size was required to pre- vent further landslip. Penny Hailstone, representing the owners of
Snowfield, said: “I’ve sent photos to the planning officer and Paul Young from the parish council has told Maidstone Council of his concerns about the strength of supporting walls. “But officers have decided not to stop things.
The landscape officer said the destruction of trees was not an issue. Our big worry is that when the planning application is decided, we are going to be fobbed off with a claim that the boundary wall is safe and secure but I hope someone takes seri- ous structural advice as it looks very, very sus- pect.”
Neighbour Guy Unger said Maidstone Council
had not responded to any of his queries relating to the site. The parish council said it would submit
Christmas parking CHRISTMAS shoppers in Maidstone will find extra weekend parking spaces thanks to the Rotary Club of Maidstone. Town centre businesses are allowing charity parking in lower Earl Street (opposite the car entrance to Fremlin Walk), Mote Road (with a pedestrian exit to Romney Place) opposite Mall/ Chequers) and solicitors Kennedys (opposite Ford main dealers Haynes in Ashford Road). These parks are avail- able on the three Saturdays before Christmas from 8.30 to 7pm and on Sunday December 10 (9.30 to 5pm). Rotarians, wearing distinctive yel-
low tabards, will be helped by other local Rotary clubs, Scouts and mem- bers of the Inner Wheel Club. Parkers are requested to make a donation to local charities.
40 East Rotary’s extra
a complaint to Maidstone Council over its han- dling of the application. Principal planning officer Peter Hockney said:
“The works that have been undertaken to support the bank have been checked on site a number of times by the council’s planning and landscape of- ficers and they are satisfied that the works have helped to stabilise the bank and prevent any fur- ther tree loss.” The new planning application, which is a vari-
ation of a previous consent, is for a repositioned retaining wall, alternative parking arrangement and repositioned refuse bins.
The hall shall go to the ball…
CINDERELLA is coming to the aid of Harrietsham village hall. For one night only, the fairy will wave her magic wand and
... hopefully the money will come rolling in! That's what treasurer Jackie Moore hopes. After taking on
the job, she has been at the forefront of fund-raising efforts. "The building is 15 or 20 years old and it's beginning to
show signs of wear. When I looked at the books we were in danger of going under. But during the course of the year we have held a couple of events, which each raised more than £300, and it looks like we are starting to save ourselves. "The last event of the year is a panto on Saturday, Decem-
ber 4, by Fairgame Theatre. Ifwe can raise another £300-plus, that would make a total of £1,000, which will pay the gas bill." In this present-day version, Cinderella and Prince Charm-
ing, now older and bankrupt, are touring village halls at- tempting to scratch a living with an ancient karaokemachine. They tell their well-loved story through re-enactment, dance and rocking '70s hits. Tickets cost £8.50 for adults and £5.50 for children. Ad-
vance family tickets (two adults, two children) are £25. Call Justine on 01622 850815 or Jackie on 01622 850807.
the head, and a village hall would have a new chairperson. In the case of our pub we rely on the owners to market and sell at a market rate, and MBC to support the village in the retention of its amenities. We have thriving facilities and see no reason why the Harrow should not do so less the current ownership.” Parish councillors decided by a majority
to object to the application. Chairman Geoff Beale said: “We want to keep the pub. It’s been there for many years and it would be an awful shame to lose it. There is no other pub within walking distance and no bus service in the evenings. “We have lost our post office and our shop
and don’t want to become just a dormitory village.” Resident Steve Crump, one of the petition
organisers, said: “Obviously the pub trade is difficult – everyone appreciates that. But the general view is that not to trade for a few years and then apply for a change of use, is not proof that the pub is not viable. The feeling is that the owners’ objective all along was to ultimately convert the prop- erty into a private dwelling.”
Planning department criticised over embankment Warning over
rogue traders THE PCSO and community warden for Bearsted have teamed up to warn residents about the ongoing threat of rogue traders. The issue of vulnerable resi-
dents being targeted by fraudu- lent callers remains a big problem in the parish. Commu- nity warden Dawn Riach- Brown said: “We had one incident where someone knocked on a resident’s door at 6.30pm and told them the water had been contaminated and could they check. “Luckily the resident said no,
and that they would ring the water board up themselves.” Ms Riach-Brown added that residents should ensure their back doors are locked to com- bat diversionary tactics.
Theatre group
is turning 50 LENHAM Players kick off their 50th anniversary year with an evening of words, music and comedy by David Abson, who has acted and directed a num- ber of successful productions since becoming a member in 1968.
David Abson’s Favourite Bits
takes place at Lenham Commu- nity Centre on Saturday, De- cember 11, at 7.45pm. Tickets cost £7 each from Len Valley News in the High Street or by calling the community centre (01622 858561) on mornings.
Red Lion auction A TOTAL of £5,000 was raised in a harvest auction at the Red Lion pub in The Square, Lenham. The money was to be allocated to Kent Air Ambu- lance, Lenham Christmas Lights and Lenham Cricket Club.
Have you got news for us? Phone our News Desk on 01622 734735
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