We can keep KIG land as it is DownsMail


MAIDSTONE Council’s cabinet has no plans to see development on the land that was earmarked for the Kent International Gateway. Applicant AXA last year lost its appeal to build


a large rail freight interchange on agricultural land north of the parish. Maidstone Council had been criticised in some quarters for encouraging the application by including the land as an area of search for a development site in its planning pol- icy, and for not following KCC in demanding that the land should remain intact . But Cllr Richard Ash told Bearsted Parish Coun-


cil: “The cabinet view at Maidstone is that the land should not be developed.


THE bosses of a historic pub vowed to reopen as soon as possible after the building was badly damaged by a major blaze. About 30 firefighters were called to the Harrow


Inn at Lidsing at around 6.30pm on what should have been the last busy Saturday before Christ- mas.


The fire swept through the roof space of the


18th century public house, leaving it in need of extensive repairs. Kent Fire and Rescue Service said they believed


the incident started accidentally after a fire in the chimney breast burnt through the brickwork. The blaze was a devastating blow for landlord


Kris Orme and his partner Lisa who have invested in establishing the pub as a popular meals and family venue since taking over around 18 months ago.


Built in 1786, the pub was linked to the recent Treeby murder trial as the scene of a family row which, police believe, eventually resulted in a trail of violence and death in a Maidstone street. In reply to website gossip, Lisa stressed that the blaze had absolutely no connection with the case.


Workmen start work in the snow on repairing the damage at the Harrow Inn


She said in an internet message that “on Saturday evening, ourselves and two children lost every- thing. “ She added: “The reason everything was taken


from us on Saturday evening had nothing to do with the Treebys.”


“There was the number of 200 homes put on the


land, but that has now been crossed out and these houses will go elsewhere. This is easy to defend because we have strong policies in place.” The news came as a boost as the parish council


is campaigning to ensure that the land remains untouched. Chairman Cllr Chris Dyke said the parish council was offering to form an informal grouping of the three councils bordering the KIG site to co-ordinate its approach to the site and pre- vent development. This might replace the larger Joint Parishes Group, which was involved in fighting the KIG proposals. More Bearsted Parish Council news: page 17.


Couple’s hard work in ruins as blaze hits pub


THE Downs Mail is pleased to mark the new year with a new service – Downs Mail Digital. The online facility will com- plement the newspaper deliv- ery of 88,000 copies via Royal Mail and increase even further the possible readership of every edition. It will mean you will be able to


read all four editions to find out the news fromacross the whole borough of Maidstone and the Malling area. As you browse through the


publications you will also be able to link directly to an adver- tiser’s website or email address offering a real interactive read. Our popular Mid Kent Living magazine, full of regular fea- tures, theatre listings and places to visit, will also be avail- able on line for the family to enjoy. David Dadswell, sales direc-


tor, said: “It’s important in these difficult times to offer added value for both the reader and the advertisers, so I amreally pleased we can bring this new service online free of charge for all concerned.” To read the current edition


visit www.downsmail.co.uk and follow the link. No registration is required and access to the newspapers is completely free of charge.


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