Stoves by Edmed


Curtain up for new drama group The group is planning its first


A NEW drama group linked to Boxley Church is on the lookout for people who would like to get involved in its first produc- tion.


Boxley Church Drama has


been launched to further the de- velopment of musical and dra- matic arts for anyone aged from six and to raise funds for St. Mary’s and All Saints’ Church.


show - a modern biblical musi- cal, which will be staged in the church in June. Castings and rehearsals will


take place from Sunday, Febru- ary 13, from 2 to 5pm, in the church hall. Anyone interested in taking part in the show should contact Debbie Feast on 01634 681887.


Lorries in lanes face new curbs


Fairbourne Lane, with a graphic impression of


how HGV drivers may be put off


going any further. The sign reads:


“No vehiclesex- ceeding 7.5t” in Spanish, Polish and German as well asEnglish.


STEPS are being taken to deter lorry drivers from using inap- propriate rural routes, often with the result they become stuck in narrow lanes. That is what happened just


Specialist in limestone


mantelpieces, granite and slate hearth. Suppliers of stoves, multi fuel and wood burner


Visit our showroom in


Sittingbourne or click on to www.edmedcoal.co.uk


01622 260514


Solid fuel available for collection & delivery


Prices now available on-line at www.edmedcoal.co.uk


EDMED STOVES - COAL - CHIMNEY SWEEPING 12 East


before Christmas when a Span- ish haulier - following his Sat- nav advice -tried to negotiate Fairbourne Lane, Harrietsham, where his HGV was stuck for three days. The incident damaged the verges and the highway - and caused massive inconvenience to residents, not for the first time.


There was a similar incident


in Caring Lane, Thurnham, where another Spanish lorry, heading for a farm in Leeds, got trapped for five hours before eventually getting back onto the A20, with the help of the police. Local county councillor Jenny Whittle has taken up the issue on behalf of frustrated residents - and is pursuing a community action scheme used success- fully in Nottinghamshire. She explained: "The "Commu-


nity Lorry Watch" involves a pilot partnership between their trading standards officers and two parish councils, whereby


THE troublesome activity of ve- hicles parking on the footpath was discussed at the Rural North and East neighbourhood forum at St John’s Primary School, Grove Green. Residents from around the


local area complained about in- stances where selfish drivers had left little space for the dis- abled and buggy-steering par- ents to use paths. It was claimed that a number of pedestrians had been forced onto the road. PCSO Andy Hawthorn urged people to contact him directly so he couldmove thosewho are parked illegally but Bernard


residents log registration num- bers of lorries they believe have breached weight limits and re- port their findings to trading standards. They decide whether to take enforcement proceed- ings against the haulage compa- nies. Fines of up to £1,000 can be imposed." Cllr Whittle said: "Kent High-


ways are making enquiries with Notts as they are interested in doing something similar here. "I'd be pleased to nominate a couple of particularly affected areas - Fairbourne Lane and Caring Lane being notable con- tenders."


Meanwhile, Cllr Whittle is


keen on a proposal that, poten- tially, could avoid a repeat of the Fairbourne Lane incident. She said: "Highways have


come up with a really good scheme which involves a chi- cane and more signage (see pic- ture). I have asked for it to be priced up. "The scheme will not prevent,


but should deter HGV drivers from going any further up the lane and continuing to damage medieval infrastructure such as the stream that dates back to the Domesday Book."


Parking problems aired in public


Carine, a former police chief in- spector who is now on Bearsted Parish Council, claimed it would not be that easy. He said: “The yardstick is whether a lady can get between a parked car with her pushchair. It is not against the law to park on the path but it is against the law to obstruct the footpath.”


Helen is new patron MAIDSTONE MP Helen Grant has taken over from her prede- cessor AnnWiddecombe as pa- tron of the Maidstone Osteoporosis Support Group.


Have you got news for us? Phone our News Desk on 01622 734735


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56