U-turn over Mote Park car charges


MAIDSTONE’S ruling Tories have ditched plans to introduce parking charges at Mote Park. Just 48 hours after it was revealed at a scrutiny meeting that charges would raise £15,000, council leader Chris Garland phoned the Downs Mail to say the idea had been dropped. It was on a list of more than 50 areas for saving a total of £1.9m in the coming finan- cial year. But Cllr Garland said: “We are not going to be charging for parking at Mote Park. That will remain free.” The savings would be “quite easily” found elsewhere, he added. At the meeting, opposition councillors


had complained about a lack of trans- parency over details behind budget head-


ings for proposed savings. One line under the heading Recreation & Sport said: “Mote Park – parking £15,000.” Proposals also included saving £33,000 by removing dog bins and £30,000 by cutting grants to community groups. But afterwards Cllr Garland said the council should be fo- cusing on the “big stuff” such as staff re- structuring and sharing services with neighbouring councils. Lib Dem and Independent councillors


had "called in" the 2011-12 budget strategy for further scrutiny. But Cllr Garland said members had had plenty of opportunities to ask questions at previous meetings or by speaking to officers. He added: "I don't want to be rude, but I think you are searching for


CHARLES Samuell could not believe his eyes when he saw a label on the green waste sacks he had put out for collection that morning. It said the council would not


take them as garden rubbish had to be in white, com- postable sacks. This was the first that Mr Samuell, of Hanover Road, Coxheath, had heard about the change in pol- icy.


He had bought three rolls of


sacks, costing £2.50 each, last September. But by the start of winter he had not used them all, so when he began to tidy his garden recently he used a couple of the MBC-branded green sacks (see picture). The retired painter and dec-


orator, who lived in Staple- hurst for 30 years, had not realised the council had changed its policy during win- ter. Its collection teams will now only take the biodegrad- able white sacks. "I phoned and the council told me I had to change to white ones and put them out in a fortnight.


A PLANNING application is to be submitted to convert Chart Sutton’s remaining pub into housing. However, Buffalo’s Head owner Steve McMorrow says the building is up for sale to res- idents who want to retain it for the use of the village commu- nity.


The pub, closed by Admiral


Taverns around a year ago, is not viable according to Mr Mc- Morrow, who says his applica- tion will be supported by an economic report from an inde- pendent source.


the best headlines for the Lib Dem newslet- ter."


But chairman Tony Harwood retorted:


"We already have that – the High Street!" in a reference to a row over the phased ap- proach to the £4m regeneration. Cllr Colin Parr said the parking fees was


an example of detail not apparent in the two-page appendix of savings proposals. Street cleaning (£93,000) was another ex- ample. He feared residents would be asking: "Am I going to see dirtier streets or not?" Head of finance Paul Riley said major changes (under the new government) had made budget planning a big problem. The council did not even know the amount it had to save until February, he added.


Sack’s not the way to change policy "I was informed that signs were put up in re-


tailers explaining the new policy and that green sacks would be exchanged for white. But there was a cut-off date. In any case, I had no reason to go to a retailer for sacks as I still had quite a few left from before winter. "I was also told there was a no-


tice in the Kent Messenger about the new rules - but I don't buy the KM!" Mr Samuell, 74, added: "It's like


theft. They have taken my money but are not prepared to honour the situation." He forecasts that hundreds of people who, like him, have un- used green sacks, will find them- selves in the same position. Borough residents were given


until the end of October to ex- change any unused rolls of plas- tic sacks for the new ones. Either type of sack was accepted for col- lection up to December 18. But Mr Samuell said he would


like a goodwill gesture from the council for peo- ple who, for whatever reason, were unaware of the new policy.


Village’s only pub could become residential Last autumn, parish council-


lor Carol Filby led an attempt to turn the boarded-up property into a community amenity, but this fell through and she later resigned from the council. Parish council chairman Cllr


Peter Forknall said: “The pub is unviable. A few people have wishful thinking but the hard fact is that it just does not serve enough beer and people can no longer drink and drive.” There are an estimated 25


pubs in a three-mile radius, and Buffalo’s Head was one of the only ones that did not serve


Hunton oast house conversion goes ahead AN application to convert an oast house into a two-bedroom home in Hunton was given planning permission. Maidstone Council accepted the proposal for Gudgeon Oast,West Street, after agent DHA Planning argued for residential develop- ment: “Employment use is favoured for re-use of rural buildings but the site is not financially viable, nor is the only other alterna- tive - holiday let use. “In many cases the best way of ensuring the long term mainte-


nance of buildings of architectural merit is to keep them in active use. On this basis the residential use of the site is the only other option to ensure the longevity and long term future of the oast.”


food. Its scope to develop a kitchen area is limited by the size of the site. Borough Cllr Mike FitzGerald insists there may be a possibil- ity of obtaining some funding to keep it as a community facility, and is awaiting feedback. He stated that he would not support a change of use until he had searched all avenues to en- able the building to remain a public house.


Two charged over


arson attacks TWO Shepway men have been charged in connection with five arson attacks to the south and east of Maidstone. MarcWilliam Hitchcock (19),


of Oxford Road, and Neil Patrick Clark (34), of Surrey Road, were remanded in cus- tody. A 22-year-old man ar- rested for conspiracy to commit arson was bailed pending fur- ther enquiries. The alleged arson attacks


took place at Lenham Ironmon- gers in the High Street (October 28); Murco Petrol Station, Heath Road, Boughton Monchelsea (December 29); Bathroom and Kitchen Limited, Warmlake Business Estate, Sut- ton Valence (January 28); Old- field’s Newsagent, High Street, Headcorn (January 30) and Wents Service, Ulcombe Hill, Ulcombe (January 30).


Garage refusal MAIDSTONE Council has turned down the proposed erection of a detached garage in Cranbourne House, Hubbards Lane, Boughton Monchelsea. The planning department felt


the garage “would be an incon- gruous and obtrusive feature within the street-scene, out of keeping with the pattern of de- velopment on the eastern side of Hubbards Lane”.


Police threats EDWARD Alfred Adams (27) of Huntingdon Road, Coxheath, was given a 40-hour commu- nity order for using threatening behaviour to four police offi- cers in December last year.


Leader urges EU budget cut


MAIDSTONE Council leader Chris Garland is angry about the UK facing a rise in its contribution to the EU – at the same time as local authorities are being forced to make massive savings. A motion to this effect was due to be debated by the full council


as the Downs Mail went to press. It stated: "The council believes the EU should be treated the same


as other tiers of government and, in these austere times, should share responsibility, along with central and local government, for public spending reductions. Sharing the burden would result in less severe cuts for local authorities, and give more assistance to councils to protect front line services.” Cllr Garland told the Downs Mail: “The UK should cut its fund-


ing to the EU, just as it is to councils across the UK. To do otherwise would fly in the face of the sense of British fair play.”


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