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. At that meeting, Cllr Garland said mem-


bers had had plenty of opportunities to ask questions at previous meetings or by speak- ing to officers. He added: "I don't want to be rude, but I think you are searching for the best headlines for the Lib Dem newsletter."


‘Horror’ over park tree-felling


A TREE-felling operation in Mote Park - sup- posedly to open up historic vistas - has angered some park users and sparked a political row. A leading Lib Dem contacted the Downs Mail expressing "considerable shock" among the pub- lic over destruction of native lakeside trees. Cllr Tony Harwood said: "Every member of the public I bumped into expressed horror at the ex- tent of work." The issue flared within days of it being re-


vealed that the Tory-run council also planned to introduce parking charges at Mote Park. That proposal has since been dropped. The park is currently undergoing a £2.5m re-


vamp, part-funded by a £1.8m Heritage Lottery grant. Cllr Harwood said: “Mote Park is special. It provides an opportunity for residents to interact with wildlife on their doorstep. The changes un- derway at the park will sever this link for many people.” He added: "All the native trees at the western-


most end of the lake have been felled to 're-in- state' some imagined historic vistas, which have long-since been softened by nature and have evolved into the sylvan park that residents and wildlife love so much. "It is depressing to hear the distress calls of moorhen, coot, grey wagtail and other bird species who have lost the waterside willows and sallows on which they relied to roost and nest.


"Indeed, in late February many birds were al-


AN APPEAL to help oncology nurses at Maidstone Hospital raise money for extra comforts on the ward has been made by one of their patients. Glenn Wood, of Midsummer


Road, Snodland, has been im- pressed by the fundraising ef- forts of staff who aim to buy recliner chairs for the infusion unit. The nurses have set up a char-


ity which has already provided portable DVD players for


Pub to house youth THE Royal George pub in Box- ley Road, Maidstone, will be converted into accommodation for vulnerable youngsters. Planning permssion was granted for the 13-bedroom pro- posal, which will require a two- storey rear extension.


8 Town The council claims the park will be improved


ready nesting so the timing was particularly crass and set a very bad example to developers and landowners." Maidstone Council said 140 trees would be planted after areas of scrubland and some poor quality trees were removed. Reinstatement of historic views had been coordinated with Kent Wildlife Trust “to ensure the park’s ecology is protected. No substantial trees will be re- moved”. Cllr Richard Ash, cabinet member for leisure


and culture, told our readers last month: “These improvements will conserve the natural habitat of the park, restore many of the features lost over time, and add better facilities for families and disabled groups.”


Appeal for oncology nurses to buy special chairs


chemotherapy and haematology patients who spend up to 10 hours in one day receiving treat- ment.


Glenn, a groundsman with Russet Homes, who is fighting cancer, said: “The patients are very well cared for and the staff do a wonderful job, but some people are in there for 10 hours and recliner chairs might help it to seem not such a long day for them. “The nurses are putting them-


Turkey gazebo idea A PLAN has been submitted to install a gazebo within the landscaped garden of Turkey Court, Ashford Road, Maid- stone. The structure would complement use of the or- angery and garden room at functions held in the grounds.


selves out to help the patients and I thought it would be good to point out what they do.” Staff aim to buy 10 chairs, costing about £630 each. Dona- tions, especially of prizes for the Easter raffle, would be wel- come. The Christmas raffle raised around £1,000. Russet Homes has pledged the proceeds of one of its monthly charity Dress Down Fridays for the cause. If you can help, con- tact the unit on 01622 225099.


House to flats plan APROPOSAL has been submit- ted to convert an existing house into four self-contained flats at 79 Lower Boxley Road, Maid- stone. The plan includes a single


storey rear extension to replace an existing conservatory.


To contact Downs Mail just phone 01622 630330 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 Mote Park parking charges was an example of detail that was not apparent from the two-page appendix of savings proposals. Street cleaning (£93,000) was another ex- ample. He thought residents would be ask- ing: "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.


MP’s action call on


domestic violence MAIDSTONE MP Helen Grant spoke in the Commons during a debate on domestic violence in the UK. She said: “Domestic violence crushes self-confidence and self-esteem, which are the pre- requisites for aspiration, moti- vation, success and the ultimate goal of social mobil- ity”.


Mrs Grant, a solicitor special-


ising in domestic violence for more than 20 years, urged the Government to do more to tackle the issue among young people, where currently one in four teenagers have been phys- ically hurt by someone with whom they are in a relation- ship. “The message needs to start at schools, with our young peo- ple. We need to talk to them about respecting themselves and respecting others, and about gender equality and em- powerment,” added MP Grant.


Extension prediction A MEMBER of Tovil Parish Council has predicted a flurry of planning applications for home extensions.


The council agreed to support a proposal for a two-storey side extension at 16 The Penstocks, on condition that current park- ing arrangements are preserved.


Cllr Derek Mortimer said: “Given the housing market, we are going to get hundreds of these.”


Air condition thefts A RECENT spate of incidents concerning air conditioning systems includes four units stolen overnight outsideWood- stock House in St Leonards Road, Allington. Units have also been taken


from Allington business prem- ises at Hanson Aggregates in St Laurence Avenue, and Advo Group in St Leonards Road. The problem has surfaced in


Park Wood, too, with copper piping stolen from the external air conditioning system at an exhaust warehouse on the Spectrum Business Estate.


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