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Police chief objects over Gurkha drinking


Continued from page one


the police said, but it was "im- possible at the time due to num- bers". February 26/27 - Babylon staff


asked for police assistance as ten- sions were running very high at 3.15am. A number of men had been ejectedfrom the club andof- ficers had to wait until they had left the area. Policewere called to a "fight" at 4.15am when a crowd in the side street did not disperse until nearly 5am. But, earlier this month, Mr Ve-


lani withdrew his application and the licensing meeting was cancelled. He told the Downs Mail after-


wards it was a “bitunfair” to label Gurkhas or the Nepalesecommu- nity as a problem. He said: “In a nightclub we


have some issues - it’s the nature of the beast. In the (second) Gurkha incident, two boys had previously had a fight at school


and had not seen each other for 10 or 15 years. “Then they saw each other at


the venue and an argument en- sued in the club. All those in- volved were ejected with the help of the police and the party carried on. No one was hurt in the prem- ises. It started andfinished within minutes.” Shortly afterwards, however, a


group had chased a lad in the street in a case of mistaken iden- tity. The police dispersed the crowd and they went home, ex- plained Mr Velani. He added: “Theirs is quite a


small community and they carry a lot of these things with them.” It was only in January that the licensing committee granted Mr Velani a general extension to sell alcohol at Babylon until 4am on Thursdays, Fridays and Satur- days and to stay open till 5am, thereby allowing a cooling down period from 4am-5am.


£310K in council debts written off MAIDSTONE Council has written off non-domestic rate debts in 19 cases, including two town centre nightspots. StrawberryMoons(A Place inTime) Ltd traded from 28-32 Gabriels


Hill as well as from Cafe Romba at No 33. The company ceased trad- ing and was placed in liquidation in March last year, with a total rate debt of £32,797. Meanwhile, Larrell Services Ltd, which traded as V Bar from Mid-


dle Row, was dissolved owing the council £31,000. The total amount written off by the council was £310,995.


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‘Disgraceful’ benches a slight on park donor Sir Garrard’s memory’


BENCHESthatcommemorate themanwhobequeathed Cobtree Manor Park to the people of Maidstone are in a "disgraceful" condition. Bernard Crawford(pictured), ofChatham Road, Maidstone,whoreg- ularly walks his dog in the park, said: "It grievesmeevery time Iwalk past them. Itwouldn't take much to clean them up." One of a circle of five benches is dedicated to Sir Garrard Tyrwhitt- Drake, 12 times mayor of Maid- stone,wholeft his estate to the local populace. The others honour his wife and Messrs Fletcher, Bunting and Monckton - all former chairmen of the trustees. Mr Crawford, president of the


Maidstone and Mid Kent Sunday Football League, has complained to the borough council, which manages the park in Forstal Road on behalf of the trust. He said: "The benches are going to rack and ruin. I have been on to


the council but nobody seems to be doing anything about it. "Sir Garrard gave all that land yet those benches are in such a state.


It's disgraceful." Current trust chairman Richard Corben said he had passed the issue to the Cobtree officer. "I'm sure it will get sorted."


Nature reserve appeal KENTWildlife Trust has launched an ap- peal for funds to restore The Larches - a 60-acre nature reserve near Detling. The Larches, which can only be ac- cessed on foot from Detling Hill, is an un- spoilt natural area with towering beech trees and dense yew forest - centuries old - and uninterrupted views across the from plateaux of wildlife-rich chalk grassland. KWThas taken over the site, and wants money to help clear glades and rides, es- tablish stock grazing and coppice hazel. To donate, call 01622 662012.


Cricket club


wants members BEARSTED Cricket Club Colts is inviting boys and girls to join the club for the new season. The coaching pro- grammes cover four age groups: U9s, U11s, U13s, U15s. Info: David Vant - 01622 631267 / davant@talktalk.net.


Lillico Country Store, Beddow Way, Aylesford, KENT ME20 7BT Tel: 01622 718062


8 East To contact Downs Mail just phone 01622 630330


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