Dog is stolen from


under police’s nose ALURCHER cross was stolen from outside Maidstone Po- lice station. The dog, similar to a whip-


pet, is brown with a light patch on his back, a black tail and a moley face. He is neutered and chipped and had a red collar and a tag. The main suspect is a male,


in his late 20s or early 30s, who had a scab on his nose. Info – 01622 604395.


The old, old boy THE Old Maidstonians Soci- ety (old boys of Maidstone Grammar School) has heard from its oldest member. Cyril Foreman wrote to say


he would have loved to at- tend the AGM and supper – but old age and distance made this impossible. He lives in New Romney, Kent – and is 102.


Jobs in store A NEW Tesco store in Loose Road has opened, creating 25 jobs. A total of 50 people ap- plied to work at the store, which is open seven days a week, 6am-11pm.


Let the fun begin! Mayor Cllr Brian Mortimer cuts the ribbon to officially open the play area in Coombe Road, Tovil.With him is Peter Stringer, chief executive of Golding Homes


AN applicant has lost patience with Maidstone Council and decided that a plan to redevelop the Papermakers Arms pub at 509 Loose Road should be decided by a planning inspector. Brookheath Ltd applied to demolish the former


pub and build five houses and six apartments in August last year. But because the council had still not reached a


High jinks at launch of £50,000 play area


THERE were holiday high jinks when a new play area was opened in Coombe Road, Tovil. Youngsters jumped for joy as Maidstone mayor Cllr Brian Mortimer cut the ribbon on the £50,000 scheme. The play area, designed with help from local people, is part of a £23m re- generation of Coombe Road by developers Golding Homes.


Papermakers new homes plan goes to appeal


verdict, Brookheath has taken the case to appeal. Following this decision, Maidstone Council re- vealed it would have refused the plan for provid- ing “insufficient” car parking provision that would pose a safety risk on the main road. The decision notice also criticised the design


for a “lack of spaciousness and greenery around the buildings”.


Hall unaffordable


DownsMail In touch with your parish Barming Council


IT was made clear at the parish council’s special meeting that the Barming Community Hall project as it currently stood was no longer affordable. The case of need was now harder to prove to potential funders given the healthy booking streams of Fant Hall and Beechwood Hall. Members noted that Barming


Youth Football Club’s use of the pavilion and field had dimin- ished. It was questioned why the pavilion should be replaced at all, in favour of other recre- ational features on the field. Chairman Cllr Fay Gooch em- phasised that facilities were needed for Barming Youth Club and the football club’s girls’ team. Itwas agreed to ask the ar- chitect to hold fire pending more financial details being ob- tained. A councillor expressed resi-


dents’ concerns about cars parked on both sides of Bever- ley Road during various special events held at Barming School. An Arriva bus took 20 minutes to get through and understand- ably refused to return the same way.


Members noted that parental choice meantmany peoplewere not local and arrived by car. The school did everything it could, but little could be done to legis- late for people’s selfishness and reluctance to walk. It was suggested the school arrange for three volunteers to


marshall the Beverley Road bus route, also to actively encourage car sharing and walking to events. Kent Highway Services was


not prepared to fund yellow lines on the corner of Maryland Drive to stop cars parking at school peak times as there was no record of incidents. County Cllr Paulina Stockell would be asked for support from her high- way fund.


Alcohol worries COMMUNITY warden Liz Lo- vatt raised concerns about the consumption of alcohol at the King George V playing field and said that the PCSO has powers to seize it. No crimes were reported in


Loose Council


Loose during the last month, however, there had been slash- ingoftyres in rural areas around Maidstone. Borough Cllr Sue Grigg re- ported problems with waste collection in Walnut Tree Av- enue because the lorries had been unable to access houses. She was trying to get people to park on one side of the street and for bins to be placed further down the road so that lorries can get to them. A request for a salt bin from


the residents of Hanson Drive would be dealt with by Kent Highways. It was agreed charges for the


use of Brooks Field for events should be made on an individ- ual basis, between £20 and £50


a day, including car parking. Following a recent church service on the field, it was felt there should be a guide on noise, although no amplified music was played on this occa- sion. It was agreed there should be no amplified music played on the field, unless by prior agreement. Thenumberofhitsonthe parish website stood at 29,604 – an average of 125 a week. It was hoped to update the web- site during August.


Tovil Council Right of way


TWENTY witness statements have been obtained from users of the riverside footpath from Tovil footbridge to Bydews Wood so an application to adopt the footpath as a public right of way could be completed. The play area at Woodbridge


Drive had been closed because of falling rocks at the rear. Maidstone Council parks offi- cers were dealing with the situ- ation.


Remedial work would soon


be complete on the gap in the footpath between the construc- tion site and the path towards the railway line on the Fant side of the river. It was noted the post office


and shop in Church Street now had a permanent new propri- etor. The car park next to the post


office was owned by Golding Homes, who would be discour- aging long stay parking.


A new litter bin had been in- stalled in the churchyard and would be emptied by the bor- ough council street cleaner on hisWednesday round. Bollards at the corner of


Teasaucer Hill were damaged by speeding vehicles and had been replaced through the ef- forts of residents. Remedial action would be


taken to make the betting shop building safe. Cllr Derek Mor- timer agreed to contact the agent to ascertain what action may be taken to register the site as “untidy”. An application to lower and reinforce a riverbank mooring between Millers Wharf and Wharf Road had been granted by Maidstone Council. The parish noted with disappoint- ment that closed-board fencing would now enclose the low- ered area of the wharf and that no safety conditions were at- tached to the planning permis- sion. It was noted that Hillreed Homes was trying to reduce the provision of affordable housing within its development west of Eccleston Road. The provisional date for the


SBS Recycling appeal hearing was September 13. The venue would be confirmed. A dangerous hole in the wall


at Cave Hill had been reported to MBC. Several incidents of flytipping


at the old tip at Dean Street had been reported.


You can e-mail the Downs Mail — info@downsmail.co.uk Town 47


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