Dad’s death the result of drink and drugs cocktail


ALCOHOL and drug dependency led to the death of Maidstone man Stephen Webster, an inquest heard. His partner Kelly Tugwell was in tears as she


CllrWilson with wife Barbara after last year’s run


John prepares


to run again JOHNWilson is putting council duties to one side to prepare for this weekend's Great North Run. The councillor from East Farleigh is doing the half- marathon again to raise money for Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research into blood cancers. His wife Brenda is now seven years in remission. John, who last year raised £2,000, said: "My aim is to raise the same again or bet- ter." To donate, go to


http://original.justgiving.co m/johnwilson3


Less parking on


music school site CREST Nicholson has been given the go-ahead to reduce the amount of parking at the proposed redevelopment of the Kent Music School in Astley House, Hastings Road, Maidstone. Outline planning permis-


sion was previously granted to replace the building with up to 25 dwellings. The developer has now


been given consent to reduce the provision from 1.5 park- ing spaces per dwelling to 1.2, which means a total of 30 spaces.


PLANS for an energy-from- waste plant near Leeds Castle could threaten its future as a major tourist attraction, it is claimed. Leeds Castle Foundation has


made a “strenuous objection” to KCC, which is currently review- ing its waste site options, one of which was submitted by Sheppy Ltd for a 2.5-hectare site parallel to the castle’s car parks, in Ashford Road, near Holling- bourne. It would recover energy from


waste construction wood, with a capacity of 250,000 tonnes a year. The castle’s chief executive,


Victoria Wallace, said: “It is in- conceivable that such a facility could be located directly adja- cent to this sort of heritage property without causing ad-


46 Town


told the coroner of the moment she realised Mr Webster (45), was dead on the morning of De- cember 17 at his flat in Swallow House, Spring- vale. He had drunk cider and taken methadone, a prescribed heroin substitute, the previous day. Unemployed Mr Webster had been attending a


drug treatment centre since May 2009 and, though he had stopped going two months before his death, he was still sourcing methadone else- where. Peter Willcox, a friend who lived above Mr Webster’s flat, heard Miss Tugwell screaming


A LORRY load of aid is on its way to young victims of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster - thanks to Maidstone Lions Club. Ten tonnes of clothes, toys and other items collected during the summer months were packed onto an artic that re- cently set off for Be- larus. Club president Malcolm Luxton (pictured)


said:


when she found his body on the sofa. Mr Willcox said Mr Webster had confided in


him about his health worries. He seemed “pretty miserable” when he last saw him and was ex- tremely short of breath and very pale. Mr Webster had told him a couple of times he would not live for two years if he kept drinking, and that caused him concern as he had started to establish a proper relationship with his son during recentmonths. He was estranged from his wife. The alcohol level in Mr Webster’s blood at the


time of death was 232mg/100ml – nearly three times the legal drink-drive limit. The amount of methadone in his body was not


high but, when combined with alcohol, could be fatal, the pathologist reported.


Lions roar into action for Chernobyl children


“Every year the Lions clubs of the South East - but mainly Maidstone, Gillingham and Swale - send an artic lorry over to the town of Gomel. Their wages are about £200 a month and many are still suffering from the fallout of the Chernobyl disaster 25 years ago. “A huge number of youngsters are in or- phanages because their parents have died. Their life expectancy is about 28 years.


New homes proposal for Loose


A PROPOSAL for eight new homes has been un- veiled for Valley Drive, Loose. Wealden Ltd has applied to demolish No 41 and neighbouring 56 and replace them with eight de- tached houses with garaging. The planning statement says it will be, “a new


area with a separate entity based on a Kentish style of detailing as it would not be warranted or possible to build to a style replicating the 60s ap- proach of Valley Drive. “Over the decade the borough has seen very few


low density schemes as the emphasis has been on flatted schemes. This scheme promotes detached family housing which is needed to rebalance fu- ture housing supply.”


Castle fury over waste site idea


verse effect. “Loss of business as a re-


sult would jeopardise the char- ity’s ability to maintain the castle, placing its very future in danger.” In an email to Hollingbourne Parish Council, MrsWallace de- scribed it as “the stuff of night- mares”. Mrs Wallace said: “The groundwater and spring sys- tems across the area all flow into the park, and converge in the Len Valley. Significant work has been done by the founda- tion to ensure the water’s qual- ity, which could be completely undermined by run-off from stored waste for incineration on the plant. The castle also uses groundwater for all its domestic water supply; the risk of cross contamination is a major


“We have set up a Lions club


in Gomel so we know that the aid is being distributed in the right way.” It is Mr Luxton’s second stint


as president – the former teacher and ex-borough coun- cillor served three years ago. He hopes he can increase the club’s membership from its current 23. “There are so many charities


in this country that, even though there are more helpers than ever, they are spread so thinly,” he added.


Sponsored bike ride for Isabelle


FORMER Allington residentMichael Page is tak- ing part in a 12-hour solo spin bike ride to raise money in memory of niece Isabelle Teague, of Grove Green, who last year died of brain cancer aged nine. The cycling will take place at Topnotch Health


Club, London Road, Maidstone, on Friday Octo- ber 7, starting at 7.15am. He hopes to raise £2,000 for Demelza Hospice


and Royal Marsden Cancer Charity. He said: “Isabelle fought it off for six months


and didn’t complain once, only that she was missing school. She dealtwith it like an adult and carried on with life as best she could.” Sponsor Michael at www.isabellefund.co.uk.


Site of the proposed plant close to Leeds Castle


threat.” The objection concludes: “The foundation consider it impera- tive that this site be deemed ab- solutely inappropriate for waste management.” Local county councillor Jenny Whittle has also opposed the


To contact Downs Mail just phone 01622 630330


proposals. An appraisal of the site by


KCC says there would be “po- tential impacts on landscape, biodiversity and heritage”. The Grade I listed castle attracts over 600,000 visitors a year and em- ploys more than 250 people.


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