Rail ticket office threat eased
APOSSIBLE closure threat hang- ing over some rail station ticket offices has been lifted following a meeting chaired by Maidstone MPHelen Grant. It had been suggested by a rail
Daughter’s home can still be built
staff association that stations, in- cluding Lenham and Marden, might get the chop as a result of a report by transport industry ex- pert Sir Roy McNulty. Mrs Grant questioned South- eastern. She said: “I was de- lighted to learn that they have no plans, at any of their stations, to close ticket offices.” The meeting also gave South- eastern and Network Rail a chance to update MPs on their
preparations for adverse weather this winter. Mrs Grant said: “They have
both clearly worked hard to try to avoid a repetition of the shambles we all endured last winter. “There are more trains prepar-
ing the tracks for frost, many more metres of rail heating.” The companies now have
eight anti-icing trains (com- pared to six in 2010); two snow and ice treatment trains; 20 pas- senger trains fitted with anti- icing tanks; and three new 4x4 vehicles to assist Southeastern engineers to respond more quickly to trains experiencing difficulties.
A PROPOSAL to build a new home in Downswood is still on track after the length of its planning permission had expired. Zoren Cheek had to reapply for consent to build a terraced home
in Cotswold Gardens having not begun the development in the three years since permission was granted. He was given planning permission, despite an objection from the parish council, represented by Cllr Bill Greenhead, who said: “Downswood is one of the most densely populated parishes in Kent, so to shoehorn in another home next to a nature reserve is wrong.” Mr Cheek thought otherwise: “I can’t really see why having an-
other house among a development of 500 to 1,000 houses would constitute over-development. “The projectwas brought about by recognising a need in the future
for my daughter’s housing. As a family we have invested a lot of time and energy in helping a sibling’s housing need.” The council accepted the application as there had been no signif- icant change in policy in the past three years.
Ram-raid four given bail
FOUR men have been released on bail following a ram-raid bur- glary at a newsagent’s in Bearsted. A cash machine was stolen
from Martin’s store in Egremont Road. The burglary took place in the
early hours of Friday, September 9, when offenders gained entry
using two vehicles and causing significant structural damage. Four men, a 19 year-old from Maidstone; a 21 year-old from Longfield; a 25 year-old from Sevenoaks and a 22-year-old from Sevenoakswere all arrested on Friday and later released on bail. They will report all back to officers on November 10.
Brakes put on car park sale plan
COUNCILLORS have challenged an officer's assertion that a 66-space car park is surplus to requirement. Maidstone's parking services manager Jeff Kitson listed seven rea-
sons for the Brunswick Street site sell-off. Cabinet member Marion Ring approved it. But her decisionwas "called in" for further discus- sion by borough councillors Mike FitzGerald and Dennis Collins. One member said it was not a "black and white issue" and others wanted adequate consultations with nearby residents and businesses. Alocal dancing school is worried parents would be unable to drop
off and pick up their children. Mr Kitson's report argued there would be enough on-street parking bays. College Road car park was also an alternative. The scrutiny committee asked Cllr Ring to be sure the sell-off would not have an unduly adverse effect on locals.
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