Stones get their ground moving


WORK has begun on building Maidstone United FC’s new home in James WhatmanWay. Over the next 10 months the former Army sports field, next to the River Medway, will be transformed into a 3,000-capac- ity ground, complete with an all-seater main stand, covered terraces, clubhouse, floodlights, changing rooms and parking. The £1.6m project, which is


being managed by Prime Build- ing Consultants of Maidstone, is expected to be completed by summer 2012, in time for a showpiece match against Peter- borough United during the first weekend in August.


SATURDAY afternoon and a few hundred people, many re- splendent in Maidstone United home shirts, walked the short route from the town centre to the club’s ground. Soon into the proceedings a


noisy horn sounded, the home support responded with chants of “United, United” and, even- tually, everyone went home happy. What sounds like the perfect


Co-owner Oliver Ash said: “It


is almost 12 months since Terry and I, alongside Bill Williams, took over Maidstone United, and what better way to mark that first anniversary than see- ingwork start at WhatmanWay. “This is a really historic mo-


ment for the club and the town and in these current times will provide a major boost to the local community.”  People can show their sup- port by donating a seat for the main stand or buying a brick, which will feature in a ‘Wall of Fame’ at the ground. More in- formation at www.maidstoneu- nited.co.uk


Club owner Terry Casey (left) and BillWilliams (right) with Pat Gallagher, whose Aylesford-based construction company is one of the project’s contractors


Open day marks new era for club By Neil Nixon


Developer wants a


site, and the £20,000 bill to re- house them in the nearby Vin- ters Park Nature Reserve is only one of the problems to beset the project. Sales of named bricks (£30)


day out at local football was, however, nothing of the sort. The occasion being celebrated was the start of work on the club’s new ground at James What- manWay. Formerly the home of the local garrison foot-


Supporters (left to right) Fred- erick Mcilveen, Richard Kerin and Corelle Bruce celebrate the historic open day


and seats (£50) were steady on the day, but club secretary Dar- ren Lovell’smain joy came from the presence of so many unfa- miliar faces. With average gates of 311 last season, the club need a massive increase in support to bring their financial plans on track. The


ball team and also once the site of a row of anti- aircraft guns protecting Maidstone’s factories, JamesWhatmanWay faces a race for completion in time for Football League inspection in April and pre-season friendlies in July. The discovery of protected slow worms on


Piglets perished in cold weather


LAST year’s harsh winter caused the deaths of over 300 piglets at a farm in Hucking. That is the claim of Mr


andMrs Shelbourne, who have applied to erect an agricultural barn, which would include 192 solar photovoltaic panels to the southern roof slope, to pro- vide shelter for farrowing sows and sucklers during severe weather. Maidstone Council will


rule on the planning appli- cation.


open day, held in record-breaking temperatures for October, brought out crowds of the curious; many vowed to become paying supporters next season. “There are people here who’ve supported the


club all their lives and some of them thought they’d never see this,” Darren said. “If you look at what Dartford have achieved, and think about the potential of a town the size of Maidstone, there’s a lot to strive for.”


Second airing for school homes plan KCC has made another attempt to establish housing at the Ulcombe Primary School playing field site. The county council aims to sell off the land to a housing devel-


oper, and use the capital receipt to build an extension at the school for a new library and staffroom. Work would also be done to the playground. The project will cost an estimated £280,000. In October last year, Maidstone Council refused KCC’s applica-


tion to erect four semi-detached properties on the site of the for- mer adventure play area in the field having previously placed a tree preservation order (TPO) on a Dawn Redwood that would have to make way for the development. Afresh application is for building one detached and two semi-de- tached houses. Planning documents also cite measures to compen- sate for the loss of the protected tree.


One-to-one computer classes SIXTH-formers from Invicta Grammar School are offering one-to- one help to the over-60s wanting to learn computer skills. The free hour-long weekly sessions are on Wednesdays, from 11.15am, at the school. Info – 01622 755 856 orm.bennett@invicta.kent.sch.uk.


Demelza disco A 1980s disco will take place at Sandling Village Hall, Sandling Lane, in aid of Demelza House. The event is on Saturday, November 12, 7.30pm-11pm. For tickets call Maidstone Family Church on 01622 695604.


Murder charge A TEENAGER has been charged with mur- der following the stabbing ofTomCrittenden (21), who died after an incident in Notting- ham Avenue, off Sutton Road, Shepway. Caleb White (19), of Cornwall Close, Shep-


20 East News in brief


way, was due to appear before Maidstone Crown Court.


North Downs home snub JAMIE Chapman has been blocked in his at- tempt to replace a bungalow with a new dwelling at Fairview, Faversham Road, Lenham.


Maidstone Council felt the proposal would


have been more visually intrusive and out- of-keeping with the Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.


sixth bedroom JAMES Overton has applied to add another bedroom to his accepted plan for a new home in Sandy View,Ware Street,Weavering. In May, Maidstone Council granted permission for him to erect a five-bedroom house. Mr Overton says the introduction of a basement would enable the home to have six bedrooms without increasing the overall height of the building above ground.


Road scheme


is ‘insensitive’ A PLAN to erect six de- tached homes in Ashford Road, Bearsted, has been re- fused.


Maidstone Council felt the proposed demolition of No 170, with the houses built to the rear of Nos 166 and 168, failed to “take into account the sensitivity of the urban boundary” and would have been out-of-keeping with the local area. The planning department


also had concerns that the development could have ad- versely affected biodiversity as well as the occupiers of 168 Ashford Road.


Road closure PART of Sittingbourne Road, Maidstone, will be closed on November 7 for six nights. The closure affects the sec-


tion between Holland Road and Hatherall Road. Diver- sions will be in place.


Ice cream hope ELENA Viciu wants to station an ice cream van on the pavement outside the branch of HSBC in High Street, Maidstone. She said in planning documents that she iswilling to pay a charge of £1,053 per year to use the site.


Thurnham conversion PLANNING permission was granted to con- vert twodwellings into a single home inCot- tageWood, Castle Hill, Thurnham. The new development will feature solar panels.


Support YOUR local paper — and we can support YOU - advertise on 01622 630330


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  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56