Call for fund to save wood
COUNCILLORS hope that a “fighting fund” can be set up to enable a much-loved ancient woodland to be safeguarded. The 30 acres of woodland north of Sandling
Cllr Tony Harwood at Cuckoo Wood with fellow ward Cllr Jenni Paterson
Continued from page one
Council last year, said: "Mrs Chiappini con- tacted me to put her side of the story. She was obviously getting a lot of flak and wanted someone else to hear her side. “The issue is far greater than what hap-
pened at that one match. There are issues of damage to property and potential danger to people, which do need addressing, and should probably have been addressed a long time ago. “I have come in with the attitude I want to
see cricket stay on The Green. It would be a very sad day if cricket should go. “I'm trying to find a way forward to miti-
gate the occurrences of damage.” Cllr Springett fears that if efforts are not
made, the issue could end in court. “Once you get the legal system involved,
things can go in all sorts of directions and be taken out of your hands,” she said. “There are underlying issues that have
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Lane were due to go under the hammer this week. Locals fear that the wording in auctioneer Clive Emson’s catalogue gives the impression it has po- tential for housing. But Maidstone Council’s landscape officer has confirmed the site is covered by a tree preserva- tion order, though this fact did not appear in Emson’s description. North ward councillor Tony Harwood recently alerted the Woodland Trust and Kent Wildlife Trust to local concern about the future of Cuckoo Wood. He asked both charities if they would be inter-
Pitch peace efforts
been neglected over the years that need ad- dressing. If your house or car was hit, how would you feel?” Cllr Springett was due to meet club officials and Kent Cricket Board's community manager, Andy Griffiths, as the Downs Mail went to press. Beforehand she said: “I would hate to see
JOHN Chiappini has retrospectively ap- plied to erect two pairs of entrance gates at Bearsted House on Bearsted Green. The applicant commissioned the design
of the 1.5m-high iron gates for the two driveway entrances at the front of the property without realising that planning permission was required. The supporting statement said: “The applicants had been advised by a local police officer, PC Stevens, and also by the
ested in partnering other public, private or third sector organisations to raise funds to buy it. Emson’s guide price is £95-100,000, though Cllr Harwood advised caution over that figure. “Nearby green-field sites have recently out- stripped their guide price by a large margin,” he explained. CllrHarwood, fellowward councillors and Box-
ley Parish Council hope thewildlife haven can be delivered into “long-term enlightened owner- ship” via a fighting fund. A spokeswoman for theWoodland Trust said it
had nothing against awood being sold but added: “CuckooWood is ancient, so if an application for development was lodged we would definitely be opposed and would take appropriate action to preserve it.”
solicitors from both sides getting involved at huge expense. And it could go either way. “Of the families I spoke to none wanted to
stop the cricket.” If the consensus was that netting could be
a solution, all concernedwould first have to examine how feasible or affordable it may be, she added. Club chairman Stephen Pearce said: “I think we have the public’s support.” A police investigation is ongoing.
community warden, to erect gates here following a number of incidents of van- dalism and damage caused by users of The Green, and also some misuse of the driveway area, notably during events held on The Green which attracted groups of teenagers. “Since the gates were installed, a num-
ber of near neighbours have commented favourably upon them.” Maidstone Council will decide on the application.
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