Gypsy homes plan for stables site
THE OWNER of a proposed gypsy site at Aylesford has pledged that it will not be used as a scrap metal yard. Romany gypsy Steven Dunne is seeking planning permission for the change of use of land at Old Orchard in Rochester Road, where he currently keeps horses, to a resi- dential caravan site. Mr Dunne, who owns the plot and deals in scrap and horses, has had a static caravan
on the site in connection with his stables business for four or five years. His applica- tion is for a second static caravan, as well as a utility building and extension of hard- standing. He says that until recently the family lived
in a house in Barham, while travelling to horse fairs, but life there became untenable because he was not accepted by neighbours. One of the static mobile homes would be
Giant conker set for London location
A GIANT conker and fir cone travelled through Kings Hill on their way to a new show place. The massive sculptures were carefully loaded
on to a trailer for the journey to a London art fair where they are on display. Commissioned by Greenpeace, the sculptures
by Daniel Sodhi-Miles had been on show in two of the offices at Kings Hill and were being moved to make way for new exhibits. The realistic conker, partly encased in its
shell, was carved from the wood of a giant red- wood tree, originally a botanical specimen. June Frickleton, curator for Kings Hill devel-
oper Liberty Property Trust Ltd, selects art- works every three months for displays in the communal areas of some of the office build- ings.
Sculptor Daniel Sodhi-Miles (right) and Lib- erty Property Trust curator June Frickleton pre- pare to move the conker
occupied by Mr Dunne and his partner and adult son. The other would provide sleep- ing accommodation for another son and his partner. After leaflets appeared in the village, al-
leging the use of the site as a scrap metal yard, Mr Dunne attended Aylesford Parish Council when he assured members that this was not his intention and formed no part of the application.
Messages for and against the proposals have been sent to Tonbridge andMalling Council. One supporter said there had
been a caravan at the site for several years, so whether it was lived in or not seemed irrele- vant. The comment said: “They have owned this land for many years and are only now using it for residential purposes after being left with no alternative having been driven from their home. “I can vouch for them being a decent and hard working family who have always shown de- cency and kindness to myself and others who have helped out at the stables.” Another letter in support of
the application says: “I can as- sure people that this is not an- other Dale Farm, this is just a family who have found them- selves trying to make the best out of an unfortunate situation.”
Opening time at the Bomb Hole
CHILDREN from Leybourne Primary School joined in the celebrations at the offi- cial opening of the £100,000 ‘Bomb Hole’ play area. The equipment was designed to look like a plane in recognition of the local story
that the site at Oxley Shaw is a SecondWorldWar bomb crater. The mayor of Tonbridge and Malling, Cllr Brian
Extension plan
Olympic hockey star Ashley Jackson with Taylor Wimpey sales manager Laura Bellamy at the new trim trail
Hockey star Ashley launches
woodland route to fitness RESIDENTS at Leybourne Chase will be able to keep fit by tackling a new trim trail through wood- land skirting the development. The two-mile circuit, which has eight exercise stations, was launched by Great Britain’s Olympic hockey team star player Ashley Jackson. The England number seven, who attended Sut-
ton Valence School, said the trim trail was great idea for people with busy lives who find it diffi- cult to make time to exercise. Developer TaylorWimpey has provided the fit-
ness route, which includes a pole climb, parallel bars, a ladder walk and vault.
A SEASONAL craft bazaar will take place in the Church of St John the Baptist, Ton- bridge Road,Wateringbury, on Saturday, November 19, from 11am to 3pm. There will be a mix of local
crafts including stained glass, jewellery, pottery, wooden
4 Malling
‘overpowering’ PLANS for a two-storey extension on the front of a house in the centre of Ryarsh were refused , fol- lowing objections from the next-door neighbour and the parish council. Tonbridge and Malling councillors decided the scheme at Stoned Lodge in The Street, would have a detrimental effect on its surroundings and would exclude natural daylight to adjacent 1 Rose Cot- tages. The parish council said
the property was already out of keeping with the area, as it was very mod- ern, and an extension to make it larger and bring it closer to the road would completely overpower the neighbouring cot- tages.
Luker, cut the tape, and a receptionwas held at the nearby Old Rectory restaurant. Finance was provided by Community Spaces
using lottery funds and the three-year project was the result of consultation with villagers and con- tributions from Tonbrigge and Malling Council, Leybourne’s parish council and primary school, and Leybourne Community Group.
Leybourne primary pupils join theMayor of Tonbridge andMalling, Cllr Brian Luker, and Gary Spratt, chairman of Leybourne Community Group, at the opening ceremony
Church prepares for Christmas
toys and novelties, as well as plants, cakes, gifts and acces- sories. A raffle and tombola will be complemented by a visit from Father Christmas. Details on
01622 814324. Meanwhile, a Christmas concert in aid of church funds will be performed by the pop- ular choral group Innomi- nata, with their guests Oliver
and AdrianWaters. It will take place in the church on Friday, December 2 at 8pm. Admission is £8, including a
glass of wine or fruit juice and programme. Accompanied children go free. Tickets from Wateringbury Post Office or 01622 814656.
You can e-mail the Downs Mail —
info@downsmail.co.uk
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