Tree stump preservation is ‘nonsense’


MAIDSTONE Council has acted to preserve the remains of a tree in the garden of a house in Sittingbourne Road that was felled by its owners. The borough’s planning committee agreed


to place a tree preservation order on a cedar to the rear and sweet chestnut in the front garden of The Lodge. According to local councillor and plan-


The tree in the front garden of The Lodge and (below) the stump showing re-grwoth


ning committee member Cllr Tony Har- wood, the sweet chestnut was felled last September, causing complaints from local people. The TPO will enable the tree to grow


back. Cllr Harwood said: “On Saturday, September 25, 2010 my telephone went in- sanewhen a real landmark tree started to be felled. It was hacked down in a haphazard way. This is a high-profile tree directly op- posite the junction with Hampton Road. “Its amenity and historic value is signifi-


cant. The chestnut coppice is very much part of the character of Maidstone and the


MORE than 125 school pupils were given the opportunity to get close to nature and wildlife as part of theMote Park Regen- eration Project. Maidstone Council, with


SkillForce, offered 25 children, aged 13 to 15, the chance to carry out conservation work in the park. Five classes each spent two


days working and learning about conservation and wildlife habitat management. Activities included scrub re-


moval around the stream to allow sunlight to reach the water to bring life in to the area. Habitat piles were created for invertebrates and small


mammals, and bird nesting rafts for birds were built on the lake. As a reward, the youngsters


tried canoeing and sailing at the water sports centre in the park.


Cabinet member for commu-


nity and leisure services, Cllr JohnWilson, said: “We are in- vesting £2.6m in the park as part of a restoration project, to improve it so that even more people can enjoy it.” The work, being undertaken


by construction company Gal- laghers, includes new inner and outer footpaths, planting of new trees, upgrading the main car park, improving the


Carols and strings unite for concert MAIDSTONE Choral Union will be accompanied by a string orchestra at this year’s Christmas concert on Sat- urday, December 10. The programme will include John Rutter’s ‘Magnificat’


andwell-loved carols from the choir, as well as some for the audience to sing. Children from Brunswick House School will sing three


carols and there will be a performance by the Mandy Ellen School of Dance. There will also be a chorus from Handel’s ‘Messiah’, appropriate to the Christmas season. The concert starts at 7.30pm at Mote Hall, Maidstone Leisure Centre. Tickets on 01622 726193 or from the Museum Shop, Visitors’ Centre, Maidstone Museum, Faith Street – 01622 602169.


‘No justification’ for Farleigh home


A PROPOSAL to build a new home on the edge of East Farleigh was blocked for encroaching onto the countryside. Faroque Ahsunollah ap-


plied to erect a home with a garage as well as another garage to serve Pats Cottage in Farleigh Lane, north of the train station. Maidstone Council re-


fused the scheme, which would have involved build- ing to the rear of Pats Cot- tage and demolishing an existing garage. It decided the proposal was “a form of development for which there is no justification” and would “cause unac- ceptable harm to the char- acter and appearance of the countryside”.


Open space bollards restrict access SIX bollardshave been installed by Maidstone Borough Coun- cil at the entrance to Bridge MillWay Open Space, Tovil. Four wooden bollards have been placed on a grassy area


with two further key-operated dropped structures. The borough hopes this will prevent drivers from accessing


the areas. 14 Town


You can e-mail the Downs Mail — info@downsmail.co.uk


wider Kent landscape and itwould be a ret- rograde action if it were lost.” The Lodge is currently on the market. In


April, Maidstone Council refused an appli- cation to demolish the current house and re- place it with four five-bedroom dwellings. Kim Frazer, who has lived at The Lodge


with her husband since 1997, objected to the TPO. She said: “The chestnut stump is ex- actly that – a stump, it’s not a tree.We feel we have been penalised yet done nothing wrong. “In our time at The Lodge we have cut


down two trees for safety -– one is the chest- nut tree in question – but have planted an- other 20. We have received expert advice that it will not grow to be a single-stem tree. To put a TPO on a stump is nonsense.” Her letter of objection, which was sent to


the council, added: “We asked a profes- sional tree surgeon for his opinion of the stump and he told us that, without pruning, it will grow into a very large unruly bush that will limit our access and enjoyment of


Youngsters sample work and wildlife in Mote Park


boat house area, refurbishing the existing refreshment kiosk, restoring the 1840s waterfall, restoring the volunteers’ pavil- ion and a new 20m span tim- ber and steel bridge. Two additional hubs will


also be created – an area ac- cessed fromWillington Street will include car parking and a natural play area aimed at teens and a second hub, at School Lane, will include reor- ganised parking and a separate pedestrian access into the park. The existing play area will be replaced in a new loca- tion. The works are due to be com- pleted by next summer.


the bank in our garden.” The officer report in favour of


the TPO said: “The sweet chest- nut stump, located within the front garden, shows signs of re- generation that, if left to ma- ture, is likely to contribute significantly to the amenity of the area. Both trees are consid- ered to be under threat due to po- tential development of the site.” Cllr Ian Chittenden added: “I


do think it will grow back and help to improve that property.” Twelve of the 13 committee members voted to protect the trees. Cllr RichardAsh abstained.


Trees to be cut CONIFER trees at Beaconsfield Road, Tovil, were due to be cut down to size.


Summer is Maidstone’s prettiest child!


FIFTEEN-month-old Summer Scammell is officially Maidstone and Mallings’ prettiest child after winning a Downs Mail competition in conjunction with Maidstone Photo Factory. The tot polled most votes in our Pretty as a Picture competition, which was open to children aged three months to three years.


After getting through an opening round that attracted over 1,200 votes, Summer, daughter of Chris Scammell and Hayley Bram- ley, polled more support than fellow finalists Lainey and Isla to claim the in- augural crown.


Pictured is Sum-


mer with her proud parents (and dog Marley) being pre- sented with the win- ner’s canvas print, worth £500, by Tim Grimes of Maid- stone Photo Factory.


Over 40 entrants


of the competition received a free sit- ting at the Headcorn studios of Maid- stone Photo Factory and a complemen- tary 6x4 photograph to keep.


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