Gone fishin’... for pond clean-up
FISH from Bearsted pond are to be electronically stunned during a £2,700 water-saving clean-up operation. The man-made pond, at the north-west corner
of the green, has become increasingly overtaken by pond plants and weed, creating silt at the bot- tom and causing water levels to fall. The pond has historically been topped up from
Rosie’s got talent YOUNG singer Rosie Alexander-Pennie (pictured) was among the winners of a charity talent show that fea- tured acts from all over Kent.
Rosie (14), who lives in Bearsted, loves blues, soul and jazz and has been a stu- dent at Directions Perform- ing Arts since moving to the area from west London in 2007. She finished as joint run-
ner-up in the “Gimme a Break!” final at The Avenue Theatre, Sittingbourne. Winners were Sitting- bourne-based dance group MIGHT-E. The show also included Bearsted-based Directions Choir, who have been singing together for two years, and Maidstone dance groups Swagalicious and Crescendolls.
the mains but, at an annual cost of around £800, was proving an expensive outlay, so parish coun- cillors voted to seek a longer-term solution. The council sought expert advice and have
hired aquatic specialists Mainstream Fisheries to carry out a programme of remedial work. Ecological surveys revealed a number of carp
and goldfish in the pond – almost certainly de- posited by local residents – which should be re- moved for the wellbeing of the natural habitat. Aquatic plants also needed reducing and cut-
ting back to minimise water consumption. This month, work is due to start on dredging the
pond, which means all the fish and natural wildlife need to be removed. Electro-fishing, whereby the fish are temporarily stunned by a gentle electrical current passing through the water, is harmless to the fish and allows them to be caught more easily. The carp and goldfish will be given to house- holders in the area who have appropriate garden ponds, while the native species will be returned to the pond following the clean-up operation. The total cost of the work is £2,270 + VAT. The parish council’s environment committee chairman, Cllr Jon Hughes, said: “Some people have suggested the pond be filled in, but the gen- eral consensus is that it is an attractive feature and should be retained for public benefit. It is a magnet for frogs, dragonflies and other wildlife and is part of the charm of Bearsted’s green. “Electro-fishing is perfectly safe and harmless
to the fish and the company we are using are ex- perts in this particular field.”
Business units given go-ahead PLANNING permission has been granted for two business units at Crismill Lane, Thurnham. The development will include the removal of an existing concrete- framed industrial building and the formation of two new vehicle en- trances to give Pegasus Gymnastics access to its own car park. According to the supporting statement: “The proposed office units
have a combined footprint of 628sqm, smaller than the existing build- ing (686sq m). “Due to the existence of asbestos it is deemed better to remove the [existing] building and replace it with a contemporary, environmen- tally efficient and aesthetically more pleasing building. “The proposals for the office buildings, incorporating a green roof
and site planting, will result in a net gain of 740sqmof planting on the site, approximately 35% of the site.” Maidstone Council granted planning permission on condition of the implementation of bird and bat boxes. It also ordered business opera- tions be restricted to 7am-7pm weekdays and 9am-1pm Saturdays.
Cricket club
wants to fell trees MOTE Cricket Club has ap- plied to fell a group of pro- tected poplar trees fronting Willow Way, Maidstone, outside the main pavilion. According to Brian
Piper’s application form, “After being topped eight years ago they are danger- ous. As suggested, they will be replaced with six lime trees in the same place.” Maidstone Council will decide on the planning application.
10 East
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