Weight restriction to keep traffic out of Yalding Continued from page one
traffic management scheme. However, following the introduction of the member highway fund two years ago, councillors can spend up to £25,000 on issues that are local priorities. News that progress was finally being made has
been welcomed by Cllr John AWilson, chairman of the Joint Transportation Board, who said: “This should see the end to a long-standing problem for residents in Yalding. “However,while thismay resolve the local prob-
Village hall’s glass art THE old village hall in Headcorn has been given anewlease of life – as offices and housing. The former village hall has been restored by Maidstone-based de- veloperBenchmark Realty and re- tains many of its original features, but itnowalso includes a stunning coloured glass window by local artist Pia Carti. The old hall incor- porates two two-bedroom houses and office accommodation, which has been leased by interior design- ers and fit out specialist Project Partners (Design & Build) Ltd.
lem, the difficulties continue to exist county-wide and KCC needs to adopt a freight strategy for the whole of Kent to keep HGVs out of rural areas and away from routes which are totally unsuitable.” The volume of HGVs passing through Yalding
has increased dramatically with the growing use of satellite navigation (Satnav) systems, which di- rect drivers the shortest route to their destination, without taking into account the suitability of the roads. Drivers from the continent who are not fa- miliar with the narrow lanes around Yalding and theFarleighs frequently come a cropperwhenthey meet buses or other sizeable vehicles travelling in the opposite direction. Andy Corcoran, traffic scheme and member highway fund manager for KCC, said: “We are obliged to take thematter to public consultation so
Relief as East Farleigh building retained for community Continued from page one
Brownies will continue and new bookings include: yoga, Zumba, a dance and drama school, a fitness class for over 50s… The pair even hope to create a deckchair cinema to see classic films. They welcome weddings, funeral wakes, parties, and meetings too.
Gary and Mandy plan to rent and live in the adjoining church cottagewhile Gary uses his
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Maidstone Councilmaybe given more flexibility in the battle to preventHGVdrivers from using in- appropriate rural roads. Under the new rules, laid before Parliament by transport minister Norman Baker, councils will no longer needWhitehall approval to introduce cer- tainnewsigns or some existing ones that they need to use on a regular basis – including one to warn lorry drivers of unsuitable roads. Currently, Maidstone Council must either use
signs authorised in the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions (2002) or gain specific ap- proval from the Department for Transport. The changes being put forward will add more signs to the regulations so that councils canuse them with- out gaining specific approval. This measure will reduce costs and bureaucracy.
Sign of the times…
building talents to convert the disused upper storey of the hall into their apartment home, subject to planning permission.
The couple, who ran Marden Memorial Hall for 16 years, have now set up a website:
www.oldschoolhall.co.uk
The parochial church council plans to use sale proceeds to help meet increasing costs of maintaining the church.
MOTORISTS in Yalding did a double take after pranksters switched around speed limit signs by The Lees. On the approach to the village from Laddingford, drivers were advised to slow down to 30mph on the left...but to speed up to 40mph on the right! For those leaving the village, the opposite applied! The mystery of the motoring mix- up has been attributed to high jinks follow- ing the annual Yuletide market festivities.
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