Objections stack up to lorry problems


MAIDSTONE’s Lib Dem councillors are op- posed to plans to build a massive lorry park off theM20 to avoid the implementation of Operation Stack. A formal planning application for a 70-


acre lorry park near Aldington, Ashford, ca- pable of accommodating 2,000 vehicles, is expected to be submitted later this year. KCC hopes the scheme will prevent the use of Operation Stack, which affects Maidstone during the phase 2 closures of the motorway, between J8 and J9. The plan was a huge waste of money at a time when funds were tight, councillors told the town’s Joint Transportation Board. Cllr Dan Daley (Lib Dem) said building a lorry park could cost up to £50m – and still be in- sufficient to cope with the build-up of traf- fic when there were problems at the Channel ports. Cllr Daley said the number of days Oper-


ation Stack was brought into play were re- ducing – five in 2010 and four in 2011 – and


Support group


extends welcome FIBROMYALGIA sufferers are invited to join aMaidstone and Weald Support Group meeting. The groupmeets at the Salva-


tion Army Hall in Union Street, Maidstone, for support, friend- ship – and to have fun. The condition causes pain all


over the body and symptoms can include difficulty in sleep- ing, headaches, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and muscle stiffness. The next meeting, in the Cob-


tree Room, is at 1.30pm on Wednesday, April 18. The sup- port group works with the Fi- bromyalgia Association UK. Info: email Julie.amos@sky. com or call 01622 739010.


Dancing lessons DANCING lessons for the over 50s are on offer at the Hazlitt’s Exchange Studio in Earl Street. Dance teachers John and


Karen Sweeney run the Tues- day sessions, from 2pm to 3.30pm. Info: on 01233 625362 or email info@contrafusion.co.uk.


he believed that building a lorry park for such a minimal amount of use did not rep- resent good value for money. He argued: “The use of that amount of money will be to the detriment of those schemes that are desperately needed.” Cllr Malcolm Robertson (Lib Dem) said it


years ago to allow a mobile contra-flow to be set up on a stretch of the M20, has only been used a handful of times, he said, but the leasing fee was paid irrespective of whether or not it was used. Cllr Daley said that £50m would have


COMMITTEE chairman Cllr JohnWilson (Con) expressed frus- tration that the county had been looking at a FreightAction Plan since 2007 and it was still no further advanced. The Kent Freight Action Plan is meant to be a comprehensive


guide as to what KCC will do over the coming years to alleviate freight-related problems across the county. Consultation on the plan, which will involve freight genera-


gone a longway towards providing a south- ern strategic link road to alleviate congestion in Maidstone town centre – something which would have proved its worth during the imminent gas main replacement works in Stone Street. He said: “There is simply no


tors and haulage companies, is due to take place later in the spring. KCC traffic manager Andrew Westwood said the plan had been written with the current financial situation in mind and many of the proposals were low-cost ways to influence freight transportation and change behaviour.


was ironic that the highways agency was spending more than £500,000 a year on a ‘quick movable barrier’ which had hardly ever been deployed – funds which could have gone towards the lorry park. The barrier, which was installed four


A WOMAN who was killed as she crossed a busy dual car- riageway had taken heroin and cocaine shortly before her death.


Amanda Powell (36), of Crun-


dale Court, Union Street, Maid- stone, was thrown more than 125ft after being hit by a car on theA229 Royal Engineers Road. A Maidstone inquest heard


that it was an unusual place to cross the road as it would have meant climbing over barriers and a central reservation. There was also a footbridge on the 50mph stretch. Miss Powell died instantly


from multiple injuries after she was hit by Mehmet Ahmed’s BMW between 41 and and 50mph on Friday, September 17, 2010. He was indicating to move


into the inside lane after over- taking another car near the slip road off the Running Horse roundabout at about 8pm. Mr Ahmed, who had not been drinking, said all he saw was something smash into hiswind- screen. “I didn’t know what I


other way out of town to the south for traffic – and here we are planningtospendavastsum of money on something which will not be sufficient to cure the prob- lem as and when it occurs.” However, Cllr Eric Hotson


(Con) said the impact on the county’s econ- omy, even in just five days of Operation Stack, would be in excess of £50m and that a car park, available for overnight parking, would reap benefits by saving money on repairing the county’s roads and lay-bys.


Woman killed by car had taken drugs


hit,” he said. He thought he was driving at around 48-49mph – just below the 50mph speed limit. A vehicle examiner found the


BMWtyres were worn but there were no other defects. Club manager Stephen Wheat-


ley who stopped his Vauxhall on the opposite carriageway, said he thought someone had jumped off the bridge. He said: “I went to see what had fallen from the sky and found this girl. “The driver of the BMWcame


over and said ‘what have I hit?’. I said ‘it isn’t what, it’s who.’” The inquest heard that Mr Ahmed was extremely dis- tressed after the accident and lay down next to Miss Powell’s body with his head on her shoulder. Forensic examination of the


scene found debris 38.3 metres from Miss Powell’s body. A postmortem showed recent


use of heroin and cocaine. Deputy Mid Kent and Med-


way Coroner Gail Elliman recorded a verdict of accidental death.


Marathon man Karl completes Rubik challenge


MAIDSTONE marathon man Karl Savage likes a challenge. Not content with running a half marathon around Maidstone, he decided to solve 100 Rubik’s cubes in the process. Karl (35), fromWaterlow Road, has already raised more than £600 for Depaul UK, a charity that helps young, vulnerable and homeless people, with his unusual challenge but he’s hoping that shoppers who saw him running around the streets will dig even deeper for his worthy cause. He said: “I’m not very quick at doing a Rubik’s cube – it takes me


about a minute. And I didn’t run very fast either – but it drew lots of at- tention.” Karl (pictured) hit on the idea of the fundraiser after taking part in a national Rubik’s cube challenge in London last summer. “Up to then I hadn’t heard of Depaul UK, but the analogy of the Rubik’s cube and how our lives can be a jumble, but we can work through it, struck a chord,” he said. To promote his crazy caper, Karl posted a series of YouTube videos in advance of the stunt. He also streamed his five loops around town from Maidstone East, via St Peters Street, Palace Avenue andWat TylerWay, as he did it – just to prove thefour-hour stunt actually took place. You can watch Karl on YouTube at www.youtube.com/watch?v=afgsD- PDspsw. To make a donation, go to www.justgiving.com/karl-savage.


Hotel manager who


goes the extra mile HOTEL manager Veronica Kingham has been honoured by her peers for her work in the community. Ve ronica, general man- ager of Maid- stone’s Village Hotel at San- dling for the past five years, picked up the Extra Mile Award, given out annually by the hotel trade journal Caterer and Hotel- keeper, at a London gala dinner in front of 850 industry col- leagues. Veronica, a non-executive di-


rector on the Federation Trust of Schools, is in charge of a hotel that regularly organises charity events and last year raised more than £40,000, split between 20 different causes. The Village Hotel recently hosted a gala dinner for the 90th anniversary of the Royal British Legion, which raised £2,000 for the charity. The next fundraiser, on Fri-


day, March 30, will be in aid of Help for Heroes.


47m fence request KENT Fire & Rescue has ap- plied to erect a 47m long, 1.8m high fence at its HQ in The Godlands, Straw Mill Hill, Tovil. The planning statement said:


“We feel that the equipment that provides our computer services and resilience need to be protected from any potential deliberate damage. “There are currently fire con-


trol personnel on site 24/7 but if this was not the case in the future then the fence would provide added protection.” Maidstone Council will rule on the planning application.


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