Post Office robber caught
Villagers urged to help save Leeds church
within an hour A MAN who robbed the Grafty Green PostOffice, armedwith a metal bar, has been jailed for four-and a half years. ChristopherWilliams (20), of Lambeth, raided the post office on Headcorn Road shortly be- fore midday on November 23. During the robbery, a post office worker was hit three times in the face. AsWilliams escaped, a mem-
ber of public was able to note the registration number of his car. Within an hour of the of- fence being reported, the car was spotted in Quarry Road, Maidstone, where Williams was arrested. When the detaining officer
told Williams: “I am detaining you as I suspect you have com- mitted an offence,”Williams re- sponded: “What robbery?” Upon sentencing, Detective Constable Dave Taft, from Kent Police, said: “This was a violent crime fuelled by greed, which stunned a village post office. “Despite their ordeal, the em- ployees were quick to provide us with the registration number of the car.With that vital infor- mationwe hadWilliams in cus- tody within an hour and I applaud their actions. “The court has passed a sub- stantial sentence that I hope pleases and reassures the peo- ple of Grafty Green.”
Stable conversion A REDUNDANT stable wing may be converted into a holi- day let at Thurnham Keep Lodge, Castle Hill. Mark Lane’s planning appli-
cation also includes extensions to the main house and garage.A planning statement said: “The lodge has been rented out on a six-monthly basis by the appli- cants and this will continue. The stable conversion will be used as a holiday let.”
Running total NEWSAGENT Deepak Myanger and his customers at Newsrack and Grove Green Post Office have raised £10,000 for the Kent Air Ambulance over the last seven years. Deepak has run the Maid-
stone half-marathon for the charity each year, and in Octo- ber he raised a record £2,500 in sponsorship.
Gardening talk AT the recent AGM of Harriet- sham Gardening Society, it was reported that 62 members had enjoyed another successful year. The programme for 2012 was circulated, which includes a talk by Radio Kent presenter Steve Bradley at Harrietsham Village Hall on Tuesday April 17 from 7.30pm, admission £2.
16 East
A PUBLIC meeting is being held in St Nicholas’ Church, Leeds, to discuss its future and the way forward. Anyone who has an interest
is invited to attend the meet- ing, at noon on Saturday, March 31. St Nicholas’ Church has suffered from a decline in numbers and the running of the parish is now down to about 12 principal people. Priest-in-charge Rev Nigel
Fry said: “This is making it dif- ficult for us to make sure that the church is there for those who would like to be baptised and married.” The parochial church council
(PCC) is now seeking the views of villagers. Rev Fry said: “We want to
hear suggestions as to how we can overcome the apparent iso- lation of the church from the village. What we really need is some practical help in making sure this church continues in a tradition that stretches back many centuries. “Wewantpeopletotellus
how theywould like to help us make the future of our church
more optimistic. This is awon- derful resource for the village community and we do not want to lose it, so discussion needs to focus on how the church might serve as a meet- ing place for local events.” The village school is a strong supporter of the church and services at Christmas, Easter and Harvest are well attended. There is also a weekly ‘porch
café’ for parents and children after school each Thursday.
THE church in Leeds dates back to Anglo-Saxon times. Rev Fry said: “It is a lovely church in a rural setting and I would not want to see it go.”
However, he stressed clo-
sure was not an issue at present. He said: “We are a long way from the church being closed, butwe want to breathe new life into it so that it can better serve the needs of the community.”
Yellow lines on the cards
THE long-awaited yellow lines in Maidstone’s Tudor Avenue are about to be laid down. After a lengthy battle by resi-
dents and KCC Cllr Ian Chitten- den, the council’s workmen finally have paintbrushes poised, putting an end to years of misery and traffic chaos. Tudor Avenue, which links Sittingbourne Road with Park Avenue and Wheeler Street, has long been used by workers in the town centre hoping to grab a spot of free daytime parking. However, the traffic build-up
has led not only to road blocks, as lorries try to use the avenue as a rat-run, but to increasing safety concerns as residents’ sight-lines are blocked as they
try to leave their homes. Residents thought they had achieved a breakthrough a year ago when KCC agreed to paint yellow lines on the corners of the road junctions, but the lines have never materialised. Now, Cllr Chittenden (Lib-
Dem) has used his devolved highways budget to pay for the project. He said: “Subject to final con- sultations in March, the lines should be in place by April.” As well as double yellow
lines at road junctions, the plan is for single yellow lines along Tudor Avenue, with a two-hour waiting restriction. Cllr Chittenden said: “The traffic build-up on this road has
Views sought on youth shelter HOLLINGBOURNE Parish Council is considering establishing a youth shelter in the village. The council is canvassing opinion after it was suggested that the village has activities for young children, but limited facilities for older ones.
Hollingbourne once had a youth club, which was based in the Church Hall, Upper Street, until it burned down. The present vil- lage hall in Eyhorne Street replaced this, but the youth club did not re-open. There have been attempts over the years to provide a youth club at the Cardwell Pavilion, but no group has lasted very long. To air your views, email clerk Elaine Lawrence on clerk@holling-
bournepc.kentparishes.gov.uk
Send in your Bearsted fayre photos
ORGANISERS of this year’s Bearsted Fayre are asking readers to send in pictures from last year’s event for their programme. Readers are invited to send photos taken at the 2011 Fayre –
the procession, fancy dress contest, events in the arena and so forth – for possible inclusion in the programme. Any pictures used will be credited. Email your photos
toMwithnall@aol.com
Visit Downs Mail’s website —
downsmail.co.uk
been a problem for many years to the point where it has created a dangerous situation. Residents trying to get in and out of their drives have their view blocked by parked vehicles. Driverswho park their vehicles on the cor- ners of junctions are causing a particular hazard.” Cllr Chittenden used his budget to pay for replacement bollards along Tudor Avenue some 18 months ago to prevent motorists not only blocking the road, but damaging the grass verges. He said: “Safety is always a particular concern of mine, so I am hopeful that this situation can finally be resolved.” See letters – page 32
Depot scheme
gains approval APLAN for nine new homes on the site of the former KCCHigh- ways Depot in Marley Road, Harrietsham, has been renewed by Maidstone Council. In May 2009, Maidstone Council’s planning committee granted permission for the de- velopment, despite objections from Harrietsham Parish Coun- cil over refuse collection, emer- gency vehicles, traffic demands, size and density. There were also 19 letters of dissent from local residents. Applicant Paynes Stores’ suc- cessful application to renew the previous scheme included im- proving the sustainability to reach Code Level 3.
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