Tesco enters ring to build new supermarket in Staplehurst
TESCO has followed the lead of its rival Sainsbury’s and lodged a planning application to build a supermarket in Staplehurst. After the two companies both
held public exhibitions of their plans for the village, Sains- bury’s was quickest out of the blockswith an application for a 19,000sq ft supermarket on land south of the train station, bounded by Station Approach and Lodge Road. This has re- cently been supplemented by an application to replace the former Esso garage on the High Street with a stand-alone Sains- bury’s filling station.
Now Tesco has formalised its intentions with a planning ap- plication for a 28,000sq ft su- permarket on the opposite side of Station Approach, closer to the train station. The proposal is similar to a scheme it with- drew in 2005. Staplehurst Parish Council
has already supported the Sainsbury’s scheme, and will soon decide whether to back Tesco’s proposal. The location of each supermarket means that on a practical level they could co-exist alongside each other. Maidstone Council will de- cide on both schemes.
Water, water everywhere at pavilion WORKon repairing Yalding’s Kintons’ sports pavilion, damaged by vandals at the start of the year, was set back by the recent snow – and the discovery of more plumbing problems. When volunteers re-connected the water, they found the joints
on the shower mixers had been disturbed, requiring a stud wall to be taken down in order to carry out repairs. The football club has completed 90% of the remedial work,
and all the toilets, handbasins and showers are working fully. Club secretary Steve Faulkner said: “We are particularly thank-
fultoAlanHumphreywho hasdonesomesterlingplumbing work at a fraction of his normal cost.” The bad weather has also impacted on sports fixtures but spir-
its remain high, reflected in recent results, according to Steve. The Reserves are in a relegation battle but a 2-1 win over Had-
low on February 26 has helped their cause, while the First team are in a tight promotion chase with four other sides. However, the team has been hampered by injuries and even Steve (54) has had to turn out to help make up numbers!
Loose women
celebrate MORE than 55 present and past members of the Loose ValleyWives Group gathered to cele- brate its 70th anniver- sary at All Saints Church, Loose. Among the guests
were Jo Coates, wife of the church’s former vicar, Rev Bob Coates, who had travelled from Somerset for the reunion, and Maid- stone mayor, Cllr Brian Mortimer (pictured with Chris Frost, the group’s present leader), who cut the anniversary cake. The group started in 1942 as The YoungWives, helping to support each other and their children, but changed the name in 1980 to accommodate their advancing years. Pat Hill, the longest-serving member, shared her amusing memories of earlier group meetings, while Chris Frost led a minute’s silence in memory of a past leader, Eileen Saunder- son, who had recently passed away. The vicar of All Saint’s, Rev Steve Price, welcomed guests,
who each received a commemorative coaster of the occasion. The Loose ValleyWives Group, which is an interdenomina-
tional church group, meets on the first and thirdWednesdays of the month in All Saint’s Church, Loose, starting at 7.30pm. The celebrations will continue on May 16 with a trip on the Pocahontas from Gravesend to Greenwich.
Reception to follow ‘new vicar’ service THE Rev Steven Hughes will be licensed to the parish of Otham and Langley on Thursday,March 22 at 7pm. The service will be conducted by the Bishop of Dover, the Rt Rev
Trevor Wilmott, at St Mary’s Church, Langley, followed by a re- ception at Langley Village Hall.
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