KM president Edwin Boorman dies
THE death on March 14 of Edwin Boorman OBE (76), ,marked the end of a lifelong ca- reer in the family newspaper business. Mr Boorman, who lived in
Wateringbury, was the third generation of a family that has owned the Kent Messenger since the end of the 19th cen- tury. He died after a short ill- ness, leaving a company he served as managing director, chief executive and chairman. At the time of his death he
was president of the company, having handed over his chair- manship in 2006 to daughter Geraldine Allinson.
Licence blow
to market plan PLANS to increase Bearsted Farmers’ Market to twice a month could be scuppered by the prohibitive cost of licences. Now the parish council is to challenge Maidstone Borough Council over its policy on street trading.
Bearsted Parish Council
wants to expand the monthly market, held on Bearsted Green, but the borough council hassaidthiswillmeananin- crease in the licence fee from £27 to £175 per stallholder. However, parish councillors maintain this fee is applied at the discretion of the borough council – and that there are at least two markets in the area that are not charged at all. Cllr Trevor Smith told the parish council: “The market was set up as a result of the parish plan. It is a community- led project that does not seek to make a profit. “Information gained from a reliable source shows that Maidstone is one of a few bor- ough councils that choose to make a charge and lacks con- sistency in applying it.” The Kent Farmers’ Markets Association has advised Bearsted council they can cir- cumvent the licence issue by making a nominal charge to vis- itors – perhaps issuing them with a residents’ card, paid for through the parish precept. Maidstone Borough Cllr Val Springett, who has offered to act as intermediary between the two parties, said: “This is some- thing of benefit to the commu- nity. There is no comparison between a rural farmers’ market and something which takes place, say, in Maidstone High Street or FremlinWalk.”
Studio extension APHOTOGRAPHIC studio is to be extended at an ex-MOD transmission station in Cold- blow Lane, Thurnham, on con- dition the existing radar station is demolished and the resulting debris removed.
His time with the company included an era of strength for local newspapers, but more re- cently saw him involved in major decisions as a competi- tive market threatened the fu- ture of many publications. Under his management, the
KM Group went into radio broadcasting and changed some formats and contents of their publications. He was president of the Newspaper Society from 2001 to 2002. His OBE came in recognition of his contribution to the Royal British Legion. Tributes have come from in-
side and outside the newspaper industry. KM Group managing
Farm building plans ‘could result in creation of hamlet’
A PROPOSED large house and other buildings on 83 acres of farmland north of Otham could result in the creation of a small hamlet, according to parish councillors. Plans submitted by Vitek and
Dalia Tracz for CaringWood, off Caring Lane, include a 10-bed- room home, estate manager’s home, barn with ragstone wall, dry store, glasshouse, parking areas and landscaping. Otham Parish Council urged
the borough council to reject the scheme, saying it would be a misuse of agricultural land in a sensitive landscape. The parish council said: “Our contention in our response to the Core Strategy consultation, was that the area along Caring Road should be retained as open farmland, and not devel- oped with any new buildings. “The proposed buildings,
once built, could offer an op- portunity in the future for a fur- ther application. This could be
for the change of use of the barn and associated works, or the building of further dwellings, thus creating a small hamlet.” The parish was concerned by
the “inconsistency of the trans- port statements”. It said: “There is no feasible
road use from the site which does not use motorised trans- port. Furthermore, the proposed newaccessontoCaringRoad must result in extra vehicle movements on to a very narrow and quiet country lane.” Councillors were also con- cerned about the potential dan- ger of effluent discharge draining into underground water courses feeding the River Len. While conceding that the ar- chitect had sought to recreate an appearance of vernacular buildings, the council thought therewas no aesthetic quality to the design. It said such an ex- periment was contrary to the parish’s aim to maintain unde- veloped greenfields in this area.
director Richard Elliot said Edwin Boorman was “a great figure with a true passion for local journalism”. KCC deputy leader Alex King
said: “Edwinwas someone who made a great contribution to the county … through his steward- ship of the KM Group … his charitable work and his in- volvement in the British Legion. “He has played an enormous
part in making Kent the place it is and throughout the decades helped shape the county.” He leaves his wife Janine, children Geraldine, Cecilia, Imogen, Eleanor andHenry, and seven grandchildren.
golf award THE Tudor Park hotel in Ash- ford Road, Bearsted, has been recognised as one of the top three golfing facilities in the country for juniors, beginners and players with special needs. The hotel, part of the Marriott group, has come second in the national GolfMark Club of the Year Awards 2012, ahead of 1,100 other golf clubs in Eng- land. In May 2010, Tudor Park was accredited with GolfMark sta- tus, endorsed by the English Golf Union and English Women’s Golf Association, which recognises clubs that make an outstanding and inno- vative contribution to junior and beginner golf. In the past year, the golfing
staff at Tudor Park, including head PGA Golf Professional Jason Muller, have visited 26 primary and four secondary schools to teach golf, and have organised a golfing clinic with 20 professionals who inspired children with special needs.
Agricultural Expo draws huge crowds MORE than 3,000 visitors flocked to the Kent Showground for Agri- Expo (SE), one of the south’s biggest agricultural machinery shows. Companies from across the UK brought an array of agricultural ma- chinery, from tractors and high-accuracy spreaders to vans and diesel tanks, to the show, which saw a 40% increase on exhibitors. The event was officially opened by Harry Cotterell, president of
the Country Land & Business Association. George Jessel, chairman of Kent County Agricultural Society, the event’s main supporter, said the show’s popularity with traders and visitors indicated ongoing business confidence within the agricultural industry.
Mobile homes can stay on farm
MICHELLE Richards has been given permission to retain her two mobile homes inWoodside Farm, Old Ham Lane, Lenham. In November 2010, she was
given permission on appeal to retain a polytunnel, seven shed buildings, and fencing for the poultry business she runs on the site. But Maidstone Council’s en- forcement notice to remove the caravans was upheld. Now, however, the borough
has softened its stance and al- lowed them to stay until April 2014. The decision notice said:
“The site is in an areawhere the stationing of caravans/mobile homes is not normally permit- ted, and an exception has been made to enable the applicants to establish and achieve the forecasted growth potential of the business enterprise, and for the situation thereafter to be re- viewed at that time.”
Pine tree must stay MAIDSTONE Council has blocked an application to re- move a Scottish pine tree in the rear garden of 69 Franklin Drive,Weavering. Applicants Jyoti and Shanta
Visram claimed the protected tree was dying and that it would be impossible to remove dead ivy without damaging it. But a council inspection re- vealed no visual defects or fun- gal decay to substantiate claims that the tree was dying.
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