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Trial delayed


by Olympics A MAIDSTONE coach accused of sexual activity with an 11- year-old boy has had his trial delayed until after the Olympics, after a judge heard that he was training an athlete for the Games. Chris Bowman (48) of Rein-


den Grove, Downswood, ap- peared at Maidstone Crown Court after being arrested on suspicion of abusing the young- ster while in a position of trust. He pleaded not guilty. His trial was postponed by Judge Michael Carroll until August 28, after hearing he was men- toring decathlete Martin Brock- man (24) of Maidstone in his bid to qualify for the Olympics.


Cobtree zoo plan Continued from page one


attractions, the committee was told. A feasibility study has al- ready been commissioned to consider linking the park with the towpath at Allington Lock, creating a riversidewalk through to Tonbridge. If the funds are forthcoming, a zoo-themed play area will be the first project, followed by general park improvements, including the creation of picnic areas and a pond-viewing platform. Phase Three will involve turn-


ing the former elephant house into a visitor centre with educa- tional resources, café and shop. Alocal art group would also like to set up aworkshop and gallery and the council is looking at in- corporating zoo-themed sculp- tures in the park.


There are a number of organ- isedwalks in the park during the summer, including bird and bat- watching and mini-beast trails. Info: www.cobtreepark.co.uk


College football win A FOOTBALL team from Mid- Kent College came from behind twice to win the KCSSA (Kent Colleges Student Sports Asso- ciation) Cup for the second year running. MKC manager Neil Hemstead said: “The boys did reallywell against a very strong NorthWest Kent College team.”


JOURNEY times in and out of Maidstone could be doubled by 2026 if something is not done to tackle the town’s groaning trans- port infrastructure. Commuter journeys along Ash-


ford Road could double from 14 minutes to 28, while traffic com- ing in from the west, along Ton- bridge Road, could face a 20-minute journey, as opposed to the current 11. The harsh realities of travelling


in the county town were pointed out to representatives of the bor- ough business community at a Town Hall transport workshop. John Bunney, associate director of JMP Research, who had been commissioned to undertake a congestion study, pointed out that


16 Malling


Listed status for Powerhub


A PLAN to demolish one of Maidstone’s landmark indus- trial buildings has been halted, following news it has been given a Grade II listing by Eng- lish Heritage. Local businessman Cliff Thur-


low had applied to Maidstone Council to demolish the Power- hub – formerly Maidstone In- dustrial Centre – fronting Baltic Wharf and St Peter Street, leav- ing the site ripe for river- frontage apartments or a new superstore. However, a bid by borough


Cllr David Pickett (LibDem) to get the building listed came to fruition just as the council was to decide on the application. Mr Thurlow, whose company


PH (Maidstone) Ltd recently ac- quired a long leasehold interest in the Powerhub building, claims the building has a leak- ing roof, lets in water and the concrete beams are sagging. He says the building now has


major structural defects and suf- fers from spalling,which occurs as a result of water entering the brick, concrete or stone and can lead to its eventual collapse, and is only fit for demolition. However, the building’s new-


found status means demolition is now less likely to happen. Listed building consent will


be required to make any changes that will affect the building, although it can still be altered, extended and, some- times, even demolished as long as it meets the Government’s planning criteria.


DOORS could be closing at some local libraries under KCC’s plans to save cash. Plans to revolutionise book- borrowing could see village halls and community centres turned into libraries,with others turned into “self-service” centres. Sue Sparks, KCC’s strategic manager for modernisation, told Bearsted Parish Council that bor- rowers’ needs were changing. However,Kent had a legal obli-


Town traffic forecast looks grim


the town’s core strategy included the building ofmore than 10,000 new homes by 2026. Towncentremanager Bill Moss believed part of the solution was to extend the town’s park and ride facility, but Cllr Malcolm Robert- son said thiswould mean putting up the cost of town centre park- ing. He pointed out that usage of the existingpark and ride scheme was falling every year. Other suggestedmeasures to re-


duce congestion were: Newsouthern approach road or the Leeds-Langley bypass An additional lane on the “pinch point” of the town bridge gyratory system near St Peter Street, which leads to Fairmeadow.


Cllr Pickett began the lengthy process of applying for listing last summer – and the decision came through just in the nick of time.


Originally built in the 1920s


The Grade II-listed Powerhub in St Peter Street


Cllr Pickett took an interest in


the origins of the building when approached by local resident and constitutent Chris Newman more than three years ago. Mr Newman, who has a par- ticular interest in old buses, had compiled a dossier on the his- tory of the Powerhub and was desperate to see the building saved and, if possible, restored to something like its former glory. Cllr Pickett said: “I’m also in- terested in history, so it didn’t take long for Mr Newman to convince me to take the case on board. We have lost so many buildings inMaidstone over the years. It is important that we try to save what is left of our his- tory.”


gation to provide a comprehen- sive and efficient library service accommodating local need. But she said: “Modernisation


for vehicle producers Tilling Stevens, which went on to be- come part of Rootes, the build- ing has latterly been home to a wide range of businesses, in- cluding the Karen Millen fash- ion chain andHiltonHall Dance Academy. It has lain derelict for several months, after the last of the ten- ants, including the dance stu- dio, a gym and a pole fitness group, moved out to alternative premises. It is believed to be one of only


two buildings of its kind left in the country. A council spokesman said:


"Prior notification of demolition is the planning procedure for gaining permission to demolish buildings.


“Applicants must notify the council of their intention and the council must consider the method of demolition and any proposed restoration of the site. This differs from a normal plan- ning application because it is deemed to be ‘permitted devel- opment’. “This is the type of application


being considered for the Power- hub building and the target date for a decision is April 4. “We are currently considering


what implications the Grade II listing of the buildingmay have for the application.”


Libraries at risk in radical book-borrowing rethink In other areas, volunteers


might like to run the library service, she said. In Folkestone, a parish coun-


of the service and saving money while meeting local needs is quite a challenge!” She said different formulae would work for different areas. In some places, sharing a village hall mightmake the village hall more viable, while saving the li- brary money at the same time.


MAIDSTONE United FC’s plan for a new all-weather surface as part of its football ground scheme could increase light pollution for residents of the social housing flats alongside the new Kent Library and His- tory Centre. The third-generation (3G) surface can be used more fre- quently than a grass pitch and the Stones plan to host games and practice sessions of all lev- els at the new stadium in James WhatmanWay, which is due to open in the summer. Local ward member Cllr


Tony Harwood said: “The arti- ficial pitch is 70m from peo-


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cil met in a library, while in the Maidstone area, a local history group ran a workshop and advi- sory service in a library. The Maidstone Locality Board


will have the final say in the fu- ture of the service, once the public consultation exercise is complete.


Lights concern at Stones ground


ple’s bedrooms in Thomas Place, and will make a differ- ence on their amenity.We need to sort this out.” Cllr Clive English, of Maid-


stone’s planning committee felt the 3G pitch demonstrated a lack of ambition from the Isth- mian League Division One South club, as it might not be a suitable playing surface shoul the Stones achieve two promo- tions to the Conference South. The application, specifically


for the 3G surface, found favour from 11 members of the committee, with Cllr Harwood and ward colleague Cllr Jenni Paterson abstaining.


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