Sandwich bar opens till 4am


PLANSfor a late-night sandwich bar to stay open even longer, of- fering TV and alcohol as well as fast food, have been approved by Maidstone Council. Both the licensing and plan-


ning committees considered an application from Bon Appetit, in Union Street, to stay open until 4am on six days a week. The sandwich bar had per- mission to operate until 11pm Mondays to Saturdays and 7pm on Sundays and public holi- days, but proprietor Ahmet Ar- slan applied to extend the hours to 4am and 2am. He told the council: “I wish to remain open later occasionally to take advantage of the football crowd, for example.” Mr Arslan’s request to be per- mitted to screen TV and films – primarily football matches – be- tween 3pm and 4am and to sup- ply alcohol during the same hours, were approved by the town’s licensing committee, with the proviso the licence could be revoked if conditions were breached or the premises were found to be a public nuisance. Some neighbouring traders opposed the application, but the applicant said there would be CCTV monitoring at all times, there would be a dress code, no drugs or adult films and no admission after 11pm.


A vision for better trains


TONBRIDGE and Malling Council has produced “A Man- ifesto for Improved Rail Serv- ices” with the aim of urging the Government to help upgrade rail services within the bor- ough. It aims to ensure that the new


rail franchise includes compre- hensive Thameslink services from Maidstone East through East Malling, West Malling and Borough Green to Blackfriars


SNODLANDoptometrist Alisdair Buchanan has beaten off national op- position to be named PremiumLensPractice in the National Optician Awards. Alisdair and his fi-


ancée Kathryn Poole, from Buchanan Op- tometrists in Malling Road, Snodland, were invited to attend an awards ceremony at the London Hilton, Park Lane, to receive the award. Hosting the presentationwas BBC’s Tim Vine,who presented Alisdair


Alisdair, with Tim Vine, fiancée Kathryn Poole, Matt Dorling (business director Transitions Op- tical) and Chris Bennett, of Optician magazine


with the newly-designed and art deco-inspired Optician Awards trophy. BuchananOptometristswas the only practice inKent to be shortlisted


for two awards – Vision for Life and Premium Lens Practice – and scooped the latter ahead of nominations from all over the UK. The awards, judged by industry professionals, are open to all opticians


in the UK, both independent and multiples, and this year saw a record number of entries.


DownsMail Business Focus Did you know that EPCs are changing?


If you have bought, sold or rented a domestic property over the last few years, you will be familiar with the Energy Performance Certificate format - an efficiency report with coloured graphs stating how efficient the property is. This is very similar to the energy graphs you see on new white goods or cars these days.


From April this year, EPCs will now include Government updates to building regulations as well as changes to make way for the Green Deal, coming in October.


The Green Deal is a Government framework designed for making energy efficient improvements in our homes with no upfront cost for specified improvement works.


It is based on the idea that estimated savings on energy bills will always equal or exceed the cost of installing new energy


efficient measures, therefore paying for themselves with any excess cash going towards repaying the loan. All works must be undertaken by an approved contractor using a Green Deal advisor. For more information: http://www.decc.gov.uk.


All Green Deals will have to be made using the new EPCs and existing accredited energy assessors have had to pass an exam to ensure they are ready for these changes. If they have not, they will not be able to log EPCs.


Local surveying and letting company GGPM Ltd is ready and raring to go. GGPM also provides building surveys, measures surveys and plans, complies with the Party Walls etc Act, works on planning and building control applications and many other property related services, so contact Gemma if you have any queries.


GGPM is a property solutions company, here to help you Visit Downs Mail’s website — downsmail.co.uk Malling 21


Contact for more details: Gemma Gosden MSc MRICS 07813 486 011 01622 320 047


gemma.gosden@ggpm.co.uk www.ggpm.co.uk


and stations beyond. It also highlights the importance of in- cluding a true “peak” service to Cannon Street and ensuring that the new high speed (HS1) serv- ice to St Pancras stops at Snod- land station. The council also wants a review of the system for increasing fares, which it says is currently complicated and dis- proportionate. Cllr Nicolas Heslop, cabinet member for planning and trans-


Optometrist scoops top award


portation, said: “This compre- hensive rail manifesto has been sent to Theresa Villiers MP, the rail minister and delivers the importantmessage that the bor- ough council wishes to work with her officials to ensure that the interests of communities across Tonbridge and Malling are fully reflected in the next rail franchise.” Visit www.tmbc.gov.uk/pub- lictransport for more details.


Anti-ram consent G4S CASH Solutions (formally Securicor) has been given per- mission to install anti-ram for- tification, fencing and gate and wall protection at its site inOld Mill Lane, Aylesford. Maidstone Council granted planning permission for the scheme, which will include a 2.4m high section of wall pro- tection.


Join the games SPORTS fans of all ages are in- vited to take part in the South- ern Games. The event, in aid of Demelza,


Heart of Kent Hospice and the Royal British Legion, is at Pre- ston Hall at Royal British Le- gion Village, from noon to 8pm on Saturday, June 9. For details, call Dave Smith on 01622 715487.


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