Lines drawn in pavement row Traffic wardens
DEMARCATION lines have been drawn as the dispute rum- bles on over the safety of Maid- stone’s new-look High Street. Despite claims from the coun-
cil that the new granite paving stones were safe and the pave- ment was easily identifiable from the road, reports of trips and falls continued to flood in. In a bid to counter the critics,
the council instructed contrac- tors Eurovia to spray paint a thin yellow line along the “problem” kerbstone edge, clearly marking the drop from the pathway to the road. The paint is only temporary, however, and will be replaced with “black nosing” in the af- fected bus stops, according to the town’s regeneration and economic development man- ager John Foster. Numerous people com- plained to the council after trip- ping off the edge of the pavement by the taxi rank, across from the entrance to The Mall. One woman, Carol Taylor,
broke one leg and badly sprained her other, while Maid- stone Cllr David Pickard was another victim of the new-look
Carriages plan EXPLORATORY talks have taken place about moving Maidstone’s Carriage Collection to Leeds Castle. However, the castle has con- firmed that housing the collec- tion is not top of its priorities. Maidstone Museum’s business
plan from 2011-2019 envisages the collection beingmoved from the Archbishop’s Palace stables, so the stables can be sold or used for other means. VictoriaWallace, chief execu-
tive of Leeds Castle, said: “We have spoken to Maidstone Bor- ough Council about the possi- bility, but it is not high on our priorities. While the carriages would fit in well with other de- velopments here, it is not part of the trustees’ strategic plan.”
High Street. There were four re- ports of broken limbs from four different people in the space of a few days. Maidstone Town Centre Man- agement’s business forum heard that dozens ofwomen had been seen tripping off the kerb in a similar lay-by outside Wether- spoon’s – and not just as a result of drinking. While Mr Foster initially claimed people regularly tripped in town centres and it was necessary to identify those who had fallen as a direct result of the £2m “improvement” works, the council’s U-turn has been welcomed by opposition leader FranWilson. Cllr Wilson said: “Our three High Street ward councillors
Temporary yellow lines mark the edges of the pavements
had been dealing with com- plaints for a month before this happened. It took the borough a long time to accept there was a problem relating to the struc- ture, repeating the samemantra that the elderly and infirm often fell over in the town. “Many of the people who
have been affected by this are not elderly and infirm! “When these reports started to
come in, the council should have taken some action. It is their responsibility and it is only a pity they took such a long time to wake up to the fact. “The tragedy is that we high- lighted this some time ago – and we were not crying wolf.” Cllr Wilson said there had also been reports of people get-
cracking down NEW traffic regulation orders have come into effect in Maid- stone High Street, following the recent improvement works. Signs are now in place, and
both the police and traffic war- dens will have the powers to stop and penalise motorists caught flouting the law. Only buses and taxis are al-
lowed at the top end of the High Street and enforcement action will be taken against anyone caught in breach of the regulations.
ting trapped in the grids be- neath the trees. She said: “These things need
to be monitored.” Cllr Malcolm Robertson said:
“We do not want to see the town urbanising.” Paul Alcock, chairman of the Maidstone Town Centre night economy business forum said: “I am disappointed it has taken the council so long to realise this was a problem. I am glad common sense has prevailed.”
Partygoer walks to his death on M20
A 25-YEAR-OLD man died when he was hit by a lorry while walking along the motor- way after a friend’s wedding party in Hollingbourne. Electrician Luke Watson, of Upper Fant Road, Maidstone, had been celebrating at the Mer- cure Great Danes Hotel before he ventured on to the unlit M20 at junction 8 just after midnight. An inquest at Maidstone
heard he was hit by a Scania truck, causing fatal injuries, near the slip road on the Lon- don-bound carriageway early on Saturday, July 30, last year. Coroner Patricia Harding said:
“The tragedy was that he had money for a taxi and was of- fered a lift, but not wanting to
be a burden to anybody, he de- cided to walk.” Described as “the life and soul
of the party”, he had been out with friends from about 6pm on Friday, July 29, last year. They went to the Bull at Penenden Heath, before moving on to the wedding reception. Close friend Kenneth Breeze
said he last saw Luke at about midnight, when he said he was going to get a taxi. But driver Michael White phoned police just after midnight after seeing a figure staggering on the junction 8 slip road. Another friend, Matthew Barnden, said Luke had told friends that all motorways led to his mother’s home. The in-
Children put church trail to test
A CHURCH trail has been launched at a cer- emony at St Nicholas Church, Otham. The trail takes the form of a questionnaire
for children aged between 8 and 12,which is designed to guide them around the church, and appreciate it and its artefacts. Questions direct attention to the roof tim-
bers of the nave, the carvings on the font, and some of the birdswhich decorate the church, and many other things. The trail is sponsored by theMidKent Dec- orative and FineArts Society,which is based in Sutton Valence, and was prepared with the help of their national association (NAD- FAS).
Ricky Turpin, of MidKent DFAS, presented
a CD containing the trail documentation to the newly-appointed vicar of St Nicholas, the Rev Steve Hughes, and it was put to the test
32 East
From left, Alison Hutchinson (MidKent DFAS), Rev Hughes, Pam Hipkins, Dr Hugh Vaux, Sandy Patrick,Mayor of Maidstone Cllr Rodd Nelson-Gracie, Sarah Harris, Simon Leonard, and Annette Stephens.
by 30 children from Madginford Park Junior School and their headmaster David Day,who declared it a great success.
quest heard he may have in- tended to spend the night at his mother’s home at Penenden Heath, near junction 7, or to buy a meal at theM20 services. In a statement, Dutch lorry
driver Gerrit Schoonberg, who was heading for Heathrow, said he saw something dark in front of his truck and had no time to avoid it. “It was as though it had just fallen from the sky,” he said. “I wasn’t sure what I had hit, but still feared the worst.” Recording a verdict of acci- dental death, the coroner said there was no defect on the Sca- nia vehicle or the way it was being driven, and there was nothing to suggest Luke had taken his own life.
Try Angle award for
two young carers A BROTHER and sister from Holling- bourne were among this year’s recipi- ents of the TunbridgeWells, Maidstone and Tonbridge and Malling Try Angle awards. Rosie (18) and William (13) Harman received a good friends and carers award for the care they have given to their parents in times of ill health. Their citation read: “They have shown real courage and strength, and have sup- ported each other through the difficult times.” The awards recognise exceptional young people across Kent in several qualifying categories and were pre- sented by paralympic champion Danny Crates at the Trinity Theatre, Tunbridge Wells.
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