Budget cuts leave grass uncut


HIGHWAYS and byways in Maidstone and the rural areas are sporting a very visible sign of council cash cutbacks. Cllr Fay Gooch told Maid-


stone Joint Transportation Board that councils adhering strictly to boundaries when car- rying out grass cutting had re- sulted in places where some grass was cut and some not. She cited Bull Orchard, Barm-


ing, where Maidstone was re- sponsible for the stretch from the post office to number 6 – and the rest was the responsi- bility of Kent County Council. She said: “Maidstone has in-


Teenager asaulted OFFICERS are trying to trace a couple who helped a 15-year-old girl after she was assaulted in Granville Road, Maidstone, be- tween2pmand8pmonTuesday, July 17. The victim says an elderlyman


and a woman came to her aid after being assaulted by two peo- ple. The woman also gave her money to get the train home back to Sittingbourne.


Reception plans MAIDSTONE Council has per- mitted a planning application to build a new reception area at St Simon Stock School in Oak- wood Park,Maidstone.


structed its operators to cut in accordancewith the boundaries – which means half is cut and half isn’t. “I understand times are hard


but can someone instigate some common sense, lateral thinking and partnership agreement so that complete areas are mown as complete areas?” The meeting heard the un-


usual weather had encouraged growth at a time when service levels had been cut. Consequently, KCC had in- creasedweed spraying. Instead of tackling the problem once a year, weed spraying was taking place


MUSICIANS of all ages are being sought to join the Maidstone- based Invicta Jazz Orchestra. The amateur orchestra has just celebrated its first birthday,having become independent of Kent Music School last year. Members comefromallwalks of


life. Many of the younger students go on to study music and benefit from the experience of playing with the orchestra. Although the band has more


than 40 members, it’s at this time of year,as studentsheadoff to uni- versity, that numbers tend to fall, so newblood is needed.


The band plays regularly in


Brenchley Gardens and took part in theMaidstone Jazz Festival. They rehearse every Thursday


evening at Sutton Valence School. Director of music Scott Jenkins


now and would be repeated in October and November. The grass cutting programme


had also been affected, with mowing equipment struggling to cope with the long, wet grass. Urban grass cutting – next to


roads or footpaths – has been re- duced to just eight times a year, rural grass next to roads is cut just once a year, grass which af- fects visibility at junctions two to three times per year and hedges trimmed once a year. However, head of pro- grammed works Behdad Harat- bar said: “Weed growth has been prolific and we are spray-


ing weeds across the county.” He added: “We encourage communities to help with the maintenance of vegetation on roadsides in front of private homes and properties.” Geraldine Brown, chair of


Yalding Parish Council, said the parish paid for its own vegeta- tion management out of the pre- cept. Cllr Richard Ash said Bearsted paid a handyman, but also wrote to residents asking them to cut overhanging hedges. It was stated that KCC would


be happy to meet members to discuss how problem areas could be dealt with.


Jazz orchestra looking for talented musicians


The Invicta Jazz Orchestra playing in Jubilee Square, Maidstone


wasafoundermemberof the band when itwas with KMS. He said: “If you’re a musician,


why not come to a rehearsal?” The IJO has awebsite atwww.in- victajazz.com.


STAPLEHURST • Station Road, 01580 892037


WOODFORD LANDSCAPE DEPOT Staplehurst • 01580 892733


MAIDSTONE • Hall Road, Maidstone • 01622 791111


20 Town Support YOUR local paper — and we can support YOU - advertise on 01622 630330


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48