Town’s drivers ‘worst in county’
MAIDSTONE drivers are the worst in Kent, according to ac- cident statistics. Although there was a 50% re- duction in the number of acci- dents involving fatalities or serious injuries in Maidstone between 2000 and 2010, the county town consistently records the highest number of personal injury accidents across the whole of Kent. Driver error and behaviour
were significant factors in acci- dents, with young drivers being at particular risk. In 2010, there were four fatal accidents, 46 serious accidents and 509 slight accidents in the borough. Canterbury was sec- ond highest with 49 victims killed or seriously injured. Of the drivers involved, more than half – 53% – had Maid-
Strike up the
band at church MUSIC lovers are in for a treat when the East Peckham Silver Band performs at St Mary and All Saints’ Church, Boxley, on Saturday October 27. The concert, which gets un- derway at 7.30pm, is to raise funds for the upkeep of the church and tickets are now on sale, priced £10 for adults and £2.50 for children under 12, to include a free drink, pro- gramme and “nibbles”. The band will be performing under the leadership of conductor, Garrie Harvey and tickets can be obtained from Gill Munson on 01622 630231 or Francis Coomber on 01622 758638.
Wall refusal PETER Hood’s retrospective ap- plication to erect a front bound- ary wall at 99 Ashford Road, Bearsted, has been refused. Maidstone Council’s decision
notice said: “The front bound- arywall, due to its height, posi- tioning and choice of materials, would create an obtrusive and visually jarring feature and cause unacceptable visual harm to the character and appearance of the area.” It added that a 1m reduction in height would en- able thewall to remain without needing planning permission.
stone postcodes, with the rest coming from outside the county (12%), Medway (9%), Ton- bridge & Malling (7%), Swale (6%) and Ashford (5%). A report to Maidstone Joint
Transportation Board revealed the peak times for accidents as early morning (8-9am) and weekday evenings, from 3-8pm. The roads with the highest number of accidents were the A229, A249, A274, A26, A20, theM20 and the M2. The county’s head of high-
ways and transportation, Tim Read, revealed that the town’s community safety partnership had been focusing attention on specific sectors, including driv- ers aged 17-21, pedestrians aged 11-16, 16-year-old moped riders and 17-24 year olds riding all types of bike.
A NEW application has been submitted to replace buildings at a former fence manufacturing site with four large homes be- tween Bredhurst and Yelsted. Last autumn, Maidstone Council’s planning committee accepted an application to con- vert buildings at the Purple Hill Works in White Hill Road into nine light industrial units. This was preferred to a redevelop- ment scheme for four homes, which was refused. This housing plan, which was deemed to be out of keeping with an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, has now resurfaced,with applicant Weldrite UK saying
Writing in the county’s road
safety plan for 2012/13, he says: “Mostpedestrians and cyclists are put at risk by the actions of driv- ers – especially in the driver’s choice of speed or they way they choose to be distracted by things such as mobile phones. “From the age of 16, young-
sters can ride their first motor vehicle on the road. Whilst there is a level of compulsory basic training that has to be completed before road riding is allowed, the relative lack of ex- perience of young riders leads them into a range of hazardous situations.” Maidstone is a high priority
for KCC’s education work in schools, with projects such as “Licence to Kill”, “Car’n’Age” and “Rush”, which are aimed at teenagers, exploring the circum-
stances and consequences of road accidents. Cllr Gary Cooke, chairman of
the joint transport board, said: “The quality of driving inMaid- stone has deteriorated rapidly, especially at traffic lights, where red seems to signify ‘get across quickly’ and amber means ‘accelerate’. “While the number of acci-
dents has fallen in recent years, it is only amatter of time before it starts to rise again.” Cllr Paulina Stockell argued
the incidence of accidents in Maidstone was higher because it was the county town and, consequently, attracted more traffic. But Cllr Cooke said: “While
the results show an improve- ment, there are no grounds for complacency.”
Revised homes plan back on agenda
jacent woodland and a tradi- tional Kentish vernacular ap- proach to the design. “Modern technologies will be
used to achieve high levels of day lighting, passive solar gain and renewable energy. “The proposed development
The ‘untidy’ site at Purple Hill
that renting out the industrial units will be difficult in the cur- rent economic climate. Its design statement said: “The proposal has been amended sub- stantially, both in terms of the layout and individual unit de- sign. The main changes involve increased separation from the ad-
MPs are promoted in reshuffle BOTH the area’s MPs have risen up the ranks in the latest cabi- net reshuffle. Helen Grant, MP for Maidstone and the
Weald, has been appointed joint Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at theMinistry of Jus- tice for Women’s & Equality issues, while Faversham and Mid Kent MP and Olympics minister Hugh Robertson, pictured right, has been promoted to Minister of State for Culture, Media and Sport and made a member of the Privy Council. Mr Roberston said: “Having first got involved
in London 2012 as a shadow minister in 2004, it is fantastic to have the opportunity to see the project through by helping to shape the legacy period.”
will result in a dramatic im- provement when judged against the site in its current form. The site as proposed will be much tidier,with houses being of very high quality in terms of their de- sign and materials. The site will be visually far less obtrusive.” Maidstone Council will decide
on the application, which is backed by Detling Parish Council.
Call to fell trees ANNETTE Stephens has ap- plied for conservation area con- sent to fell three trees at The Limes in Otham Street, Otham. Her application says two
trees had outgrown their space and another was sick or dead. Maidstone Council will deter- mine the planning application.
Wall replacement THE Diocese of Canterbury has applied to replace a ragstone wall to the front of The Vic- arage and North House in Church Lane, Bearsted.
Littering smokers are offered away out
SMOKERS who are fined for dropping cig- arette butts on the streets of Maidstone could get some of theirmoney back – if they give up the habit. Maidstone council,which operates a zero- tolerance litter policy, issues £75 fixed penalty notices to offenders, and most of them are given for smoking-related rubbish. Now anyone fined for discarding ciga-
rettes can claim back £50 in high street vouchers through a NHS Stop Smoking course. Offenders who pay their fines will be offered a leaflet inviting them to attend a free seven-week Quit Club. If they kick thehabit they will get the vouch-
24 East
ers to spend in the town’s shops. People taking part will have their carbon monoxide levels monitored each week to prove they are no longer smoking. But critics, including town centre man-
ager Bill Moss, say the scheme is a waste of tax-payers’ money. Graham Thomas from the Kent Commu-
nity Health NHS Trust stop smoking team said: “We know quitting is tough but no one has to go it alone. We can provide advice and practical support to help people to quit. We can also provide nicotine replacement therapy for a normal prescription charge.” The Quit Club will be held in Maidstone
from next month to coincidewith a national stop smoking campaign. Anyone who has paid a fine for dropping smoking-related lit- ter during August can attend. The scheme will begin as a pilot, jointly funded by the NHS and Maidstone council from the paid fines. Vouchers cannot be spent on tobacco or alcohol. Cabinet member for environment Cllr Marion Ring said: “The figures tell us the vast majority of littering in Maidstone is smoking-related. “This scheme not only helps someone re-
coup some of their penalty charge, it also of- fers them a lifeline to a smoke-free future.”
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info@downsmail.co.uk
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