Room extension Town’s high asbestos risk


plan refused MAIDSTONE Council refused an application for a roof exten- sion at Midsummer House, Woodside Green, Lenham. The scheme would have in- creased the size of the prop- erty’s fifth bedroom, within existing converted roof space on the second floor. The plan- ning statement claimed it would create a “roof and dwelling that includes greater unity, balance and symmetry, improving the appearance of the dwelling”. However, Maidstone Coun-


cil’s decision statement said: “The proposal, due to its height and design, would result in an excessively deep and bulky roof, which would ... appear vi- sually incongruous, causing vi- sual harm to the character ... of the nationally important Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.”


Gospel concert A GOSPEL concert is being held in Sandling Village Hall to raise funds for the Help aMaid- stone Child fund. The God’s Elect Ministry


event features gospel artist Ira Jackson who has worked with StevieWonder, Philip Bailey of Earth Wind and Fire and the London Community Gospel Choir. He has also worked with girl band From Above, who are appearing on the X Factor 2012. The concert is on Saturday, September 22, at the Sandling Village Hall, Sandling Lane, Maidstone, from 6-7.30pm. Tickets are £5 for adults and £1 for children. For details call 07501 508764


or email johnwesleygibson@ googlemail.com


Youth club YOUNGSTERS aged from 11 to 15 are invited to the Salvation Army youth club at 74-8- Union Street. Meetings take place from 7-


9pm on the first and third Fri- days of the month – October 5 and 19. Entry is £1.50, and activities include Wii, darts, nerf guns, table tennis and pool. For more details, call the church office on 01622 681808.


Harvest barn dance ST Mary’s Church, Lenham, is holding a Harvest Barn Dance in the Lenham Community Centre on October 27. Tickets are £4 for adults, and


free for children, from the Vil- lage stores or church. Music will be provided by local band “Rattle the Boards”.


Access all areas A PLANNING application has been submitted to introduce an area of hardstanding to provide a vehicle access way in Nev- erend Farm, Pye Corner, Ul- combe.


32 East


The Brownies pause for a picture at the Going for Gold event, and below, the Rainbows do their bit


Guides of all ages go for gold WEAVERING District Guides, Brownies and Rainbows enjoyed a Going for Gold event to celebrate the 2012 Olympics. From Rainbows right up to the


Trefoil Guild for retired leaders, all took part in the day at Leeds and Broomfield School. Rainbows, Brownies, Guides and


senior section each created their own country and flag and an open- ing ceremony was held. Bronze, silver and gold medals were awarded and the day ended with a leaders’ race. 1st Vinters Rain- bows were medal table winners. Volunteers from Gullands Solici-


tors and accountants Day Smith and Hunter made the day go with a swing, with Gullands donating £200 so each girl could take a badge home.


Nursery staff party for Andrew STAFF andmanagement at Pennies Day Nursery, Newnham Court, partied with a purpose at the second annual Andrew’s Bop. The event, held inmemory of former Pennies’ employee Andrew


Vickers, raised about £750 for diabetes charities. Andrew’s sudden death two years


ago was the spur for Pennies’ staff, in- cluding Andrew’s mother Sheila, to raise money to tackle the condition. The second annual bop had a Dis-


ney theme, and Sheila and An- drew’s younger brother, Matt, both turned up dressed as Toy Story char- acters. Sheila took the role of Little Bo-Peep and Matthew wore a Buzz Lightyear costume, which was the final present Andrew’s family gave him before his death. Matt is pic- tured right with Claire Barber. Sheila Vickers said; “I want to


thank all my colleagues who made- this event such a success.”


THE death rate for asbestos-re- lated cancer in Maidstone is well above the national average. Figures obtained by the Asso- ciation of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL) under the Free- dom of Information Act, show that from 2006 to the end of 2010, mesothelioma, a terminal cancer of the lung wall, was recorded as the underlying cause of 43 deaths in the area. That works out at 3.7 deaths in 100,000 people,whenthe average for England andWales was 2.5. APIL president David Bott


said: “More people die of mesothelioma inMaidstone per


head of the population than in most other parts of the country. “The number of men dying


from the disease is expected to peak during the next five years. “What many people don’t re-


alise is that hundreds of sufferers across theUKcannot get the com- pensation they need to help them in the last days of their life.” Mr Bott called on the Govern-


ment to bring forward proposals for a fund which would act as a safety net for injured workers. He said: “Many workers who


have developed mesothelioma are sometimes unable to pursue a claim for damages because


they can no longer trace the em- ployer who exposed them to as- bestos, or the employer’s insurance company.” The Government proposed to


set up a fund of “last resort” shortly before the general elec- tion, but nothing materialised. Asbestos is a naturally occur-


ring silicate that was used as a building material during the 60s, 70s and 80s because of its chemical and heat-resistant properties. Its use since the mid 90s has decreased dramatically as the dangers associated with it be- came known.


Choirs combine MEMBERS of Holy Cross Church Choir and Bearsted Choral Society will join forces to sing a varied programme in- cluding Handel’s Hallelujah Chorus and Haydn’s Little Organ Mass. Conducted by music direc-


tors Christine Tate and Peter Ashley, the concert is at Holy Cross Church from 7.30-9pm on Saturday, October 13, with a short break for refreshments. Tickets are £8 for adults, £4 for


under 18s and free for under 11s. They are available frommembers or on the door. Call the church choir on 01622 737183 or the choral society on 01634 666730. Proceeds to the Organ Fund of Holy Cross Church.


Messy time CHILDREN of primary school age and their families are in- vited to get messy at a fun ses- sion on Thursday, October 11. Messy Church includes activi-


ties, worship and ameal. It starts at 4pm, although the building opens at 3.30pm for those who wish to come straight from school, and finishes at 6pm. The cost is £3 per family. Children must be accompa-


nied by an adult throughout the event. For more information, call the community office on 01622 681808.


Mobile home plan ANTHONY Deeprose has ap- plied to put a mobile home for residential occupation and a day room at Neverend Lodge in Neverend Farm, Pye Corner,Ul- combe. A supporting statement said: “Shrubs and trees will remain, obscuring the view of the build- ings from the road.” Maidstone Council will determine the ap- plication


Football for girls VINTERS Football club is look- ing for players for its girls’ Under 11s team (year 5 or 6), based in the Grove Green area of Maidstone. Call Lee Bartlet on 01622 721303 or 07527 846804, or email leebno.28@o2email.co.uk.


You can e-mail the Downs Mail — info@downsmail.co.uk


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