High sheriff


visits charity MICHAEL Bax, High Sheriff of Kent, met staff and residents when he visited the rehabilita- tion charity Kenward Trust. The trust provides residential rehabilitation projects for peo- ple seeking to conquer their ad- diction to alcohol or narcotics. The High Sheriff said he had


had “a great time” learning about the charity’s unique ap- proach to helping people re- cover from addiction. He had a cup of tea with the residents of Kenward Barn and looked around the trust’s nurs- ery, whichaimstosupplyits own kitchens with vegetables from 2013. The trust has made a film


about seven of its clients to en- courage others to turn their lives around. The seven, Del, Endel, Barry,


Matt, Kate, Donna and Mickey have started new lives after bat- tling drink and drug addictions. The film can be seen at www.kenwardtrust.org.uk/videos Chief executive Angela Painter, was recently invited to speak to theHomeAffairs Com- mittee on drugs policy. Angela was asked to address


the committee, which is under- taking a comprehensive review of drugs policy, after visits to the trust by MPs Tracey Crouch (Chatham & Aylesford) and Mark Reckless (Rochester & Strood). To support the Kenward Trust


call 01622 814187 or email fundraising@kenwardtrust.org. uk.


Space for hens FRIDAYS Ltd has proposed to extend a free-range poultry unit on land at Summerhill, Water Lane Farm, Headcorn. Permission has already been granted for a single shed for 13,500 birds. The extension, sub- ject to Maidstone Council con- sent, would enable the shed to accommodate the hens at nine per sq m instead of the original 12.


A supporting statement said


the recent banning of tradi- tional cages had put increased pressure on the UK egg indus- try to develop alternativemeth- ods of production.


Shop conversion CAROL Saunders has applied to convert former shop Sutton Valence Antiques at 17 North Street, Sutton Valence, into a three-bedroom semi-detached house. A supporting statement re- garding the property, which overlooks the Kings Head pub, said: “We plan to keep most of the original shop front, but re- move door recess and fit two flush windows to match either side.” Maidstone Council will determine the planning appli- cation.


Pharmacy added to surgery


A PHARMACY will now form part of the new doctors’ surgery development in Grigg Lane, Headcorn. Maidstone Council’s planning committee agreed to amend- ments requested by Dr Timothy Winch and Clive Thorpe of Headcorn Surgery, which will see the transfer of their phar- macy from its current location in the High Street. The surgery was originally


given planning permission in May2010aspartofascheme that included 25 affordable homes and a children’s nursery. Other changes to the surgery


will see the building take on a more traditional barn-like form to the previously approved con- temporary ‘organic’ design. It will be 42m long (7m smaller) and 22.6m wide (4.6m wider) and be located further away from Elizabeth House to the east.


While Headcorn Parish Coun-


cil continued to support having the new surgery in Grigg Lane, chairman Lyn Selby said: “The inclusion of the pharmacy in the new surgery will mean an


additional increase in journeys by villagers, particularly with regard to repeat prescriptions. “It is obvious there will be in- creased safety issues. Addi- tional lighting and provision of pavements needs to be required in Oak Lane and Grigg Lane, or the development of a public footpath from Grigg Lane into Knaves Acre should be consid- ered.” This request was supported


by local ward member, Cllr Richard Thick, also a member of the committee. He was angry that Kent Highway Services said it would not install traffic calming measures along the two narrow lanes because there had


Tribute to forgotten airman


REPRESENTATIVES from the South African and Australian embassies arebeing invited to attendaservice of commemoration inStaplehurst, to remember an airman from the village whowas shot down inWWII. Sergeant Reginald Charles Fitzgerald RAFVR, from the 31 Squadron South AfricanAirForce,went missing, presumed killed, in October 1944, when he was fly- ing as rear gunner on Liberator Mk6 KH158. However, because his family moved


away from the area at about the same time, his connection with the village was severed–and hisnamewas omitted from the villagewar memorial. The error came to light as part of local


history buff Ted Sergison’s research into WWII, when he unearthed the fact that SgtFitzgerald hadworkedonSlaneyFarm for four years, as theward of the Bateup family. The Bateupsmoved to PaddockWood in 1944 and his brothermoved too. The parish council has decided to replace the central panel of the memorial and have it re-written by a professional signwriter to include Sgt Fitzgerald’s name.


Sgt Reginald Fitzgerald A spokesman said: “There is a deep Charles Fitzgerald


feeling of regret amongst the parish council over this omission and we have determined that not only be it put right, but done so in the highest standard pos- sible and with a dedication service of equal rank.” Whilst carrying out his research, Mr Sergison, of Corner Farm Road, discov- ered that Sgt Fitzgerald and his younger brother Charles were put into care by their family during the depression of the 1930s. They firstwent to a home in Hert- fordshire, then Reginald was moved to the Fegan home at Goudhurst – now Blantyre House Prison.


When he was 14, he was sent to Slaney Farm where he became a


ward of the Bateup family at Slaney Cottage. In 1939, he wrote to his saying howhappy hewas there. In 1943/4, he volunteered for National Service andwas sent as a re- placement crewmember to the 31 Squadron SAAF. The squadron had lostmanymen during airlifts to support thehomearmy during theWar- sawuprising and it is thought his plane crashed into Lake Balseno.


New housing is being developed, but changes are being made to the neighbouring health centre in Headcorn


been no recorded personal in- jury crashes along Oak Lane in the past 10 years. “This is unacceptable,” he


said. However, planning officers


drew attention to measures being implemented by KHS from the original permission. These include the provision of passing bays in Grigg Lane, a new footpath to the west of the site to where the existing foot- path in Grigg Lane ceases and new street lighting in Grigg Lane. All committee members, apart


from Cllr Tony Harwood, voted in favour of the planning appli- cation.


Garden without


fence ‘a risk’ A FATHER installed a garden fence outside his home in Sta- plehurst for health and safety reasons. Graham Bunyan moved into


25 Poyntell Road, in May with his wife, two-and-a-half year- old daughter and three-month old son. His supporting statement said:


“It very quickly became appar- ent that it was dangerous for our daughter to live so close to an unfenced pond and road. Being profoundly deaf she is com- pletely unable to hear any noise from approaching vehicles and we cannot call to her to stop going near to the pond or the road (or just wandering off). “Before having the fence we


found it very irritating thatmany of the people using the footpath would use our garden as awalk- through to cut off the corner and, even more annoyingly, some would even allow their dogs to foul the garden on a regular basis and not pick it up. “This, as a matter of health


and safety,means to us that the fence is a necessity for us to be able to use the garden.” Mr Bunyan added that the


fence is five feet high with a small trellis on top. Maidstone Council will determine the ret- rospective application to retain the fence.


Barn to offices idea A PLANNING application has been submitted to convert an existing barn and stables to of- fices at The Nurseries. Staple- hurst Road,Marden.


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