This page contains a Flash digital edition of a book.
OakenWood


inquiry nears BATTLELINES are being drawn for the long-awaited planning in- quiry into land at Oaken Wood, due to get underway at the end of next month. The Gallagher Group wants to expand its quarry operation in thewood, between Barming and East Malling, but the Woodland Trust is among opponents who say it will damage a range of nat- ural habitats. OakenWood is home to a vari-


ety of locally and nationally im- portant rare flora and fauna and will be the test case for the Gov- ernment’s National Planning Pol- icy Framework, in terms of whether it actually will protect ancient woodland. The Woodland Trust is en- deavouring to raise the £75,000 it needs to fund its part of the public inquiry, which they claim would not be necessary if the Government was protecting the irreplaceable habitat, as it claims. Woodland Trust chief execu-


tive Sue Holden says the new planning framework gives with one hand but takes away with the other. The document says: “Planning permission should be refused for development resulting in the loss or deterioration of irreplace- able habitats, including ancient woodland, unless the need for, and benefits of, the development outweigh the loss.” It will be for the inquiry to decidewhether the commercial development, together with the jobs it might generate and the impact on the local economy, outweighs the importance of the natural environment. The Gallagher Group submit-


ted plans to KCC in August 2010 for permission to extend the Hermitage Quarry into OakenWood. Despite 1,000 ob- jections, the application was granted, but the Woodland Trust, Kent Wildlife Trust, and 6,500 supporters who wrote to Secretary of State Eric Pickles, succeeded in their request for the case to be called in. A public inquiry will start on November 27 and is expected to last three weeks.


Fears for future of PCSOs


CONCERN has been growing among parish councils over who will foot the bill for village PCSOs, after funding changes next year. Current finance arrangements


are due to end in March 2013 when Home Office ring fencing for the role will finish. After that, the Government


will continue to provide PCSO funding, but it will be included in the main grant to each force, leaving police chiefs to decide how it should be spent. Broomfield and Kingswood


parish clerk, Gail Gosden, said: “The big question is are we goingtobeaskedtosupport them financially?” Councillors were expected to


seek reassurances at a meeting of Maidstone Rural Neighbour- hood Police and Parish Coun- cil Forum at Headcorn on October 25. A Kent Police spokesman


said: “The funding is not end- ing. It is included in the main grant provided to police forces. The responsibility on how this overall funding will be allo-


cated will be for the chief con- stable and the forthcoming po- lice and crime commissioner to decide.” The spokesman added: “There are no current plans for any changes to the PCSO role and there are no plans for whole scale changes to PCSO align- ment across the county, al- though one or two changesmay be required as part of normal business. We always seek to keep such changes to a mini- mum and to maintain continu- ity where appropriate.”


Council tax


bills reviewed MAIDSTONE Borough Council is carrying out a council tax re- view to make sure everyone en- titled to the single person’s discount is receiving it. Council tax bills are based on


Memorial gift to air ambulance THEKent, Surrey andSussexAir Ambulance night-time flying appeal re- ceived a boost when Maidstone Lions Club presented them with a cheque for £25,000. The donation to the Marden-based charity was made in memory of


theirpastpresident JohnBradford,whodied recently afteralong illness. Johnwas taken to hospitalby theair ambulance in April2010, following a cardiac arrest. Current presidentMalcolm Luxton said: “John had been in Lions for


over 40 years. He had served the club as president on three occasions, andwas also a zone chairman. John had always been a keen supporter of theAir Ambulance,andwefelt this donationwould beafitting tribute to someone who had served Lions sowell.” For more information about joining Lions or seeking their help call Malcolm on 01795 841439.


£6m extra to resurface roads


RESIDENTS in Kent are benefit- ing from an extra £6million in- vestment by Kent County Council in resurfacing roads and pavements. Themoney comes from savings


made by careful management of last year’s budget, and is in addi- tion to £17million already set aside for 2012/13. KCC cabinet member for high- ways, Bryan Sweetland, said:


community aims MAYOR of Maidstone, Cllr Rodd Nel- son-Gracie, has opened a new business school in the centre of town. The Young Entrepreneurs Business School is the most recent course to be launched by Jubilee Training Centre. The business school, based at 7 Ash-


ford Road, was launched at the begin- ning of September and aims to equip its students with the key principles for business and life. School head ChrisWilliams said: “We


want to see a generation rise up within the business field whose motive is not solely personal gain, but instead trans- formation within their community.”


Celebrate Maidstone chairman Neil Pattison, mayor Rodd Nelson-Gracie, andMaidstone Borough Council chief executive Alison Broom at the opening


Business school’s


“About 600 roads in the county are being renewed this year as part of our approach to protect the huge, multi-million pound investment we have made over the past two years. “This investment has raised the standard of our roads to a level not seen for quite some time.” Residents can check the road resurfacing schedule in their area atwww.kent.gov.uk/resurfacing.


the assumption that two or more adults (over 18) are resi- dent in the property. If only one adult occupies a property, they are entitled to a 25% discount. The council, with the help of Capita Local Government Serv- ices, will review households from October to make sure they are paying the right amount. The review will be carried out


by post, telephone interviews and by matching data against credit reference agencies. A spokesman said: “The re-


view is being undertaken to en- sure customers receive discounts they are entitled to, and because the council is committed to maintaining as low a council tax as possible for all its residents.” If you receive a single person discount and your circumstances have changed, or if you are not receiving the discount when you should be, call the council on 01622 602003 or email council- tax@maidstone.gov.uk


Drink-driver banned NICK Allen (25), of Hart Street, Maidstone, was banned from driving for 42 months by Mid Kentmagistrates and ordered to carry out 120 hours of unpaid work after he admitted drink driving in Staplehurst Road, Staplehurst, on August 26. When stopped, he gave a breath test showing 110mg of alcohol in 100ml of breath. The legal limit is 35 mg. Allen was also ordered to pay


£85 costs.


Cashpoint proposed A BANK of Ireland cashpoint could be installed at Ringle- stone Post Office, 81 Chatham Road, Ringlestone. Maidstone Council will determine the planning application.


Tattoo shop idea VICTORIA Burkett has applied to set up a tattoo studio at a shop in 389 Tonbridge Road, Barming.


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  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56