DownsMail In touch with your parish


the removal the concurrent functions grant. It was agreed that the council would take part in the petition. The chairman said Dr Hagan


had contacted him and advised that there were three refur- bished defibrillators available to associations and clubs in Harrietsham and Lenham. The chairman said that one in the community centre would be most useful. Free training for the equipment was being of- fered. The chairman said a lady had complained that her young baby had nearly been hit by a football kicked by youngsters in the children’s playing field in Ham Lane. The chairman said only children under the age of 11 were allowed to play football in the park and there had only been two instances of this na- ture since the playing field was set up. He said there were two seats in the play area and he thought these would be a safe place to sit with a small baby. It was agreed tomonitor the situa- tion.


Otham Council Digger stolen


THE theft of an excavation dig- ger in Holly Farm Road was re- ported, along with the theft of 90 litres of red diesel fuel from the stand-alone tank in the farmyard in Otham Street. Police were carrying out in- vestigations into a report of criminal damage at the White Horse pub. Arequest wasmade for plenty of warning of freighter visits.


Driver in court A DRIVER from Vinters Park has been banned from driving for 18 months after magistrates ruled he was unfit to drive. Daniel Banzea (35), of Bedge-


bury Close, was caught driving a Rover 25 near his home on September 29. He admitted driving while


unfit through drink and was fined £300with £85 costs and a £15 victim surcharge. Disqualification can be re- duced by 137 days if he com- pletes a rehabilitation course at a cost of no more than £250.


Drink-drive ban A BOXLEY man has been dis- qualified from driving for three years for being over the drink- drive limit. Asher Weyori (37), was stopped in his Land Rover Freelander on the M20, near Bearsted, on September 22. A breath test showed he had


68mg of alcohol in 100ml of breath. The legal limit is 35mg. He admitted drink-driving and


was fined £350, with £85 costs and a £15 victim surcharge.


The council would endeavour to give as muchwarning as pos- sible, although all dates were available on the Maidstone Council website. Following complaints, Cllr Gordon Newton had requested an investigation into what type of manure was spread on the fields this year as it was “not a normal, rural smell”. While only three complaints had been received by Maidstone Council, parish councillors had received many complaints. It was agreed that action needed to be taken to ensure the problem did not recur. Cllr Newton said that in an at-


tempt to encourage residents to respond toMaidstone Council’s Core Strategy questionnaire,he was making arrangements for a copy to be delivered to all homes in Otham and Downswood. There were strong reserva-


tions regarding the traffic chaos from proposed new housing that would ensue in Otham and Downswood, due to no money being available to develop roads.


Councillors agreed Bicknor


Woods should be retained as woodland. It was vitally impor- tant that Otham retained its identity and was not linked to Maidstone. Cllr Cooke said Woodcut


Farm no longer formed part of the proposals, but this did not mean other sites around junc- tion 8 were not being consid- ered. The agent representing Gore Court Estates had been asked to


attend a meeting with Cllr David Marchant to look at the self-seeded ash trees but no re- sponse had been received. Kent Highways Services had agreed to add the verge outside St Nicholas’s Church to the grass-cutting schedule. Cllr Marchant was to meet


with Mr Waring to discuss the bottom end of the green. Moun- tain ash specimens would be checked as some of the branches looked bare and un- healthy. The clerk was to request a


quote for a sign banning dogs from the play area. The notice displayed on the


gate in White Horse Lane was discussed as residents had been asking what the intentions were. Cllrs Marchant and Mid- dleton were to check this. Cllr Marchant declared an interest as he had permission to use the path and had a key to the gate. Cllr Middleton was to report


back regarding reinstatement of KM88. It was agreed to continuewith


the Remembrance Day service and a wreath would be pur- chased. Cllr Marchant requested help with the Poppy Appeal collection. Cllr Middleton was to inform


the clerk which footpaths needed tidying or cutting back. Cllr Cooke was to request the work be carried out by KCC’s housekeeping crew.


Ulcombe Council Oil stolen


THE PCSO said there had been one crime from September/Oc-


Old bicycle tyres are big business


A LOCAL racing cyclist and college graduate has set up an innovative and eco-friendly business, recycling bicycle tyres that would otherwise be thrown away. Jack Edwards (18), of Spot


Lane, Bearsted, wants anyone in- tending to throw away used bicycle tyres to do- nate them to him instead. Jack rides


for Ash- ford-based PM Cycling team and is aiming to turn profes- sional in his sport. His contacts in cycling are the


Jack Edwards


key to a scheme, in which he plans to supply the worn tyres on to other keen cyclists for use on turbo trainers. These are in- door rolling roads used by rac-


ing cyclists for training in bad weather. For every tyre received, 20p


will go to Cancer Research UK. The scheme promotes recycling and minimising waste. Jack said: “I have hundreds of


miles to cover in training over the winter, so I can pick up from anywhere within the Downs Mail area in an environ- mentally friendly way.” Wheels no longer suitable for


road use (with worn-out rims) can also be donated. Each wheel will generate a


£2.50 donation to charity with a further 20p going to Cancer Re- search UK for each person that likes Jack’s “Second Hand Goods” Facebook page and posts “charity” on the wall. Jack can be contacted via


email on secondhandgood- suk@gmail.com and his Face- book page can be found at www.facebook.com/jacked- wardscycling.


tober: a theft of oil. The public were reminded to report non- urgent crimes to 101. The council had submitted its response to the Core Strategy consultation. It was concerned with the overall effect on Maid- stone of building 10,000 homes by 2026 and on transport infra- structure. The council was also against the proposed busi- ness/industrial development at the M20 Junction 8, because of the adverse effect on the historic setting of Leeds Castle, the prox- imity of the AONB, and the in- creased traffic that could be generated through Leeds, Broomfield and Ulcombe, where the country lanes have weight limitations. The council favoured concentrating devel- opment at Junction 7, and in the town centre. The council agreed to collect signatures on the KALC petition in protest at Maidstone Coun- cil’s intention to reduce or elim- inate the concurrent functions grant. New dog signs would be in- stalled at the recreation ground, Quotations were being sought for a new noticeboard to be in- stalled by the bus shelter. The parish wreath for Re- membrance Sunday was to be presented at the Remembrance Sunday service by a member of the parish council. Kent Highways had been re- minded of the problem of water rising out of the road on Ulcombe Hill and by the school field. Recruitment would continue


for volunteers for a new Speed- watch team.


Basketball teams merge


THREE clubs have teamed up to form the Maidstone Warriors Bas- ketball Club. Maidstone Warriors, Maidstone


Panthers and Maidstone Rebels basketball teams agreed the deal after a summer of negotiations. The all-age and ability club is aiming high for the 2012/2013 season. Chairman Richard Jones said: “This is a great way to get kids in Maidstone involved in bas- ketball.Havingamen’s,wheelchair and youth teams under one organ- isation will give us greater re- sources to growthe club.” LeeWestbrook,who will lead the


men’s basketball development at the club, said the deal would de- liver benefits in terms of adminis- tration. He added: “This provides a flowof great players fromthe junior clubs into the men’s team.” Maidstone Warriors will run


teamsfromeachof theyouth, adult and wheelchair groups in competi- tive leagues, with the men’s team (pictured) playing their first season in division one of the Kent & Med- way League after promotion from division two last year.


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