Homes agreed on vacant land


PLANNING permission has been granted for 27 homes on land west of Burial Ground Lane, Tovil. The site was earmarked for commercial employment use in Maidstone Council’s Development Plan, but the planning com- mittee agreed to a change of use after it heard that the site had been vacant for seven years and advertised on the open market for five years. The Fernham Homes development will be arranged in six blocks of terraces and two pairs of semi-detached dwellings. The primary frontage will face Dean Street


and comprises a terrace of four and a terrace of six, with a central spine road running be- tween the two. Three of the other terrace blocks will contain three homes, with the


Radio party MAIDSTONE Hospital’s radio service is celebrating 50 years of broadcasting with a party. Guests at the event at the- Hilton Hotel, Maidstone on Sat- urday, April 20, will enjoy a three-course meal, a live band, and several long service awards will be presented.


Martin Haskell, a volunteer presenter on the station for 20 years, said: “The party will be a chance to catch up with old friends. We would love people who have been involved in the radio since 1963 to come along.” For details and tickets, call 01622 224747 or email: info@hrm.org.uk


other consisting of four homes. The big selling point for local councillors


was the promise of a new footpath link be- tween Burial Ground Lane and the Tesco supermarket. Until now, residents could only reach


Tesco bywalking along FarleighHill, which is dangerous as there is no formal pave- ment. Safety problems came to a head three years ago when 87-year-old Brenda Smith died from a traffic collision while walking along the stretch. Local ward Cllr Mike Hogg, a member of


the committee, said: “The design is well thought out and well laid out. For years Tovil has been needing a footpath to Tesco.” Less positivewas the prospect that the de- velopment would lead to the closure of a


AN OPTOMETRIST from Fant is in Uganda helping to save people’s eyesight. Jennifer Clark (31) travelled with four colleagues to Jinja, on March 2 to test children’s sight, provide them with glasses and teach nurses to do eye tests. Miss Clark, of Upper Fant Road, said: “Ugandan chil- dren who cannot see are either sent to a blind school or are not even educated. If you can fix this with a sim- ple pair of glasses then not only have you enabled them to see the world around them more but you have also influenced their ability to support themselves.” The trip has been organised by charity Vision Aid


Overseas (VAO). Miss Clark, who is pictured on a pre- vious trip to Zambia, said: “I felt as I got older and more settled in my career I needed a fresh challenge and wanted to help those in other countries. I’m ex- cited but a little nervous about the teaching side, but I’m sure the nurses will be nice and forgiving. “I know in this country what a difference a pair of


ALL SAINTS CHURCH Mill Street


Maidstone ME15 6YE


EASTER at ALL SAINTS 2013


7.30pm Palm Sunday 24th March Mendelssohn Elijah


Sutton Valence Choral Society Tickets £12.00 available at the door.


Wednesday 27th March 10.30am Said Eucharist


7.30pm Maundy Thursday 28th March Choral Eucharist of the Last Supper


12 noon Good Friday 29th March Preaching of the Cross 12 noon Preaching of the Cross 1.30pm The Liturgy of the Cross


7.30pm Holy Saturday 30th March The Easter Liturgy


31st March Easter Sunday


8.00am Holy Communion (BCP said) 9.30am Choral Eucharist 3.15pm Choral Evensong


A Warm and Joyful Welcome awaits you at


Tonbridge Road Methodist Church TONBRIDGE ROAD, MAIDSTONE ME16 8JS


10 Town Support YOUR local paper — and we can support YOU - advertise on 01622 630330


HOLY WEEK and


Good Friday Service 29th March 2013 9.00am


Easter Sunday 31st March 10.30am


TONBRIDGE ROAD METHODIST CHURCH


grass verge along Farleigh Hill, which is often used for parking by residents of In- victa Cottages opposite. However, as this is officially an unlawful


place to park vehicles, there was no condi- tion that could be imposed to force the de- veloper to provide alternative parking elsewhere. Cllr Ian Chittenden said: “It is unfortunate


as this will cause parking problems in the future, which will possibly result in neigh- bouring disputes.” He called on KCC to open up a currently blocked off layby a short distance further down Farleigh Hill. One measure agreed was to extend the 30mph limit by 170m south-west to take into account the new access.


Optometrist helping others see a brighter future


glasses can make, but there is something about the smile of someone who has spent years not able to see and puts on their first pair of glasses..” Miss Clark needs to raise at least £750 towards the


cost of the trip and will do a 5km muddy obstacle race on April 7 after she returns to the UK. She can be spon- sored at www.justgiving.com/marshmellowsyum


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