Raid on store ALARKFIELD newsagent’s shop was targeted by twomasked rob- bers armedwith a baseball bat in the second raid on the premises in less than a year. The pair, wearing balaclavas,


went into McColl’s in St Martin Square at 5am on Monday, March 11, and ordered a mem- ber of staff to open the safe. They grabbed cash and left through the back exit. One was carrying a baseball bat. Anyone with information should call 101 or Crimestop- pers on 0800 555111. Five men have been charged


with a raid on the store in May last year, and are awaiting court proceedings.


Nursery inspection OFSTED inspectors who went to Just Learning Nursery at Maidstone Hospital in Her- mitage Lane found that the pro- vision was good. Children enjoyed warm and


caring relationships with staff, and were happy, felt safe and were active learners. Staff valued working with parents, and parents were happy with the care and learn- ing opportunities available to their children. To achieve an outstanding rating, staff should encourage self-care skills such as hand- washing, and support children at mealtimes.


Call for changes at junction


WEST Farleigh councillors are to plead again with KCC to im- prove the junction at the top of Teston Lane. Residents repeatedly report


“near miss” incidents between pedestrians and traffic. However, while there have


been several crashes, because there has never been a fatality the location is not considered a highways priority. Last month, Sheila Burkhardt


was almost hit by a car whilst trying to cross from her house to the pavement at the other side of the road. Only a few days ear- lier, her daughter had come close to being hit when a van mounted the pavement to avoid an oncoming car, the parish council heard. Tim Hill, from the Old School House, said he too had been caught by the wing mirror of a van at the junction of Teston Lane with Lower Road, even though he was on the pavement. Discussions have been taking


place for years about the safety of the junction. More than a decade ago, for-


mer parish council chairman Don Goodwin offered to donate a piece of land to help widen the junction, but his offer was declined by KCC. “It would appear someone has


to be killed before we can get something done,” said parish


Several accidents have happened at the Teston Lane junction


council chairman Bruce Scott. Representatives of KCC are


due to meet the parish council to discuss another ongoing problem – the water eroding Teston Lane and associated risk of ice in winter – and members agreed to raise the problems of the junction. Cllr Scott said: “A simple and relatively cheap solutionwould be to change the right of way, making the turn left to Teston Lane the main road, with a “halt” for those cars wanting to continue along Lower Road. This would serve to slow down the speed of traffic approaching that junction.” Borough Cllr John Wilson


said: “This has been a danger- ous corner for decades. If enough people feel strongly about something, they can effect change.” Cllr Wilson urged villagers to put together a petition for con-


sideration by the Joint Trans- portation Board and alluded to the recent implementation of a 30mph speed limit in Charlton Lane – something else KCC had resisted for many years. He said: “Anything has to be


worth a try. It’s a very dangerous junction.” Cllr Scott said the volume of


traffic using Teston Lane was becoming problematic at peak times, with queues stretching back to Lower Road. However, Cllr Wilson argued against traffic lights, saying: “Evidence has shown that if you improve the flow of traffic, more vehicles will use it. If you leave it as it is, people will tend to find alternative routes.” Members are hoping the high-


ways authority will agree to lay- ing an anti-skid surface on Teston Lane as well as reinstat- ing the road which has been badly eroded in recent months.


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