Residents’ anger at Powerhub plans


PROPOSALS to put a supermarket in St Peter Street have angered locals who have put their names to a petition to the coun- cil’s planning committee. More than 100 residents signed a letter to


the council, expressing concern about the level of traffic they claim will increase by 54% if a supermarket is built in the Pow- erhub building. The Green party’s Stuart Jeffery argued:


“There is overwhelming opposition to a su- permarket on St Peter’s Street, as the peti- tion shows. “Local people have suffered since St


Peter’s Street was turned into a shopping area, and the roads now regularly turn into gridlock. Increasing the number of cars on them by 54% is madness.” Mr Jeffery said there were already six su- permarkets within a mile of the site, and a seventh was planned for the old Army and Navy store. He said: “There is no need for one here. It


will simply damage existing businesses. There is no bus service to the site and the nearest stop is 400 metres away so the ma- jority of people will be driving there.” LibDem ward Cllr David Pickett said: “I


am very keen to see a strong and viable ap- plication to preserve this venerable and iconic Grade 2 listed building. “This is a unique example in Maidstone


Charity golf day GET your clubs out for a char- ity golf day at Leeds Castle on Saturday, May 18, in aid of the Heart of Kent Hospice. The team event is being or- ganised by HOGS (Horseshoes ‘Onourable Golf Society), which is based at the Horse- shoes pub in Dean Street, East Farleigh. Breakfast will be served from 7.30am with the golf staring at 8amand therewillbelate lunch, trophies and a raffle. Entry is £140 per team or £35 per person to join a team. Con- tact enquiry@thehorseshoe- seastfarleigh.co.uk


Grant for chairs THE South East Maidstone Ac- tive Retirement Association has received a grant of £1,750, for 40 new chairs. SEMARA meets on the first


and third Fridays of the month at Heather House, Park Wood, for activities including line dancing, short mat bowls and organised walks. For details email Ian Pearce on IRF.Pearce@blueyonder.co.uk


Trees are ‘unsafe’ FOUR protected trees may be removed at the front of a block of affordable flats in Tonbridge Road,Maidstone. Jean Sweetman has applied


on behalf of the Howard De Walden Hostel Charity to fell two sycamores, a holm oak and ash tree atWestborough House. A supporting statement says the trees are a safety hazard. Maidstone Council will de- termine the application.


40 Town


of one of the first Kahncrete factories to be built in this style and design in the UK [1917] during the FirstWorldWar. “The Victoria Coach Station in London is another similar example of this Art Deco style.


“Many local residents have indicated that they want to see the Powerhub build-


A LOCAL councillor is urging residents to come forward with information which could help the police solve the mystery of a hit-and-run incident. Officers from Kent Police are appealing


for witnesses following the collision in St Peter’s Street,Maidstone, where the driver failed to stop. The accident happened shortly after 8:30pm on Thursday, March 14, when a man in his 50s was crossing the road from Pevensey Court, towards Scotney Gar- dens, and he was involved in a collision with a car.Members of the public stopped to help the man until the emergency serv- ices arrived. The victim was left with an open leg fracture that later required surgery. He spent several weeks in hospital and, although now home, his recovery is likely to take a long time, according to police.


ing brought back into profitable use but that the traffic and pollution generated by the building of a supermarket on the site would only add to an already congested St Peter’s Street and surrounding roads. “It would be helpful if we knew if any of


the major supermarket chains were looking for a site at this location.”


Appeal for witnesses to hit-and-run


The car was a BMW E36 and police are appealing for help from the public to iden- tify the driver. The vehicle, which was travelling out of


the Powerhub archway, is likely to have received damage to the front nearside, say police, and garages approached about re- pairs should be on the alert. Bridge ward Cllr David Pickett, who has


been campaigning for a 20mph speed limit in St Peter’s Street for some time, said: “A 20mph speed limit in St Peters Street would not have prevented this particular accident, but I would be grateful if any witnesses would come forward and urge residents in the area to report any unusual activity in this area to the police." Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101, quoting reference 14-1553.


Trust creates shopping centre garden


AFRUITFULpartnership betweenaMaidstonecharity and the Town Centre Management has led to a “blooming’’ good result which everyone can enjoy. Volunteers from The Blackthorn Trust, which pro-


vides careandrehabilitation throughwork in the com- munity, have given a patch of waste ground outside the Chequers Mall a makeover. Now, visitors to the town who enter the Mall from


the bus station or the car park, can see the results of their labours, instead of a patch ofweeds. The Princes Trust contributed towards the project


whichused staff, volunteersand co-workers from The Blackthorn Trust, to enhance thelook of thegardenby planting, painting the railings and working together as a team as part of their development journey. The trust, based in St Andrew’s Road, helps those


who are recovering from health conditions. Rose Moore, who heads the charity’s gardening


team, said: “The project raises our profile in the town centre and has given a focus to the creativity and en- thusiasm of our volunteers. “We have forged a strong link with the TownCentre Management group and The Mall who now benefit from an attractive and sustainable garden where


TWO teenagers have been ar- rested on suspicion of cable theft after they were seen act- ing suspiciously in Maidstone by an off-duty officer. A member of the public called uniformed officers to


therewas once an untended patch of land.” The gardenwas opened with a ribbon cutting cere-


mony performed by Paul Alcock, chairman of Maid- stone Town Centre Management and Jan Prior, chief executive of the Blackthorn Trust, pictured above. TheBlackthorn Trust has a caféwhich is open daily


during the week, as well as a bakery, plant nursery and crafts for sale. For further information, visit www.blackthorn.org.uk


Teenagers suspected of stealing cable


the scene at 6.40pm in College Road, on Friday, April 5. A quantity of cable, believed


to be stolen, was recovered and the men, both 19, were bailed to a later date pending further inquiries.


Volunteers needed to count eels VOLUNTEERS are needed to help collect vital data on European eels by monitoring the number in the River Medway this summer. Medway Valley Country Partnership has appealed for helpers to


count the young fish – called elvers – at Allington Lock. The project will involve checking eel traps, counting and meas-


uring any eels present and uploading the data into the Zoological Society of London’s website. Last year.More than 1,000 elvers were found in the Medway but


the number in European rivers has declined over the last 30 years. Contact lyndsay.wayman@kent.gov.uk or 01622 683695.


No to car wash APROPOSALtoset upacar wash and valeting service at a vacant car sales site at Square Hill Motors, Square Hill, Maid- stone has been turned down. Ali Hoxha’s application for change of use was refused by Maidstone Council, who said the scheme “would increase vol- umes of traffic to and from the site and result in queuing on the public highway by way of the use of a substandard access”.


Tree can be felled CONSERVATION area consent was granted to fell a cypress tree at 2 Bockingford Cottages, Bockingford Lane, Tovil.


Have you got news for us? Phone our News Desk on 01622 734735


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