Dog walkers fuming over fencing
DOG walkers in the Farleighs are fuming at fencing that has been put up restricting a popular vil- lage path. The field around the cricket
pitch atWest Farleigh, owned by Rookery Estates, has been se- curely fenced after grazing rights were granted to Stephen King from Knowle Game Farm, Ul- combe, who has been using it to graze a flock of sheep. However, walkerswho use one
of the public footpaths – diago- nally across the field – say the fence hasmade the route impass- able for the elderly or people with dogs.
Although the stiles still remain
at the top and bottom of the field adjacent to Church Lane, they are unsuitable for the elderly – and
virtually impossi- ble to negotiate with anything but the smallest of dogs, they claim. Previously, gaps
in the hedge meant people – and their pets – could gain access without using the stile.
Jackie Mollison, who lives in Charlton Lane, has had to find an alternative route to walk her three-year-old German Shepherd, Indie, since the fencing went up. She said: “It has ruined our quality of life. We used to enjoy walking the dog down to Teston, whichwe can no longer do unless we go by road – which has no
Festival organiser - ‘show must go on’ Continued from page one
have extended activities into Jubilee Square – but the funds simply did not allowit this year.
He said: “Fortunately, someone has stepped forward and offered to
cover any losses, but we need to get more people on board so we can make it even bigger and better and make a profit, not a loss.”
Mr Cox revealed he had plans for “a dramatic newelement” to the fes-
tival this year in an entirely newlocation, and prom £50 to enter the raft race and teamsmust comprise aminimum of four
and maximum of eight people.
For details and an application form, call Martin on 01622 202869. Or- ganisers arealso lookingatholdingafood fair in frontof the Archbishop’s
Palace.MrCox, a Maidstoneborough councillorwho organises the event in a personal capacity, said: “It really will be a day for all the family.”
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owns three dogs, told the parish council: “This is not just a dog issue.We live in a village of older people – and they too cannot get over these stiles. Whilst the fence has spoiled my walks with the dogs, the worst part is not being able to enjoy a walk with my mother.” Mrs Hard pointed out that there
footpath.We could drive downto Teston andwalk from there – but we didn’t get a dog to take it for a daily drive. If onlywe could have a ‘lift-up’ access likewehave seen in Yorkshire, it would make life so much easier. Trying to lift a mid-sized dog over a stile is no joke; with ours, it is impossible.” Her near neighbour and former parish councillor Bev Hard, who
was a gate to the footpath on Teston Lane – but both exits into Church Lane were by stile. She said: “People who walk up
to West Farleigh from Teston often find they are trapped with no way out if they cannot negoti- ate a stile. The problem arose some months ago but we were told the farmer would do some- thing once the lambing season was over.”
KCC’s footpaths officer originally asked Mr King if hewould be prepared to pay for and fit a gate. Itwas later offered to supply a gate if he and the landlordswere happy to fit it.
But Mr King said: “While most people in the village are very nice and agreeable, there are one or two who spoil it for the rest. They allowtheir dogs to roam free, which could lead to worrying of the sheep and also cause problems withworms.
“Itwas a condition of the lease that the fence be reinstated to ensure
the sheepwere contained in the field and that has been done. It isn’t as if I have put stiles where thereweren’t any before.
“It is unfortunate for those people who are law-abiding but I cannot
have people and their animals trampling all overmy crops and causing problems for the sheep.”
Mr King said he had recently caught someone attempting to light a bonfire in the corner of his field and reiterated: “It is unfortunate that a fewhave spoilt things for themany.”
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