Bike docks launched at station


COMMUTERS and visitors toMaidstone are being urged to get on their bikes following the launch of the latest folding cycle hire scheme at one of the town’s two stations. A24-dock cycle station has been unveiled


at Maidstone East, where Southeastern rail customers will be able to hire a bike for an hour, a day – or even a month or more. The folding nature of the bikesmeans that


they can be taken into the home or office and on public transport, even at peak times. Members of the scheme, operated by Brompton Dock, can keep the bikes for as long as they like, from hours to weeks. Users register online at www.brompton- dock.co.uk and pay an annual membership fee. They can then hire a bike by text mes-


Market garden


home agreed ANTHONY Deeprose has been given planning permission to station a mobile home for resi- dential occupation along with a day room at Neverend Lodge in Neverend Farm, Pye Corner, Ulcombe. The applicant told the plan-


ning committee that he grew up at Grafty Green and operates a market gardening company from the site, where he lives with wife Alison and sons William and Danny. He added: “I have horses,


fowl and chickens. I hope I don’t get frowned upon. We have made a really nice place that has sympathetic planting. It would mean a lot to us to stay there and work from home with my family.” The committee voted unani- mously to support the pro- posal.


Protected trees


‘a safety issue’ TROY Thompson has applied to fell two protected hornbeam trees at 13 Saracen Fields, Walderslade. His application form says


that one of the trees needs to be cut back due to it causing a loss of light to the house, while the other might soon be causing damage to a fence. Mr Thompson’s application,


which also requests the coppic- ing of another hornbeam and the removal of deadwood on two other trees, will be deter- mined byMaidstone Council. His form added that dead branches from the latter two trees were posing a safety issue: “An accident happened last year when my wife fell on a branch on the steps to the front and cut her leg. I installed an outside light but the trees are still a problem.”


Defibrillator for hall MEMBERS of Boxley parish council agreed to buy a defib- rillator for Beechen Hall. The exact cost is anticipated to be around £1,400, whichwas con- sidered to be a small price if it saved a life.


36 East


sage or reserve a bike or empty bay online. Frequent members pay a £45 annual membership fee and then £2.50 per day to hire a bike. Leisure members pay a £10 an- nual membership fee and then £5 per day to hire a bike. The dock is one of several to be launched


in Kent, with others at Ashford Interna- tional, CanterburyWest, Tonbridge and the University of Greenwich in Canterbury and Medway.The Kent docks will bring the number of automated Brompton Docks in the UK up to 18. Managing director of Brompton Dock,


Mark Antwis said: “This is our first county- wide scheme, and we are really excited about seeing the benefits it can bring.


“The scheme has been designed to suit a


range of needs and we look forward to see- ing commuters and visitors to the areamak- ing the most of our folding bikes.” Managing director of Southeastern, Charles Horton said: “The rapid rise in pas- senger numbers over the last few years means trains are busier than ever before, which means we have to restrict the car- riage of conventional bikes in peak periods. “However, fold-up bikes can be carried at


any time, so this scheme is great for both leisure travellers and commuters. We look forward to its roll out to other stations.” The scheme is being supported by fund-


ing from the Department for Transport's Local Sustainable Transport Fund.


Dogs have their day in park


BEARSTEDwent barkingmadas a bevy of canine cuties turned out for the village’s inaugural “Bark in the Park”. Dogs and their owners joined in


the fun at Bearsted Woodland Trust inarangeof competitions, in- cluding the best biscuit catcher, the dog with thewaggiest tail and the dog most like its owner. Theeventwasorganisedby com- munity warden Adam McKinley, with the support of Bearsted Parish Council, theotherKCCcom- munitywardens, Maidstone Coun- cil and Kent Police. There were stalls by Neighbour-


hoodWatch, the community safety unit and the Hungarian VizslaWel- fare Charity. Refreshments were provided by the Pegasus Gym and


face-paintingwas by Leonie Dack, of Fantastic Faces. The afternoonwas compered by


Andrew Snowdon, from Holling- bourne,and prizeswere presented


Above: Julie Sinden, Jackie Mercer and Vikki Bell from Grove Green with their dogs Molly,Molly and Bella Left: Alfie with Louis Borhani and Charley Wilding, from Ashford Road Right: Logie the pointer with Leo and Alison Trimmer, from Downswood


Make cross-channel links at fete


LOCAL clubs looking to make links in France should head for Hollingbourne village fete and dog show on June 15. Representative from clubs


and societies in the village’s twin town, Templeuve, near Lille, will be at the fete and are keen to link up with sports clubs, women’s groups, clubs for the disabled and schools. Before the fete, the Tem- pleuve war veterans’ associa- tion will lay flowers on the Hollingbourne War Memorial in Eyhorne Street. It is also hoped that their local boules champion will be in the party


and be available to demon- strate the sport. The fete, which will be opened by Templeuve mayor Luc Monnet, is at the Lance Memorial playing fields from midday to 5.30pm, and all are welcome. Admission is free. Anyonewho can help set up


the fete, or serve at the barbe- cue and hog roast, should turn up on the day. One of the highlights of the


fete will be a motorcade of iconic British and French cars. There will also be live music and a hog roast, as well as a bar in the evening.


Conifer ‘risk to pipes’ ALAN Schofield has applied to fell a leylandii tree at Forge Cottages in Bearsted Green. His application form says the


tree’s roots have damaged sewage pipes at 1 Keats Cot- tage. Maidstone Council will determine the conservation area application.


Yew ‘damaging wall’ AN APPLICATION has been submitted to Maidstone Coun- cil to fell a yew tree which is causing damage to a listed wall in Boxley churchyard, which is within a conservation area. The tree is believed to be only about 60 years old.


You can e-mail the Downs Mail — info@downsmail.co.uk


by Maidstonemayor, CliveEnglish. Environmental enforcement offi-


cers handed out free “doggie bags” with advice on keeping the streets safe and clean.


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