Pine tree given Improved park revealed
protection order A TREE preservation order has been confirmed for a pine tree at the front of 26 Sittingbourne Road,Maidstone. The owner of the property
was concerned that a neighbour at No 24 would remove a large branch from the tree that over- hangs their garden. The owner was concerned
that such action would unbal- ance the tree and leave it open to disease, which prompted Maidstone Council to serve a TPO. The owner of No 24 ob- jected, writing: “When we have strong winds and bad weather it becomes quite threatening to my property. “Its branches shed pine cones
and unsightly five-inch needles all the time intomy garden and endlessly clog up my gutters. The grass refuses to grow be- causeitissmotheredinthese needles or because its roots are taking all the nutrients. “The needles get in between
my plants and it is an ex- tremely time-consuming, irri- tating, thankless job cleaning up the mess they create. The tree has been nothing but a nui- sance for the last 11 years.” The council’s planning com- mittee voted in favour of pro- tecting it through a TPO.
WI crafty day out MEMBERS of the Northdown District WI met up at This Art of Mine, a craft centre on the Downs above Thurnham, for a fun afternoon. Ladies from Leeds, Bearsted
and Thurnham, Bearsted Green, and Hollingbourne branches enjoyed refreshments including strawberries and cream and painted a variety of china items in the studio.
Fun and games ENJOYtea,cakeandachat with friends with the option of playing board games at a drop- in afternoon in Bearsted. Sessions take place at Bearsted Methodist Church from 2.30-4pm on the third Thursday of each month, the next one being on July 18. Call 01622 730389 for details.
VOLUNTEERS at the Samaritans of Maidstone centre inGrecianStreet dealt with more than 15,000 con- tacts during the year, the charity’s annualmeetingwas told.
Director of the branch, Will Mer-
rifield reportedthat these included 12,576 by telephone, the other 2,772 being amix of emails, texts and visitors.
The centre has a total of 79 vol-
unteers including 16 new recruits and is open every day. Samaritans provide a contact point for anyone in distress or despair to talk through their feelings and con- cerns.
22 East
THE second phase of an ambi- tious plan to revive the Cobtree Manor Park was officially un- veiled by Maidstone MP Helen Grant and Cllr John Wilson, chairman of the Cobtree Manor Estate Charity Committee. The Cobtree Manor Park Proj-
ect aims to encourage greater public use of the park, be- queathed to the people of the town by 12-times Mayor of Maidstone Sir Garrard Tyrwhitt Drake, by providing facilities for all the family. The first phase of the project
was completed last summer and featured the installation of out- lying play equipment, which has already proved extremely popular. Phase two includes a new
A NEW wing for dementia suf- ferers may be established at the Barty House Nursing Home in Roundwell, Bearsted. Canford Healthcare wants to extend the 18th century build- ing to provide an 18-bedroom unit. Maidstone Council will determine the planning appli- cation, which includes a green roof, mounding and additional landscape features. Barty House is registered to accommodate 59 residents. A supporting statement said there are 204 dementia beds within three miles of the care home, yet there is a demand for 242 (based on 2010 figures), rising
There are also new circular footpaths and a resurfaced main path in the woodland walk – which will make the walk far more pleasant during the muddy winter months. New benches, bins and infor- mation boards are also being in- stalled. Phase three, already in the de-
Children enjoy the new play equipment at Cobtree
large play area based on the his- tory of Maidstone Zoo, which was set up on the estate by Sir Garrard, including towers, tun- nel slides and wobbly bridges.
Dementia wing at care home
to 279 by 2015. “There is therefore a shortfall
in accommodation providing basic en-suite facilities for de- mentia sufferers in the area,” it added. “The proposals would allow residents to stay at Barty House through the later stages of their lives, since the accommodation and facilities available would have the flexibility to meet their changing requirements in terms of day-to-day care needs.” Thewingwould have special-
ist staff; sensor equipment and a sensory room; specialist bed- rooms; secure landscaped gar- dens and activity areas.
Village railway station to get lift THE go-ahead has been given to install a lift at Bearsted Railway Station to help the elderly, disabled and people with prams cross from one side of the platform to the other. Although a new bridge was built two years ago, at the time Net-
work Rail said there was insufficient evidence of demand for the expensive provision of a lift. However, following pressure from residents and a petition drawn up by local rail users, Network Rail found £1 million in the budget to provide a lift. The scheme has now been given planning permission. “The lift shaft on platform one will be positioned directly at
the end of the bridgespan and ninety degrees to the left of the existing staircase,” said a supporting statement. “The lift shaft on platform 2 will be positioned directly oppo-
site the staircase, parallel to the railway platform at the end of the bridgespan.”
Busy year for the Samaritans MrMerrifield said that aswell as
the work in the branch, the team supports and trains the 24 listen- ers in local prisons aswell as visit- ing centres for the homeless and those on probation.
Branch chairman Margaret Bell
told guests who included the Deputy Mayor of Maidstone Cllr Richard Thick and the Mayor and Mayoress of Tonbridge and Malling, Cllr and Mrs Howard Rogers, that it takes£55aday sim- ply to operate the branch.
Announcing the introduction of
somenewfundraising initiatives to secure the branch’s future, she
Tonbridge and MallingMayor and Mayoress, Cllr andMrs Howard Rogers, with Samaritans branch chairman Margaret Bell and directorWill Merrifield
said there had been significant ex- penditure during the year on build- ing maintenance and this would continue for this year. The branch had a deficit of £2,038 on the year and was grateful for grants from a number of prominent charitable
trusts, somespecific project grants from members of KCC and the ef- forts of members in the team to raise funds.
No ongoing financial support
was received from any central sources.
Have you got news for us? Phone our News Desk on 01622 734735
sign stage, will feature a new sculpture trail by local artist Jason Mulligan, and a new visi- tor centre and café. CllrWilson said: “The opening
of this latest phase of the Cobtree Manor Park project is a flagship event for Maidstone. The facili- ties we are offering to all family members are on a par with the best you will find anywhere.”
Mail Marks P51
Roll up for bowls NEWmembers are being sought to swell numbers at the Lenham Bowling Club. With the new season under-
way, members moving into the area from another club or look- ing to return to the club, are being encouraged to join at a re- ducedrateof£32.50for men and £30.00 for women. The lawn green bowling club
was founded in 1938 and is lo- cated at Swadelands, just off the A20 at Lenham. Members are keen to encour-
age more young players to take up the sport. Full details, including infor- mation on visiting and joining, are available on the website –
www.lenhambowlingclub.org.uk
Charity dinner
A FUNDRAISING dinner and auction will take place at The Dirty Habit, Hollingbourne, in aid of Help aMaidstone Child. The event takes place from
7pm on Thursday, September 12. The ticket price of £35 in- cludes a three-course meal and glassofsparklingwineonar- rival. A vegetarian option can be requested when booking. Call The Dirty Habit to book
on 01622 880880 and see
www.helpamaidstonechild.org for more on the charity.
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