Homes refused A PLAN for six detached homes on land at High View Farm, Lordswood Lane, Lordswood has been refused. Maidstone Council’s decision notice said the development would “by virtue of its proxim- ity to protected semi-natural ancient woodland, isolate and put further pressure on the woodland edge, helping to de- plete a semi-natural ancient woodland.” Several similar applications have been refused on the site.
Ball proceeds A SUMMER ball organised by Hunker Down Daisy, in Bearsted, raised more than £6,000 for charity. The proceeds of the event, at
the Tudor Marriott Hotel, will go to the Teenage Cancer Trust and CLIC Sargent.
Castle toilets agreed LEEDS Castle has been given the go-ahead to refurbish the toilets within the Gate Tower to make them disability compliant.
‘Chuggers’ put shoppers off
AGGRESSIVE and intrusive charity street collectors are put- ting people off shopping in Maidstone town centre, accord- ing to a senior licensing officer at Maidstone Council. In a report to the council’s li- censing committee, Lorraine Neale advised Maidstone Coun- cil to join forceswith other local authorities and organisations to keep a tighter control on street collectors. She said: “There appears to be
a general perception that direct debit street collectors are deter- ring the general public from using local high streets, due to alleged aggressive and often in- trusive collecting methods.” Maidstone Council said Ms Neale’s opinion was based on complaints from members of the public and the work of the Pro- fessional FundraisingRegulatory Authority (PFRA) and calls from TownCentre Management to reg- ulate the industry. Town Centre Manager Bill
Moss said he did not think street collectors would put people off visiting Maidstone town centre, but awarded “full marks” to the council for trying to better con- trol the “chuggers” – an abbrevi- ation for charity muggers. He said: “Chuggers are a total
pain in the neck. Although they are not doing anything illegal, they annoy, intimidate and upset people in our town centre. They are highly skilled, articulate sales people who are paid a commis- sion for every person they per- suade to sign up. Anything that can be done to bring them under control would be welcome.” Mr Moss stressed he was not against giving to charity and ad- mitted to regularly donating to causes that were close to his own heart. He added: “People should identify the charity or charities they wish to support and support their charities. They should not feel pressured into signing up in the street.” The report recommended
Maidstone Council joined forces with Sevenoaks Council, Tunbridge Wells Council and the PFRA, which works with local authorities to ensure fundraising sites are used ap- propriately. The agreement would be voluntary and not legally binding, but has worked in other parts of the country,Ms Neale said. The arrangement would also provide a way of re- porting alleged instances of in- appropriate activity and behaviour and for receiving feedback on how any issues have been resolved. Ms Neale concluded: “By pro- ceeding with this site manage- ment agreement it will provide the correct balance between the right of the charity to fundraise and the right of the public to go about their businesse.” Nobody from any of the com- panies that employ street col- lectors was available for comment when contacted by Downs Mail.
Protest at new bid to build on
J8 KIG site Continued from page one
with the North Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).” The society has continued to
seek protective designation for this (KIG) site to strengthen the former Special Landscape Area (SLA) designation and has taken professional advice. The spokesman said: “We con-
The hillside (left) was packed as flag-waving concertgoers made the most of the sunshine
Flying the flag at castle concert
REVELLERSwavedtheir British flags with pride and sang patriotic songs as they enjoyed the open air classical concert at Leeds Castle. The show, attendedbyarecord14,000 people,wasnarratedby former
Strictly Come Dancing winner Chris Hollins and featured theRoyal Phil- harmonic Orchestra (conducted by John Rigby), the Military Wives Choir and the Patriot Girls. The audiencewas also treated to air displays. A Kent Spitfire flypast got the ball rolling, and then Blades Aerobatic
Display Team showed off more than 30 aerobatic manoeuvres. The au- diencewas then treated to an amazing spectacle for the opening of the main show, as the RAF’s Battle of Britain Memorial Flight Spitfire and Hurricane aircraft took to the skies.
Mayor Cllr Clive English (left) enjoys the spectacle, and below, the choir from Sutton Valence Prep School performs. Right, all the flag-waving was hard work for this guest
sider there are ample grounds for this area to be protected. “We seek to get MBC Cabinet
to recognise the need, the strength of the desire that this be achieved, and the means for achieving it. Our priority is to contest theWoodcut Farm pro- posalwith all vigour while con- tinuing to monitor the Waterside Park proposal and pursue protective designation for the foreground to the North Downs AONB (KIG site).” Cllr Denis Spooner, chair of Bearsted Parish Council plan- ning committee, said: “This re- quest for a screening opinion is a preliminary step to a planning application being submitted for warehousing and industrial de- velopment atWoodcut Farm. “In my view, this proposal proves the fallacy of the Gal- laghers and DHA argument that, if Waterside Park is developed, all the surrounding land and the KIG site can be protected. “If either Waterside Park or
Woodcut Farm or any other land is in this area is devel- oped, it will open the flood- gates for much warehousing and industrial development to be built around junction 8 and on the KIG site.”
14 East You can e-mail the Downs Mail —
info@downsmail.co.uk
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