Challenging time for town’s economy


Continued from page one in place till 2012. Meanwhile, the council's chief officers and members are working to- wards setting next March's budget and, in particular, which services they should pro- vide and the ones they cannot afford. CllrWilson said: "We are talking about the


shape the council should be, and everybody needs to be involved and, most importantly, the staff." Town Centre Manager Bill Moss said:


Continued from page one highway safety. Tovil Parish Council also raised concerns about the operating hours, ac- cess to the site, and impact on the Loose Valley Conservation Area. However, the county’s planning experts had no objec- tions.


County Cllr Malcolm Robert-


son said: “Tovil used to be very much like the Black Country or Potteries but it is now a resi- dential area. In any sane world we would not be agreeing to this use at this location, but we have to determine the applica- tion in the light of the policy that we have.” Residents said after themeet-


ing that they would examine ways to continue their fight. Mrs Sheila Bister, who with


her husband Roger, helped to set up a petition byWoodbridge Drive residents, said: “We were


“With so many public sector workers living in Maidstone, it would seem that the town will probably be hit harder by job cuts than others in the county, and that could poten- tially have a serious impact on the town’s retail sector.” But he added: “Fortunately, Maidstone is


Kent’s biggest shopping town, and the mix of specialist independent shops and leading high street names mean that customers come from far and wide to shop here.


“Maidstone entered the recession from a position of strength and has perhaps not suffered as much as many other town cen- tres, so I’m pretty confident the town will weather whatever storm the current Gov- ernment throws at us. “But I really hope the Chancellor is right


when he says private enterprise will em- ploy themany people his policies will make unemployed.” Mail Marks: page 30.


Anger over new Tovil waste plant decision


Make a child’s Christmas


These angry Tovil residents have vowed to fight on.


very disappointed when it seemed as if opinion was going to support us, that they then found a legal loophole that it could be pushed through. “Everyone said that we are


not going to give up and will find a way to stop this being built.


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T: (01233) 663009 F: (01622) 757891 www.holdenandco.co.uk 4 Town You can e-mail the Downs Mail — info@downsmail.co.uk “The council should have re-


alised years ago that this is a residential area and that would have stopped this going through now. People are trying to form a community in what at one time was quite a blighted area. This is going back 30 years as was pointed out in the meeting.”


THERE’s still just time to fill a box with small gifts for needy youngsters overseas for Operation Christmas Child. All you have to do is find a shoebox and pack it with goodies and deliver it to St Martin’s Church,Maidstone, by the coffee morning on Sat- urday, November 20. Items should be new and suitable gifts include toys, pens, hair clips, stickers, toothbrushes, bangles, hats, gloves, scarves and soap. Liquids, sharp and fragile


items, and food, including chocolate, are not allowed, although sweets are welcome. The parcels cost £2 each to


send, so donations would also be welcome if you are unable to prepare a box.


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