DownsMail In touch with your parish
sociation to have the site placed on the register. Following concerns raised by
Ian George, the parish council would request South East Rail- ways to clear weeds on their pathways to Lenham station from Robins Avenue and to Lenham Storage. Cllr Sams reported that the public footpath along the north side of the A20 from the Texaco garage to East Lenham Farm needed cleaning up. The clerk would contact Kent Highways. Community warden Martin Sherwood reported that a lot of parishioners were getting silent phone calls and asked anyone having these problems to con- tact him. The chairman advised there
had been no LPC representa- tives at last month’s farmers’ market although it had been agreed that two would attend from April to September. No apologies were given so re- placements were not sought. It was agreed that the parish coun- cil would attend all future mar- kets until September and the issue would be debated again
Council praised
by investor MAIDSTONE Council has re- ceived a pat on the back for its enterprise in encouraging new businesses to town. The Maidstone branch of the Giggling Squid, due to open in Earl Street in January, is poised to be the flagship of Britain’s first national Thai chain. And bosses say the people of Maidstone – and the local council – deserve the credit. Owner Andy Laurillard said
“We received lots of emails from Maidstone-based cus- tomers asking if we would open up in the town. One in particular was a major local de- veloper who promised to find us a site. “The local council was also instrumental in bringing us here. They’re encouraging of business and very forward- thinking.” The restaurant, due to open
in the former Earl’s gentlemen’s club and snooker venue, will seat 260 diners and become the chain’s 10th – and largest – restaurant.
Crematorium plan A PLANNING application has been submitted to alter the en- trance to Vinters Park Cremato- rium to prevent it from being used for unauthorised parking and as a turning circle. The scheme, which will be determined by Maidstone Coun- cil, also includes additional parking for staff and users of the crematorium in Bearsted Road, Weavering.
for the following year. The clerk had notified Maid-
stone Council that the parish wished to adopt the telephone box and asked for BT to be noti- fied.
The parish council had re- ceived a letter from Barton Wilmore over the future devel- opment of the old ironmongers’ site at 8 Faversham Road. It would be displayed for the pub- lic to read on notice boards and the website. The parish council would not be committed until it had discussed the planning ap- plication once it was submitted. A quote for removing ivy
from some of the trees at the cemetery had been received and the working group would meet there to agree a maintenance schedule for the future. The new trees planted in the entrance to the cemetery had been regularly watered by Mr Simon Birchet. Further clear- ance work at the cemetery had already been agreed and would start as soon as possible.
Ulcombe Council Police surgery
THE PCSO had advised that there had been no reported crimes in the previous month. He would try to plan a Saturday surgery, depending on other working commitments. The new mobile police contact points scheme had started in theWest Kent area. Applications were invited to
fill a vacancy on the parish council by co-option following the resignation of a councillor. There had been a further
small response to the idea of a parish minibus service to Head- corn. Councillors felt that if the service ran from Kingswood to Headcorn via Ulcombe to in- clude Kingswood residents it may be more feasible. The parish council had sub- mitted a report of valued parish open spaces to Cllr Fran Wil- son, Maidstone Council opposi- tion leader, following her request for parishes to provide this information for inclusion in the Emerging Local Develop- ment Plan.
Maidstone Council had ad-
vised that it upheld its decision that an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) was not re- quired for land at Tong Farm, Headcorn, for a solar farm. New government guidance relating to solar and wind farms had re- cently been issued and could be viewed on the Department of Communities and Local Gov- ernment website. Arriva had advised that there
was now a new Twitter feed note which could be accessed by mobile phone for informa- tion regarding delayed bus serv- ices on
www.arrivabus.co.uk/ social-media/#SouthEast Ameetingwas being arranged
with Kent Highways to discuss the drainage problems on the east side ofUlcombeHill which caused frequent flooding and a build-up of thick mud in The Street. Discussions with Kent Highways regarding additional traffic-calming measures in the parish were taking place. Quotations would be sought
for repairing and repainting the pavilion exterior.
Firms pitch in to boost hospice funds
A WIDE range of hand-picked exhibitors from the homeware, interiors and lifestyle sectors are getting together to raise funds for The Heart of Kent Hospice. The event, A Unique A-fayre,
is being partnered by Saks Hair and Beauty Kings Hill, which will offer hair and beauty demonstrations and treatments. It takes place from 11am to
3pm on Sunday, October 6, at The North Barn, The Friars, Aylesford Priory. There is no ad- mission fee, but donations are
invited on entry. Exhibitors are all local busi- nesses and include: Happy and Glorious; Katie Brinsley Ce- ramics; Penrose Stationery; Rockville Lampshades, My Fayre Favourite; Dotty Diva Designs; Big red Zippy and Maddigan Mooch. The event is also being sup- ported by several local firms that have offered their time and services for free, including Amanda Jane Wedding and Events Planning; Rix Hanlon Design; Popi Printing of Lark-
field; Timesavers of Bearsted; Sennockian Quartet; and Unique Floral Creations There will also be a raffle and
silent auction for prizes includ- ing a signed Chelsea FC shirt, beauty treatments, family pho- tography shoot, meals out, and Go Ape vouchers. A children’s activity tent will
be run by Bearsted Babes, who will look after children while parents browse the stalls. For more details visit www.
uniqueafayre.co.uk where there is a link to its Facebook page.
Mayor visits school safety winners
THE Mayor of Maidstone visited schools who won awards for getting to gripswith safetymessages dur- ing the council’s Safety in Action fortnight. Hundreds of schoolchildren from across Maidstone
received vital safety information as part of themulti- agency event aimed at preparing them for the move from primary to secondary school. Prizewinners received a visit from mayor Cllr Clive English, along withStephen King from sponsorsSafe- tyMARK, in a day-long school tour around the bor- ough. The large school winner was Staplehurst Primary
School and small school winner, Leeds and Broom- field Primary. The Ron Wallis Fair Play Award went to Harriet-
sham Primary School, while the special school win- ners were Bower Grove School and Five AcreWood. Maidstone Council organised Safety in Action,
which took place at Invicta Army Barracks, with some 41 primary schools taking part. They learned about responsible citizenship and
safety skills andworked in teams to tackle a range of scenarios, from being offered drugs and alcohol at a disco and how to stay safe online, to what to do if they discovered a fire and how to put someone into
Roy Laming, from Switch Youth Café, and Mayor of Maidstone Clive English with staff and pupils of Leeds and Broomfield Primary School, winners of the small school category
the recovery position. Safety in Action is nowin its 22nd year, and awide
range of organisations come together to deliver the event, including Kent Fire and Rescue Service, Kent Police, KCC, the RNLI and drug and alcohol charities such as the Kenward Trust and Switch Youth Café.
You can e-mail the Downs Mail —
info@downsmail.co.uk East 51
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