Santas on run JOIN the fun by taking part in the Santa Run on Saturday, De- cember 14 at The Gallagher Sta- dium, Maidstone, in aid of the Heart of Kent Hospice. The entrance fee of £15 in- cludes a Santa suit for you to keep and free admission to the Maidstone United game that follows the 500m run. Runners should arrive at 1.30pm for a 2pm start. Book
atwww.hokh.org, email
fundraising@hokh.co.uk or call 01622 790195.
Christmas dates MAIDSTONE Mencap mem- bers are organising a Christmas concert with Maidstone Oper- atic Society on Saturday, De- cember 7 at Cobtree Hall. Doors open at 7pm for 7.30pm start. Tickets cost £5, and include refreshments. Call Ann on 07842 149995.
Governor vacancy St JOHN’S CE School, Proven- derWay, Boxley has invited the parish council to appoint a rep- resentative to its board of gov- ernors. The council hopes to find a volunteer amongst their number.
Supermarket plan revealed
PROPOSALS for a supermarket at Springfield Park in Maidstone were expected to be on the desk of borough council planners as the Downs Mail went to press. They are unlikely to include the 16 riverfront apartments previously proposed, saidWYGPlan- ning and Environment, which is working for Augur Buchler on a plan for the two-hectare va- cant site off Royal Engineers Road. The news follows a well-attended public exhi- bition, outlining the company’s proposals for a su- permarket, with 3,000 sqmof shop floor, a filling station and a 300-space car park.
Mary Davidson, from WYG, said: “Most people
were supportive of a supermarket at this end of town and the jobs it would create, but half were against the housing, particularly the access to it.” “Our application is now likely to include more landscaping in this area to protect the views of Springfield House.” She said consideration will be given to a dona-
tion from the developer to enlarge the community hall at nearby St Faith’s and for a stand-alone doc- tors’ surgery and pharmacy, facing Royal Engi- neers Road – both requested during the consultation.
More resignations at parish council
TWOmore vacancies have arisen on Bearsted Parish Council. One of the most-recently elected members, Alison Hodges, has moved out of the area and now Barbara Dunford (right) , the former chair of the coun- cil’s community committee, has tendered her resignation. Mrs Dunford, who played a
Reservoir plan G CHARLTON and Sons have been given permitted develop- ment rights for a 132m by 114m reservoir on Church Farm, Ul- combe Hill, Ulcombe.
major part in organising the suc- cessful two-day Jubilee on the Green in 2012 and Music on the Green this year, recently set up a new company, Kent Community Events, and says her resignation is to avoid any potential conflict of interests.
However, the bitter internal wranglingwhich led to the resig- nation of five members last year and has since led to the resigna- tion of the village handyman and the parish council clerk, is be- lieved to have played a part in this latest move. In July this year, Maidstone Council decided not to investi- gate a code of conduct complaint lodged against Cllr Dunford by Wendy Licence, wife of Cllr Geoff Licence, as they deemed it was not in the public interest. Last year, five members, in- cluding two former chairmen, quit following a lengthy – and costly – enquiry into code of con- duct complaints, also lodged by Cllr and Mrs Licence. More recently, Mrs Licence
complained to the council chair- man Richard Ash that Cllr Dun- ford was promoting a village charity event on the parish coun- cil noticeboard. Mrs Dunford said she would always be willing to give the parish council advice on event management and has offered to organise next year’s Music on the Green event free of charge. The council was due to co-opt
a replacement for Mrs Hodges when it met on November 12. There were two candidates for the post – former councillor Les Ethridge and newcomer Ernie Hill, from Manor Rise. Unless 10 people request an election, the other candidate could be co-opted in Mrs Dun- ford’s place in December.
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