News


downsmail.co.uk Lorry limit to stay in village


THE controversial 7.5-tonneweight limit through Yalding is to remain in place. The scheme had annoyed busi-


nesses in Marden, who claimed to have suffered more than £4.7m in losses in a year as a result of the ex- perimental scheme. But Maidstone’s Joint Transport


Board (JTB) has opted to make it permanent and extend it to include Laddingford, Claygate Road and Spenney Lane. Warning signs will be erected as far away as Tovil to deter HGVs. The decision is a victory for KCC


Cllr Paulina Stockell and Cllr Geraldine Brown, chairman of Yalding Parish Council, who had received complaints thatHGVshad caused damage to homes and his- toric buildings, including the vil- lage’s medieval bridges, as well as traffic congestion. Businesses in Marden were told permits would be granted to any companies involved in agriculture. Kent Highway Services manager Andy Corcoran said he would be “very flexible” when considering


River defence hopes put up


parish precept RESIDENTS in the flood-hit vil- lages of Laddingford and Yalding will be counting the cost of the damage for years to come. As part of a push to get the Gov- ernment to invest in flood defences for the Beult, the parish council has agreed to set aside £5,000 a year for the life of any future scheme, which would support the maintenance of any flood barrier or defence. This will mean a 10% increase –


£1.88 a year per band D household – in the parish precept, which will be added to the council tax bill. Parish council chairman Geral-


dine Brown explained to members that including the money now would guard against any future government cap on council tax in- creases. The precept raised £47,000 in


Yalding and Laddingford in 2013; the new precept will generate £52,000 for 2014/15. The parish council also lost its strimmers, brushcutter and Speed- watch equipment in the flood. The council agreed to give a


grant to the junior cricket club for the replacement of its kit, shields and knee pads, which were lost when the pavilionwas flooded. There are also plans to improve playing fields at The Kintons and Jubilee Field, but this cost will be met from existing reserves.


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applications. Permitswould also be granted to companies who could “demonstrate hardship”. He said that permits could be is-


sued within 48 hours, so as not to disadvantage businesses who might risk losing contracts to com- petitors. Cllr Annabelle Blackmore said


she was concerned that an inde- pendent consultants’ report, sub- mitted at the 11th hour, had not been read by many members of the committee, and asked for the item


to be deferred. The economic impact assess-


ment, commissioned by Maidstone Council at a cost of £10,000 argued businesses would incur an extra £180,000 a year in fuel costs, while extended journey timeswould cost them a further £158,000 a year. The report, presented to mem-


bers at 11am on the day of the meeting, concluded that the order could make it difficult to attract new business to Marden. Cllr Malcolm Greer, cabinet


Victory over rural service centre plan


CLLR Brown has celebrated another victory for her village. Maidstone Council wanted to see both Yalding and Coxheath designated as “rural service centres” – sites for potential new housing development. Both Cllr Brown and Cllr Colin Parr, chair of Coxheath Parish Council, suc- ceeded in persuading the planning overview committee to upscale the list- ing merely to “larger villages”, which means they have the facilities to support their residents and those of the surrounding area, but not to sup- port anymajor expansion.


member for economic develop- ment, said he was disappointed by the decision. He added: “The report showed without any doubt the im- portance of the business commu- nity, who stand to lose £500,000 per year.


“The 7.5-tonne limit will un- doubtedly restrict the number of businesses wanting to come to Marden, which has a lot of large in- dustrial sites – and will have more whenADLand Scarab relocate. “Cllr Stockell had done no re-


search into the effect of this on the business community and the plan- ners have effectively put a sock on extra development in Marden.” Cllr Stockell pointed out that no-


one spoke on behalf of the busi- nesses at the JTB, but Elaine Collins of the NRBF business forum,which represents more than 100 business in rural areas around Maidstone, said: “When our members read the agenda item, they felt that itwas al- ready a ‘done deal’.”


Tory councillors will stand down


THREE Tory stalwarts from south Maidstone have announced they are to stand down at the May elec- tions.


Formermayors Eric Hotson (Sta- plehurst) and Jenefer Gibson (Headcorn) will join Shepway North councillor Mike Yates in not seeking re-election to the bor- ough council. Cllr Hotson, who also sits on the county council, has been a mem- ber of Maidstone Council for 20 years. He is a member of the Maidstone Joint Transportation Board and of the strategic leader- ship and corporate overview and scrutiny committee. He is a former member of the cabinet and former


Cllrs Eric Hotson, Jenefer Gibson and Mike Yates will not seek re-election


council leader. Cllr Gibson, who has been a member of the council for 28 years, is a member of the licensing and standards committees and the community, leisure services and environment overview and


scrutiny committee. Cllr Yates has been a member of


the council for 15 years and also sits on the licensing and commu- nity, leisure services and environ- ment overview and scrutiny committees.


Show goes on for flood-hit residents


RESIDENTS in Yalding showed their Dunkirk spirit just twoweeks after the worst floods in living memory. A group of hardy stalwarts con-


tinued with their high kicks and ca- pers, true to the adage “the show must go on”. After consulting with affected residents, the cast of Yalding Vari- eties took to the boards in the vil- lage hall for four shows, which raised almost £2,000 for the hall and the Friends of Yalding Surgery. In a slickly – and quickly – re- written script, the show made nu- merous references to the recent catastrophe, with a few gentle jibes too for the Environment Agency: “Spendwell at the bar: all proceeds are for the EA’s Christmas party!”


Maidstone South February 2014


monologue “Difficulty with worms”, Angela and Martin Gent as the Geordie “Babes in theWood” and retired GP Joy Virden with the apt recital “I loved a surgeon once.” Parish council chairman Geral-


dine Brown showed a clean pair of heels – and a fine pair of pins – as part of a tap dance trio, while vicar Paul Filmer stole the show in a tutu. All original material was written


Cllr Geraldine Brown, right


and “Hurry up! I need to go home and empty the de-humidifier.” Outstanding performances came from Michael Stewart with his


by parish councillor Michael Stew- art and his wife Brenda, with some ad hoc contributions from the cast. After the performance, Mr Stew-


art said: “I am pleased that every- one enjoyed it. It helped bring the village together to lighten the at- mosphere, after what had been a very traumatic fewweeks.”


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