News


downsmail.co.uk We are the local champions!


THIRTEEN residents and four groups who go the extra mile to improve their neighbourhoods have been recognised as environmental champions by Tonbridge and Malling Council. The winnerswere rewarded for a


range of efforts including litter picking, planting flower bulbs, cleaning up waterways, creating wildlife habitats and providing seating areas in gardens. Each received a pot of locally grown honey called “Buzz where you live”, a natural beeswax candle sourced through the Spadework farm shop, Offham, and a voucher for a tour of Tonbridge Castle. Certificates were presented by


the Mayor of Tonbridge and Malling Cllr Howard Rogers, who said: “We are fortunate to have so


Police precept


set to increase ANN Barnes, Kent’s police and crime commissioner, has raised the force’s council tax precept by al- most 2%. The increase of £2.81 per house-


hold, per year, based on a band D property, is a 1.99% rise, the limit set by the Government and in line with inflation. She said: “This means there will


be no growth in police officer num- bers – we remain with the status quo.” Kent Police has had to find £50m


in savings, resulting in the loss of roughly a fifth of the workforce – about 700 staff and 500 officers – over four years.Asecond round of cuts will follow in 2015. Mrs Barnes added: “Losing more officers will be the last resort and I will make sure that Kent Police looks at every possibleway to save money and to find efficiencies. “Even by trawling through every budget heading, we will still face the stark reality that with 84% of running costs spent on officers and staff, there will be nowhere to go and some posts will be wiped off the books. That said, it ismyprom- ise to you that I will try to find as many new ways of keeping as many police officers as possible out on our streets.”


THE two Conservative associations serving Maidstone borough – Maidstone and The Weald and Faversham and Mid Kent – will move to a new home in April. Both have joined the West Kent


Group of Conservative associations to share office and administration costs. The group has been operating


from offices at West Malling for several years, serving just three as-


12 Malling February 2014


many residents who are keen to protect and improve our environ- ment.” VicWindow, regional operations


manager of Veolia Environmental Services, presented individual win- ners with £50 shopping tokens and each group with a £100 voucher.


Malling winners were: Hannah Jackson, East Peckham; Catherine Eden-Green, Larkfield; David Startup, East Malling; A volunteer at the St James Centre in Chapman Way, East Malling; Debbie Rowe, Blue Bell Hill; Ian Aviolet and Iris Hopkins, Royal British Legion Vil- lage, Aylesford; Matthew Craig, Leybourne; Adrian Harrison and Mike Easterbrook, Ditton; East Malling Wombles (North family); 1st Larkfield Scout Group; Ryarsh Road Allotment Society, West Malling; and East Peckham Cub Scouts.


Shelter scheme a success Car’s the star


LOCAL people have responded well to a Downs Mail appeal for food, clothes and donations to help the Maidstone Churches’ Winter Shel- ter campaign. MP Helen Grant helped launch


the appeal, along with Major Grayson Williams from the Salva- tion Army, with whom she is pic- tured. The eight-week project saw the homeless being cared for in differ- ent churches, manned by church members and other volunteers. It meant rough sleepers were


able to benefit from hospitality, a hot meal and overnight shelter. With further support from coun-


cillors and partner agencies, such as Porchlight and the Salvation Army, the campaign has also been able to


Royal guest


AYLESARA will meet at Aylesford Community Centre at 2pm on Thursday, March 27, when Tony Harris will give a talk on "My Life As Henry VIII". There will also be time for tea and biscuits and to find out about any events, interest groups and trips that may have been organised. Contact Wayne on 01622 710734 for more information.


sociations – Tonbridge and Malling, Tunbridge Wells and Chatham andAylesford. From April it will be centrally lo-


cated in Paddock Wood, with An- drew Kennedy the agent. Cllr John Wilson, chairman of Maidstone and The Weald, said: “This does not affect our opera- tional independence in any way. “It merges back office functions under one roof and brings a big


MP Helen Grant with Major Grayson Williams


offer help in finding more sustain- able housing and reconnecting homeless people with the appropri- ate support services.


New rail bridge


A PEDESTRIAN bridge is set to be built over the railway line at Mill Hall, Ditton, to replace the exist- ing crossing. Network Rail has sent details to


Tonbridge and Malling Council after a review of level crossings. It says the bridge is needed as the crossing at Mill Hall fails to meet current visibility standards due to the curvature of the line.


Tories move to new office to cut costs


saving. We can now spend our money on winning elections.” Maidstone and The Weald MP


Helen Grant shared the former as- sociation office in Albion Place, Maidstone, and has now estab- lished her own Maidstone office at Link House, Knightrider Court, Knightrider Street, Maidstone. Her Weald office is at TheWeald Infor- mation Centre, The Old Fire Sta- tion, Stone Street, Cranbrook.


A GLEAMING yellow McLaren 12C Spider racing road car graced the grounds of Holmesdale Technology College. It was brought to Snodland by


Andy Palmer, head of vehicle line at McLaren Automotive Ltd, who was helping Year 10 engineering students prepare for an assign- ment. The school’s head of engineering,


Robin Smout, said: “Students have so far learned about the difference between seven engineering sectors, the products they make and their importance to us.”


Carnival time


SNODLAND Carnival will be held on July 5 and the theme will be cel- ebrating the Armed Forces. Floats and walkers will travel


from Holmesdale Technology Col- lege downMalling Road, turn right at the crossroads into the High Street, Queens Avenue, Holbor- ough Road, back into the High Street, and Constitution Hill to Po- tyns Field. Money will be raised for Snod-


land Clock Tower. Further details are available from


the town council office at 01634 240228.


Moorings plan


THE Environment Agency has been given planning permission to construct 50m of riverbank moor- ings at Allington Lock, Castle Road, Allington. A supporting statement said:


“We have ensured that as much of the natural riverbank remains ex- posed to the river as possible.”


Home proposed


ATHREE-bedroom house could be built behind 71 Covey Hall Road, Snodland, if Tonbridge and Malling Council grants permission.


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