This page contains a Flash digital edition of a book.
News Work starts on


new bridge WORK has begun in preparation for a new bridge across the River Medway near Snodland to link the A228 to a new development of 1,000 homes on the opposite bank. Trenport Ltd gained planning ap-


proval in 2006 for Peters Village on the site of a disused cement works and quarry near Wouldham, but construction was delayed by the economic downturn. It is now due for completion around 2022 The bridge, which will join the


A228 at an existing roundabout be- tween Snodland and Halling, must be completed before more than 150 homes are built.Work on the road and rail crossing will begin in Au- gust and is expected to take a year, while construction of the first homes will start in 2015 after im- provements to surrounding roads.


Onesiewalk


LEYBOURNE Guides will be dressing in their onesies for a two-mile walk around the village to raise money for Diabetes UK. The 25 girls will set off on their challenge from Leybourne Pri- mary school onWednesday,May 21 at 7.15pm.


Furniture shop


RECLINER chair manufacturer High Seats Ltd plans to convert a warehouse at Burnt Ash Road, Quarry Wood industrial estate, Aylesford into a furniture shop with a new front and entrance. The proposal has been submitted to Tonbridge and Malling Council.


Fast food plans


FAST food chain Subway plans to open 30 outlets in Kent over the next five years, creating 300 jobs. The list includes sites at Aylesford retail park; London Road, Larkfield and Snodland.


Formore local news www.downsmail.co.uk Continued from page one


the application, claiming another supermarketwas unnecessary, but Mrs Butler from the Ringlestone Community Association said she spoke on behalf of many residents who would find a supermarket greatly preferable to 950 new houses on their doorstep, with the resulting extra traffic they would generate. Ward Cllr Tony Harwood said:


“The principle has been fully dis- cussed and democratically agreed – and there has been no material change since that meeting. Ifwe go


8 Malling May 2014


downsmail.co.uk


Successful youth club hopes to open longer


THOSE behind the rebirth of Ditton’s Cedar Room have signed another 25-year lease on the building with the parish council.


The parish council has agreed, following the success of the youth club there, that the management committee may hire the Cedar Room to other groups that can’t be accommodated in its other parish buildings. The charity in charge of the building in Kiln Barn Road now wants to hear from volunteer lead- ers so that the youth club can open on more than just Wednesday nights, and from community or- ganisations looking for a home. Floyd Risby, chairman of the


club’s committee, said: “We’ve a lovely building here that’s taken a lot of hard work and we are look- ing to get the maximum use out of


it. Ideally,we’d love the youth club to open more than justWednesday nights, but for that we need more youth leaders and we’d also like to hear from groups interested in using the facilities.” The youth club was launched


three years ago after community warden John Newton asked teenagers what they wanted in the community and they said “some- where to go”. Ditton Bowls Club was the latest


village organisation to congratulate the Cedar Room committee on its success story with a £450 donation. The Ditton and Malling Active Retirement Association also now uses its computer suite when the


facilities are not being used. Mr Risby said: “This is a commu-


nity building that is now back in use. The kids love coming here and about 30 turn out every week to make use of the facilities, which in- clude pool, table tennis and some- where for them to play their music, games andwatch films.” The building has been fitted with


the latest intruder and fire alarms. Anyone interested in becoming a


youth leader or making a donation to the Cedar Room charity should call Floyd on 07947 598502 or email frisbybuilding@aol.com.  The success of Ditton Youth Club contrasts with the closure earlier this year of the youth club at Kings Hill.


Retiringmayor’s boost to charities


CHURCH bell-ringing and go-karting were among the activities that helped to raise more than £10,500 for the Mayor of Tonbridge and Malling’s charity appeal. The money was divided between


Kenward Trust, based at Yalding, and the Tonbridge Child Contact Centre and cheques for £5,272.80 each were presented to the two good causes by Cllr Howard Rogers at the end of his civic year. Angela Painter, chief executive of


Kenward Trust, said: “Donations like this are vital if we are to continue to bring hope, help and support to those recovering from drug and al- cohol addiction.We would like to say a very big thank you to the mayor for his truly magnificent support.” Natalie Baker, co-ordinator of Ton-


bridge Child Contact Centre, said: “We are delighted to receive this very welcome boost to our funds, which will help us enormously in our


Cllr Howard Rogers with (fromleft) his wife Jane; Angela Painter of Kenward Trust; Zerrin Leech, Natalie Baker and SandraMiminhia, all from Tonbridge Child Contact Centre


aim to give more children time to spend with their parents in a safe, re- laxed and fun environment.” Cllr Rogers hosted a variety of


fundraising events during his may- oral year including a sponsored ringathon at churches around the borough, a karting evening at Buck-


more Park, a Call My Bluff-themed quiz, an evening at the Oast Theatre, a dinner at K College and a cake bake sale. He said: “It’s been a great year


and being able to raise money for two such worthy causes at the same time has been the icing on the cake.”


Supermarket decision ‘will stand up to scrutiny’


against the earlier vote, we are legally on shaky ground. “The housing is a draft alloca-


tion in a draft local plan which has caused a huge amount of contro- versy – there is no guarantee it will happen.” The land at Springfield has lain


empty since KCC moved out of its offices in 2001. In 2007, planning permission was granted for 192 flats, retail units and community hall, but building never took place. Aspokesman for Dentons solici-


tors, acting on behalf of the devel- opers, warned: “Our view is that


the April resolution …..was a deci- sion in principle to grant planning permission, subject to the satisfac- tory planning obligations and planning conditions being agreed.” She said she believed a rejection


of the April resolution – without good planning reason – would leave the council open to a suc- cessful costs claim on appeal. Planning committee chairman


Cllr Denis Collins said hewas con- fident the council’s decisionwould stand up to scrutiny at an inquiry and said: “Our legal team has


sought legal advice and I am happy with the decision. “I have no doubt whatsoever


that an inspector would support our grounds for refusal. Our prior- ity has to be Maidstone East, which is a huge area of disused land in need of development. This scheme would put paid to that.” Cllr Ash was unable to attend


the meeting because of a prior en- gagement and Cllr Collins said he opted for Cllr Butler as a substitute as he had been present at the first meeting and was au fait with the case.


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48