News


downsmail.co.uk School crossing ‘a death trap’


ANGRY mums are calling for the re-instatement of a crossing patrol outside Marden Primary School after a child was almost knocked down.


Nine-year-old Matthew Smith


was crossing the road on the zebra crossing when he narrowly avoided being hit by a speeding car onGoudhurst Road onMay 15, according to eye-witnesses. More than 400 parents and vil-


lagers signed a petition in just four days after the incident, demanding that the county council re-instate the “lollipop lady” who was re- moved two years ago. Julie Stanley, whose two children


Daisy (four) and Harrison (nine) attend Marden Primary School, said: “None of us wants to see our children involved in an accident – and we don’t want our children to see their friends being injured or killed either. But the road is cur- rently a death trap. “As well as cars speeding along


to the station, there are articulated lorries going to and from the fruit farms, tractors and a whole host of other vehicles going to the indus- tries in Pattenden Lane. “It is a very busy road and, with


all the planned housing, things can only get worse.” Following a meeting between the


Cyclists’ challenge in the Med


THE general manager of the Mer- cure Maidstone Great Danes Hotel Dominic Di Cara (right) was among a group who cycled across the southern coast of France to Italy for charity. The Chequers Racers, based at the Chequers pub in Laddingford, began their silly cycle feats four years ago, with a run from the pub to Paris. Since then, they have ridden the pilgrim trail in Northern Spain and


around the island of Mallorca. Dominic, from Benover, is one of


20 pub regulars whowent on a four- day road trip from Nice to Monte Carlo, Monaco and on to Pisa via San Remo and Genoa. He was cy- cling for Breast Cancer Care. On June 21, they will be taking


part in the longest day challenge, to raise funds for Pepenbury, a local charity to help people with learning disabilities.


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school, the parish council, and county council representatives, KCC has carried out an initial audit to look at improving safety for the whole community. A spokesman said: “We are in- troducing a number of measures, including upgrading lighting on the crossing to increase its visibil- ity to drivers and replacing the tac- tile road surface either side of the crossing.” KCC is also commissioning a


speed count survey to establish if additional road safety improve- ment work would be beneficial. However, the mums still want their lollipop person back, and say


if this latest petition fails to get the desired response, they will look at ways to fund their own patrol per- son, seeking the support of Mar- den Business Forum if need be. Julie said: “We are not going to


stand by andwait for another acci- dent to happen. Something has to be done to improve the safety out- side this school.” A local resident has offered his services free, but the school had to decline for insurance reasons. Head teacher Malcolm Goddard


said: “The school shares parents' concerns and is broadly supportive of a solution to improve safety on the crossing.”


Football harm A PROPOSAL to convert agricul- tural land into a private football pitch in Gravelly Bottom Road, Kingswood has been turned down. A supporting statement says the


owner of Koban House already uses the land near the home as a pitch to play football with family and friends, but Maidstone Coun- cil said the development was un- justified in the open countryside andwould cause harm in a rural lo- cation.


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