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Call for action on raw sewage Flood warning boost
THE sight of sewage swilling around the streets of Headcorn is nothing new. It happens in some parts of the village most times when it rains.
Maidstone’s new mayor and councillor for Headcorn, Cllr Richard Thick, has vowed to make the issue a priority during his year of office and is demanding action from SouthernWater who manage the Mote Road pumping station. Heavy rainfall has historically caused problems in Mote Road as water levels rise in the River Beult. But with more homes planned for Headcorn residents say something must be done. Cllr Thick has seen a child playing in raw sewage spilling from a manhole, believing it to be some kind ofwater feature. He has captured on camera pic-
tures of toilet paper, condoms and feminine hygiene items floating in thewater along with humanwaste. He said: “Something has to be
done. It’s totally disgusting – not to mention unhygienic.” Residents fear the building of a flood barrier at Stilebridge, to help protect villagers in Marden and Yalding from rising floodwater, will only make matters worse in Headcorn and Smarden. Many residents are unable to use
their downstairs toiletswhen it rains and others report cases of sewage coming up the drains and into their shower trays. Cllr Thick said: “The pumping station is old and outdated and is unable to cope with the volume of water it now has to process.” PostmasterAlan Knightmoved to
to raise funds CHURCHESacross the Maidstone area will be taking part in the an- nual Ride and Stride event on Sat- urday, September 13. The event takes place across England andWales, and is organ- ised in Kent by The Friends of Kent Churches. Participants are invited to visit
as many churches as they can, ei- ther by cycling, walking or maybe even on horseback. The money they raise through sponsorship is then shared between their own church and The Friends of Kent Churches, which makes grants to preserve churches across Kent. More information, including a
list of the churches taking part and a downloadable sponsorship form, can be found
atwww.friend-
sofkentchurches.co.uk .
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34 Maidstone South June 2014
VILLAGES affected by last win- ter’s floods could benefit from a flood warning system being in- troduced in the autumn. Although it will be several
Mote Road nine years ago and has seen the problems get worse. He said: “When the water recedes, we are left with the mess on our drives, the paper gets wrapped around our car tyres, children and pets walk in it – it’s a disgrace. “I accept more houses are needed,
but you cannot build them without the proper infrastructure. The new houses in Grigg Lane were affected by sewage as soon as they were built.”
SouthernWater says it isworking
to resolve the problem with KCC, for whom a spokesman said: “KCC have recently commissioned a con- sultant to undertake surface water management plans for Marden, Sta- plehurst and Headcorn to identify the flood risks in these villages, to understand their causes and to iden- tify potential solutions. “This will include the sewer net-
work.We hope to have the reports ready by April 2015.”
years before improved flood de- fences are built, the system means residents will receive tailor-made alerts about the risk to their prop- erties, rather than the current “blanket” system which com- bines villages such as Yalding and East Peckham with conditions in Maidstone town centre. The Environment Agency has admitted that the existing system meant homeowners in Yalding were not warned of the scale of the flooding on Christmas Eve. Outline plans propose two sep-
arate areas for Yalding – one for Little Venice Caravan Park and nearby properties and the other
for the village itself. Although KCC has promised
£5.5m towards an £11m scheme to raise the height of the Leigh Barrier, it is unlikely work will start before 2019, while a £25m scheme for a floodwater storage area on the River Beult at Stile- bridge, between Linton and Sta- plehurst, could take even longer. Dozens of homeowners are still
living in hotels and rented ac- commodation while their proper- ties are repaired, many of them battling with insurance compa- nies over the cost of replacement kitchens, flooring and furniture. The Environment Agency and members of the National Flood Forum held a flood fair in Yalding Village Hall at the end of May, with an exhibition of flood pro- tection equipment.
More homes could be ruled out RESIDENTS in Staplehurst have been assured that no more housing will be built if it adds to the risk of flooding in the village. Mike King fromthe Environment Agency told the annual parish meeting
that the agency would rule out any proposed developments likely to add to the problems encountered by some residents last Christmas. Residents in Marden Road, who suffer fromsewers overflowing, are con-
cerned that the proposed development at Hen and Duckhurst will make matters worse, while people living in Chickenden Lane fear proposals to raise the height of the Leigh Barrier will increase the risk of flooding to their homes.
Visit churches Dig deep for cleanwater New housing
ALADDINGFORD woman is ask- ing friends and neighbours to sup- port her fundraising effort to climb Mount Kilimanjaro. Jessica Ball (31), from Lees Road,
will spend six days in September with a team climbing Africa’s high- est – and most challenging – peak to raise funds for a charity which helps improve sanitation in Kenya. Tackling Africa’s highest moun-
tain is no mean feat – one in four people who attempt to climb Kili- manjaro don’t make the 19,341 ft summit, often having to be brought back down suffering from altitude sickness. But Jessica (pictured) is already
in training and looking forward to the challenges that lie ahead. Dig Deep is a small UK and
Kenyan-based charity which Jessica has come into contact with as part of her work with her business Yours Sustainably – a web-based enterprise which supports disad- vantaged communities by selling clothes and items for the home made from recycled products.
Dig Deep helps communities in
Kenya improve their access to clean water, sanitation and renewable en- ergy.
Jessica said: “What I love about
Dig Deep is that it is a small, grass- roots organisation that can have a big impact on the lives of the com- munities they work with, with a particular focus on women and girls.” To learn more about the charity,
visit
digdeep.org.uk. To donate, visit:
mydonate.bt.com/fundrais- ers/jessicaball1
plan revealed THE growth of Coxheath could continue, with an application for another 130 houses off Heath Road. Developer Countryside has ap-
plied to Maidstone Council to build private and social housing on land owned by Alan Firmin Ltd, to the north of Heath Road and east of Aspian Drive. The scheme involves 28 four-bed houses, 44 three-bed houses, 24 so- cial housing maisonettes and six three-bed social houses. There would be 244 parking
spaces and 130 cycle spaces. Coxheath residents are already incensed at a plan for a park and ride facility at Linton crossroads on 16.5 acres of land also belonging to Firmins, the Redwall Lane-based farmer and haulage contractor. The developer had offered to contribute to the cost of the park and ride project, should permission be granted for both sites. However, a spokesman for Maid-
stone Council said: “The park and ride proposal does not include any enabling development.”
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