News
Plea for council to keep play area up to scratch
RESIDENTS in Sutton Valence are urging Maidstone Council to take back responsibility for the village’s Harbour play area. The play area, in South Lane,was deemed to be one of theworst play areas in the borough four years ago – and nothing has been spent on it since. In its latest review, the borough council has shed responsibility for its upkeep, claiming it is no longer a statutory requirement – as the newer Memorial Fields play- ground, is just a 12-minute walk away. But the parish council heard that
“young, fit residents have walked the route and it took over 20 minutes, without a baby buggy or children”. Cllr Paulina Stockell has said that
she will support the parish in ob- jecting to the “totally unfair and lu- dicrous proposal” to “ditch” the play area. ICCC Cllr Eric Hotson said he too
would contest the proposal which he described as “absolutely outra- geous”.
Residents who use the Harbour playground are being urged to write to Maidstone Council voicing their concerns. In the meantime, the clerk is ob- taining quotes to upgrade the equipment to ensure it complies with safety requirements. Earlier this year, Maidstone Council announced itwas to spend £1.75million improving its play areas in the next 18 months. The council manages 54 of 85
play areas in the borough, with the rest managed by parish councils who will be able to apply for up to
£10,000 of match funding to im- prove the facilities. The borough has opted to match
fund any work needed on the Memorial Field playground but, as parish clerk Janet Burnett ex- plained, this was only constructed two years ago and still remains in excellent repair. A volunteer from the village inspects both playgrounds each week to check for any signs of dam- age or deterioration and an annual check is carried out by a profes- sional inspector.
Homes ‘harm countryside’
MAIDSTONE Council has decided that these two homes proposed for East Farleigh would have been harmful to the open countryside. A planning application for homes on land to the
rear of Barker Cottages, New Cut, Dean Street was refused “by virtue of its location outside a defined settlement”. The appplicant had claimed that “the site is completely surrounded by residential devel- opment of varying eras”.
downsmail.co.uk
Crackdown on drivers
DOZENS of drivers were stopped during a crackdown in June on speed and motoring offences by neighbourhood officers. Eight motoristswere pulled up in
East Farleigh, Staplehurst and on the A20 at Harrietsham, and que- stoned for not having an MOT cer- tificate orwearing a seatbelt. One driverwas issued with a no-
tice to fix defects on his vehicle and 11were advised on traffic offences. In Wateringbury, officers from
Tonbridge reported 13 drivers for speeding on the A26. One driver had no insurance and another was told to rectify faults on his vehicle. Acting Police Sergeant Nuri
Sadik said: “Through the vehicles we stopped, we were also able to collate evidence around other potential offences.”
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