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downsmail.co.uk Asbestos found on homes site


ADEVELOPERhas confirmed that white and brown asbestos has been found in an old NHS build- ing in Hermitage Lane, Maidstone. Demolitionwork on the site of the former nurses’ home in Hermitage Lane began in September, 10 months after planning permission was granted to replace the neo- Georgian building with 53 homes. Thework will now include provi-


sion for the removal of the poten- tially dangerous insulating material by a specialist firm. A spokesman for the developer,


Bellway Homes, said the discovery of “very low levels of white and brown asbestos” was present in “a


number of the existing buildings at the site”. They include the nursing home, the formerNHSwalk-in cen- tre at the Pagoda Building and Oakapple House. The site, which covers about 1.3 hectares, was sold for development


by Maidstone and TunbridgeWells NHS Trust, which said it was “sur- plus to requirements”. The spokesman added: “Bellway


always has to plan for the unex- pected with any old buildings. The removal is an expensive process but


it has to be done to industry stan- dards and by a credited firm. How- ever, it will not cause a delay. “All affected areas will be com- pletely removed from each individ- ual building prior to its demolition, under fully-controlled conditions in a four-stage clearance process by an independent demolition and as- bestos specialist. The removal team will then continue to the next build- ing, until all of the buildings have been successfully taken down.” Bellway is creating two, three and


four-bedroom houses, along with one and two-bedroom flats. The company says it expects the project to be complete by spring 2017.


Community wardens could be centralised Time for a chat


Continued from page one They cannot make arrests but are accredited by Kent Police and deal with low-level anti-social behaviour and pass on intelligence to police and the emergency services. The county council’s proposal


comes after it agreed in February to cut £330m from its overall budget during the next three years. Mike Hill, KCC’s cabinet member for community services, has pointed


out that the authority is not obliged in statute to provide the service. He said that with less focus on ge- ographic boundaries,wardens could be deployed to where they are needed most. The reduction in ad- ministrationwould see team leaders and area managers more hands-on. More people would have access to thewardens. Mr Hill said new volunteer war- dens, which parishes and communi-


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ties are also being consulted on, could possibly bolster the service. Headded: “This is an option that has been floated a number of times and was tried by police with regard to PCSOs some years back.” Comments can be made by No-


vember 9 atwww.kent.gov.uk/com- munitywardenconsultation, or by completing a questionnaire, avail- able from community wardens, or by calling KCC on 03000 414141.


AYLESFORD and Eccles WI members will be holding their monthly meeting in the Brassey Rooms, Station Road, Aylesford, at 7.30pm onWednesday, Octo- ber 22. There will not be a speaker, but there will be fun quizzes and time for a chat with old and new friends. Contact Eileen on 01622 715205 or just go along, with no obligation to join.


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