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| Police denied land sale funds


KENT Police’s plea to receivemore money from the sell-off of its land in Park Wood for two large housing developments has been rejected.


Maidstone Council granted plan-


ning permission for two separate proposals on police land: 112 homes on sports pitches behind its head- quarters in Sutton Road and 90 homes behind the police training school off St Saviour’s Road, both with 40% affordable housing. From the section 106 developer contributions, the council earmarked money to improve open spaces at the Mangravet recreation ground, Queen Elizabeth Square play area, Park Wood recreation ground and Mote Park, as well as for additional school places.


Speaking on behalf of Kent Police,


John Collins, ofDHAPlanning,was unhappy that it did not stand to re- ceive any section 106 money, and urged the planning committee to re- duce the other allocations so it could maximise its revenue from the sale. He said: “Kent Police is subject to


very large-scale cuts of 25%, which have led to significant reductions in police numbers and there is no other way to meet targets than through disposal of assets, so I do ask you to consider very carefully contribution issues in this case. “I find it galling that money is


going towards secondary schools when Senacre school was once di- rectly next to this site but was sold off recently. It feels wrong, they seem towant their cake and eat it. “Kent Police does fully under-


stand that there are other services and that they have needs as the pop- ulation increases.” However, officers explained that


the council’s section 106 policy puts emergency services 10th in a list of priority, below open space (third) and education (sixth). The commit- tee was happy to retain the bulk of the section 106 payments and opted


not to make a special dispensation for the police. Sport England had objected to the


loss of some of the sports pitches, but council officers said that the Park Wood recreation groundwas under capacity in terms of users. Planning consent was granted for


both schemes, although Ukip Cllr Christine Edwards-Daem voted against. She said: “I am concerned about the loss of open space and ur- banisation of Park Wood. It is not in the best interests of people in Park Wood. There is no need for afford- able housing. Who is it for?”.


Pots and pans help rebuild new lives


A MAIDSTONE company has joined forces with The SalvationArmy to col- lect unwanted kitchen equipment. The pots, pans and utensils will be


used to produce home kitchen packs supporting The SalvationArmy in giv- ing practical support to vulnerable families and individuals who are being re-housed or who have lost everything due to difficult circum- stances. Derrick Law, founder and director


Pupils’ poppy


forwar heroes CHILDREN from Little Monsters pre-school at Bluett Street in Maid- stone got together with a little help from staff and a former soldier to make a poppy to remember those whodied fighting for their freedom. The children were asked to dress


in red, the staff wore black to make the centre of the poppy and a grand- father came alongwearing his green beret from his time as a Royal Ma- rineCommandoin 1957 to make the leaf of the poppy. The moment was captured by


Claire Goble of Flashbang photog- raphy. The children also observed a two- minute silence before the Last Post was played. Little Monsters manager Trudy Glenister said: “We celebrate and honour different cultural and reli- gious celebrations. It’s important for the children to understand the world around them from a very early age.”


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of Keemlaw, which runs KitchenCom- plements in Market Buildings, said: “Many of us buy new equipment for the kitchen, but rarely is the reason because our existing equipment has worn out. It’s simply because we want something better or we have changed the colour scheme.”


Adrian Clee of the Salvation Army with Derrick Law, of Keemlaw


As part of the initiative Keemlaw


will be offering to part exchange un- wanted tableware, glasses, utensils, pots, pans or bakeware for new items.


Ramblin’ rockers to head for county town


SOME of the world’s rock legends will be on their way to Maidstone to play at the first-ever Ramblin’ Man Fair next summer. Fans from across America and Europe are expected to flock to the county town to hear sets from the likes of Marillion, Camel, The Scor- pions and Gregg Allman. Created by The Rock Collective


and sponsored by TeamRock, the gig should appeal to middle-aged rockers and heavy metal fans, al- though it will also include plat- forms for country music and blues. A spokesman for the organisers


said: “The aim of the festival is to satisfy the ramblin’ man and woman in us all by offering great music, fine beer, great food and the best of times.” The two-day event, on July 25


and 26, will offer camping facilities – but also the chance to combine ticket entry with luxury accommo-


dation and hospitality packages, as well as entry to some of the town’s main visitor attractions. Many more acts are still to be an- nounced but Bill Moss, Maidstone Town Centre manager said: “This is a real coup for the town and we are expecting huge interest from all over the world. It should really help to put Maidstone on the map.”


Marillion is known as the most successful band to emerge from the United Kingdom's 1980s neo- progressive rock scene and has sold more than 15 million albums. It was named band of the year at the Progressive Music Awards in 2013.


Band member Steve Hogarth


said: “Mote Park is on the right side of London for a hop across the Channel, so the Ramblin’ Man Fair is thoroughly recommended to our European fans aswell as the Brits.”


cap


Adrian Clee, divisional director for community services for The Salvation Army said: “This very practical sup- port can make a real difference to people who have lost everything as they start to rebuild their lives. “The packs will be customised to


suit the needs of the recipients. That waywe are ensuring that your dona- tion is being used as appropriately as possible based on the need of bene- ficiaries.” Domestic items can be taken to


KeemlawCateringComplements dur- ing opening hours. Catering trade items should be


taken to the Keemlaw workshop at the Superabbey Industrial Estate, Aylesford, between 9am and 5pm Monday to Friday.


‘No budget to


tackle parking’ DANGEROUSparking is unlikely to be tackled by dedicated police offi- cers, Ch Supt Steve Corbishley has said. Anattendee of the Maidstone and District Neighbourhood Watch AGM said parked vehicles on the A229 close to the traffic lights at the Cripple Street/Boughton Lane junc- tionswere causing a safety hazard. Chief Supt Corbishley said hewas


“between a rock and a hard place” because budget constraints would not allow for the deployment of offi- cers on trouble spots to pinpoint of- fenders. Instead, he assured that any police officers who encountered dangerous parking would act on it.


Takeaway planned


AVACANT shop on the junction of Week Street and Union Street, Maid- stone could become a hot food take- away. Maidstone Council will determine a planning application for 68-70Week Street.


Maidstone Town Xmas 2014 37


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