News Church tower


broadband TOWERS on churches in the Len Valley Benefice have been fitted with broadband equipment to pro- vide a faster connection service for parishioners and businesses. Fast broadband wireless re- peaters have been installed at Boughton Malherbe, Harrietsham, Lenham and Ulcombe. Priest in charge, the Rev Dr Dick


Venn said: “This has taken a long time, but we are finally there. We hope that many people and busi- nesses will be able to benefit.” Anyone interested in using the service should contact VFast and will need a receiver aerial.


Trees to go


PLANNING permission was granted for the removal of four pro- tected horse chestnut trees at Snow- field, Yeoman Lane, Bearsted. Anapplication said the treeswere diseased. Maidstone Council’s deci- sion notice said the trees could po- tentially be retained, but this would be costly for the owner and the trees’ amenity value did not merit this.


The council gave the go-ahead on condition that the trees were re- placed by four beech trees. Work would also take place on a holm oak and yewtree.


downsmail.co.uk


KCCmember threatens to object to homes plan


KCC has re-issued its threat to ob- ject to Maidstone Council’s local plan if the target of 18,600 homes between 2011 and 2031 is not re- duced. A year ago, shortly after the first


draft of the borough council’s local plan, county council leader Paul Carter said he would be prepared to object at a public enquiry unless the then target of 19,600was cut. KCC, which is in charge of deliv-


ering the transport infrastructure, later issued a consultation response calling for a revised target of 14,500 homes, and for large developments to take place in Kingswood and Detling instead of Sutton Road. Despite last May’s election yield-


ing a change in Maidstone Council’s leadership from Chris Garland to Annabelle Blackmore, and then later a 1,000-home reduction from the original target, KCC continues with the view that the target is too high. Cllr David Brazier (pictured),


KCC’s cabinet member for environ- ment and transport, told the Downs Mail: “We are concerned about the very high housing numbers and have had a number of meetings


THE fog lightswere stolen from a silver Vauxhall Corsa parked in Fauchons Lane, Bearsted. Power toolswere stolen from a white Ford Transit van on the driveway of a home in PlumptonWalk, Senacre. Audio equipmentwas stolen from the


garage of a home in Edelin Road, Bearsted. Damagewas caused during an aempted break-in at a home in Hazel Street, Stockbury. The suspectwas said to be a white European male, about 5ft 10ins tall and slim with dark brown hair. Hewas wearing a navy blue tracksuit with no hood. Aconcrete bird bathwas stolen from the garden of a home in Lilebourne Road, Vinters Park. AnApple Iphone and Samsung mobile


phonewere stolen from a Ford Transit van parked in Upper Street, Leeds. The number platewas stolen from a SuzukiWagon parked in Farmers Close, Leeds. Ared Land Rover, registration number


N696 SRW,was stolen from the station car park, Station Approach, Lenham. Cooking equipmentwas stolen from containers in a field off Greenway Court Road, Hollingbourne. Therewas an aempted break-in at a


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36 Maidstone East January 2015


with Maidstone Council, but so far have not made any progress. “If they insist on keeping this fig-


urewe might have to turn up at the inquiry and raise an objection. If the county council puts forward a strong case to suggest the planning authority’s local plan is unsound then the inspector will listen.” Cllr Brazier believes his case is helped by legal advice from QC Christopher Lockhart-Mummery stating that if infrastructure cannot support the housing target it would be acceptable for the borough coun- cil to make a reduction.


Cllr Brazier added: “Much of the housing in the draft local plan is concentrated to the south-east of the town, which you would have to reach by Sutton Road, which is al- ready at capacity for much of the time.Wewant to avoid Maidstone’s roads becoming utterly congested. “There are also other considera-


tions, such as sewerage andwater.” Cllr Blackmore believes Cllr Bra-


zier’s comments do not reflect the progress that has been made since she took over as leader. She said: “Although there have been times when both councils were not aligned, through sensitive negotia- tionwe are working in the common ground together. “Cllr Carter and Cllr Brazier do


not agree with the housing numbers but we are looking to see what we can do to mitigate the issues. “For example, traffic modelling is starting to come out to help us pre- vent longer journey times.” Cllr Blackmore also called on Cllr Brazier to disclose the new legal ad- vice he claims to have received: “Why doesn’t he share it with us andwe can work together?”


NeighbourhoodWatch Working to reduce crime. Call Crimestoppers 0800 555 111 or local police


home in ReculverWalk, Senacre. Therewas an aempt to steal horse blankets from a stable in Cox Street, Detling. Ared Royal Mail post boxwas stolen


from Chegworth Road, Harrietsham. Intruders got in to Specialist Cars, Mountview House, Greenway Forstal, Hollingbourne, and stole power tools. Medical items and a sat nav systemwere


stolen from a Peugeot in LenfieldAvenue, Maidstone. Therewas an aempt to steal from a shed


in RiversWalk, Lenham. Jewellery and cashwere stolen from a property in Kings Acre, Downswood. Diesel and headlightswere stolen from a


white Scania lorry and the light barwas stolen and fuel cap damaged from a Volvo 460 Globetroer lorry parked in a layby on Detling Hill. The petrol capwas forced on a red Nissan


Micra parked on Park Lane, and petrolwas stolen. Thieves got in to a portable building at


WC&RACaudwell, in Heath Road, East Farleigh. They searched the property and stole cash. The grill to a black Ford Fiesta vehiclewas


stolen from Silver Tree Close, Lordswood. Two LED spotlightswere stolen from a Mercedes Benz on a driveway in Harrow Way, Grove Green. The vehicle badgewas stolen from a


Vauxhall Insignia in The Hedgerow, Weavering. The front fog light clusterswere stolen


from a greyAudi A3 outside a home in Marston Drive,Vinters Park. Aride-on lawn mowerwas stolen from a


shed in Detling. Agas fire and an electric firewere stolen


from a caravan in Rose Lane, Lenham Heath.


Fencingwas damaged at a property in


IvensWay, Harrietsham. Avanwas broken into in Plantation Lane, Bearsted and toolswere stolen. Abrickwas thrown at a ground floor window of a home in Roseacre Lane, Bearsted and the front windscreen of the car parked on the driveway, smashing both windows. ADiablo quad bikewas stolen from a


barn in PilgrimsWay, Boxley. Amobile phonewas taken from a property in Lock Lane, Sandling. Achainsawwas among items taken during a break-in at a garage in Boxley Road, Boxley. The front grillewas taken from a locked


vehicle in Silver Tree Close,Walderslade. Thieves cut the locks off a shed in Pilgrims


Way, Detling and stole a saddle and a harness. The wing mirrors of two carswere damaged in a car park in Upper Street, Leeds.


Crime reports


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