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downsmail.co.uk Green champions rewarded
RESIDENTS and organisations have been recognised as environmental champions. Kent communitywarden Mandy
Harriswas rewarded for her ongo- ing work with East Malling Wombles, the Snodland Goes Cleaner Campaign and litter-pick- ing.
Snodland town councillor Alan Keeley received an award for tak- ing the lead in introducing the Snodland Litter Code for Busi- nesses while Mereworth’s Sarah King was recognised for her work in litter picking in the village. Snodland Goes Cleaner, the multi-agency group which has worked to keep Snodland clean since 2008, was honoured in the groups, with particular thanks given to the town’s PCSOs for their ongoing support. Awards also went to Beth’s Dog
Show – the Larkfield-based charity dog show which works with the Tonbridge and Malling dog war- den to promote responsible dog
M&S brings
50 new jobs MARKS & Spencer plans to open a new food-only store in Aylesford, with the creation of 50 new jobs. The Simply Food store is ex-
pected to open at the South Ayles- ford Retail Park at Quarry Wood in March. The retailer has signed a 20-year
lease on a 1,440sqm unit previously occupied by Bhs Home, as part of its expansion plan to open up to 200 food branches in the next three years. The retail park was acquired by
the Crown Estate in August 2011 for £70m. Hannah Milne, regional portfolio manager of the Crown Es- tate, said: “Marks & Spencer Sim- ply Food will be an excellent addition to South Aylesford, and will help further improve the retail offer at one of Kent ‘s most popular shopping destinations.” A spokesman for M&S said the company had been on the lookout for a site in Maidstone and the re- tail park offered an ideal location.
Strip club plan AFORMER strip club in East Peck- ham could be converted into a five- bedroom house. The Harp Inn in Hale Street be-
came a venue for exotic dancers in 2007 but closed in 2013 after its li- cence renewalwas rejected because it was considered inappropriate to the village. A plan for its change of use with extensions, alterations and a new access, has been submitted to Ton- bridge and Malling Council.
8 Malling January 2015
Mike Fitzgerald, chairman of Kent Community Rail Partnership, with Holmesdale pupils, staff and guests at the launch
High-speed rail service gets first class send-off
COMMUTERS and trippers to London can now take advantage of the latest high-speed service passing through Snodland. The new service to St Pancras
from MaidstoneWest began calling at Snodland on January 12, when the link was given a VIP send-off with a special breakfast and balloons served up by the Kent Community Rail Partnership. A group of pupils from Holmesdale Technology College, who have been helping to maintain the community garden at the station, joined civic dignitaries for breakfast before boarding the 8.01 train to the capital, arriving 45 minutes later. The new service is an important
development for the Medway Valley Line and follows years of campaigning by locals for a swifter
service to the capital. The new service takes the
standard line to Ebbsfleet, stopping at Strood and Gravesend, before joining the fast track to St Pancras. Previously, commuters from Snodland had to go to Strood orWest Malling for a direct link to the city. There are now three high-speed
trains during each of the morning and evening peak hours from Monday to Friday. Outbound trains stop at 07.01, 07.31 and 08.01, with return journeys at 17.16, 17.46 and 18.16. Jeff Tucker, of Kent Community
Rail Partnership, said: “This is an historic day for Snodland. It is what we need and deserve, reflecting the increase in house building in the town in recent years.”
Environmental champions are pictured withmayor Sasha Luck; Veolia’s regional operations manager Vic Window(to left ofmayor) and Cllr Brian Luker, the borough council’s cabinet member for environmental services (far right).
ownership – and Spadeworks from Offham, which gives work to peo- ple with special needs in its farm shop, farmers’ markets, cafe and nursery. The Mayor of Tonbridge and Malling, Cllr Sasha Luck, presented certificates to the winners. Each of them also received a hamper of
produce from Spadework’s farm shop and vouchers for use within the borough. The environmental champions scheme, launched in 2009, encour- ages people to improve their envi- ronment. Cllr Luck said: “I am very grate- ful to all our environmental cham-
pions for taking time out of their busy lives to help keep this beauti- ful borough clean and tidy.” To nominate an individual or a
group to become an environmental champion, call the council’s envi- ronmental projects coordinator on 01732 876295 or email
waste.ser-
vices@tmbc.gov.uk.
Homes rejected APROPOSALfor a pair of semi-de- tached houses at The Hop Pole pub in Maidstone Road, Nettlestead has fallen foul of a policy protecting Green Belt land. Only in special circumstances should buildings be created in the Green Belt and Maidstone Council felt the outline application, which included reconfiguration of the pub car park, did not pass the required
tests.Adecision notice said the two homes would “occupy an unsus- tainable location remote from facil- ities and services”.
School success LUNSFORD Primary School was named as one of the top 200 state schools in the country. The 210-pupil school, in Swallow
Road, Larkfieldwas 130th in a table based on the number of children achieving level five, which is above the national average, in the Sats for reading, grammar, writing, and maths, taken last year. Head teacher Matt Dechaine said: “There are over 18,000 primary schools in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, which means this really is something special.”
Dance line-up LINE dancing classes have restarted at the village hall in New Hythe Lane, Larkfield. Organised by Kent Active Retire-
ment Association, the sessions are open to all over 50s. The easy/beginners class starts at 12.45pm on Mondays and the more advanced class follows at 2pm. Call Gerald Benham on 01732 870715.
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