News


downsmail.co.uk Ugly broadband box ‘must go’


RESIDENTS in Hadlow have com- plained to BT about the siting of a bright green broadband cabinet in the village square. The box was installed to improve internet speeds in the area, a step which was welcomed by villagers. But many felt that a better location could have been found for the cabi- net than the heart of a conservation area and have asked for it to be moved. The box was placed in front of a


little green and now obscures the view from the benches there.Alarge


banner was placed on the box pro- claiming: “Superfast yes please, ugly green box no thanks”. Caroline Wetton of Castle View,


said people appreciated the fibre- optic broadband, “but not where they have put the box”. The residents were backed by Tonbridge and Malling ward Cllr Janet Sergison, who said: “Fast, reli- able, broadband is essential if the many home-based businesses in Hadlow and Golden Green are to thrive, and it’s increasingly impor- tant for personal users too. But it’s


Police call for more money


Continued from page one Mr Hall says the money could be secured through a community infra- structure levy (CIL), which is a vehi- cle for infrastructural developer contributions that the council is hop- ing to establish in the local plan. “The growth in population will


place significant greater demands on policing, particularly as the majority of these dwellings will be built on greenfield sites.” AKent Police spokesman said: “Regardless of the outcome [of the planning application], residents can rest assured that Kent Police will


continue to use every resource at its disposal to provide the best possible service for the people of Kent. “Kent Police objected to Maid-


stone Council’s local plan in May 2014, for the same reasons outlined.” A Maidstone Council spokesman


said: “Funding for community safety, including contributions to- wards policing, would be possible under the community infrastructure levy if this was deemed necessary and appropriate. “The council is working towards adopting CIL in parallel with the local plan process.”


from the seats on the green.” BT insists that the locationwas the


most appropriate technically and from a safety perspective. A spokesman said: “The equip-


obvious that no thought has gone into the location of this cabinet. “There are more suitable sites nearby which would not be intru- sive or block the view of the square


ment has to be near our existing cop- per network which is just to the right of the nearby payphone. Engineers also have to take into account un- derground services for electricity, gas,water etc.” BT said the cabinet would mean


that about 470 homes aswell as busi- nesses in the area could benefit from fibre broadband schemes.


Smokers fined for liering


SMOKERS picked up fines totalling more than £2,500 at Maidstone Magistrates’ Court. The fines were given to 15 offenders who dropped their cigarette


ends in the streets of Maidstone – some just feet from a bin. Fixed penalty notices for littering in the borough are £75, but if that


is not paid in 14 days, or is appealed, the court can impose a maxi- mumpenalty of £2,500. Ten offenders who failed to attend their hear- ingswere ordered to pay £425 each. Last year, Maidstone Council gave out 2,862 penalty notices, with


the highest fine of £610 handed down in April.A council spokesman said enforcement was working and had resulted in a steady decline in the number of penalty notices issued each year.


ReadtheDownsMail online atwww.downsmail.co.uk The Real You-


No Limitations A free interactive talk


You are invited to


Last Night At The Proms on Saturday 14th March 2015 at 7.30pm at The Salvation Army,


74-80 Union Street, Maidstone (ME14 1ED). This will be led by


Maidstone Salvation Army Band with guests:


Kent Police Male Voice Choir Tickets £5 are available from the Community Office.


For further information please contact the Community Office on 01622 681808.


6 Malling February 2015 with Tom McElroy


An international speaker and practitioner of Christian Science healing and a member of the Christian Science Board of Lectureship


Thursday 19th March 2015


7:00pm to 8:00pm at First Church of Christ, Scientist Corner of Vinters Road and Sittingbourne Road Maidstone, ME14 5DX


For more information phone the Christian Science Reading Room on 01622 685830 or email csmaidstone@gmail.com. or visit www.csmaidstone.co.uk (Please note this is NOT Scientology)


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