News Gypsy site
plan reduced WILLIAM Stacey has applied for a smaller gypsy site in Ulcombe after a previous proposal was refused last year.
Maidstone Council turned down
a scheme for 10 mobile homes and 10 touring caravans on land next to Vine Cottage at Pye Corner after a string of objections. A revamped scheme reduces the number of mobile homes and tour- ing caravans to seven each. A sup- porting statement said: “Reducing the number of pitches will allow room for sufficient amenity space, parking and landscape enhance- ment mitigation. “With the exception of one tree
and 5m of hedgerow, the retention of all landscape features including the orchard to the north will ensure that landscape character and visual amenity impacts are minimised.” The council will decide the appli-
cation. Call for singers
THE Detling Singers are a friendly, four-part choir who love their music and are at the moment welcoming new members, particularly men. For more information, call Mike on 01634 862297.
downsmail.co.uk
Music festival ‘too big for parish council to organise’
THERE will be no Music on the Green in Bearsted in 2015. The parish council decided to pull
the plug after members agreed it did not have the expertise to organise an event on a grand scale. The event, which began as a fam- ily-orientated picnic, became a vic- tim of its own success when crowds converged on the Green in 2011, prompting safety fears. Therewere mixed views about the
new format to mark the Queen’s Ju- bilee in 2012, when crash barriers were erected around the Green for a two-day festival and admissionwas by ticket only – although the event went off without a hitch and more than covered its costs. The eventwas cancelled last year,
after the parish council failed to agree on a date and a format – or to make advance arrangements. Chairman RichardAsh toldmem-
bers: “We can organise fireworks and smaller events; we are capable of that, but I do not thinkwe can or- ganise a big event. Iwould notwant to be in charge of it.” Cllr Ash said he did not think
most of those who attended Music on the Green were Bearsted resi- dents and he did not believe the res- idents actuallywanted it. He said: “Itwas a great success in
2012 and 2013 and attracted a large number of people – but they were not people I
know.And we haven’t had people calling up the office ask- ing for us to organise it, so I’m not sure that the people of Bearsted ac- tuallywant it.” CllrAsh said the villagewas alone
in the borough in organising such an event – with the possible exception of Staplehurst – and said: “Even Maidstone Council pulled out of its involvement in the River Festival.
Professional events should be run by professional people – not councils.” Cllr Pat Marshall said she would
like to see an event ”like it used to be – one afternoon, with no barriers, no fees, where people come along with their tables and chairs, drinks and food and enjoy the entertainment. We used to do it before and it didn’t take much organising. It was just a nice, local, picnic event.” Cllr Ash said he did not think it
was possible to turn back the clock and the parish would not be allowed to run such an event nowadays, without the correct health and safety procedures in place. Cllr Denis Spooner said: “It’s not
as though there is nothing on the Green.We have cricket, the fair, the children’s activity day, classic car show and farmers’ markets. It iswell used throughout the year.” Aproposal from Cllr Les Ethridge
that Music on the Green should not be held for the foreseeable future was overruled. Members agreed to discuss what events it would like to see on the Green, possibly canvass- ing the opinion of residents.
01622 902005 8
Maidstone East March 2015
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