South July 2015

downsmail.co.uk

News Homes agreed Party marks pub opening

TEN homes can be built in Sutton Valence after a proposal went through on appeal. The applicant appealed on the grounds of Maidstone Council’s non-determination of the plan for the four and five-bedroom homes off Maidstone Road. It will see the demolition of The

Oaks, anEdwardian family home in a 4.13-acre plot close to theWarm- lake Road junction. The planning inspector said that

in the absence of a local plan the de- velopment, by Country House De- velopments, would not cause harm to the character and appearance of the area and would not increase the risk of accidents in any significant way.

Cannabis haul CANNABIS plants were seized by police after officers discovered a makeshift drug factory in Yalding. Almost 100 plants were found growing in two metal containers on land off Hampstead Lane after offi- cers from Maidstone heard the buzzing of a generator. There was also a strong smell of cannabis and the lightswere on in the building. The plants were taken away for disposal following the discovery. Anyone with information should

call police on 101 or Kent Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

ONEof Yalding’s oldest pubs, the 15th century George, has re- opened with a bang. Food and drink flowed at a launch party for locals, marking the re-opening of the Benover Road pub that closed in October last year following the retirement of previous landlord Joe Morris. There had been fears that locals

might lose their 15th century local following the retirement of the 80- year old publican, particularly after Joe – Kent’s longest reigning landlord at 47 years – put in a plan-

ning application to turn the prop- erty into flats, should a sale not be forthcoming. But after the Chalker family

spotted the business on the inter- net and travelled from Bexley to view it, its future was set. Julie Chalker, who helps run the

pub with son Chris and his step- dad Tony Brett, said: “We loved it from the moment we saw it. It re- ally grabbed us.” The traditional pub, popular

with tourists, ramblers, canoeists and anglers, is set to become a pop- ular family pub thanks to the new beer garden and a plan to max- imise use of the outside space by the river with a jetty.

Red rose presented in payment for green

A TRADITION is being kept alive in Sutton Valence with the handing over of a single red rose in payment for its village green. The green was offered to the parish council on a 99-

year lease by Sutton Valence Independent School for community use in 1957. The payment required – a sin- gle red rose delivered each year as close to mid-sum- mer’s day as possible – has been carried out ever since. Parish council chairman Cllr Eileen Riden handed over

the rose on the green, surrounded by every child from the public school. The “payment” was received by head- master Bruce Grindley. Cllr Riden said: “This is an important occasion, which

I get quite nervous about, but it is a fabulously quaint ceremony. The parish has an extremely good relation- ship with the school and it is good for pupils to witness

this historic event and the part the school has to play in the community. I hope the ceremony, with the choir and its speeches, continues for the next 49 years!”

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