News
New voice on rural issues
A NEW group has pledged to pro- vide a united voice on some of the biggest issues affecting rural com- munities. The Conservative “collective”,
The Rural Alliance, has emerged after a string of approvals by Maid- stone Council for developments impacting directly on countryside communities. Rural Alliance member Cllr Mar-
tin Round says the group will speak out not just on housing and infrastructure but on aspects in- cluding rural “invasions” by gyp- sies and a “scant regard” for neighbourhood plans, the protec- tion of habitats and rural cultures. The group comprises nine Con-
servative borough councillors and parish and county council mem- bers. It promises to use its position on the borough council, its good re- lations with the area’s MPs and partnerships with groups such as Kent Association of Local Councils and the Joint Parishes Group to raise rural concerns with the bor- ough council. Such issues include alarm that junction 8 and the surrounding area could become an industrial es- tate, planning decisions based on the threat of appeal rather than merit and action to deal with trav- ellers.
downsmail.co.uk Bid to beat isolation blues
TECHNOLOGY is being used in- creasingly to connect more and more people. From social networks, which
keep friends and family in touch, to professional networks such as LinkedIn, technology is rapidly re- placing the written and telephonic word. Now, in a bid to reduce social iso-
lation in the borough, Maidstone is hosting the Kent Connects “Trans- formed by You” challenge to bring people together in a new and excit- ingway.
Maidstone has one of the highest concentrations of home-based busi- nesses in Kent, with about 9,000 homeworkers in the borough, of which half own their own business. Some of the wards with lots of self-employed homeworkers are in
rural areas, such as Marden, Yald- ing, and Boxley. With the population of the bor-
ough expected to increase by 10.2% (16,400) in the next 10 years, the town’s challenge is “People are bet- ter together; how can we connect them?” and local residents are being invited to get involved. A council spokesman said: “You
don’t have to have technological know-how – we’re just looking for ideas to get the ball rolling.” The challenge is in two parts. First, people are being asked to submit their ideas which could help anyone who might experience social isolation – from local busi- nesses looking to collaborate for their mutual benefit, to those who have just moved to the borough and are looking for like-minded in-
David is Lions’ new president He is pictured with Lion Marion
DAVID Priestley has been chosen as the new president of Maidstone Lions Club. A retired building society manager, he has been president of the Maidstone club three times be- fore. David, who lives in Loose Road
with his wife Sandra, was involved with Loose Swiss Scouts for more than 30 years, many as chairman.
Brooks, the club’s outgoing presi- dent. During her two years as presi- dent the club donated more than £44,000 to charitable causes, mainly in the Maidstone area. Maidstone Lions Club belongs to
the largest service organisation in the world. For more details call David on 01622 745023.
dividuals to share an interest. Then, the top ideas will be taken
forward to a ‘Hack Day’ on No- vember 21 in the Business Terrace, Maidstone’s new enterprise hub. Here, developers and those with
an interest can come along to help build a prototype solution, and have the chance to win a package of support to help make that proto- type a reality. The spokesman said: “We want
to take advantage of technology to make sure that people have the opportunity to build networks and reduce isolation in our communi- ties.” If you think you have a techno- logical solution to a problem re- lated to social isolation, submit your idea online at
www.trans-
formedbyyou.com.
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