News
downsmail.co.uk Ramblin’ man will be back
DEBATE continues about the merits of Maidstone hosting the Ramblin’ Man Fair but the organiser of the town’s largest rock concert has confirmed its return on July 23-24 next year. Super Early Bird tickets are al-
ready on sale though no specific acts have been confirmed. Among this year’s festival-goers most com- mentswere positive and tickets for 2016 have been bought. Adrian Powell, who camped out
over the weekend, described the festival as “well organised and en- joyable [with the] right number of people”. Some residentswere not so posi-
tive and Maidstone Council con- firmed it had received 25 formal complaints, a few of which came from residents of Audley House, which had the sound system from the main stage pointed in its direc- tion.
Philip Urquhart, village manager College stops
A-level courses STUDENTS have been alarmed to learn that MidKent College in Maidstone is abandoning A-level courses.
The decision affects 175 young-
sters who were due to start A-level studies this month. Second-year students part-way through their A- level courses at the Tonbridge Road college are not affected. The college says the decision fol- lows a review of its curriculum in the face of fewer resources and na- tional policy changes, which put more emphasis on colleges to meet the needs of the jobs market and contribute to the Govern- ment’s goal of providing three mil- lion apprenticeships. College principal Simon Cook said advice sessions and liaisons with schools and other education providers had provided an alterna- tive training path for all those who had contacted the college. Any stu- dents who need help should con- tact the college.
of Audley Mote House, said: “We are aware of some Audley Mote House owners raising concerns re- garding the level of noise and light disturbance that carried on until 11pm… as a management com- panywe also contacted the council on their behalf.” Maidstone Council’s reply to the complaints said: “The environmen- tal enforcement team along with an independent acoustic engineer monitored the sound levels throughout the event. “Although the musicwas audible
in some areas around the park, the sound levels set in the licencewere not breached at any point during the event.” It has promised to monitor this
issue in future and to ensure the emergency hotline for noise com- plaints extends to an out-of-hours service in 2016. Sainsbury’s, near the site, saw a
sales boost from festival-goers, while the Eden Café in central Maidstone saw extra breakfast business on the Saturday from campers at the festival who had en- dured a wet night. HMV in town confirmed increased sales of CDs of some acts who had appeared. Liz Marks, of Downswood, said:
“The noise was extraordinary and relentless…we may as well have been right in the park for the vol- ume we had both days, well in to the night. I had many friends say the same.”
KCC row over west country homes plan
KENT County Council has come under fire for threatening to build homes on a start-up enterprise for businesses in Bath. The county council received ap-
proval for its request to change the use of the city’s Tramshed commercial space to residential from Bath and North East Somer- set Council. But it has prompted an angry re- sponse from the business commu- nity, who say Bath is already set to get 7,000 new homes and “as the creative industries capital of the South West” the Tramshed provides valuable office space for fledgling businesses including start-up websites and small IT firms. The county council says no de- cision has been made about the
future of the building. A spokesman for KCC said:
“The Tramshed in Bath is owned by Kent County Council on be- half of the Kent Pension Fund. The fund provides pensions to 110,000 scheme members in 500 employers and has property in- vestments of around £600m across the country. “The Tramshed is currently
used as serviced offices. The Pen- sion Fund has looked at the op- tion of using a change in planning law introduced by the last gov- ernment to change the use from office to residential under the per- mitted development regulations. “At this stage, no final decision
has been taken on the change of use and the Tramshed in its cur- rent form is operating well.”
For more local
newswww.downsmail.co.uk
School’s musical will not be beered JOHN
Betty Blue Eyes Valley Park School, Hazlitt Theatre
THERE will not be a better musi- cal at The Hazlitt this year – there is just a chance it could be equalled, but never bettered. The opening number of Betty
Blue Eyes, “Fair Shares for All”, set the standards of energy, singing vi- tality, team work and acting that ran strongly through the whole performance. Catherine Butler as the ambitious
wife, Benjamin Anderton as the sensitive chiropodist husband and
30
MUNSON SHOW TIME
Josephine Biggs as the convinc- ingly-awkward grannywere all ter- rific as the Chilvers family. James Goodbody was outstand-
ing as the evil doctor. Ryan Clark always convinces and Samuel Mur- ray's farmyard dance with Ben-
Maidstone Town October 2015
jamin Anderton was a memory to treasure. The whole cast and en- semble had brilliance and ability in depth. However, the scenery took too
long to change. Could the cast have helped? Could we have watched? But the orchestra was wonderful and played well during scene changes. Costumes and hairstyles were perfect and the programme waswell designed. Next February there is another
Valley Park production at the school. Make a note in your diary.
There were few complaints from those who attended the festival
Crossing work
IMPROVEMENTS are to be made to the pedestrian crossing on the Hermitage Lane junction with Fountain Lane in Maidstone as part of a scheme for 80 homes. In November 2014, planning consent was granted for the devel- opment on land south-west of Oakapple Lane. As part of a scheme to improve
safety for pedestrians, the devel- oper has agreed to put £32,480 to- wards a £70,000 plan to upgrade the junction, following a campaign led by Cllr JamesWillis. AMaidstone Council report said
the remainder of the money would be met from “equivalent contribu- tions from other potential develop- ments in the local area.”
Driving offence
A DETLING man who admitted drink-driving has been banned from driving for three years. Steven Wilson (33), of Hockers Lane, was driving a Ford Mondeo in Peel Street, Maidstone, without in- surance. He gave a blood test of 185mg of alcohol in 100ml of blood. The legal limit is 80mg. At Mid Kent Magistrates Court he
was banned from driving for three years and fined him £155 with £85 costs and a £20 victim surcharge.
Motorist rescued
A MAN involved in a two-car colli- sion in Sittingbourne Road, Maid- stone was cut free by fire crew. Kent Fire and Rescue Service was called to the accident where the man, in his 30s, was complaining of neck and chest pain. Firefighters gave him oxygen and first aid while they removed the driver’s door. He was then taken to hospital.
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48