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News Making the river work for town
DRAGON-boat racing, regattas and rowing could spearhead a push to put Maidstone’s stretch of the River Medway on the map.
The new destination manage-
ment plan for Maidstone aims to focus on strengthening visitor ac- tivities on or close to the river, par- ticularly near All Saints’ Church, at Lockmeadow and at Cobtree. Invicta Rowing Club and other
river users will be asked to get in- volved with Maidstone Council, the Medway Valley Partnership and business owners to create a programme of tourist-friendly river-based activities such as row- ing events, regattas, dragon-boat racing and a festival of lights. The plan is music to the ears of a number of local groups, including the Medway River Users’ Associa- tion (MRUA), which has been cam- paigning for greater use of the river for many years. MRUA chairman Mark Smurth-
waite said: “It is very encouraging to see so many people in support of improving Maidstone and more importantly the river. This is a very much under-used commodity that
clude signs to the entrance points to the river from the town centre, in- vestment in footpaths with signs indicating distances to key points, greater accessibility for cyclists, in- vestment in moorings and parking for river visitors. It alsowants to explore the possi-
bility of providing camping cabins or luxury camping huts to facilitate long-distance walking, canoeing and rowing. Tony Monk, from Coxheath, who
Maidstone Council and KCC seem to have very little interest in, de- spite using pictures of the river in much of their literature. “The river is such a beautiful
asset and it is dramatically under- used and under-resourced.” The MRUA is already working
with the Environment Agency and other official bodies to try to im- prove the condition of the river and surrounding areas and, with the support of MP Helen Grant, is in the process of identifying areas of
TWO mountain bikes, whichwere chained to awall rack,were stolen from the drive- way of a home in LaxtonWalk, Kings Hill. A carwas scratched in Kingfisher Road, Larkfield. The kitchen window of a home in Kent
Road, Snodlandwas smashed. A Ford Focus in Plover Road, Larkfield
was sprayed with graffiti and dented on the bonnet and boot. A motorbike was stolen from the drive of
a home in Snodland High Street. A vehiclewas moved without the
owner’s consent inWillow Road, Larkfield. A conservatory windowwas damaged at
a home in Malling Road, Snodland. Therewas an attempted break-in at a property in Woodpecker Road, Larkfield, but no accesswas gained. Fishing equipmentwas stolen from the garage of a home in Amisse Drive, Snod- land. A windowwas smashed at the village
hall in Tonbridge Road,Wateringbury. A vehiclewas damaged in Freelands
Road, Snodland. A vehiclewas moved without the
owner’s consent in Bow Road,Watering- bury.
Three vehicleswere scratched in Wood-
land Close,West Malling. A ToyotaAuriswas scratched in London
Road, Leybourne. A garage and shedwere broken into at a
home in Offham Road,West Malling and itemswere stolen. Toolswere stolen in a break-in at the garage of a property in Bull Road, Ley- bourne. The lockwas damaged on a shed at a property in Offham Road,West Malling but nothing was taken. Two tyres, four wooden pallets and gar- dening equipmentwere stolen from an al-
34 Malling November 2015
responsibility. A new River Medway Alliance
has been formed and Mr Smurth- waite said: “Following the alliance meeting later this month, we hope to be in a position to put forward some sort of action plan for im- provement, and will make public all the information regarding this.” In the meantime, the council is proposing a programme of en- hancements and improvements to make the river more accessible and appealing to visitors. This will in-
convened a meeting with Mrs Grant to discuss some of the con- cerns about the river, said: “If the works go ahead it will, after many years, be a positive and very excit- ing step forward for Maidstone. “Much of the riverside of Maid- stone’s stretch of the Medway has, in my opinion, been spoilt by de- velopment, but there are some beautiful stretches and the town has some superb architecture dat- ing back to the 13th century along with its varied and rich history.”
NeighbourhoodWatch Working to reduce crime. Call Crimestoppers 0800 555 111 or local police
lotment in Ryarsh Lane,West Malling. The roof of an outbuilding in Park Road, Leybournewas damaged, but nothing was taken. The bodywork was damaged on a car in Norman Road,West Malling. A supermarket in Lake Road, Aylesford
was broken into and cash stolen from a till. CCTV footage shows a white man in his 30s, about 5ft 8in, of stocky build. A Vauxhall Astra parked in Greenfield
Close, Eccleswas damaged by vandals. A shipping containerwas broken into in Station Road, Aylesford and a nail gun was stolen. CCTV footagewas being viewed. The tyre of a vehicle parked in Howick
Close in the Royal British Legion Village was damaged. A parked vehicle had its tyre damaged in London Road, Ditton. All four tyres were slashed on a Hyundai parked in Howick Close in the Royal British Legion Village. A property in Woodlands Road, Ditton
was broken into and jewellerywas stolen – enquirieswere ongoing. A windowwas damaged during an at- tempted break-in at a home in Ragstone Court, in the Royal British Legion Village. The rear passenger window of a Vaux-
hall Astra parked in New Road, Ditton was smashed. The front window had been smashed a few days earlier. The rear window of a carwas damaged
in Kingfisher Road, Larkfield. A window of a vehiclewas smashed in London Road, Ditton.
Copperwas stolen from a property in
The Close, Birling whichwas in the process of being renovated. Itemswere stolen from an outbuilding at
a property in The Street, Ryarsh. A residential property in Forge Lane,
West Peckhamwas broken into and copper piping was stolen. A property in Garner Drive, East Mallingwas deliberately damaged. The number plateswere stolen from a
vehicle in Lakeside, Snodland. A vehiclewas taken without the owner’s consent fromWinterfield Lane, East Malling. Toolswere stolen from a van parked on a
grass verge in Malling Road, Snodland. A Ford Focus parked on a driveway in
Queen Street, Kings Hillwas scratched. Two carswere damaged on a drive in Thackeray Road, Larkfield. Youthswere seen at the time. A vehiclewas damaged in a car park in Alexander Grove, Kings Hill. A vehiclewas damaged in London Road, Larkfield. A windowwas damaged in Malling Road, Snodland.
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