News


downsmail.co.uk Steps to improve Social festival


THE organiser of The Social festival is to be reined in by Maidstone Council after a catalogue of complaints following this year’s event in September.


Reports of anti-social behaviour in


the streets around Mote Park were widespread, as youngsters availed themselves of “legal highs” being sold near the park gates, councillors were told. Drunks and drug dealers trespassed on residents’ drives, leav- ing litter and even more unsavoury calling cards as they spilled out un- supervised from the day-long music bash, the leisure committee heard. The Social festival has taken place


in the park for the past three years and the council gets a fee from the organiser and a share of ticket sales. Laura Dickson, the council’s mar-


keting and sales manager, said: “It brings economic benefits to the bor- ough and supports the evening economy of the town centre.” It was estimated that the 10,000


festival goers spent almost £1m in bars, restaurants and hotels this year. But such was the devastation caused by the crowd that the council


Festive songs THE Detling Singers are tuning up


for their Christmas Concert at Detling Village Hall.


The concert, on Saturday Decem- ber 19, starts at 7.30pm and also features Saxophones Plus. The programme features some old favourites – as well as familiar carols with a new slant – plus sev- eral lesser known works from Faure and Rutter.


The Detling Singers will also lead the carol singing at the Heart of Kent Hospice in Aylesford on Christmas Eve.


withheld £1,176 from the organiser’s deposit to cover reinstatement of the park and cleaningup after the event. Ms Dickson said: “Whilst the


event was regarded as well organ- ised within the park, it did create a series of serious problems for resi- dents in the surrounding streets.” The committee agreed that the


event should be allowed to take place again in 2016 – but not on the same weekend as another festival, such as the Maidstone Mela. The council will also insist on a much more stringent event management plan and appropriate licence – all to be paid for by the organiser. It will also insist on stricter secu-


rity and policing of the event, better signage and transport for visitorsgo- ing to and from the railway stations. The plan will also ensure that


steps are taken in the planning and direction of the stages to insulate sound better and reduce external


noise levels. The council received 53 complaints from residents around Mote Park following the September event – almost three times as many as the previous year. The complaints related to noise,


traffic management, litter and anti- social behaviour – including abusive behaviour and instances of people trespassing in gardens and defecat- ing in the streets. It took council staff three hours to


clear rubbish from Mote Avenue, and the Lower Road and Upper Road estates following the event. Residents complained about vehi-


cles trying to park or drop off in streets near the park, blocking drive- ways and parking on green spaces, in spite of parking provision in the park and at the leisure centre. The organisers admitted there should have been more temporary toilets and stewards at the park en- trances.


Trust denies death charge


MAIDSTONE and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust denied corporate manslaughter following the death of a primary school teacher after an emergency Caesarean operation.


Frances Cappuccini, who taught at Offham Primary School, died aged 30, hours after giving birth to her second son in Tunbridge Wells Hospital in October 2012.


In a ground-breaking case, the NHS trust has been charged with corporate manslaughter alongside Dr Nadeem Aziz and consultant anaesthetist Errol Cornish.


Cornish (67), from Bromley, denied the charge at the High Court in London. A warrant has been issued for the arrest of Aziz (52), formerly from Tunbridge Wells, who is believed to be in Pakistan. The trial is due to start on January 12, 2016.


Cllr Clive English said: “In allmy


21 years on the council, I have never had the volume of complaints about a single event as I did about this one. The kind of activity taking place in broad daylight, in the cut- throughs, is the sort of thing you would expect in Amsterdam, not Maidstone.” Event organiser Luke Bendall had already met with council officers and agreed to meet the additional obligations – including extra stew- arding, a traffic management plan and a comprehensive clean-up pro- gramme. Cllr English said he would prefer


to see the festival moved to Detling Showground but Ms Dickson said: “Detling Showground can accom- modate such an event but is not well served by public transport and in all probability would see more people arriving by car, causing local congestion and problems.”


Raising voices A NEW choir in Bearsted is giving


people the chance to sing and swing with a selection of pop and rock classics.


Voiceful, founded by Hannah Rose, meets at the King George V Memorial Hall, Manor Rise every Monday, 8pm-10pm.


Dutch-born Hannah has per- formed in some of the world’s top concert venues and theatres. She moved to Maidstone in 2014. The new term starts on Monday January 4. Call 07476732910 or email hannarose@live.nl


Church goes live online Extension to home agreed


A CATHOLIC church is hoping to reach out to more people by broadcasting its Sunday service on the internet. St Peter's in Bearsted is launching its on-line presence on the first Sunday in Advent, broadcasting its Sunday and weekdayMass services live. Broadcasts of major events such as the Christmas and Easter services and special occasions including weddings will also be available. Paul Dixon has designed and


installed the technology needed to produce a high definition picture on YouTube. Parish priest Father Geoffrey


Pointer said: “We don’t expect to rival 'Strictly', but if you would like to join with us in this prayerful way, our church is just a click away!” He added: “We originally aimed the service at the aged and infirm


18


A 20-YEAR-OLD woman who is reliant on a wheelchair after being injured in a road accident has been given planning permission to build a bungalow extension in Detling. Bethany McCarthywas badly in-


of our parish, but this step forward to new technology will provide another way of reaching those people who would like to take part in a service, but who for whatever reason are unable to attend church. “Other churches have found this


service to be very popular with distant family members who would like to share a special occasion but are unable to be present.” For details visit the church


website at www.catholic- bearsted.org.uk.


Maidstone East December 2015


jured in a “catastrophic” road acci- dent five years ago and needs 24-hour-a-day support from pri- vately-employed carers. Detling Parish Council objected


to her planning application for a home in Broader Lane, claiming it was virtually double the size of the existing floor space and was too imposing for its location in the Kent Downs Area of Natural Beauty. As a result, Ms McCarthy re-


duced the elevation by 5.5m in the east and 3m in the north. A sun


room, which would have been 5m by 5.5m, was also removed. Mr Woodley, on behalf of the ap- plicant, told Maidstone Council's planning committee: “Once her property has been adapted she will have a home where she can begin to rebuild her life. “She wishes to live her life inde- pendently, but needs the love and support of her family close by. Bethany's tragic circumstances are exceptional.” Cllr Paul Harper, a member of


the committee, said: “I know how difficult it is to get disabled people accommodation and I am disap- pointed by Detling Parish Coun- cil's attitude to this.” The committee backed the pro- posal unanimously.


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