News
Mote Park in UK top three
MAIDSTONE’S Mote Park has been listed in the top three UK parks for the third year in a row. Mote Park was named the third
best park in the UK in this year’s Green Flag People’s Choice Awards – a step down from its sec- ond place last year. The parkwelcomes more than 1.6 million visitors every year and Cllr Gordon Newton, chairman of the town’s heritage, culture and leisure committee said: “To have been named among the top three parks at the Green Flag People’s Choice Awards for the third time is a won- derful acknowledgement of the value Mote Park adds to Maid- stone. “Every member of the team – in- cluding the wide network of vol- unteers – responsible for the upkeep and maintenance of Mote Park deserves to share in this award.”
London’sVictoria Parkwas over-
all winner for the second year, with Margam Park in Port Talbot,Wales second. Cllr Newton said: “Looking at
the strength of the competition, it’s a great achievement to have been named third. We look forward to continuing to develop Mote Park and improving the services and fa- cilities.”
downsmail.co.uk
Outcry delays changes to planning system
THE proposed overhaul of Ton- bridge and Malling Council’s plan- ning system has been postponed after complaints from a number of parish councils. A cabinet meeting decided to
defer the planned merger of the council’s three area planning com- mittees for further investigation. Since 1974, the borough has been divided into three areas for plan- ning matters, with each councillor having a say on applications relat- ing to theirward. But following a Local Govern- ment Association review, a bor-
ough-wide single committee was suggested, similar to other Kent councils, with 13 to 15 councillors. Several parish councils, including
East Malling and Larkfield, West Malling and Ditton, wrote to the council voicing their opposition, es- pecially as the local plan was being reviewed and the call for develop- ment sites map had just been pub- lished. There were also concerns about the short notice and the lack of consultation. East Malling and Larkfield Parish Council chairman David Thornewell,welcomed the deferral,
saying: “Tonbridge and Malling is a diverse area with its main town, Tonbridge, at one end and it is therefore important that local views get heard, which the area system achieves. “That the system is greatly sup- ported is shown by all the parish councils and amenity bodies which wrote in asking that it be kept.” The decision notice said the cabi-
net “welcomed the significant amount of debate generated by the review and recognised the value placed on the area planning com- mittee system by many members.”
The RSPCA is appealing for information after a dog found abandoned in Snodland had to be put down. Awalker found the four-year-old boxer
Appeal for owners of dumped dog RSPCA inspector Rosie Russon said:
at a disusedwater plant in Ham Hill. He was starving and thirsty and had a large wound on the back of his neck and a bleeding tumour on his back end. Hewas taken to a vet where hewas scanned for amicrochip but nonewas found.
“Hewas in a shocking condition. Sadly, the vet said the only optionwas to put him to sleep to end his suffering. “I would urge anyone with information
about how this animalwas left like this to call us on 0300 123 8018.” The brindle boxer had awhite chest
and dark muzzle and ears. Hewas not castrated and his tail had been docked.
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