News


Supermarket idea for M20 park and ride site


A PLAN to build aWaitrose supermarket on Maidstone’s doomed park and ride site at Eclipse Park has been unveiled.


The £14m proposal would see a 29,000sqft store developed close to the new Next shop near M20 Junc- tion 7, bringing an anticipated 200 new jobs. The store would be more than twice the size of the existing 13,000sqft Waitrose in Allington Park, which the retailer says it is committed to retaining. Nick Yandle, chief executive of Gallagher Group, the developer be- hind the proposal, said Maidstone remains a key target for Waitrose, who would have built a store in nearby Newnham Court but for Maidstone Council refusing Land Securities’ application in June 2014. He said: “The investment in a


Waitrose store is a sign of confi- dence in the borough. It will rein- force Junction 7’s importance as a gateway to the Maidstone economy and will attract further investment and employment at Eclipse Park.”


Mr Yandle outlined the vision, pictured, to Boxley parish council- lors and residents ahead of a plan- ning application due to be submitted to Maidstone Council in late February. He said the single- storey building, next to the Tower- gate office block, would have a simple and contemporary design, in keeping with the surrounding re- tail and commercial units and would feature Kentish ragstone. The car park would provide 300 spaces, with two hours free parking for customers. Replying to concerns


about traffic problems, Mr Yandle said that vehicles visiting the store would be spread throughout the day, whereas the park and ride traf- ficwas condensed at peak times. No new highways work would


be required, with shoppers using the existing access by the Chiltern Hundreds pub or the new junction near the Next store. The existing park and ride facility


was due to close on Saturday, Feb- ruary 6. If the plan is approved, building could start in late 2016 with the store opening early in 2018.


Fringe benefits for six days


BANDS are in rehearsals for the sixth Maidstone Fringe Festival, set to run for six days across the May bank holidayweekend. Celebrating the diversity of new


and original music in Kent and the South East, the festival will feature live performances at venues in- cluding The Style &Winch, Earls, The Druids Arms, The Flowerpot, The Source Bar, Drakes, The White Horse, The Art Lounge, Pizza Ex- press, The Royal Albion and The Pilot.


Incorporated within the festival are a number of all-day events and


dance all-nighters, as well as fam- ily-friendly entertainment at many of the town centre’s cafes and cof- fee shops. Much of the music will be open


to the public for free. Among the businesses support-


ing this year’s Fringe Festival, from April 27 to May 2, is Clive Emson Auctioneers, which has come on board this year as the major sponsor. Artists confirmed so far include


Coco And The Butterfields, Nick Harper and Gentlemen Of Few, new blues acts Salvation Jayne and


Flawless Carbon, alongside estab- lished favourites such as David Migden & The Twisted Roots, Funke & The 2 Tone Baby and indie/alternative artists Theatre Royal, We Are Bandicoot, Jody’s Flat, Aux and Upcdownc. Flying the flag for folk and acoustic music will be The Dredgermen, Tobys Starks & Friends and Vaughan Batchelor, along with a huge ska and reggae event at The Source Bar, featuring Winston Francis, Dennis Bovell, and Carl St Clair. For details visit www.maid- stonefringe.com.


Water staff lauded for 25 years’ service


TWO employees of Snodland-based South East Water have received awards after 25 years of working for the company. Mick Bryant and Mike Masters


were among 17 staff presentedwith certificates and gifts for their long service. After starting work as an appren-


tice garage mechanic, before mov- ing to a farm in East Farleigh, Mick needed job security and applied for a labourer’s post at Mid KentWater. He has since worked in several de- partments including on the first household free watermains. Now a distribution technician,


Mick said: “Things are much more customer focused than they used to


16


Paul Butler (centre) presents the awards to Mike Masters (left) and Mick Bryant


be with new technology converting our vans into mobile offices.” Mike’s career with Mid KentWater


started 32 years ago when he joined from school as an apprentice


Maidstone South February 2016


plumber. He left in 1989 to become self-employed, but returned to the company as an area inspector. Now a leakage technician, he recalls see- ing some spectacular burst water pipe fountains, including one in 1991, during KCC roadworks near Roydon Hall at Seven Mile Lane, near East Peckham. He said: “I remember, when driv-


ing to the site, seeing a cartoon-like scene of a column ofwater 100 foot tall feathering out at the top and flooding the entire site.” South East Water managing di-


rector Paul Butler said: “Thewater in- dustry has seen many changes in the last 25 years but they both have taken it all in their stride.”


downsmail.co.uk


Dog dumped in tied-up bag


THE RSPCA is appealing for infor- mation after the body of a dog was found dumped in a tied-up bag in Yalding. Adog-walker


made the dis- tressing find, in a brook be- tween Lees Road and Ben- over Road, on Sunday January 31.


The dead


adult Jack Rus- sell terrier was concealed in- side a large green and white Arkwrights dog food bag and tied up with twine. The RSPCA fears the dog may


have been alive when dumped, in which case the animal suffered a distressing death by drowning. Inspector Rosie Russon said: “Therewere no obvious signs of in- jury on this poor animal, and she seemed to be in reasonable condi- tion. It is possible she may have been alive whendumped in this bag in the river, and then drowned. If this is so, it would have been an in- credibly distressing and horrific way for her to die.” The RSPCA want anyone who


knows where the tri-color dog may have come from – andhowshe may have died – to come forward, in con- fidence, and call 0300 123 8018.


MP demands rail action


PASSENGER train services in Kent are going off the rails, according to local MP Helen Whately. After Southeastern scored the country’s second-worst passenger satisfaction rating, the Mid Kent MP called on transport minister Patrick McLoughlin to take action. More than 15,000 people have


signed a petition demanding the re- moval of the franchise from South- eastern and the MP wants to know if the rail operator is in breach of its franchise agreement. Speaking in a debate in the


House of Commons, Mrs Whately said: “My constituents use the Southeastern network. Day after day their trains are being delayed, particularly at peak times. “This morning all trains between Maidstone East and London be- tween 6.30 am and 7.30 am were cancelled. These are unacceptable levels of service.” In the Transport Focus survey,


67% of passengers were satisfied with the punctuality of Southeast- ern trains, a fall from 72% in 2014. Overall satisfaction stayed at 75%. More passengers were happy


with ticket-buying facilities after Southeastern got new machines.


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