News Council to find
£1.9m savings TONBRIDGE and Malling Council has identified the need to make savings of £1.9million in the next five years. Controversial proposals to the council’s cabinet include cutting more than £60,000 from summer play schemes and a review of park- ing charges inWest Malling. Council leader Nicolas Heslop
said the council had always taken measured steps in how it delivered services but had thought that the revenue support grant from the Government would not be taken away until 2019. The council had now learned that it would be re- moved a year earlier. Combined with the reform of the business rates, Tonbridge and Malling will get 65% less in Government sup- port, equating to £2.4million. West Malling Parish Council has
called for the proposed introduc- tion of parking charges in the High Street car park to be delayed for six months to allow time to work on al- ternative options. An online peti- tion against the scheme had more than 3,300 signatures and another 300 were collected at the farmers’ market. The proposalswere due to go be-
fore the cabinet after the Downs Mailwent to press.
downsmail.co.uk
Takeover set to rescue crop research company
EAST Malling Research has been saved from potential administra- tion after a takeover by another leading crop research institute. The company, which made losses
of more than £1.5m last year, has become part of the National Insti- tute of Agricultural Botany (NIAB), based in Cambridge. Despite its high scientific reputa-
tion, there had been concerns for the survival of East Malling Re- search (EMR) for several years after the loss of government support. Its rescue, for an undisclosed
sum, means the new organisation can create a major centre for applied crop science and innovation. Founded in 1913, fruit research specialist EMR employs 85 people. The huge sitewas recently included in Tonbridge and Malling Council’s call for development sites, raising fears that the prime agricultural land and laboratories would be re- placed by housing. Giving a cautiouswelcome to the merger, KCC and borough Cllr Trudy Dean said: “Hopefully, this is good news for EMR if it safe-
Dr Tina Barsby and David Neill, chief operating officer of EMR (right)
guards the future of this 500-acre site of prime agricultural land for continuing with its internationally admired and valued research. “Many people locally have worked on the fields, greenhouses and labs at ‘the Research’ and will be hoping that this announcement means its proud reputation of em- ploying the top scientists and prac- titioners will be continued.We need to hear quickly from NIAB about its plans for the site.” The NIAB group said the com-
bined organisation, employing more than 300 staff and with a turnover of £22 million, would pro-
vide long-term stability, scale and capacity for investment in crop sci- ence. A spokesman said: “NIAB EMR
will be established as a wholly- owned subsidiary of NIAB and will continue to operate from the exist- ing site at East Malling.” Chief executive of the combined organisation, Dr Tina Barsby said: “The move creates a potent new force in independent applied re- search, bringing together the scien- tific expertise required to support progressive crop production at all levels, and represents a major step forward in NIAB’s plans.”
100’s of carpet rolls to clear from £10 each
FREE FITTING ON SELECTED CARPETS FREE
MEASURING SERVICE
Weekly payment scheme available
Artificial grass in stock
www.carpetnextday.co.uk
Maidstone Tovil Hill Maidstone ME15 6QS
14
01622 677787 Malling February 2016
Tonbridge 5 Tannery Road Tonbridge TN9 1RF
01732 362332 New store Now Open MON - SAT 9.00-5.30pm
Gillingham Beechings Way Gillingham ME8 6PF
01634 366444 (Opposite
Landlords Developers Letting Agents Trade Discounts Call for details
McDonalds)
Find us on
Carpets Vinyl's
Laminates
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