News


downsmail.co.uk Decision on picnic site delayed


PROTESTORS have won a reprieve for Blue Bell Hill picnic site after a plan to dispose of the popular viewpoint caused a huge backlash.


Kent County Council wanted to outsource the running of the site to save money, as part of a wider pro- posal involving five of the smaller country parks in its ownership, in- cluding The Larches in Pilgrims Way, Detling. However, after a storm of protest including an online petition with more than 6,800 signatures, and complaints about the lack of con- sultation, the county council agreed to suspend the process. It will now review the proposal in the coming months. Support for the campaign came


from the families, friends and for- mer colleagues of the crew who lost their lives in the Kent Air Am- bulance crash on the nearby hill- side in 1998. It emerged that the memorial stone (pictured) at the site also marks the place where the three men were buried. Rachel Darby, whose father Mark died in the accident, said:


Lier target


for volunteers LITTER pickers in Allington expect to clear their 1,000th bag of rubbish as part of a special drive ahead of the Queen’s birthday. The Allington Alligators


have lined up Clean for the Queen litter picks on March 5 and 6, and is hoping the com- munity will join in. The litter-picking volunteers organised byApril Lambourne began their clean-up crusade in 2000 and meet monthly on a Sunday morning. The group, which uses litter


bags that are emptied by Maid- stone Council, also works in conjunction with the Medway Valley Partnership. The Clean for the Queen lit-


ter picks will last about 90 minutes. The March 5 picks will meet at Giddyhorn Lane Rec, off Poplar Grove, at 10am and the top of Castle Road, near the traffic-lights, at 2pm. On March 6 pickers will meet at the Topnotch Gym at the re- tail park, London Road, at 10am and Allington Commu- nity Centre in Castle Road at 2pm.


Equipment and a safety talk


will be provided. For details, email April or


Mike Lambourne at mike.lam- bourne@btinternet.com and april.lambourne@btinternet.co mor call 01622 763553.


also expressed concern, saying there was “little notice or no con- sultation on this with interested parties including myself.” The park is within the Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natu- ral Beauty and is managed by Kent Wildlife Trust. A spokesman for KCC said: “We


“It’s not public knowledge that theywere placed under that stone, but I think now it needs to be made aware that this isn’t just a stone but their grave. It’s a place for us as family and friends to mourn and celebrate their heroic actions. I re- ally don’t think this has been thought through.” Her mother Susan, called the


plan “outrageous and without con- sultation; unforgiveable”, and called for support to “protect this beautiful site”. Aylesford MP Tracey Crouch,


fully appreciate the environmental significance of these sites and that they are highly valued by local communities and those who are in- volved with them. “Our over-riding intention is to


see all these sites retained as open spaces with existing public access maintained, and it is within this context that we will be looking to explore with stakeholders what opportunities there may be to en- sure that these sites continue to be enjoyed by members of the public in a more cost-effective way. “We look forward to discussing this further with local stakeholders


and groups such as the Kent Wildlife Trust in due course to ex- plore what may be possible.” Former leader of Tonbridge and Malling


Council, David


Thornewell said: “I am glad the process of disposing of this well- loved site on the Downs has been suspended. I was a borough coun- cillor at the time when KCC ac- quired it so this downland site could be open to the public and provide a viewpoint from the top of the Downs. “At that time they were proud of


their achievement. Most of the North Downs are wooded or farmed so unlike the South Downs, there are few places where there is public open space grassland where people can enjoy the view. “I know KCC says it is a ‘small’


site, but the volume of objections show how much people value this unique site. It should be kept as a public space.”


Village’s last pub calls time on drinkers


DITTON has lost its last remaining pub after the Kentish Quarryman in New Road closed its doors for good. Owner Shepherd Neame said it


had no plans to reopen the public house which has had a chequered history. The property was formerly the


village working men’s club which was turned into a pub in 2008 with a £200,000 refurbishment by the brewery. This development and a bid to extend licensing hours caused controversy with residents raising concerns about potential anti-social behaviour. The pub suffered a further setback when it was targeted by arsonists.


A Shepherd Neame spokesman


said that once it was established that a pub could not work financially, the owner was legally required to stop leasing it out. He said: “The decision to close the pub was not taken lightly, but it had not been economically viable for some time.” Tonbridge and Malling Cllr Ben


Although Cobdown Sports and


Social Club in Station Road and Ditton Community Centre in Kiln Barn Road have bars, the Quarryman was the village’s last pub.


Call for assault witnesses


POLICE are appealing for witnesses after a woman suffered injuries to her face and arm during an alleged assault in Aylesford. Officerswant to hear from anyone who saw the mother – whowas with


her three children – in an altercation with a man driving a Land Rover in Hall Road at 5.39pm on Saturday, January 30. It is understood that the woman got out of the 4x4, which subsequently


hit her, before she was forced to get back inside. The family were then driven off towards the junction with the A20 London Road and the Quarry Wood Industrial Estate. It is understood that the driver is known to the family. He is about 6ft 1in tall, white and of stocky build. He has short, dark brown spiked hair and hazel eyes. DC Leanne Carter, the investigating officer, said: “There were a num-


ber of people in the area at the time and I amkeen to hear from them. “Any piece of information, no matter how small you may consider it to


be, could help us investigate this case.” Anyone with information is urged to call 01622 604100, quoting refer- ence YY/2245/16, or Kent Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.


Walker said the site had real potential to be an asset to the community, so it was hoped that positive inquiries would be made in the future. Meanwhile he would keep a close eye on the site to ensure that it did not become an area of neglect.


Time for lunch


ASENIOR lunch club meets at The Dorcas Centre, Swallow Road, Larkfield from 11am to 1.30pm every Thursday. Light activities and food are on


offer for a minimum donation of £4. Free door-to-door transport may be available within Larkfield, Leybourne, East andWest Malling and Kings Hill areas. This is a Dynamic Future To-


gether project in partnership with Churches Together in Malling. To book a place and transport,


call 07434150922. Volunteers and drivers are needed – please call to apply.


For more local news www.downsmail.co.uk Malling February 2016


15


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