News


downsmail.co.uk Tall trees leave families in dark


A 20-YEAR battle to trim back trees in leafy Bearsted has left residents furious Homeowners in Ragstone Road,


which backs onto Madginford Pri- mary School, claim the 40ft trees are restricting their right to light, but the trees are on school land so they can’t simply chop them down. Residents have sought the help of


the parish council but, despite a six- month exchange of letters between the council and the school, nothing has moved forward. The trees were planted in 1967,


and have not been managed prop- erly, claim homeowners. The parish council agrees that the


health and safety of residents is at risk, and that the trees also affect their right to light. Legislation would allow those af-


fected to cut off the branches on their side of the trees and deposit the offcuts on the school’s land – but that would not fully resolve the issue, members heard. The school’s chair of governors


Toby Butler claims the trees are a key part of the school’s charm and provide a natural barrier with the neighbouring properties. The governors discussed the problem at their October meeting and agreed not to change their pol- icy, which involves an annual in- spection by Kent County Council.


Juice boss in


line for award A YOUNG businesswoman from Lordswood has been nominated as a finalist in the Taste of Kent Awards.


Alexander Auger (24) set up the


Juice Executive in 2014, initially producing fresh vegetable juice in her parents’ garage. Having sold the juice at markets,


online and into independent shops, she is now in line for the new Young Food and Farming Entre- preneur award. Alex employed her first staff in January 2015, and now has a team of seven working from her unit in Revenge Road, Lordswood. The award celebrates Kent’s


young food and farming entrepre- neurs and is given in memory of the former mayor of Tunbridge Wells, Mike Rusbridge, a great sup- porter of young entrepreneurs. Another finalist hoping for suc-


cess at the awards dinner at the Kent County Showground, Detling on March 3 will be Maidstone- based Thomas Cookie (Food Pro- ducer of the Year).


Formore local news www.downsmail.co.uk 12 Maidstone East March 2016


The saplings in 1975 and right, Sue and NickWest in their garden KCC’s arboriculture team has said


that any work to pollard the trees would cause unnatural growth and potentially destabilise the trees, as well as affecting the aesthetics of the environment, while governors say money spent on tree surgery would divert important funds away from the education budget. Cllr Fabienne Hughes said: “These trees may well be prime specimens in a forest, but they are dangerous when so close to your house. They attract pigeons and other birds which are a danger to health, particularly to children play- ing in the gardens.”


She said the school’s argument


that the trees acted as a noise barrier did not hold water, as the branches at the lower part of the trees were missing. She said: “They don’t even act as a


screen to the school and anyone can see the children playing in the play- ground.” Cllr Pat Marshall said: “This has


been going on for 20 years, during which time there have been several meetings with KCC which inspects the trees to make sure they are safe. If they deem them to be safe, they will not take action. In the mean- time, the trees keep growing.”


More than a dozen homeowners


in Ragstone Road are affected by the trees. Instead of enjoying the sun- shine in summer, they are forced to switch on their lights. Cllr Suzanne Camp said: “Every-


one has a right to light – and these people are deprived of it during the summer months. In the autumn, leaves pile up in their gardens and gutters and in winter, branches are blown down.” Sue and NickWest have lived in


their house since it was built 45 years ago and have seen the trees grow to unmanageable levels. Loose branches regularly fall into


their garden, where the plants and grass have died from being con- stantly damp and in the shade. The couple finally gave up trying


to keep on top of their garden in 2014 and had it paved over – but even their pot plants are now dying in the shade of the trees. KCCinspected the trees two years


ago and MrsWest offered to pay to have three of them cut back, but has heard nothing since. “It was going to cost £1,500, but I


was happy to do it to improve our quality of life,” she said. “KCC was supposedly speaking to the gover- nors – butwe have heard nothing.”


Archbishop surprises wedding couples


WEDDING belles being blessed at Bearsted Parish Church found themselves face to face not with their regular Reverend, but with the Archbishop of Canterbury. The Most Rev Justin Welby


dropped in to meet the congregation at Holy Cross Church. His visit coincided with the church’s annual Celebration of Marriage service, to congratulate those celebrating significant anniversaries and those about to be married in church this year. More than 200 people were at the church, unaware of the Archbishop’s visit. The Rt Hon Welby gave an insightful yet humorous address and presided over the Eucharist, as well as presenting the marriage celebrants with flowers.


In addition to the eight couples


planning to marry at Holy Cross in 2016, there were five couples celebrating their golden wedding (50 years), one couple commemorating 60 years of marriage, another marking 65 years and one 66 years. Among the golden wedding couples, it turned out two pairs had also been married on the same day – and at the same time. Roger and Elizabeth Hext and


Peter and Ann Seaton were both married on May 21, 1966, while on


Photo: Val Oliver


October 8 1966, Doug and Sandy Chenery were married at the same time as Tony and Josie Ball. Rev John Corbyn, vicar of Holy


Cross Church, said: “It was a very relaxed occasion. The congregation is used to a little humour in our services – of which he took full advantage. He handed out flowers to our special couples and chatted to them afterwards.” The Archbishop was accompanied by his wife, Caroline.


Change to LED means return of night lights


ALL-night lighting will return to our streets following a decision by Kent County Council to invest in energy-efficient LED lights. The environment and transport cabinet committee has agreed the £40m investment after learning the lights would pay for themselves within eight years and 63% of peo- ple did not like the council’s cur-


rent no night light policy. Work to convert Kent’s 118,000 street lights to LED will begin in March – with those in the Maid- stone area scheduled for September until the middle of November. Residential areas will be tackled before town centres and main roads, with the work saving Kent taxpayers up to £5.2m a year on its


lighting bill of nearly £9.5m. It is hoped the majority of people will support the new lighting levels and times. However, requests from parish councils and/or district councils for changes will be heard by the Joint Transportation Board, which will then make a recommen- dation to KCC’s cabinet member for environment and transport.


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