News
Festival moves to showground
THE Social music festival that led to dozens of complaints last year will not be held in Maidstone’s Mote Park this summer. Maidstone Council says the or- ganiser will be moving the event on September 9 and 10 to the county showground at Detling. It follows increased pressure from
the council for tighter controls over stewarding the event, which last year attracted 10,000 music fans to the park, but left Maidstone Coun- cil with a major clean-up operation and 53 complaints from residents to contend with for its fee and share of ticket sales. Cllr Clive English, who is the
ward councillor for High Street, said: “Unfortunately, The Social fes- tival proved to be the most anti-so- cial event ever held at the park in terms of complaints. So I ampleased it will not be held in the town. “By its nature it attracted younger
peoplewhocaused problems for the local community. I think the organ- isers have taken on board the prom- ises we made to the community following last year’s event and felt these would provide too much of a
constraint and have chosen some- where else that can be better stew- arded.” He dismissed fears that Maid-
stone would miss out on the £1m spent by festival-goers in the area last year, saying income would still be generated, but would simply be spent in another part of the bor- ough. He said early discussionswere al-
ready being held to consider other events for Mote Park, including the possibility of, perhaps, a more fam- ily-orientated celebration by the or- ganiser of The Social. Cllr English said: “We will con-
tinue towelcome appropriate,well- managed events at Mote Park, and I am pleased that the event organis- ers have found another venue, but still in Maidstone.”
downsmail.co.uk Charity farce is a high-flyer
BOOKa seat for some top flight entertainment at The Hazlitt Theatre and help raise money for Maidstone’s Macmillan support service. Half the £12 cost of tickets from the production of Boeing Boeing!
by the Willington Players on Thursday, April 14 will go straight to the charity. The farce, set in the 1960s, tells of a bachelor’s high-flying life dat-
ing three air hostesses – all oblivious of each other, at least until Robert, bachelor Bernard’s friend flies in and forgets who’s sched- uled to arrive. The entertainment starts at 7.30pm. For tickets, call Macmillan’s He- lene Poursain on 07764503484 or email
hpoursain@macmillan.org.uk.
Mote running THE Stroke Association needs runners for a charity event at Maidstone’s Mote Park on Sun- day, March 13 from 10am. Participants can choose between
a 5K, 10K or 15K run. Entry in- cludes a technical running t-shirt or running vest, water, medal and regular training emails. Online registration, costing £15,
closes on Monday, March 7. You can still sign up on the day for £20. For information call 01622 351962 or email southeastcoast-
fundraising@stroke.org.uk.
Hair care help
HAIRDRESSERS and barbers in Maidstone and Malling are en- couraging clients to register for a free “safe and well” visit from Kent Fire and Rescue Service.
Homes refused
A PLANNING application for three homes in Detlingwas refused as it was out of keeping with the Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The proposal, which included
converting a barn at Hockers Farm, Hockers Lane, was unanimously rejected by the planning commit- tee, who felt it would be an un- wanted encroachment into the countryside. Cllr Martin Cox said: “It should remain a barn. There are three res- idences with four bedrooms in each one; a large amount of people would be living there.” Aplanning agent on behalf of ap- plicant Esquire Developments had argued that the schemewas prefer- able to a commercial use, which would be allowed because of the existing business use.
01622 902005 8 Maidstone East March 2016
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