downsmail.co.uk
Mosque plan raises concerns
NEIGHBOURS have expressed concerns over a plan to level Maid- stone’s mosque and rebuild it as a three-storey building. A planning application with Maidstone Council proposes trans- forming the Mote Road premises into a centre for worship, including a prayer room, classrooms, kitchen, offices, library andwashing facilities for the Islamic community, with three shops, for lease, to pay for the building. However, there would be just two parking spaces, with the ap- plicant suggesting up to 200 wor- shippers would attend services. Maidstone Council, which will de- termine the application, has received almost 20 letters from neighbours, concerned about the size of the de- velopment and parking problems. Others have expressed concern
about the scale of the building, which would overshadow neigh- bouring properties. Neighbour Andy Woodward is concerned the development could damage the foundations of his prop- erty in Mote Road. He describes the current single- storey mosque as a “ramshackle se-
ries of extensions”, but says a plan to turn it into a three-storey building represents “total overdevelopment”. He also comments on the parking problems caused on days of wor- ship, adding: “There is not enough parking in Melville, Kingsley, and Hastings Road already.” John Peden moved to Melville
Road less than two months ago and says he is already aware of parking and congestion issues. In a letter to the council, he says: “It is already difficult enough to navigate the roads around this area and find a parking space. The extra traffic that this redevelopment would poten- tially bring in would make an al- ready bad situation much worse.” He says the building would over-
look properties and “lead to a level of discomfort” for neighbours, and questions the need for shops within the development, which is 400m from the town centre and across the road from Sainsbury’s. Hayley Collins, from Kingsley
Road, says residentswhopay £25 for parking permits already find they can’t park and more shops would add to the issue of illegal parking.
News Samaritans ‘here to listen’
SAMARITANS volunteers in Maidstone went to Maidstone East station to talk to travellers about the charity’s brand new ‘We Listen’ campaign. Posters in railway stations across the country contain hidden messages
where people claiming to be fine are notOKat all. Onesays “I’m alright with being single I guess. It’s not ideal for the kids, but they seem to be coping”, the real message being “I’m not coping”. The campaign aims to
show that while it’s easy to hide your feelings, when someone really listens you’re more likely to open up and start working through your problems. Maidstone branch director Maggie Jones said: “Life’s pressures can build, without you even realising. It’s all too easy to turn away, ig- nore howyou’re feeling, and put on a brave face, but you don’t have to do that with us. Samaritans volunteers make time for you and really listen to you, because simply being listened to can help you put into words what’s going on in your life. “Talk to Samaritans free from any phone, email us, text us or come to our
Volunteers put up posters for The Samaritans at Maidstone East station
branch in Grecian Street.We’ll listen and help you find away through.” Network Rail has been working with Samaritans to raise awareness of the charity’s emotional support services since 2010, along with Britain’s train operating companies and British Transport Police. Volunteers will be inviting travellers to find out more about the work they
do and encouraging commuters to spread the word about the campaign on social media, using the hashtag#WeListen. You can call Samaritans on 116 123 (you don’t even need credit and this number won’t show up on your phone bill), email
jo@samaritans.org, or visit
samaritans.org to find details of your nearest branch.
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Maidstone Town April 2016
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