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. Aplanning application submitted
to Maidstone Council proposes transforming the Mote Road prem- ises into a centre for worship, in- cluding 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 applicant 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 Powerboat win for Ben
POWERBOAT racer Ben Jelf (pictured) has received the RYA Eastern Re- gional Youth Champion Award at London’s Alexandra Palace. The 15-year-old Swadelands School pupil, from Ulcombe, was nomi-
nated for the award following another successful season that saw him claim his 10th and 11th consecutive British titles in 2015 in the powerboat and sprint GP RYA GT30 championships, leaving him unbeaten in the category. Ben’s nomination also recognised the sup- port he offered his team-mates during the season. Ben, who is sponsored by Peters & May Racing, is a third-generation powerboat driver and has been competing for five years. He also acts as amember of the pit crew for his dad Colin. Colin said: “For Ben to have been nomi-
nated for the RYA Regional Youth Champi- onship awards is a great honour, but for him to have won it for the second year run- ning against the calibre of youngsters that the awards attract is a phenomenal achievement and I couldn’t be prouder.” On winning the award, Ben said: “To have been nominated for the award
is an honour in itself but to have actually been chosen to win it fromsuch a high standard of people is fantastic.”
Sponsorship to restore organ
HEADCORN’S Sponsor a Pipe appeal to raise money to restore the organ at the village church has raised more than £6,000. The organ has 668 pipes, more than 500 of which have been spon-
sored.With Gift Aid, the project raised over £6,200. Church warden Anne-Marie Trustram said the work would take
four weeks. Once it was completed there would be a village sing- along to celebrate the work.
Maidstone South April 2016
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