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Parking charges bale ‘not over’


FURIOUS campaigners have vowed to continue their battle against con- troversial parking charges in West Malling, despite a council vote in favour of the scheme. There were angry scenes when banner-waving residents and traders packed the public gallery in a bid to persuade Tonbridge and Malling Council’s cabinet to drop a plan to axe free parking in the car park be- hind Tesco in the High Street. The protests failed to sway mem-


bers from giving unanimous ap- proval for parking fees of 30p for half an hour and 60p per hour, which will be operated as soon as possible. However, councillors did cancel a proposed charge of £5 for longer stays, setting three hours as themax- imum staying time. A massive campaign in the town against the charges resulted in a peti- tion presented by the parish council with more than 3,000 signatures, and a second petition signed by nearly every trader in the town. The parish council asked for the


matter to be suspended for six months to allowmore time to explore alternatives. Chairman Trudy Dean said the


parish council understood the bor- ough’s need to find savings or addi-


tional revenue, but thought there were otherwaysofmanagingpark- ing. In the short consultation period


since Christmas, the parish had put forward a list of 10 changes which could help to increase efficiency and income from parking in West Malling. The borough council said after carefully considering all the informa- tion presented, its scheme remained the best means of supporting local traders by securing a turnover of spaces for shoppers while offsetting the costs of managing the car park. Council leader Nick Heslop said


there had been a long-standing his- tory of problems at the car park which needed to be resolved, and therewas no evidence that the charge would spell the death-knell for busi- nesses. However, Julia Smith, of Andrew


Smith Jewellers, said small firms who have to pay high rent would be hugely affected, with customers al- ready saying that in future they would shop at Kings Hill where there is free parking. Parish Cllr Richard Selkirk pledged


that the battlewas not over and cam- paigners would continue to fight “tooth and nail against the charges”.


A VW was broken into on a driveway in Hallsfield Road, Aylesford and the integral sat nav and audio systemwas stolen. Number plateswere removed from a vehicle outside the owner’s property in Blacklands, East Malling. Property including car keyswere stolen from


a property in Catkin Close, Aylesford. The ve- hiclewas taken but later recovered. A sat nav system was taken from a Renault


van in a quarry site in Rochester Road, Ayles- ford. Avehiclewas taken from Jasmine Road, East Malling. Books were taken from a property in Cork


Street, Aylesford. Aparked vehicle had its bodywork and win-


dow damaged in Catlyn Close, East Malling. Fencing was damaged outside a property in Mackenders Lane, Aylesford. A vehicle was stolen from a car park in Salt-


ings Road, Snodland. A Talon 5 bicycle was stolen from where it


had been chained up in a shopping centre car park in Quarry Wood, Aylesford. Games equipment was taken from a vehicle


in Scott Close, Ditton. A window was smashed at a home in The


Avenue, Aylesford. Two wheelbarrows and a saw were among


items taken from a container on a building site in BellinghamWay, Ditton. A Land Rover Freelander parked on a drive-


way in The Hawthorns, Aylesford was broken into and items stolen. A tractor was stolen from a field in Comp


28 Malling April 2016 Show garden for village


A GARDEN designed for the Chelsea Flower Show will be transferred to the Royal British Legion Village, Aylesford, after the event inMay. The Chelsea Barracks Garden, designed by Jo Thompson, is being do-


nated to Royal British Legion Industries (RBLI) to form the centrepiece of its new housing development off Hermitage Lane, which will pro- vide homes for wounded, in- jured and sick veterans. Real estate company Qatari Diar, sponsors of the garden, will also support two ex-service personnel living in the RBL village who are interested in pursu- ing a career in horticulture, to undertake training and gain formal quali- fications, enabling them to maintain the garden at its new site. Jo, one of the UK’s leading garden designers, said it would be a tradi-


tional British rose garden, reimagined for the 21st century. “I very much hope it will provide ex-service personnel with a beautiful place to enjoy and a tranquil setting to reflect, as well as offering residents the chance to get involved with a range of activities to aid their recovery.”


Revised extension refused


A PLAN to enlarge a four-bed- room house at Ryarsh has failed to find favour with planning officers. Katy Nunn’s application to extend Fishpond Cottage in Chapel Street to a six-bedroom property was refused by Tonbridge and Malling council- lors in December last year, with the recommendation that officers negoti- ate an improved standard of design. It was felt that the proposed two-


storey extension was out of propor- tion with the original house and its sizewas harmful to the Green Belt. Planning officer Paul Batchelor


said the revised design was an im- provement but again recommended refusal, saying that it would still be inappropriate development. Councillors were due to consider


the issue after Downs Mail went to press.


NeighbourhoodWatch Working to reduce crime. Call Crimestoppers 0800 555 111 or local police


Lane, Offham. Three wooden gateswere stolen from a farm


in Church Road, Ryarsh. Sensor lights were damaged outside a prop-


erty in Ford Lane, Trottiscliffe. Tools were stolen from a shed at a home in


Alma Road, Aylesford. Something was thrown or fired at a VWvan


in Seven Mile Lane, Mereworth, causing dam- age. A van was broken into in a lay-by in Drage


Road, East Peckham and toolswere stolen. A shedwas broken into at a home in Stevens


Road, Aylesford. Car keyswere taken and used to steal a white BMW 218D, registration GH15***, from the driveway. The tyres were slashed on a vehicle in Lysander Road, Mereworth. The garage of a home in Hawkes Road,


Aylesford was entered but nothingwas taken. Avehiclewas stolen from a driveway inAtlas


Close, Kings Hill. Six bricks were stolen from a garden at a


home in New Hythe Lane, Larkfield. A bicycle was stolen from Snodland High


Street. Security lightswere damaged outside a prop-


erty in Norman Road,West Malling. Abicyclewas taken from a shed at a property


in Amisse Drive, Snodland. A bicycle was stolen from the rear of a hotel


in Swan Street,West Malling. A vehicle was scratched in Lee Road, Snod-


land. A blue IforWilliams horse box with a cream


roof (serial number 50282**) was stolen from land next to a property in King Hill, West Malling. Twomenwere seen acting suspiciously when


a bag containing computer equipment was stolen from a property in Townsend Road, Snodland. Windowswere smashed in an outbuilding at


a church inWest Malling High Street. A windscreen wiper was taken from a parked vehicle in Midsummer Road, Snod- land.


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