This page contains a Flash digital edition of a book.
Four editions delivered to over 88,000 homes every month Maidstone East Edition Maidstone East Edition


downsmail.co.uk


Maidstone & Malling’s No. 1 newspaper


FREE Maidstone Town | Maidstone East | Maidstone South | Malling


Village relief road is ‘smoke and mirrors’


A LEEDS to Langley relief road is nothing more than a developer’s prom- ise, according to residents in rural villages being consumed by new housing.


This was the response to an up- date delivered to Maidstone Joint Transportation Board, which has commissioned a feasibility study into a road to ease traffic between J8 of the M20 and Sutton Road. Members of the board were given the presentation by consultants – in private – concerning a South East Maidstone Strategic Link at their last meeting.


But the idea of a relief road has been dismissed as “Lord Lucan rid- ing in on Shergar” by the chair of Langley Parish Council, Cheryl Tay- lor-Maggio.


She said: “It’s not going to happen. It is an argument being put forward by Maidstone Borough Council (MBC) to justify its need for large housing numbers. I’m not against


some kind of road, but it will do nothing to help the traffic problems we already have and are adding to with the building of yet more hous- ing on the Sutton Road.


“The council is trying to promise a road that has not been agreed, that KCC cannot afford and that will not happen, purely to push through these housing numbers.


“To claim it is a mitigating meas- ure is totally false. It’s akin to a de- veloper’s promise. It’s just smoke and mirrors.” The board was told it could cost


between £42m and £55m to build a relief road for Leeds and Langley to ease disruption.


While a dual carriageway, costing


even greater sums, now seems un- likely, a single-lane road is under


discussion, although the route op- tions remain a secret.


An earlier suggestion to widen Burberry Lane, which runs around Leeds village near the castle, was met with instant opposition from the castle’s then chief executive Victoria Wallace. Leeds Parish Council understands from MBC local plan that the relief road will not happen until 2030. The parish council has resolved to chal- lenge this.


MBC and the county council are working jointly to reduce HGVs and traffic in areas like Leeds and Will- ington Street. Meanwhile pressure mounts to find a solution to Maid- stone’s traffic congestion issues as MBC remains committed to building 18,600 homes by 2031.


Downs Mail backs festival fun


THERE will be some right royal goings-on in Maidstone town centre on July 2, when this year’s Maidstone Sum- mer Festival marks Her Majesty’s 90th birthday. Organisers of the festival, which follows on from


last year’s hugely successful parade, have asked all entrants to come in character as kings and queens. Pupils from Maplesden Noakes School are busy working on a dance routine celebrating the works of Michael Jackson – aka the King of Pop – and Freddie Mercury’s famous band Queen, which will be per- formed at one of several stages set around the town for the duration of the festival.


Three samba bands, three dance schools, singers, schools and baton twirlers are among other artistes who have already promised to participate. As last


year, the Downs Mail is media partner for the event. The festival will take place at venues around the town centre, including Jubilee Square and Brench- ley Gardens. Anyone who would like to be involved should contact Barbara Dunford on 07771 821476.


01622 690290 YOUR LOCAL PROPERTY EXPERT


maidstone@martinco.com 23 Pudding Lane • Maidstone • Kent


School blow A SINGLE mum may have to give up work to get her child to her new primary school. Vinters Park resi- dent Laura Procter’s daughter missed out on all three options and will have a five-mile journey to get to Langley Park school.


MAY HOLIDAY CLUB 31st May - 3rd June Fully inclusive 7.30am - 6.30pm


New info panels


A SERIES of information panels has been unveiled as part of a Maidstone history trail in the town centre. For more, see the Maidstone Council-sponsored  12-page Borough Update inside.4


Action packed Fun days


Newnham Court Shopping Village, Bearsted Rd, Maidstone, Kent ME14 5LH 01622 737733 www.pennies.co.uk


BOOK NOW May 2016 No. 229 News Summer ball for Dan


A SUMMER ball in memory of actor Dan Wiltshire aims to raise awareness of organ donation.


Alex joins church


YOUTH worker Alex Coakley has joined the team at Bearsted church.


6 New village warden


SALLY Williams aims to be the “eyes and ears” of Bearsted as warden.


SANDLING milkman Philip Collins is looking forward to a lie-in after 43 years.


Comment 12 Milkman Phil retires 34-35


A ROYAL Mail post box was stolen in Harrietsham.


Parish Councils50-51


VEHICLES are still being parked too close to the Wykeham Grove junction in Leeds; a new CCTV system is being considered in Lenham; two new councillors, Chris Roots and Malcolm Allardyce, have been co-opted on to the parish council in Harrietsham; three gazebos were damaged in Downswood.


16 38-39


Obituaries 38-39 Crime Reports 51


3


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64