downsmail.co.uk £6,600 bill for lighting delays


DELAYS in determining a plan- ning application for a series of seven lights in a lane in Bearsted may now cost parishioners more than £6,600. A planning application for the


seven four-metre lighting columns to light the village’s Church Land- way at night was submitted by the Parish Council to Maidstone Bor- ough Council (MBC) at the begin- ning of October last year. However, some residents ob-


jected and KCC requested further information, including a full bat survey of the site. However, the bats have since


been in hibernation. Because of the delay, the parish


stands to lose £6,663 S106 money, provided by the builder of 21 prop- erties in St Faith’s Lane, for the ben- efit of the village – which would have helped pay for the new light- ing – because it should have been spent by the end of April. Although KCC leader Cllr Paul


Carter has offered to make a contri- bution towards the replacement


lights – designed to be more van- dal-proof than the existing lights – the parish council will now have to find the balance if planning consent is given. Bearsted members now have a qualified ecologist who is prepared to confirm that the lighting will not have a significant impact on the bat population or its habits. But MBC still says it will be un-


able to approve the application if KCC’s biodiversity officer is not happy with the findings. The parish is hoping to persuade


Health Council and Medway District Health Authority.


Throughout this time his main interests


and passion were around finance, perform- ance and innovation. Amongst many other initiatives he was responsible for the devel- opment of Britain’s first scheme for the local financial management of schools almost 30 years ago. In 1988 hewas awarded the MBE for Polit-


ical and Public Service in the Queen's Birth- day Honours. Keith leaves his wife, two sons and four grandchildren.


JeffreyVaughan Martin


JEFFREY Vaughan Martin (78) of Arran Road, Maidstone, has been described by David Picke, president of the Maidstone Choral Union, as “Mr Music of Maidstone”. After moving to the town in 1968 Jeffrey trained and conducted many of the town's musical institutions and remained a driv- ing force behind local music. He studied maths


and music at the Uni- versity College of Wales, Aberystwyth and education at Ox- ford University, going on to win a scholar-


ship to study conducting on the Gulbenkian Conducting Course at the Guildhall School of Music. He worked as a music teacher and spent


the final 21 years of his working life as a spe- cialist music inspector in Kent. His local work included founding and di- recting a number of significant musical ven- tures. In 1978 he founded the Kent School Symphonic Wind Band, renamed the Kent YouthWind Orchestra in 1985 after its num- bers grew.


The low-level lights in the Church Landway have been subject to repeated attacks by vandals


MBC to let the cash be carried over but Cllr Paul Young said: “It shouldn't be like this. “Our planning application was submitted in October 2015 and the bat survey requested by KCC soon afterwards – but the bats are not fully active after hibernation until May. “We submitted information ac- cording to advicewe received from a bat expert at the time butwas not enough for KCC - they still wanted a full survey, hence the eight- month delay which means the tax-


Jeffrey set up the Maidstone Youth Music Society, led the Maidstone Choral Union from 1974 to 2008 and set up The Maidstone Singers in 1991. In the final week of his life he was still ac-


tive, working with the West Malling Com- munity Choir. Jeffrey was treasurer of the Methodist


Church on Union Street – a location used as a venue in the Maidstone Jazz Festival, which he helped found and promote. Many of those who worked with Jeffrey


have paid fulsome tributes. MaidstoneWind Symphony’s Facebook page stated: “We join the entire Maidstone music community in mourning the passing of Jeffrey Vaughan Martin. It is difficult to understate Jeffrey's contribution to youth and community music in Maidstone.” Many individuals who knew and worked


with Jeffrey have also paid tributes. Drum Major David Cox of the Royal Air


Force said: “JeffreyVaughan Martin inspired and helped countless young musicians to achieve excellence…many of whom are still involved in music on a professional basis.” Jeffrey leaves his wife of 49 years Jean, chil-


dren Jonathan and Debbie and grandchildren Christopher and Chloe.


David Ha


DAVID Ha (82), of Park Woodwas an expert on trolley buses and an organiser of the regular toy fairs held in Maidstone’s Agricultural Hall in Lockmeadow. With his good


friend Malcolm Coates, Davidwas a driving force in the successful campaign to preserve Maidstone’s last surviving trolley bus. Malcolm and David met by chance at


payers of Bearsted might have lost more than £6,000 and spent all win- terwalking in the dark.” The council had hoped the new lighting would be in place before Christmas, when it is most needed. Following some residents’ con-


cerns, the plans have been modified so the lights will come on at dusk and go off at 11pm. The parish council sent a formal complaint toMBCover its failure to determine the planning application, threatening to appeal to the Secre- tary of State, but members voted to put this on hold as, hopefully, the matter is close to a conclusion. Cllr Paul Young said: “We owe a


huge thanks to Cllr Fabienne Hughes who has spent more than 150 hours on this and learned more than she ever wanted to know about lights and bats.” Mrs Hughes said: “The problem


is, the council needs to put the goal- posts in one spot and give us a chance of a penalty – otherwise we are going to be stuck here for a long, long time.”


Sandtoft Trolley Bus Museum in Lincolnshire. Their work meant that the bus – which


might otherwise have been scrapped –was eventually restored to full working order and left in the care of the museum. David’s initial intervention had gathered local support to avoid scrapping, but with Malcolm and others his formation of the group The Friends of 72was crucial to restoring the vehicle, because it led to the raising of £20,000 to achieve that goal. Davidwas nationally known in the field


of restoring old vehicles andwas for many years the treasurer of the Historic Commercial Vehicle Society. In his working life, Davidwas employed as an ambulanceman and also had an interest in old cinema and church organs. Hewas known to travel long distances to hear particular church organs played. David leaves his wife Jill and his brothers


Robert and Richard. Itwas planned to scaer his ashes at the Sandtoft Museum.


Jim Henderson


TRIBUTES have been paid to Jim Henderson of Hollingbourne, a noted member of his local branch of the Royal British Legion. Jim’s activities on behalf of the branch in- cluded helping his wife Mary with her work in raising money for the annual poppy ap- peal, arranging the bi-annual pub lunches en- joyed by the branch and also arranging their programme of autumn talks. Writing in the local parish magazine, Derek Davison said: “When you lose a member like Jim it takes a lot to replace him.” More than 200 people attended Jim’s fu-


neral at Hollingbourne Church. Jim leaves his wife and family.


Maidstone East May 2016 39


Obituaries


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