News


downsmail.co.uk Concern over sports club plan


PLANS for redevelopment at Cobdown Sports and Social Club have upset neighbours concerned about light streaming into their homes from new floodlights, aswell as noise from matches.


The scheme for the site in Station


Road, Ditton, includes a major ex- tension to the clubhouse and gym creating three extra squash courts, an exercise and dance studio as well as providing two 3G artificial pitches and 41 extra car parking spaces. There would also be a new changing room block catering for four teams and officials as well as toilets for spectators and a kitchen. Agents Clague said the project


would result in much-needed im- provements, enabling more sports to be played there. But residents of nearby roads including Cobdown Close, St Peter’s Close, Sheldon Court and London Road, have ex- pressed concerns that their homes would be overshadowed by the


Driving ban


A 63-YEAR-OLD motorist from Kings Hill has been banned from driving after being caught while al- most three times the drink drive limit.


Gavin Stockman, of Fortune


Way, admitted drink-driving after being stopped in his Fiat 500 in Ashton Way, Kings Hill. A breath test showed he had 95mg of alcohol in 100ml of breath. The legal limit is 35mg. West Kent Magistrates’ Court banned him from driving for three years and ordered him to carry out 120 hours of unpaid work. He must also pay £85 costs and a £60 victim surcharge.


River trip


THE Friends of Aylesford Church will be all aboard the Pocahontas from Gravesend to London on May 21.


The day starts at Aylesford church at 9.15am, when the group will head off for the return boat trip to the capital. Passengers can expect to be back


in the village by about 5pm. The day costs £30 for friends and £32 for non-members. Call Brenda Sladden on 01622 882395 or Anita Keys on 01622 719589.


Plant sale


A PLANT sale will be held outside the Brassey Centre,Aylesford, from 10am on June 4. The Brassey Bazaar will also be having a “summer special” that day and serving ploughman’s lunches aswell as sandwiches.


Formore local news


www.downsmail.co.uk 10


Malling May 2016


1.30am on Saturday. “I and my family would be sub-


The clubhouse at Cobdown could be extended if plans are approved


proposed 16 floodlights standing 15m high.Alarge number of objec- tions posted on Tonbridge and Malling Council’s planningwebsite also related to disturbance from in- creased traffic, late-night use of the premises and the potential removal of trees next to a conservation area. A Sheldon Court resident said


the proposed opening hours were until midnight on weekdays and


Memorial stones to be replaced


FOUR memorial stones commemo- rating Kings Hill’s aviation heritage will be back in position before the summer. The granite panels were sited


near the bronze sculpture known as The Running Airman (pictured), off Gibson Drive, but were removed for refurbishment. Theywere commissioned in 2002


by theWest Malling Airfield Memo- rial Group, Tonbridge and Malling Council and Liberty Property Trust to honour the military and civilian personnel whoworked at the former RAF base.


Now networkers can get together at weekly lunch


KENT’S first-ever lunchtime Busi- ness Network International (BNI) chapter is all set to take off – at King’s Hill. BNI exists in more than 60 coun-


tries and has 12,000 members in the UK alone. However, almost all chapters


meet at 6.30am. Copywriter and public speaking


coach Liz Norton realised the breakfast-before-dawn formula was not really geared to everyone’s needs, particularly parents, so set about seeking an alternative. Liz, who is a director-consultant


for BNI in Kent, said: “BNI is prof- itable, effective and successful – but not everyone wants, or is able, to


get up with the larks to attend a meeting for 6.30am.” There are already several BNI chapters in Maidstone and Malling, with the Kings Hill BNI meeting at 6.30am each Thursday at Kings Hill Golf Club, but the new Meridies chapter, currently in formation, meetsweekly at the Golf Club each Tuesday at noon. Liz said: “If anyone is interested


in how BNI works but has been put off by the early starts, this is the so- lution!” The chapter is aiming to launch


with 20 members later in May or early June. For more details, contact Liz on 07584121261 or liz@nortonpr.co.uk.


jected to shouting, swearing and cheering from spectators and venue users at all hours. The flood- lights would create artificial day- light where there is no lighting. This would disturbmyprivacy and prevent me from using my garden or enjoying my home.” Ditton Parish Council asked for


more details of the floodlights as well as tree works, public rights of way, fencing. It said: “Contrary to the application statement, a traffic assessment is very much needed on the impact a busier site will have on an already-congested A20 as well as lack of a pavement leading to the site.”


KentWildlife Trust also opposed


the plan, citing the possible loss of habitat due to the artificial pitches. Former borough councillor Carol


Gale said the proposals would turn the site from a tranquil field en- joyed by dog walkers and families into an area resembling a prison ex- ercise yard with tall metal fences. She said: “A number of residents


feel they would lose something very important to Cobdown.” However, Canterbury-based de-


veloper Marpaul Southern Ltd said teams were having to use a poor quality natural turf pitch that was waterlogged for most of the winter and then in poor condition for most of the year. It said: “This redevelopment is of paramount importance to the facil- ity.”


Open day at


bowls club TOWNSEND Hook Bowls Club is celebrating its 90th anniversary this year and is holding an open day on May 22 to encourage new members to join.


Chairman Bridget Cork said


there will be a chance to have a go in a target bowls competition. She said: “There will be a raffle


and food and drink and we hope a lot of people will join us. “We have an exciting year ahead,


with 57 friendly matches through- out the season, as well as league and county matches. STARA (Snodland TownActive Retirement Association) will be using the green twice a month and taking part in a charity match inAugust.” The club was formed in 1926 as


part of Townsend Hook Sports Club for the benefit of paper mill workers. Its home was the company’s


sports ground near Snodland Rail- way Station which was sold for housing development in 2009. The new green, at Potyns Sports Ground, Paddlesworth Road, Snodlandwas opened in 2011. Chris Andrews, of Malling Road, Snodland joined the club in 1965 and is still a member, although he no longer plays. He said it was originally an old


man’s game, but after the Second World War younger people and ladies started to get involved. It is now popular with all generations. “Over the years, Townsend Hook


has been very successful, won many trophies and been league champions a number of times.” For more information call Bridget Cork on 01634 241759.


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