News Internet-free
ALMOST a third of clients sur- veyed by Maidstone Citizens Ad- vice Bureau do not have internet access at home. This concerns chief executive
Bonny Malhotra, who sees them missing out on important informa- tion and missing cost-saving chances. “By researching compari- son energy charges, for instance, they could save hundreds of pounds,” he said. About 500 clients were surveyed, 71% aged above 41. More than 130 do not have inter-
net at home. 52 said this was due to cost, 67 confidence, 40 access problems and 98 saw no need.
Thief is jailed A MAIDSTONE man who stole wine and electric toothbrushes has been sentenced to 120 days in jail. Douglas Michael Frankham pleaded guilty to two counts of shoplifting and an attempted shoplifting. Frankham, 29, of Cheshire Road, Maidstone, stole wine worth £14.25 from a service station in Bridge Road, Sheerness. Then he stole elec- tric toothbrushes from a pharmacy in Castle Road, Maidstone, and also attempted to steal wine from a su- permarket in London Road. Magis- trates sentenced Frankham to 120 days in prison and ordered him to pay a £115 victim surcharge.
downsmail.co.uk
Leeds-Langley relief road options now on the table
A RELIEF road to ease congestion through south Maidstone could be built around the back of Leeds vil- lage, Downs Mail has learnt. The Maidstone joint transporta-
tion board (JTB) is considering a route would take the large volume of vehicles off the B2163 on Penfold Hill, around the water works, across country and emerging near FiveWents. Some members of the JTB see the
option as the start of a Maidstone orbital route which will have a ca- pacity to take existing traffic de- mands and expected future volumes as the borough council forges ahead with its plans for 18,000 new houses. Pressures on Willington Street
would also be eased by one of three possible schemes on the table. The JTB is currently looking at options going from east-to-west, west-to-east and the Leeds-Langley relief road. The Leeds proposal would feature a single lane high- way in each direction. At a recent meeting of the JTB – comprising Kent County Council representatives and members of
Maidstone Borough Council –KCC councillor Gary Cooke moved an amendment aimed at securing a commitment to the building of a re- lief road. New builds at Langley Park has seen a large number of cars and other vehicles backed up to Sutton Valence in one direction and at the Wheatsheaf junction in the other along the Sutton Road. Willington Street and the B2163 through Leeds tend to take most of this traffic at peak times, with the latter experiencing an increasing number of large lorries, one of which is pictured above. They are- currently banned from the village.
Cllr Cooke said: “Clearly, this can- not continue and a solution has to be found. I moved the amendment so that there could be no watering down of the language.” KCC and JTB colleague Jenny Whittle, of Bearsted, added: “With all the of house building going on and more in the pipeline, a relief road is absolutely essential.” Faversham and Mid Kent MP
Helen Whately said: “People need to see clear options on a map, how it will work, how much it will cost and how it will be be funded. Resi- dents need to be properly con- sulted.”
Affordable Childcare, Affordable fun
or or
un
Kids Summer Club Monday 25th July - Friday 2nd Sept
Sessions at both Loose & Tovil Community Centre
Call 01622 749404 to book
www.maidstoneymca.org.uk
Charity No: 1110087 22 Maidstone Town August 2016
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