News


downsmail.co.uk Ramblin’ Man ‘a quieter affair’


THE recent Ramblin’ Man Fair festival was not as loud as the previous event last year, Bearsted Parish Council decided – although a number of complaints had been received.


Reporting to the parish members, borough councillor Val Springett said that complaints had been re- ceived about the volume generated by the event. The festival in Mote Park – the


venue provided by Maidstone Bor- ough Council – starred Black Stone Cherry and Whitesnake. Downs Mail readers said they


could hear the music from as far away as Chegworth and Harriet- sham, while others heard it on the PilgrimsWay. Cllr Springett said that while Ramblin’ Man “provided a lot of noise interference” and complaints had been received, efforts had been made to reduce disturbance. She said: “They have done some-


councillor Mike Revell had re- ceived complaints from local peo- ple.


Cllr Springett said all complaints


had been passed on to the council. Cllr Pat Marshall said: “It was


much better than last year. There are two events like this a year, for goodness sake. Can’t we turn a blind eye? If it’s saving money on our council tax, I’m all for it.” Her comments prompted jokes


Whitesnake were a hit with visitors to the Ramblin’ Man Festival


thing about the bass. It is a very dif- ficult balance in allowing some events. I certainly wouldn’t want them having events everyweek.” Parish council chairman Fiona


Redman said there were frustra- tions that people being disturbed by the concert could not get through to the complaints line. The meeting heard how local


Bales ahead for council seats


TWO seats up for grabs at next year’s Kent County Council elec- tions have sparked an internal bat- tle within the Conservative Party. Five candidates are vying for the Maidstone rural east, held by Jenny Whittle, of Bearsted, when she steps down from Kent County Council. Four are local while the other is


from Swale. Headcorn borough councillors at Maidstone town hall Shellina Pren- dergast and Martin Round have thrown their hats in to the ring, as have Cheryl Taylor-Maggio of Lan- gley Parish Council and Anne Southern of Stockbury parish coun- cil. The Swale contender is local councillor Nicholas Hampshire. The successful candidate will be chosen by local, paid-up members of the party. Mrs Whittle – who is highly thought-of, well-liked and hard- working – has decided to step aside for personal reasons.


didate four years ago would have made election difficult. Cllr Cooke would worry a big


Ukip vote might split the Tory vote, but equally it could affect the sec- ond placed Labour Party in blue- collar areas of Maidstone. If Cllr Cooke fails to be selected


Cllrs Gary Cooke and Jenny Whittle At the 2013 election, she topped


the poll with 69% cent of the vote, making her seat especially attrac- tive to prospective candidates. Labour came second with 14%. Cllr Prendergast is considered to


be a front-runner for the seat. In Maidstone south east, Gary


Cooke has a majority of less than 300, but faces competition for his re-selection as candidate from at least two others. He faces an even bigger threat if


Ukip stands a candidate – widely believed to be borough councillor Eddie Powell – in 2017. Cllr Cooke has acknowledged that a Ukip can-


as his party’s candidate, he has promised to stand as an independ- ent.


He told the Downs Mail: “People


have asked me if I don’t get se- lected whether I would stand as an independent and I have said I prob- ably would do that.” Cllr Cooke is regarded as a hard- working and diligent member who has spoken up regularly against the borough council’s house building programme and the need for a by- pass to alleviate traffic issues in the Leeds/Langley areas. The issues of housing, traffic and schools are bound to be among the major topics in both KCC divisions at next May’s polls.


Confusion over farmers’ market rules


THE ongoing confusion between Bearsted Parish Council and Maid- stone Borough Council about the cost of a licence to stage the farm- ers’ market on the green could be referred to another body. Borough councillor Val Springett


has suggested the parish gets in touch with Kent Association of Local Councils (KALC), amid fears that MBC’s interpretation of the law could mean every event might


require a licence. KALC advises many of the


parish authorities in the county. Bearsted disputed the £900 charge to hold the monthly event, despite the fact that the parish council owns the village green. MBC can use its discretion to re- duce this by about two thirds. Cllr Springett claimed MBC had


“got itself in a pickle” over the dif- ferent types of licences and was


concerned there might be borough- wide implications. She said: “It would be worth rais-


ing this withKALCjust to see what is going on borough-wide.” Cllr John Hughes said claritywas required. MBC’s position is that under the


relevant Local Government Act 1982, consent is required for trad- ing in any setting in the borough, including public areas.


Read all editions of the Downs Mail atwww.downsmail.co.uk 32 Maidstone East September 2016


about her being a fan of Whites- nake. Cllr Paul Young agreed the noise


levels were down on last year, while Cllr Helena Goodwin said there had been “adequate” notice before the festivalwas staged at the end of July.


Field repair BEARSTED Parish Council is to spend £1,120 fixing a dip at the en- trance to Elizabeth Harvey Field, where the firework display is held, to prevent vehicles getting stuck in the mud when it iswet. Three quotes have been obtained,


with a bid of £1,120 plus VAT being accepted by the full council.


Quiz night


MAIDSTONE Macmillan Fund Raising Group hosts a quiz night at Grove Green community hall at 7pm on Saturday, September 17. Tickets are £6 per person for teams of up to eight – bring your own drinks and nibbles. To book, call Helene Poursain on 07764503484 or e-mail


hpour- sain@macmillan.org.uk


Play scheme THE summer play scheme in Bearsted was judged a “huge suc- cess” with positive feedback. The £6,000 wage bill was consid-


ered good value set against im- proved attendances and higher revenues.


Police choir THE Kent Police Choir performs at All Saints’ Church, Ulcombe, at 7.30pm on Saturday, September 10. Tickets, at £12.50, include a light


buffet supper. They are available from Molly Poulter on 01622 842988 or Rhian Banham on 01622 844010.


Rogue trader REPORTS of a rogue trader in Bramley Crescent, Bearsted, were reported to trading standards offi- cers and police. The offender tried to charge £100 to clean a driveway.


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