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Maidstone & Malling’s No. 1 newspaper


FREE Maidstone Town | Maidstone East | Maidstone South | Malling Vintage show


draws crowds THE ninth annual Classic Cars and Retro Vintage had its most success- ful year yet, raising more than £3,000 for the Kent, Surrey and Sus- sex Air Ambulance.


Cars were the stars at the Classic Cars and Retro Vintage show


Hundreds of visitors flocked to Bearsted Green to see the 200 vehi- cles and visit the vintage stalls. The more energetic danced along with the Medway Lindy Hoppers throughout the day. The Peter Willson Trophy for the ‘Best in Show’ was awarded to Keith Hoffman for his 1954 Bentley R-type saloon.


New call for bypass after van hits girl, 16


THE issue of traffic volumes through Leeds village has been highlighted again after a teenagerwas struck by a van. The 16-year-old from Sutton Va-


lence was returning to her cousin’s house after a trip into Maidstone, and was thrown to the ground by the impact. The vehicle’s wing mirror was


ripped off by the strike and sent fly- ing down the pavement, near Burgess Hall Drive. Felicity Poulter (pictured) said: “It


all happened so quickly. I felt being hit from behind on the upper arm and then being knocked over onto the pavement. “In fairness, the driver got out and


was so apologetic. He seemed really nice and genuinely sorry and gave mea hug.Another car stopped to see if I was okay and some of the vil-


lagers came out to see if I was all right. “He said he got too close tomebe- cause he had to get out of theway of a car coming in the opposite di- rection and sort of swerved and hit me. My cousin and I thought he might have been going a bit fast.”


Felicity did not suffer serious in-


jury in the collision although her armwas bruised and sore. She added: “If this had been a smaller child, they’d have been hit on the head and that would have


been a different story altogether.” Kent county councillor and long-


time supporter of a relief road for the village, Gary Cooke, said he was “horrified” by Felicity’s ordeal. He said: “To be honest, I am ab- solutely horrified that the problems experienced by the village should have resulted in a child being hit.” Cllr Cooke – who hosted a site meeting in the village this week to talk to residents concerned about ve- hicle volumes and speeding – said that a relief road had to go on the table again. Upper street resident Rob Jackson


has been mobilising villagers over traffic and fears it may in- crease further with three


8 Royal Mail sale


01622 690290 YOUR LOCAL PROPERTY EXPERT


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


THE Royal Mail site in the centre of Maidstone has been bought jointly by Maidstone Borough Council and Kent County Council for a fee of at least £4.5m for a mixed use of retails, houses and offices.


24 September 2016 No. 233 News Burial ground plan


A FUNERAL director has announced plans for a natural burial ground at a former riding centre in Detling. 3


Bride’s tractor trip


A TRACTOR provided the perfect transport to church for Bearsted newlyweds. 4


By-election battle


OPENING shots are fired in the battle for a seat on Maidstone Council.


New homes delay


START on 800-home Langley development could be at least a year away. 8


Bat in the belfry


WORK is starting to repair Leeds church roof after delays due a bat in the belfry. 10


Dog waste bins to go


BINS for dog waste are to be re- moved in a bid to cut council costs.


Olympics carnival


A RIO carnival-style event will celebrate the Olympics in the town centre. 15


Making the grade


STUDENTS have been celebrating their A-level success.


Obituaries Comment


22 34


35 Crime Reports 47


GOLF buggies, a utility tractor and other equipment were damaged at the golf club off Blue Bell Hill; fencing was stolen from a field in Thurnham; number plates were taken from a van in The Street, Boxley; a shed was broken into at a horse yard in Stockbury.


Pennies Day Nursery Invites You To Their Stay & Play Open Morning - Saturday 8th Oct 10am-12pm


Find us at: Newnham Court Shopping Village & Hockers Lane, Maidstone 01622 737733 www.pennies.co.uk


Book now for


OCTOBER HOLIDAY CLUB


15 5


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