News
Homes refused TWO more mobile homes will not be allowed to remain permanently at Little Boarden in Staplehurst. The site is already home to one mobile home and one touring cara- van after permission was granted to Alfred Eastwood. The new application, for two
more homes, was put forward to allow Mr Eastwood’s sons – Caleb and David – to live on the site. Tem- porary permission for their mobile homes expired in 2015. There were objections from neighbours and the parish council to the application, and the applica- tion was refused by the borough planning committee.
Street names
VILLAGERS have been asked to suggest suitable street names for new development sites in Marden. At Highwood Green, parish councillors recommended streets be named after local families who lost members in WorldWar I, while at the Parsonage site, it was sug- gested the streets be named after hop varieties. Ideas should be sent to the parish
clerk Alison Hooker. The village al- ready has roads named after ap- ples, pears and cherry varieties so other suggestions are requested.
Pie and quiz
MAIDSTONE Mencap members are holding their popular Apple Pie Quiz Night at Cobtree Hall, Mote Park, School Lane, off Willington Street on Saturday, October 29 at 7 for 7.30pm. Teams will be six to eight people
and admission is £6 for each per- son, which includes a slice of pie and cream. Parking is free beyond the wooden gates leading the hall. To book a table, call Rita on 07790 643218.
Barn dance
DIG out your checked shirt, denims and boots and join in the fun of a mid-west American-style hoedown at Marden Memorial Hall at 7.30pm on October 15. Live music and calling will be provided by The Hatted Hens, a local barn dance band. Tickets are £12.50 each including
an American-style supper. The event is for age 13 plus and funds raised will go to Marden in Bloom.
New website
GRAPHIC design agency GEO Media has launched its new web- site showcasing its work with clients including Costa, Kent Wildlife Trust and The Downs Mail. The company, based in the Royal Star Arcade in Maidstone High Street,was started byAndrew Dicker in 2008. Go to
geomedia.co.uk.
12 Maidstone South October 2016
downsmail.co.uk
£3m lock work to help the Medway migrants
A £3MILLION investment is refurbishing East Farleigh lock for the first time in 100 years.
The Environment Agency is car-
rying out the work and installing a new fish and eel pass, which will allow fish and eels to get around the locks andweirs to their spawn- ing grounds, helping to boost num- bers.
East Farleigh lockwas last recon- structed over a century ago and, al- though safe, the main structure is showing signs ofwear. Philip Munslow, Environment Agency waterways operations manager, said: “It is a testament to the previous lock refurbishment that it has lasted over 100 years, es- pecially in such a harsh environ- ment. “The construction is made more complicated by the confined nature of East Farleigh lock. However, working with our suppliers we are pleased to be able to invest in this site and bring the lock up to mod-
Pike is a species found in the Medway
ern standards. “The completion of these works
will secure this structure for the next 100 years. The new fish pass means that 9 out of 10 lock sites on the Upper Medway will have had their barriers to fish passage re- moved.” The Medway, which is approxi- mately 70 miles long, is home to many species of fish including carp, eels, pike, tench, roach, perch and chub. It also supports a wide array of bird life, including coots, cormorants, buzzards, great crested grebes and kingfishers.Work to re-
store the lock started on September 12 and is due to be complete by Easter next year. East Farleigh is the second lock boaters arrive at if visiting from the tidalMedway and heading upstream. The lock will be closed during the works, which involve damming-off the old lock and draining it down. The lock will then be closed until Easter, although a route will re- main open for canoeists. Fish passes have become common in salmon and sea trout rivers across the United Kingdom in recent decades. Salmon, in particular, have suffered a decline in numbers due to netting, poaching and dis- eases linked to commercial fish farms in estuarywaters. Farms have has also been blamed
for the steep drop in numbers of sea trout which share the estuary waters as a habitat.
Businessman Butcher dies
AFORMERConservative on Maid- stone Borough Council who quit the party in disgust over housing plans has died after a long illness. Paul Butcher,
Headcorn Hall could be replaced by homes Picture: Julian P Guffogg Houses plan for care home
NEW plans to demolish Headcorn Hall and build homes have been submitted to Maidstone Borough Council. Owners Clarendon Homes, are
asking for permission to pull down the former care home and build 10 four-bedroom and four five- bedroom houses. An access from Shenley Road
and closing the current entrance from Biddenden Road is also proposed. Headcorn Hall was run as a care
home until 2003. It has since attracted vandalism and the main staircase was set on fire. Permission has previously been
granted by the borough council for demolition and construction of 10 homes, but plans have not been carried out. The site is home to great crested
newts, according to a report submitted as part of the application, and there are plans to protect the population and other wildlife. The application was discussed
by Headcorn Parish Council. Chairman Lyn Selby said: “It’s been standing derelict for so long that it has deteriorated considerably. “The proposal is for reasonably-
sized homes with an area around them so it shouldn’t cause too much additional traffic. “We have bowed to the
inevitable in the development of the site and approved the application as long as the copse on the edge of the site is protected and subject to some natural hedging to help it blend in to the rural scene faster.”
of Staplehurst, served on both Maidstone Bor- ough Council from 2003 to 2015 and his parish council. Rory Silkin, Staplehurst Parish Council’s chair- man, said: “I think it is very sad and he will be badly missed, as he did so much for the village, both professionally and on the council.” Mr Butcher ran his own business, Butchers Removals and Storage, andwas particularly outspoken on housing issues. In May 2014 he quit the Tories
over Maidstone's massive house- building plans. Cllr John Perry added: “He was tireless in his support of the young people in our village and it was down to his determination and hard work that the Youth Club de- veloped and grew." Staplehurst Parish Council held a minute's silence before a recent meeting. After resigning from the council
he offered to sign nomination pa- pers for a Liberal Democrat candi- date.
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