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weather to walk the length of Her- mitage Lane to raise awareness of the historic land at risk of further development. The march, attended by Maid-
stone borough councillors Dan Daley and James Willis, coincided with a final chance for residents to oppose another 3,000 potential properties outlined off Hermitage Lane in Tonbridge and Malling Council’s local plan. Campaigners say the lane is al-
ready being over-developed, is too congested to safely serve the town’s hospital and its historic merit must be protected. Those who gathered pooled their research on the history of the Her- mitage; something that has prompted Kent County Council to call for a more detailed archaeolog- ical survey of the area. Campaigner and local resident
Keith Young said he wants protec- tion for the area’s heritage and an
Driving ban
A30-YEAR-OLD Maidstone man has been banned from the roads for drink-driving and failing to turn up at court. David Martin Palmer was sen- tenced at Mid Kent Magistrates’ Court after admitting drink-driving and failing to surrender to court bail. On September 25, 2014, the 30-
year-old, of Hart Street, drove a VWPolo in King Edward Road and gave a breath test of 76mg of alco- hol in 100ml of breath. The legal limit is 35mg. On November 17, 2015, he failed
to surrender to bail at Mid Kent Magistrates’ Court. Magistrates banned Palmer from driving for 36 months. He must also pay a £230 fine, £300 costs and a £30 victim surcharge. Disqualification can be reduced
by 273 days if he completes a course approved by the Secretary of State, the cost of which will not exceed £250.
Assault case
AMANwho hit a woman inMaid- stone has avoided prison. Michael Ashley William Kidner
was sentenced at Mid Kent Magis- trates’ Court. OnAugust 28, the 34-year-old, of Allnutt Mill Close, Maidstone, as- saulted a woman in Brenchley Gar- dens, Maidstone. Magistrates sentenced him to 120
days in prison, suspended for two years, with £85 costs and a £115 vic- tim surcharge.
4 Maidstone Christmas 2016 Youngsters graduate
ELEVEN ambitious students from a Maidstone school, who signed up to study alongside some of the best minds in the country, have graduated. With assistance from the PhD community at The School of Ori- ental and African Studies at the University of London, students from St Simon Stock Catholic School produced a 5,000-word dis- sertation to graduate. The group were selected by the
school to participate in the Schol- ars Programme, which is part of the university’s “Brilliant Club”. They are pictured outside the School of Oriental and African Studies with their certificates. Teacher Mel Broadhurst went
with them, saying the experience had not only increased students’ aspirations for the future but given them the confidence to ex- plore and write about subjects be- yond the usual opportunities in the curriculum. She said “The academic quality
of the dissertations was so high and we are really proud of our young students. “Itwas awonderful opportunity
for our year seven pupils to work with PHD students, and one that they fully embraced. Their high graduation marks are a testament to how much effort and commit- ment these students have shown over the course of the pro- gramme.”
March aims to save historic land Protest over plan changes
end to congestion in the area. He said: “It is good news that
KCC’s archaeology department has written to Maidstone Council and the developer asking for more ur- gent archaeology works to be done.” He added: “We need to unite to reduce horrendous traffic and, in a sustainable way, to preserve the local heritage of the Hermitage in Hermitage Lane, with a locally treasured oasis and green space and, perhaps, a true nature re- serve.” Mr Young claimed both Maid-
stone and Malling’s “gluttonous hunger to build, build, build in an area already congested by both houses and vehicles” could not continue. TMBC said it is working on a “practical short-term solution” to improve flow at the northern, A20 end. Longer term, it seeks a “more radical solution” in terms of a new road infrastructure.
THE New Allington Action Group had to spring into action again when resi- dents were given just days to comment on changes put to the council by a Hermitage Lane developer. The amendments on Croudace Homes’ plan for land to the east of the lane
failed to tackle the issue of insufficient parking, proposed more homes and a play area in an “unsafe” location on a heritage site, NAAG protests. Hermitage Lane campaigner Keith Young attacked the limited time given
to residents to respond, many of which received letters about the changes just days before the council’s deadline for comments. He used the council’s own Streetlifewebsite and social media to urge residents to respond, in spite of the “outrageous four-day deadline”. A spokesman for Maidstone Council stated: “The amendments are re- sponding to concerns already raised by residents and statutory consultees. The latest amendments are not substantial in nature and do not change the overall principles of the original application.” In response to the shortage of time given to those wishing to comment,
developmentmanager James Bailey added: “A letter was sent to interested parties on November 24 giving details of amendments to the original appli- cation. This follows an earlier consultation on September 28 and the amend- ments relate to feedback from residents. There is no statutory requirement to notify on amended plans.” The application was due to be considered by the council’s planning com- mittee on December 8, at which a rallywas due to be held by campaigners.
Racism charge
A MAN who admitted racially ag- gravated harassment, using threat- ening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour and criminal damage has been sent to jail. Henry Barton (41)was sentenced
on November 23, 2016 atWest Kent Magistrates’ Court. On May 2, Barton, of South Park
Road, Maidstone, used threatening, abusive or insulting words or be- haviour towards a woman and racially-aggravated threatening, abusive or insulting words or be- haviour towards a man in Granville Road, Maidstone. He also damaged a hose worth £30. Magistrates sentenced Barton to
30 days in prison. He must also pay a £115 victim surcharge.
Threats case
A MAN has been ordered to carry out 200 hours of community work for making threats. Jake Anthony Weyand was sen-
tenced at Mid Kent Magistrates’ Court where he admitted using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour. On May 29, 2016 the 26-year-old,
of Margate, used threatening, abu- sive or insulting words or behav- iour towards a man in King Street, Maidstone, causing him to fear vio- lence.
Magistrates ordered Weyand to
carry out 200 hours of unpaid work in the next 12 months. He must also pay £200 costs and an £85 victim surcharge.
CAMPAIGNERS took to the streets to stop more land along the road serving Maidstone Hospital falling victim to the bulldozer. Residents turned out in bad
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