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downsmail.co.uk Malling Edition


Maidstone & Malling’s No. 1 newspaper


January 2017


Estate divided over parking restrictions


A PUBLIC meeting has been called to find a solution to the “parking fiasco” developing on an upmarket estate in Snodland.


Holborough Lakes’ homeowners will have a chance to air their views about the parking confusion that has ensued since the first of the estate’s roads were adopted by Kent County Council (KCC).


Angry resident Trevor Graham (pictured) woke to find double yel- low lines had been painted by Berke- ley Homes outside his home in Alisander Close and in other cul-de- sacs, even though they are no longer under the developer’s control. He said: “When I moved here nine


years ago, I was allocated a garage and a parking space and the regula- tions were enforced by Berkeley Homes. It was clear where we could park, but now with some parking bays still controlled by the developer and others by KCC, with seemingly unenforceable Traffic Regulation Or- ders (TRO), the whole parking issue is a mess. You pretty much need a map to know where you can’t park.” Snodland Cllr David Lettington, Tonbridge and Malling Council’s street scene cabinet member, has


been trying to sort out the issue for residents and the borough council, which has the task of enforcing park- ing restrictions. He says KCC has to ensure restrictions on private roads meet with enforceable standards be- fore they are handed over. A spokesman for KCC said: “The


yellow lines were installed while these roads were private and were enforced by the developer. It was only after the roads were adopted by KCC that they decided they wanted them enforceable by Tonbridge and


Malling Council.” However, he added: “The lining they installed did not meet the re- quirements of the TRO they applied for, so we have been pressing them to alter these. When they meet this requirement, the lining can become enforceable by Tonbridge and Malling Council.”


The community remains divided, with some wanting strict controls on parking and others wanting greater flexibility. Peter Smith, from Berkeley


4 Malling School revealed as parents’ choice


THE Malling School has come out tops when it comes to pupils and parents making their first choice of senior school.


Figures from the county council for this September show The Malling School had more first choice applications (158) than any


secondary school in the Malling area, including Holmesdale (67), Aylesford School Sports College (104) and those at Wrotham and Hadlow. It is a far cry from 2008, when Carl Roberts became head at the Beech Road school when it was the most unpopular in the area. He


says quality teaching and a zero tol- erance of poor behaviour have helped turn around its reputation. He added: “I am so pleased the hard work of staff and pupils has paid off and we are now recog- nised, borough-wide, as a great place to learn.”


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FREE No. 237


News Surprise resignation


HOLMESDALE’S head teacher has quit after the school’s federation is dissolved. 3


Teenager accosted


Police are hunting a van man after a girl was grabbed in Snodland.


Keep fit success


POLICEMAN switches from fighting crime to fighting flab.


10 New M20 junction


A CAMPAIGN has been launched for a new access to the M20.


In memory of Luke


THE family of crash victim Luke Mumford are raising money to help other students.


Obituaries Comment


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32 34


Parish Councils 42-43 Crime Reports 43


THIEVES broke into a warehouse in Bellingham Way, Aylesford and a bag of tools was stolen; money was taken from someone on a drive in Niagara Close, Kings Hill, during a party; a wing mirror on a Mercedes was damaged in a car park in Hermitage Lane; an iPod and cash were taken from a shop in Martin Square, Larkfield.


22 8


Inside this edition: DEVELOPERS may need to rethink the proposed lay-out of the Aylesford Newsprint site after a primary school was rejected. The 4-page supplement inside by Malling Action Partnership supports people and events in Malling.


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