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News Anti-Muslim demo short-lived


A DEMONSTRATION by a far-right, anti-Muslim group fizzled out in the drizzle when only a handful turned up to campaign against the expansion of Maidstone Mosque. Barely 20 protestors from South


East Alliance showed up in Mote Road, compared to around 100 Muslims, anti-fascists, and trades unionists who stood outside the Is- lamic centre. There were 10 police officers on


duty. The far-right supporters chanted:


"No more refugees". South East Alliance arrived at


about 1pm, two hours late, and stayed for 60 minutes before de- parting.


The mosque's


Imam Muham- mad Usmani (left) said: "Of course, I respect anyone's right to free speech, even if I don't like or agree with what they're


saying. I would be unhappy if ei- ther side used inappropriate words. "The mosque has been here for


more than 20 years and I never ex- pected this protest to happen here.


A spokesman said: "After being approached by local people,we de- cided to support them by having a demo today to highlight their op- position to the extension of the mosque. "They feel they are being ignored


The group from South East Alliance stayed for 60minutes before leaving South East Alliance declined to


The relationship with other faiths in this town has always been good." The Imam (41), a married father


of three, has been in the position for 19 years in Maidstone. The mosque provided tea, bis-


cuits and pizza to protestors out- side.


speak to Downs Mail's reporter when approached at the protest on January 7. According to reports, South East Alliance said the group had been invited to stage a demonstration by local people.


by the council. We would like to thank the locals who invited and joined us on our first demo as Kent's official branch of the South East Alliance and we look forward to the next demo." Few people knew of the mosque's existence in Maidstone until it ap- plied for, andwas granted, permis- sion to expand its facilities – including a new kitchen – by the borough council. Kent Anti-Racism Network chair-


man Bridget Chapman said: "We feel very strongly that fascists should not be allowed to peddle their hate on the streets unopposed. "We received a warm welcome


from the mosque and have plans to work together in the future. It has been a really positive day."


Witness appeal Call to back road safety campaign


after girl is hit POLICE investigating an accident in Maidstone in which a 14-year-old girl suffered a broken ankle are ap- pealing for witnesses to come for- ward. The collision on the Loose Road, involving a grey BMW car, hap- pened at just after 4.30pm on Mon- day, January 9. The the girl was on a pedestrian crossing. The driver stopped at the scene


and the girlwas taken to hospital. Anyone who saw the accident is


asked to contact Sergeant Hannah Brown on 01622 798538, quoting in- cident number 09-835.


THE public are being urged to help drive home safety concerns about a busy road junction near Eccles. Campaigners –who say the blind junction at Bull Lane is “an accident waiting to happen” – will meet representatives fromKCC Highways at St Mark’s CE School at Eccles on Thursday, January 19. MP Tracey Crouch, County Cllr


Peter Homewood and borough and parish council representatives from Aylesford, Burham andWouldham will also attend. The Bull Lane Safety Group, which


organised the public meeting, says since the bridge opened, linking 1,000 new homes at Peters Village


with Snodland and Halling, the issues of improving visibility at the Pilgrims’Way junction, slowing traffic and providing safe crossing points for pedestrians has become imperative.


The blind junction at Bull Lane, Eccles is an accident waiting to happen, say campaigners


A spokesman said: “We really need


the public’s support on the evening to show KCC Highways the strength of feeling and to enable you to have a voice in supporting this campaign.” The meeting starts at 7pm


MP backs call for ban on lorry fly-parking


THE county council has asked the transport minister to criminalise lorry drivers who park their HGVs inappropriately at the side of the road. Cllr Matthew Balfour, Kent County Council’s cabinet member for transport, believes the legislative change is an essential part of the county’s two-pronged approach to tackle fly-parking, in light of a huge rise in freight traffic in the region. He said: “I have asked the minis-


ter for a specific change in the law that states HGVs over a certain weight should not be parked any- where other than an authorised


place for longer than a few min- utes.” His efforts are backed by MP


Helen Whately who has long cam- paigned for measures to stop lorry drivers taking rest breaks in resi- dential roads. The county council’s proposals


are contained in its latest FreightAc- tion Plan, which identifies the need for a network of small lorry parks. These, it says, are being discussed, but would not be identified until the necessary legislative changes have been secured. Mrs Whately said: “I have been pressing transport minister John


Hayes almost daily about the legis- lation needed to ban lorries from parking inappropriately.Without it, KCC would need to put signs on virtually every road declaring it an offence. “While it is not illegal to park in a


layby, these are increasingly full and drivers are resorting to inappropri- ate places to save money on parking fees and this has to stop.” She said Mr Hayes had made it


clear that he recognised the scale of the problem in Kent – where a KCC survey revealed more than 700 lor- ries fly-park every night – and the need for more lorry parks and more


enforcement powers. Mrs Whately added: “I’ve been campaigning for a ban on lorries parking in the wrong places since last year, and Iwelcome the county council Freight Action Plan. “People have been putting up


with noise, littering and unhygienic behaviour associated with fly-park- ing for too long – the county council is right to be taking action to make more parking spaces available. “I know the minister takes this


very seriously and is determined to tackle it, so I’m optimistic that ef- forts to ban fly-parking will have the support of Government.”


Malling January 2017 29


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