downsmail.co.uk Maidstone South Edition


Maidstone & Malling’s No. 1 newspaper


February 2017 Inspector cuts 900 off homes target


THE number of homes to be built in Maidstone as part of the contro- versial Local Plan should be re- duced by 900, according to a government inspector after a seven-week inquiry. Robert Mellor’s 35-page interim


report largely vindicates Maidstone Borough Council’s approach but will now build 17,600 new houses instead of 18,500 by 2031. Local MP Helen Whately said


shewas “frustrated by the failure to take into account” the many con- cerns raised by residents during the inquiry at the town hall. Two public meetings have been


called by Cllr Gary Cooke to dis- cuss the impact on residents in south Maidstone. Cllr Cooke said hewas “very dis- appointed” by the report, which he said is “full of inconsistencies”. Mr Mellor ruled that house-


building on A274 Sutton Road could be mitigated by providing bus lanes and road widening. He also warns that a relief road running between south Maidstone and theM20– which would relieve congestion through Willington Street, Langley, Shepway, Leeds and Otham – will meet a “signifi- cant funding challenge”. Special report, pages 4&5 Comment, page 42


Concert farewell to a musical maestro


INSPIRATIONAL Maidstone musician Jeffrey Vaughan-Martin will be remembered at a one-off concert in the town in the spring. Musicians from across the region


have been queuing up to take part in the tribute to the music maestro, whodied last year after a lifetime de- voted to the art and many years as leader of the Maidstone Choral Union and the Maidstone Singers. The concert, entitled Celebrating


Jeffrey – A Life in Music, will be at Mote Hall, in the centre of town, at 3pm on Sunday, March 19. A collection of 80 players are ex-


pected to form the “JVM All Stars” and more than 100 singers in a JVM Choir, pulling together talent from the groups that featured in his life. They include Maidstone Youth Music Society (MYMS) and West Malling Community Choir, with performances promised by Paul Beniston, FraserBowles and percus- sionist Evelyn Glennie. Set pieces will include personal favourites of the musician, including


the Dambusters March. The proceeds from the concert will


help establish a Jeffrey Vaughan Martin bursary for young musicians from the area. Mr Vaughan Martin, whowas 78,


and lived atArran Road, Maidstone, studied at the University of Wales and Oxford University before mov- ing to the town in 1978. He was a


music teacher and spent the final 21 years of his working life as a special- ist music inspector in Kent. He founded and directing a num-


ber of musical venture, including in 1978 the Kent School Symphonic Wind Band, renamed the Kent YouthWind Orchestra in 1985. He set up the MYMS, led the Maidstone Choral Union from 1974 to 2008 and set up The Maidstone Singers in 1991. In the finalweek of his life hewas


still active, working with the West Malling Community Choir. Jeffrey was treasurer of the Methodist Church onUnion Street – a location used in the Maidstone Jazz Festival,which he helped found. Tickets, from £10, with conces-


sions, and free places for under 12s, are available from MalcolmWithnall from mewithnall@gmail.com or call 01622 736392.


BEST WISHES FOR 201


Your daily news YOU can now keep up to date with local news through the DAILY Downs Mail. Our editorial team now feeds breaking news to our website at www.downsmail.co.uk. So why not join us on Facebook and Twit- ter and never miss out... 18


Recycling reminder


A FOOD recycling sticker will ap- pear on bins as a reminder to residents. For more, see the Maid- stone Borough Council-sponsored 12-page Borough Update inside.


FREE No. 238


News Right demo fizzles


A DEMO against the expansion of Maidstone Mosque attracted only 20 far-right supporters who stayed an hour.


Leeds Castle in cuts


FALLING revenues are forcing Leeds Castle management to make cuts.


8 Edie’s sensory appeal


THE parents of Edie Hughes have backed an appeal for a special sensory appeal. 10


M20 bridge charge


A DRIVER faces charges over the collapse of the M20 footbridge last summer.


Snow brings chaos


THE first snow of this winter brought problems for the roads.


Homeless helpers


SHOPPERS in Maidstone raised £1,000 for homeless people.


22


Parish Councils 32 Crime Reports 32


A CHIMNEY pot was stolen from the garden of a house in Marsham Street.


Obituaries 33 Comment 42 - 43 22 12 6 


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