News Shop is set for
April closure RESIDENTS in Hollingbourne are warned that their last village shop will cease to exist from April. The parish council is among
those calling on anyone interested in taking on Christopher’s in Ey- horne Street to urgently get in touch. Parish Council chairman Cllr
Mike Bedwell told Downs Mail: “The closure of the shop is just weeks away andwe reallywant to hear from anyone interested in taking it on now, rather than peo- plewaiting until it closes without a plan B in place.” He said the parish council is
making inquiries to see if it would be allowed to help a commercial venture. Just before Christmas, Downs Mail reported a suggestion that a retail outlet could be relo- cated to the village train station, giving it greater daily footfall. The popular shop has been run
for more than a decade by Christo- pher Rudgard, who is hoping to retire. Since the loss of the NatWest in Ashford Road, Bearsted, was an- nounced for later this year, it is es- pecially hoped the village will not lose its Post Office banking facil- ity.
downsmail.co.uk
Lenham responds to villagers’ demands
LENHAM is to get its dog bins back after demanding Maidstone Borough Council returned them. Just two weeks after being re-
moved as part of a cost-cutting exer- cise, hackles were starting to rise, according to locals. Seven bins were taken from Lenhamas part of the borough-wide decision to withdraw the dog bin service, with pet owners directed to put pet mess in litterbins instead. However, in Lenham, where
manyof the bins are “open top” and, often, close to public areas, including the bus stop, campaigners called time on the
council.Parish clerk Mrs Margo McFarlane contacted the powers that be at the borough coun- cil after receiving dozens of com- plaints from residents. She said:“We all just felt enough is enough.We all understand that money is tight but why take away something that is very much needed and has worked incrediblywell.” The borough council’s response to
the large bark of protest from Lenham has proved positive – prompting the return of 10 dog bins
– three more than before. As part of the agreement, the parish council will now be responsible for getting the bins emptied eachweek. Mrs McFarlane said: “This will
cost about a £1,000 a year, but we consider this money well spent if it stops pet owners being inconve- nienced and residents and visitors forced to stand next to and use stink- ing bins that will be swarming with flies come the summer.” She added: “Maidstone council
has been very good in giving them back, but one asks the question: Do wewant marble tiles down the high street or bins that do the job?”
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The bins, which were kindly brought back to the village by a parishioner, are currently being ren- ovated, but are expected to be back by the end of the month. The extra three bins requested will
be positioned at Platts Heath, Sand- way and Lenham Heath. All will proudly bear the parish council em- blem and the Keep Lenham Lovely logo. In Harrietsham, people power
looks set to prevail also after the parish council responded to com- plaints about the removal of its two dog bins by agreeing to reinstate them and take on the bill for having them emptied. HarrietshamParishCouncil chair-
manEddiePowell said: “Sometimes decision can bemadeto save money, and we all understand that things are tight for the borough council, but while there will always be irrespon- sible dog owners, taking the bins away is catching everyone out and will result in more mess.” Bearsted Parish Council has re-
ported issues with discarded dog mess bags in the village.
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