Malling Mail CALLS FOR


EAST MALLING TRAFFIC SPEEDS TO BE SLOWED


A GROUP of East Malling Conservation Group members working together with local councillors has sent a report to Kent County Council asking for traffic speeds to be slowed to 30 and 20mph through the centre of the village. Police speed traps, KCC Highways surveys, and residents' volunteer Speedwatch sessions have shown that Wateringbury Road, Chapel Street and High Street have a record of speeding traffic.


The group has requested a lowering of the speed limits from 40 to 30mph from The Heath, and a 20mph limit on Chapel Street and High Street to the King and Queen junction. A speed table has been requested between Huntley Cottage and Chapel Street as a physical enforcement of the 20mph limit. Speed cameras have already been requested and refused owing to a lack of sufficient serious injuries and fatalities on these roads.


County Councillor for East Malling Trudy Dean said " KCC will now have to decide whether they support this scheme. If not, we shall have to discuss how much of it can be paid for from my KCC Members Highway Fund of £25K per year. Even the police were surprised that in their speed traps they handed out penalty points to 25 people, and a further 38 chose to go to the speed awareness course rather than accept penalty points. The level of excessive speed on these narrow roads is far too great and presents a danger to pedestrians and other drivers alike."


Improvements at West Malling station


MORE than £300,000 is to be spent on improving the forecourt of West Malling station to make it more attractive and safer for passengers. The money has come from developers of local residential sites who were required to contribute as part of their planning permissions.


The existing station side car park will lose some spaces near to the station in order to create a wide forecourt with a central island around which there will be a one way system. Near to the station there will be two bus stops with real time timetable information displays, and possibly more bicycle stands. There will be a bus waiting bay in the slip road to the by pass as at present. The taxi office will transfer to the new premises currently under construction on the private car park side, and three or four taxi waiting spaces will be created from the central island. The current prohibition on driving between the bypass and Swan Street is likely to be lifted, perhaps following an initial trial period. The telephone box will be moved to the station side of the road and I have asked the developers to keep the red telephone box which is in keeping with the listed station building.


An unfortunate side effect of the plans may be the removal of the recycling facilities at the station.


We are also hoping they will agree to display the plans at one of our forthcoming Farmers' Markets.


Trudy Dean


Celebrating St George’s Day


ST George’s Day celebrations are to be revived in West Malling when the Malling District Scouts bring their saint’s day parade to the High Street on Sunday, April 29.


In the High Street, there will also be an Italian Market and an antique market and other stalls are planned between 10am and 3pm.


Between 1pm and 2pm, up to 800 Scouts and Cubs with their flags will pass the saluting base before the Mayor of Tonbridge and Malling and other dignitaries. They will then assemble on the Norman Road County Ground cricket meadow where they will renew their Scout promise and enjoy a wide variety of Scouting activities for the rest of the afternoon.


During the parade, the route from the meadow via Offham Road, Churchfields, High Street and West Street will be closed for traffic. The High Street will be closed from the Swan Street junction to the car park entrance from around 8am to 5pm.


Charity stalls £10, others £20. Please contact Trudy Dean on 01732 843119 or trudy.dean@kent.gov.uk or Debbie Stansfield at debbie@villaolive.me.uk


Rousing start


for new choir THE FIRST rehearsal of the Malling Community Choir got off to a rousing start following an appeal in the Downs Mail.


Organiser Jane Anderson was delighted with the


turnout of more than 50 people at the Swan Street Baptist Church, West Malling. The choir plans to meet there each Tuesday at 7.15pm. Trudy Dean who sparked the formation of the choir, said: “It was a fantastic attendance and everyone had a really good time meeting old friends and making new ones as well as making good music.”


The choir is open to all, no experience required. Adults £2, children free.


Piano recital


PIANIST Junko Kobayashi who used to live in West Malling will be returning to the town to give a recital at 7.30pm on Saturday, May 19, at St Mary’s Church.


She has performed at the Royal Festival Hall, the Wigmore Hall and on Radio 3 and will be


playing works by Beethoven, Schubert and Weber.


Tickets £10 on the door. Children under 16 free.


Any surplus funds raised will go towards the repair of the church clock.


ROAD CLOSURE WARNING


VILLAGERS at Ryarsh are pleased that long awaited drainage repairs are being undertaken for The Street but the work will mean disruption with the closure of Birling Road for up to four weeks.


The work, which began on February 27, is being carried out by Kent Highways in two phases – the first from the Duke of Wellington up to Brookline Coaches. The second will be from Brookline Coaches up to near the junction with Woodgate Road/Workhouse Road/Roughetts Road.


Bus routes have been diverted and traffic should use the A20 and the bypass. Parts of the road may be open at different times and it may also be open in the evenings, but this is not certain.


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