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Relief road bid election plans
CAMPAIGNERS for a relief road in south Maidstone are consider- ing standing as candidates in the next tranche of local elections. DownsMail has learned that they
may target Liberal Democrat seats in the borough council polls next year, blaming the authority’s major- ity ruling party’s house-building programme for clogging up the area’s roads. There are 18 seats up for grabs in- cluding those at Marden&Yalding, Staplehurst, Coxheath & Hunton and Headcorn. Relief road campaigner Jenny Sut-
ton, of Willington Street pressure group WILLact, acknowledged a new, political dimension to the cru- sade to end the disruption caused by traffic volumes. She alsowelcomed the support of Conservative county councillor Gary Cooke (pictured),whois lead- ing a drive to convince his author- ity’s leadership that a route and funding can be found. In an email to supporters, Mrs
Sutton said: “Maidstone Borough Council (MBC) elections are due next year and the relief road is gain- ing more support. But strategic vot- ing is also required! WILLAct will be lobbying councillors.” Possible Lib Dem target Clive English said: “I would be surprised
if it (relief road)was a major issue in any of the seats we hold. The relief road could be built in two years if KCC got their finger out.” MBC’s house-building pro- gramme is in response to demands from central government, said Cllr English. Cllr Cooke said: “Levels of congestion are now very, very clear to people. This relief road should have been built years ago." Earlier this year, Cllr Cooke said
he andKCCofficerswere to investi- gate routes for a relief road, with a view to putting proposals to parish councils by the end of the year. But Mrs Sutton is unconvinced
KCC leader Paul Carter has any en- thusiasm for a relief road, claiming: "If Paul Carter wants it, he could probably get it with a click of his fin- gers." Cllr Carter was unavailable for a comment.
£20k bid to rewire church
FUNDRAISERS are helping to write the latest chapter in the history of Chart Sutton Church. The congregation at St Michael’s needs to spend £20,000 on rewiring
and light fittings after its Quinquennial Review stated the current arrange- ment urgently requires upgrading. It is the most money spent on the building in more than a decade, but volunteers have been responding. A recent jumble sale
made £320 and the His- tory Display a further £240, along with coffee mornings, bringing the total raised so far to just over £5,000. Honorary church
treasurer Chris Webb said: “We started fundraising in April, so this is a pretty good milestone. We are looking for further donations and grant opportunities to pay for the work. However, we are likely to have to dip into reserves.” He added: “Wewould like to get the work started by the autumn, which
has meant pushing our plans for a toilet and kitchen onto the back- burner.” There has been a church on Church Road, Chart Sutton, since the Domesday Book. Its tower, built in the 14th century, was hit by lightning on St George’s Day, 1779, setting the church ablaze. Even the bells melted. Money was raised to rebuild the church, which re-opened three years later in 1782. It was designed by Henry Holland, who was also re- sponsible forWoburn Abbey. Two further restorationswere carried out in 1898 and 1967. Anyone wishing to give to the current restoration project is invited to contact ChrisWebb on 01622 842629.
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