News


downsmail.co.uk £30 bill for gardenwaste bin


RESIDENTS in Tonbridge and Malling will have to pay £30 to £40 a year to have garden waste collected and manage five recycling containers if a shake-up of the refuse service goes ahead.


Starting in March 2019, the new scheme, which aims to save £3mil- lion from four local authority budg- ets in Kent and increase recycling, would include a weekly collection of food waste in a kitchen caddy, and extend fortnightly collections from existing green bins and boxes to include plastics and glass. To fund the extra collections, res-


identswanting to have greenwaste picked up will have to pay a fee. Currently, there is a free fort- nightly green waste collection, which alternates with the domestic rubbish collection. County and borough Cllr Trudy


Dean (pictured) thought residents would welcome a weekly food col- lection and doorstep plastics recy- cling scheme, but could struggle


Cobtree cafe thieves strike


A COUNCIL-run café has been targeted by thieves who took cash and other items. Police were called to Cobtree


Cabin Café in Forstal Manor Road, Aylesford, at the end of May.


Maidstone Borough Council (MBC) has since implemented “additional security measures” at the Cobtree Park snack bar. Kent Police confirmed a safe containing a quantity of cash, a strimmer and petrol were taken. A statement said: “Kent Police


were called to investigate a report of burglary at Cobtree Cabin Cafe in Forstal Manor Road,Aylesford, believed to have happened be- tween 12.50am and 1.04am on Tuesday, May 30, 2017. “No suspects have yet been identified.” An MBC spokesman said: “The


police have reviewed the CCTV evidence and are continuing with their lines of investigation. As a result of the incident, additional security measures have been im- plemented.” Anyone with information can


call Kent Police on 01622 604100 quoting crime reference YY/014315/17.


Tea at church


AFTERNOON teas, coffees and cakes are on the menu every Sun- day during the summer until Sep- tember 3 at St James the Great Church, East Malling. Refreshments will be served from


3pm to 5pm and all arewelcome. Proceeds will go to the upkeep of the church building.


12 Malling July 2017


School raises roof and windows Pupils with (fromleft) Sarah Sewell, secretary of the Friends ofWatering-


bury Primary school, Tonbridge and Malling mayor Roger Dalton and headteacher Chasey Crawford Usher


WATERINGBURY CE Primary School is celebrating after raising the £115,000 needed to replace its library roof and windows, less than 12 months after launching a major capital fundraising appeal. The school in Bow Road successfully bid for £81,000 funding from the Diocese of Rochester and the rest of the money was raised by the school community, village organisations and local businesses. The final cheque for £2,500 was handed over by the Friends of Wateringbury Primary School from fundraising events organised by parents. Detailed plans are now being


drawn up for the project, which will also include better heating


ventilation, lights and furniture. It is hoped that work can start before Christmas. Headteacher Chasey Crawford


Usher said: “We have been overwhelmed by the generosity and support of our local community. “We are thrilled to have reached


our target so quickly. Local businesses have supported us with substantial donations and even the children have helped with fundraising initiatives. It has been a real community effort. “Our library is really the beating


heart of the school, and this project will ensure the library continues to inspire children to love reading for generations to come.”


with five recycling containers. She has asked the council to consider al- ternatives so that the green waste collection could remain free. She said: “Wherever charging has been intro- duced for green waste, the amount collected has fallen


to


about half the previous level, which


is a backward step. “Tonbridge and Malling is the


only district in Kent without itsown waste collection tip, so residents would be forced to travel to Tovil or


Cuxton to dispose of it properly. In practice, it will end up in the grey bin instead and not be recycled.” The borough council says the fee


would fund “significant improve- ments” to recycling services, and that most councils in Kent already charge for the collection of garden waste. The national average charge is £42 per year. Tonbridge and Malling has been working on the proposedWest Kent Joint Waste Project with Dartford, Tunbridge Wells and Kent County Council, whose collection contracts also all come to an end in 2019. The borough council said: “It is


hoped that, if the proposed new services go ahead, savings of more than £3million could be generated across the four authorities and that


average recycling performance could increase to around 50 per cent (from approximately 42 per cent in Tonbridge and Malling).” Cllr David Lettington, cabinet member for environment services, said: “We know that our residents would like us to provide additional kerbside recycling services, particu- larly for glass and plastics and, if this new partnership project goes ahead,we will be able to do exactly that, with the added bonuses of sav- ing money and improving our recy- cling rate at the same time.” Councillors have asked for full consultation with residents before a decision is made. Details of the scheme are on Ton-


bridge and Malling Council’s web- site.


Ianson charges A SNODLAND man has appeared before magistrates charged with GBH and engaging in a controlling relationship. Lennie Ianson was remanded in custody by Medway magistrates on June 27.Hewill appear back in court at a future date. The 24-year-old, from Nevill


Road, is charged with 10 offences, including two counts of criminal damage, two counts of common as- sault and one of threats to kill; a charge of grievous bodily harm, pos- sessing an offensive weapon, stalk- ing, and another of harassment. The charges relate to offences re-


ported to have been committed over a month from May 3.


Tower viewing THE Control Tower at Kings Hill will be open to the public by devel- oper Liberty Property Trust during Tonbridge and Malling’s Heritage Open days on September 9 and 10. Timed viewings will be available


between 10am and 4pm. Call 01732 770929 after September 1 to book. There will also be an exhibition in


the Control Tower gallery featuring images of RAF West Malling in World II, loaned by local historians Robin Brooks and Peter Hall.


Flower festival TESTON’S Flower Festival is at St Peter’s and St Paul’s Church from Saturday to Monday, August 26 to 28. There will also be an exhibition of arts and crafts. The Testonites and theApple Tree Singers from East Malling will be holding a joint concert on the Satur- day evening. For more information about the festival and concert, con- tact Dawn Page on 01622 812691.


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