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Crack leads to closure of bridge after impact


TESTON Bridge near Maidstone has been shut, amid fears that a large section is about to crumble and fall into the River Medway. Kent Highways officials closed


the crossing after a vehicle hit one of the main sections. Teston Lane has been shut for


weeks but was due to reopen on Septembber 3, just after Downs Mailwent to press.Anumber of di- versions have been in place. Motorists have had to go via Ton-


bridge Road, Bow Road, Maidstone Road, Hampstead Lane, Benover Road, High Street, Yalding Hill and onto Lower Road. The bridge is a busy crossing


over the Medway from Coxheath and into Tunbridge Wells and Maidstone, and the closure is likely to have major consequences for road users. Sailing group, the River Medway Boaters, was among the first to draw attention to the clo- sure. Members Tweeted: “The river is being closed to all boats this af- ternoon due to a large section of the bridge in danger of falling into the river.”


A large crack in the side of Teston Bridge, caused when a vehicle hit it, has led to the bridge being closed. Diversions are in place


News of the closure sparked an immediate response on social media. Maureen McNamara posted on Facebook: "How did that hap- pen? At Yalding, the lorries fre- quently hit the bridge and it has to be rebuilt, but I have never heard of this one being clunked, was it an impact that caused it?" Gareth Ve wrote: "I don't know


why the local council don't put six feet, six inch height barriers, which


Travellers’ site now urbanised


A PLANNING application for a traveller site in Staplehurst has been refused amid concerns the “settled” community is now “vastly outnumbered” by gypsies. Maidstone Borough Council dis- missed the scheme unanimously after concerns raised by parish councillors and borough members. The planwas for the siting of two mobile homes, two touring cara- vans and utility/stable block for the “benefit of a gypsy family for resi- dential use”. The applicationwas partially ret- rospective. Cllr Tony Harwood, who visited


the site ahead on the planning com- mittee’s meeting, said there had been “significant urbanisation” on the site and clear encroachment into the buffer to the woodland. There was a clear negative im-


pact on the woodland, he said. He told members the site would


have to be “turned back into coun- tryside” before another planning application could be considered. Borough councillor John Perry


said there had been a “history of non-adherence to planning condi-


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tions” in the past. Cllr Perry said that members of


the “settled” community are “now vastly outnumbered” by the trav- ellers in the area. There are thought to be up to 60 members of the trav- elling fraternity living in the area. Cllr Adele Sharp of Staplehurst


Parish Council objected on various grounds including the fact the site is not contained in either the Neighbourhood Plan or the bor- ough’s Local Plan. For Frittenden Parish Council,


Cllr Anthony Staples said that, con- trary to evidence offered, the area does flood and has drainage issues. Access is limited in a very narrow lane, he said. Chairman Clive English – who


said he was normally sympathetic to traveller applications – told members: “I’ve seldom seen a more open and shut case of landscape harm.” Cllr Martin Round was con- cerned that the size of the traveller camp was impacting on the settled members of the community.


Maidstone Weald September 2017 Fallen tree is made safe


THE churchyard at East Farleigh has re-opened after sevenweeks, following the removal of amassive branch which had come down. Two tonnes of cedar have been removed, and a piece of it will be turned


into a collection plate to a local church. The 116-year-old cedar – planted by former vicar RevMowbray Trotter –


has now been braced in the hope that it will last another 100 years. Part of the churchyardhas been cordoned off for health and safety reasons


since the bough on the once three-stemmed tree broke on June 19. Dam- aged gravestones damaged will be restored and returned. For verger Sheila Allchin, the incident will continue tomake her shudder; she


was preparing the ground beneath the tree to inter the ashes of a parish- ioner just 45 minutes earlier. Rev PeterCallway, rector of the united Farleighs benefice, said:“We are ex-


tremely pleased the churchyardis open again, having takenawhile to get the necessary permissions and advice, andwe are happy that thosewhowereun- able to lay flowers in this part of the graveyard will be able to do so.” It is understood the three boughs had simply become too heavy to bear, with no signs of disease found.


would stop 99% of unsuitable vehi- cles using it." Tony Lavelle said: "It has hap-


pened before. Looks like the dam- age is to the parapet not the supporting arch. Maybe it wasn't repaired to a good enough stan- dard last time." In September 2016, Teston Bridge


was shut after it was hit by a vehi- cle, leaving a hole in the side of the structure.


News


MP’s thumbs up for caring


MAIDSTONE MP Helen Grant has welcomed a new “stay at home” service for the elderly, ad- mitting that she would like to live in herownhomefor as long as pos- sible into her old age. Mrs Grant praised the scheme of home-call care assistants offeredby Bluebird Care in Maidstone. She said: “It’s really made me


think about how I would like to be cared for in the event that I need ad- ditional support when I get older, as I would certainlywant to remain inmyownhomefor as long as pos- sible.” The MP made her comments


after visiting Royal Air Force vet- eran Geoffrey Kellam. The 88-year-old,whotook part in


the Berlin Airlift of 1948-9, has had the support of live-in care assistant Shawlene Chance since July. Having lived in Maidstone for 60


years, Mr Kellam wanted to stay put, even though his family grew concerned after he had several falls. He said: “It is reassuring for me


and my family to know that some- one is always here. “She keeps the house clean,


looks aftermeand I enjoy the com- pany of having her around.” .


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