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Maidstone Weald Edition Maidstone East Edition


November 2017 October 2017


downsmail.co.uk downsmail.co.uk


Maidstone & Malling’s No. 1 newspaper


Call to resolve rural gypsy site planning


Panto ahoy!


RURAL areas are becoming a “magnet” for gypsy and travellers as the proportion of sites in some areas increases, a Maidstone borough coun- cillor haswarned.


the council’s planning committee meeting in October surrounded sites for gyspies and travellers. Martin Round represents Head-


CCTV call in a bid to stop fly-tipping


corn ward, where the issue is in- creasingly prominent, with a number of sites –many of themex- ceeding the amount of properties they have permission for – along Lenham Road on the outskirts of the village. He said: “It’s a considerable con-


CALLS for the installation of CCTV cameras to prevent fly-tipping on a country road have been made by the local borough councillor.


cern. Don’t getmewrong,we have a history of welcoming travellers here for many years, many of whom are solid members of the community who do a heck of a lot of good for the community. “But then you see the amount of


Burberry Lane, near Leeds and Broomfield, has been targeted by waste dumpers for years, but in re- cent months, the problem has be- come more acute. Constructionwaste, rubble, hard


environmental harmand the effect on the rural character from sites that are temporary or very often il- legal. “It’s about whether it’s propor-


core, windows and household fur- niture is left illegally – often strewn in the middle of the road. Cllr Gill Fort said: “Every month


nearby, more than a year after it was dumped and set on fire. The church car park has also seen


Borough coun- cillor Martin Round says Headcorn has a history of wel- coming trav- ellers but he is concerned about the num- ber of planning appllications submitted for gypsy and trav- eller sites


tional and the cumulative effect is just rising and rising, particularly in Headcorn and Staplehurst.” But a spokesman for theNational


we are having toilets, sinks and construction waste dumped in the village, specifically in Burberry Lane, where we are now thinking of installing cameras on private land, to oversee the problem area.” A recent event in Burberry Lane


saw a caravan burned out while a torched car remains on a footpath


many instances of illegal dumping. But it is a problem in many rural


Gypsy-Roma-Traveller Council in- sisted that the council has a re- sponsibility to look after them as much as any other citizen. He said: “We need to see more


sites being produced by councils. We also need to see planning per- mission for people who want their own sites rather than being dependents.


areas including Langley, Otham and Kingswood. Water Lane in Bearsted and Pilgrims Way have also been targeted recently. Last year, Maidstone Borough Council cleared 911 cases of fly-tip- ping and this year more than 163 have been recorded since April. The approaching darker evenings will prompt a rise in illegal tipping. Cllr Fort welcomed a joint initia-


tive by the Environment Agency and the Driver and Vehicle Stan- dards Agency to clamp down on


“The problem we have is the


stereotypical attitudewhere people don’twant travellers living in their area. “People have to accept that trav-


unlicensed waste carriers, but be- lieves the cost to small firms of dis- posing of construction waste at a transfer station is proving a deter- rent that is costing councils more. Cllr Fort made her remarks as


ellers have asmuch right as anyone to live and exist in areas and if peo- ple don’t like that, they should look for an area where travellers don’t live.” Cllr Round, a Conservative, ac-


one of the borough’s closest trans- fer stations at North Farm, Tun- bridge Wells, announced it will be closed for 10weeks. She added: “If you go along the


cepts the need to accommodate gypsies and travellers in the area, but his concern is that there are some people taking advantage of the system – and that some of the


land is becoming a commercialised marketplace. “There’s a genuine need for peo-


Obituaries


ple to have this accommodation and maintain this nomadic lifestyle,” Cllr Round added. “But at the same time there are


line of increasing fines, they have to be enforced. A reduction in the charge or offering it free may have the desired similar effect.” Athree-monthly litter pick on the mile-long stretch of road through Leeds village produces an average 32 black sacks of rubbish.


Cllr Fort, who also serves as a


people exploiting the system, and that is not going down well with some people. “Many travellers are decent and


honourable people, but some of them even complain because there is a ruthlessness to the way plan- ning has been going on. “People are actually marketing


01622 690290 YOUR LOCAL PROPERTY EXPERT


maidstone@martinco.com 23 Pudding Lane • Maidstone • Kent


parish councillor, says teaching children about social responsibility and the issue of litter in schools will help take the issue off the streets. She believes with every household receiving a weekly refuse collection service, there is no excuse for litter being thrown from vehicles or dumped in the road.


their fields now because they know people can just move in and noth- ing will be done about it. “Maidstone has become a mag-


Obituaries 3232 Parish Councils 34-35


ASH dieback has been discovered in Monks Meadow in Detling; Hollingbourne village fete stall- holder co-ordinator Jean Duffy has resigned; yellow lines are needed for Buffkyn Way, Otham, to allow buses through Imperial Park; rub- bish bins in the sports field in Kingswoodare to be moved over to the picnic area and rear exit.


Parish Councils 34-37


CONCERN was expressed about lack of progress with the Kingswood vil- lage hall extension; no police pres- ence was noted at the parish meeting in East Farleigh; the sum- mer play scheme in Staplehurst re- duced its losses by two per cent; complaints of bad behaviour by a football team were received in Sut- ton Valence.


Crime Reports 35 Crime Reports 37


net for gypsies and travellers, and I really feel we need to discuss this with our neighbouring councils, much like we do housing needs.”


Night to forget for council planners, page 10


Home Alarms supplied and fitted


VEHICLES have been driven over farmland in Lenham, causing damge to crops; an attempted break-in was reported in Detling; a vehicle was vandalised in Bearsted Rd, Weavering; pumpkins were stolen from an allotment in Lenham.


Comment 46-47 Home Alarms supplied and fitted visit www.amiga.co.uk or call 08000 199622 visit www.amiga.co.uk or call 08000 199622


AN ATTEMPT to break into a shed near the reservoir at Linton failed; lead flashing was stolen from a communal cycle shed in Coxheath; a car in Yalding had a tyre deliber- ately punctured; a Vauxhall Zafira was stolen from the roadside in Staplehurst.


Comment 46-47


THE cast of Cinderella, which is to be staged at the Hazlitt Theatre in Maid- stone, took to the River Medway to launch this year's panto. On board The Kentish Lady were national treasure Rustie Lee (Fairy Godmother), former EastEnder Ste- fan Booth (Prince Charming), Eliza- beth Bright (Cinderella), Craig Anderson (Buttons) and, pictured, Stephen Richards and Adam Bor- zone (Ugly Sisters) . They were greeted by pupils from


Themajority of rulings in front of


South Borough Primary School and members of the media. The panto runs from December 1-31. For tick- ets go to www.hazlitttheatre.co.uk.


FREE No. 246


News News Brewery hits jackpot Kate, 107, dies


KATE Hart, a resident at an old people’s home in Bearsted, has died aged 107, her son David has disclosed.


HELEN Whately asked the government to halt the borough’s housing scheme.


THE Musket Brewery in Linton can give business a boost after winning an EU grant. 4


3 MP’s Local Plan bid Plans for Dr Nigel


Home ‘outstanding’ 5


A CARE home in Staplehurst was given top marks by Care Quality Commission.


4 Clamp illegal trucks


THE widow of GP Dr Nigel Minnet will walk the Grand Canyon for charity. 12


Jason Donovan date


THE former Neighbours star brings his show to the Hazlitt Theatre next May.


LORRIES which park illegally should be clamped, says councillor. 12


Castle woods for sale 15


18


WOODS once part of Leeds Castle es- tate are for sale for almost £2m.


FREE No. 247


Maidstone & Malling’s No. 1 newspaper


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