News Teston Bridge


has reopened TESTON Bridge has reopened fol- lowing its closure in August after being damage by a drink driver. Repairs to the bridge on the


B2163 Teston Lane, costing in the region of £75,000, had originally been scheduled to finish by Octo- ber 8, but were delayed for a fur- ther 10 days.


Traffic diversion


WORK by BTwill force the closure of Chart Road for up to 12 days. The county council says the road


will be closed outside LaurelHouse inChart Sutton fromNovember 20. As a result, trafficwill be pushed


on to theA274North Street,Warm- lake Road, and Church Road. The closure is for the installation of a BT cabinet by BT Openreach.


Village banker


NATWEST’s mobile bank will be stoppingweekly in Staplehurst. The mobile branch will be in the


car park of the Free Church in Sta- tion Road every Saturday from 10.30am to 11.45am from Novem- ber 18. This is in addition to NatWest’s


“community banker”, who is at Staplehurst library on Tuesdays from1pmto 4pmto help customers with banking queries.


downsmail.co.uk


Mains upgrade plans must resolve flooding


SOUTHERN Water needs to be clear that any changes to the sew- erage system in Headcorn ad- dresses current flooding issues, as well as plans to join more homes to themains. The comment comes from parish


council chairman Lyn Selby, who says any upgrade, while welcome, would be “simply ridiculous” if it failed to resolve the area’s current overflowissues. Her comments come after South-


ern Water’s decision to delay this month’s consultation on its upgrade to theNewYear. Cllr Selby said: “I’m not entirely


surewhy this has been set back, but we have been badgering Southern Water for a solution for 15 years. “Moat Road has particular prob-


lems, especially when it rains, with sewage spewing into the road, along with other unpleasant matter, such as contraceptives, and this needs to be addressed before any more houses are built.” But while SouthernWater agrees


there is a problem, with the system overflowing near its Moat Road


Moat Road in Headcorn has seen regular flooding following periods of heavy rain


pumping station, it says theupgrade is “primarily a scheme to connect newdevelopments”. The improvements will allow a


further 550 homes to be tapped into the system – in line with Maid- stone’s Local Plan – at a time when


villagers in Moat Road experience sewage flooding twice to 11 times a yearwhen it rains. SouthernWater saidthatwhile the


“finishing touches” are still being made to its project, the work “should also ease some of the flood- ing problems inMoat Road”. Aspokesman said: “The scheme is


being carried out to serve new de- velopments – but will improve the flood situation for residents as we will be increasing the network ca- pacity and laying a newmain along Moat Road into the pumping sta- tion.” Asked about future development,


the spokesman said: “With regardto development beyond 2031, we’d look closely at any plans before working outwhat, if any, additional work is needed to connect them.We firmly believe thatworking collabo- ratively with developers and au- thorities is the best approach for all.” SouthernWater says the scheme is


likely to start in the first half of 2018, but it will “continue to liaise with customers and local authorities, to ensure all elements are right”.


Grow With Your Community Volunteering is an excellent way to give back to your community, gain new


skills and become a part of an inspiring experience. Whether it’ clients at the day care centres, jumping behind the wheel of our minibuses or


By sharing just a few hours a week, you could make all the difference to a lonely or isolated person in your community.


www.ageuk.org.uk/maidstone


Call us on... 01622 753618 Or pop in to... 7 Mill Street , Maidstone, ME15 6XW Or email… Volunteering@ageukmaidstone.org.uk


Registered Charity Number 1062723 6 Maidstone Weald November 2017


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