News Festival sound


limit broken ANexplanation has been requested from Maidstone council after Bearstedresidents learnedthemusic during the Oktoberfest event at Mote Park did exceed sound limits. AFreedomof Information request


for details of howmuch the noise on October 13 exceededthat allowedon the licence issued byMBC has been submitted by Geoffrey Taylor, who lives inAviemoreGardens. He says that even with double


glazedwindows closed,music from the two-day Bavarian bash left Bearsted residentswith fewoptions other than to turn up their TVs in a bid to drown out the noise. He said: “Had the speakers been


facing into town there would have been a huge number of complaints. Instead, itwasdecidedtopoint them along the valleywhere fewer people live.” He is also unhappy there was no


complaint line, and that his callwas directedto an out-of-hours’ environ- mental health line in Sheffield. Mr Taylor said: “If MBC is going


to issue entertainment licences for outdoor events at public parks, it can’t leave organisers to manage themselves; it’s like parents telling their children they can have a party, as long as they don’t upset the neighbours!”


downsmail.co.uk


Questions over works on ‘Bogs’ development


ASworkto clear a controversial site for newhomes inBearsted gets un- derway, questions are being asked if conditions relating to the ap- proved plan have already been breached. Bearsted borough councillor Val


Springett says planning permission was given for 50 homes at Lilk Meadow in 2016, but with a direc- tion that work start within a year. Another agreement reachedwiththe applicant at the timewas that a ‘de- livery committee’, with representa- tives from the borough and parish councils, be formed to ensure mini- mal disruption in the area. Cllr Springett said: “We under-


stand that the development has passed into new hands and we are keen to determine that if work has started, the delivery committee will be set up shortly. “Wewant to have a goodworking


relationshipwith the newdeveloper of the site so that its needs can be met along with the wishes of resi- dents on issues such as lorrymove- ments and hours of operation.” Planning officers have been asked to confirmwhether thedevelopment


downsmail.co.uk


Village signs get a newlook


in overhaul ARTISTS in Lenham have been putting their talent to good use by refurbishing the signs in the vil- lage. Signs at theMaidstoneRoad and


Ashford Road entrances to the vil- lage have been completely over- hauled and rehung. ArtistBruceArgue,with the help


of LenhamArtists’ group, stripped them down to hand paint them again. The landmark signs were origi-


nally commissioned in 1991. The work to refurbish them was


sponsored by theArtGroupmem- bers. ClerkMargoMcFarlane says the


Cllr Val Springett wants answers to questions on LilkMeadow development


has startedandearly conditionsmet, aswell as details about formation of the representatives’ committee. Tory borough councillor for the


area Denis Spooner said garages in CrossKeys hadbeendemolishedon site and trees and undergrowth cleared. However, he was unsure if this constitutedwork having started in planning terms. Cllr Springett said: “This is a very


grey area and we are keen to get clarification on these points. The


planning approval has been given, in spite of local objections, and we are keen to work with the develop- ers to ensure that the development runs as smoothly as possible.” The development, on an area sub-


ject to flooding andknown locally as “the bogs”, caused significant local concern and was given with many requirements. When finished, itwill incorporate


20 affordable housing and a nature reserve.


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Maidstone East December 2017 13


parish council is extremely pleased with the results, adding: ”Handy- man Chris Hill refurbished the metal work, treated the oak posts and varnished the planters, which are tended by village volunteers. The signs were replaced on No-


vember 9. Benches throughout the village


have also been refurbished. MrsMcFarlane said: “The signs


arepart of anoverallparishcouncil project to clean, refurbish,maintain andreplace our street furniture and signs.”


News


Fayre amount given to good local causes


MORE than £4,000 was donated to local charities at the annual Bearsted and Thurnham Carnival and Fayre Charity presentation evening. The eventwas heldatMadginford


Hall and a number of charities ben- efited fromthework of the charity. The biggest sum handed out was


£2,500 to this year’s main benefici- ary, Hi Kent, who will use the money to provide ongoing support for deaf and hard of hearing people. Hi Kent has close links with


Bearsted and has amonthly hearing aid aftercare clinic at Bearsted Sur- gery. Several other local charities and


organisations received donations of up to £250, including Bearsted Cricket Club, St Peter’s Busy Bees Pre-School, Madginford Seniors Group,BearstedScouts,Kent Surrey & Sussex Air Ambulance, The Girl Guides, The Young Lives Founda- tion, Square Pegs Drama Club, RoseacreWI,Maidstone Bonsai So- ciety, Bearsted Korfball Club and a donation to a local student who is fundraising for an expedition to Cambodia.


Cheques were handed out to a number of worthy causes at the Bearsted and ThurnhamCarnival and Fayre presentation evening The DeputyMayor ofMaidstone,


Councillor David Naghi, was on handtopresent the cheques, ably as- sisted by one of Bearsted’s reigning Carnival Princesses. The funds were raised at this


year's Fayre which took place on BearstedGreen on June 24, celebrat- ing ‘TheMagic of theMusicals’. Fayre Chairman James Capon


said: “We want to say a huge thank you to everyone who put so much effort into this year’s fayre, fromvol- unteers, participants and visitors, to all those localpeople andcompanies


who kindly donated their services for free to help raisemoney for such worthwhile causes. “The green was buzzing with ac-


tivity andwe are really pleased that we had such a fun and colourful day. “We are already looking forward


to next year’s fayre.” The 2018 Fayre will take place on


BearstedGreen on Saturday June 30. Further information and updates


on the plans fo next year’s event can be found on Facebook or at www.bearstedfayre.co.uk.


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