News
downsmail.co.uk More housing ‘will fuel congestion’
TRAFFIC congestion in the bor- ough has become so acute that any new relief road should extend be- yond Langley to the Linton cross- roads. That is the opinion of SouthMaid-
stone Action for Roads and Trans- port
(SMART), which has
undertaken detailed studies during its four-year existence with recent data showing 37,000 vehicle move- ments through theWheatsheaf area in a single 12-hour period. Now SMART fears those figures
are likely to risewith the adoption of Maidstone Borough Council’s Local Plan, which will see 17,600 more homes built in the borough and an- other 7,000 imposed by the govern-
ment. Problems could become so acute on the A274 and the Loose RoadtoLinton that a by-passwould have to be extended to
cope.Maid- stone council claims “modal shift” – encouraging residents to use public transport, cycle or walk, along with modest road improvements – can mitigate against themassive increase in traffic. But
SMART
chairman Sean Carter (pictured), told Downs Mail: “We have roads designed for the 1970s
carrying
hugely increased volumes of traffic.
We are 40 years behind. “You cannot believe that modal
shift can mitigate against what is coming. It can’t.” SMART – which covers around
5,000 householdin the area – hasput forward a number of smaller meas- ures which may help, including school bus laybys and allowing buses into Cornwallis Academy to dropstudents off safely andwithout roadside delays. Heavily subsidised public trans-
port networks operate in other parts of the world and should happen here, said Mr Carter, who lives in north Loose. Improved footpaths would en- courage people to walk and there
Every little helps the homeless and hungry
HELEN GRANT has praised the work of food charities in the town in the run-up to Christmas. TheMaidstone and theWealdMP visited
Tesco’s superstore in Tovil to give her backing to the supermarket’s Food CollectionWeekend. The initiative invited Tesco customers across
the country to donate food, which would then be collected by FareShare, the UK’s largest food waste charity, and distributed to smaller charities to help those struggling to eat at this time of year. Mrs Grant said: “Whilst Christmas is, of course,
Business Focus Business Focus
a time of celebration, it is important to remember that it also brings great worry and concern tomany families inMaidstone and the Weald. “I commend the teamat (Tesco’s) Tovil store
for their passion and commitment and thank the people ofMaidstone for their goodwill and generosity.” The store also donates food which they can no
longer sell to charities – including The Vince Church, Home Start, Lilly Smith House and Dandelion Time.
MP Helen Grant is backing charity efforts to feed those struggling to eat this Christmas
downsmail.co.uk A personal service at a time of loss
Michael Lawrence, and his son Robert along with Kim and Angela, are the team behind a family-owned funeral service that has been helping families across the Maidstone area for 40 years.
With offices in Bearsted and Barming, Family Funeral Service is a third generation business, experienced in caring for your needs with commitment and understanding.
At such a stressful time, they know it’s important to sit and talk to you about every detail and to assist you in making the often
4 Cavendish Way, Ashford Road, Bearsted, Maidstone ME15 8PW
01622 260200 12 Maidstone January 2018
difficult decisions about how best to remember a loved one and to meet their personal wishes. With so many years’ experience, Family
Funeral Service has learned how to respond to the specific and different needs of every individual facing one of the toughest times in their life. This personalised approach includes the option of home visits and access to a friendly voice at the end of the phone around the clock, as well as personal support to clients through the bereavement process.
Michael Lawrence said: "The loss of a loved
one is never easy to cope with, and the added stress of making arrangements for the service can often bring further emotional upset. With our experience of making funeral arrangements we have learned how to help families have and be part of a unique and meaningful service that
Find us at:
59 High Street, Headcorn TN27 9QA
01622 962001 Maidstone January 2018 13 CALL US TO ARRANGE YOUR FREE VALUATION
Penenden Heath Office Maidstone ME14 2HN Tel: 01622 671200
www.ferrisandco.net Bearsted Office Bearsted ME14 4QZ
Tel: 01622 737800
celebrates life. "Our approach is simple. We sit with you in our
office or your home, taking you slowly and methodically through the various decisions that you will face and the options available to you. Sometimes, it’s just good to sit and talk, and to learn about the services and venues available from someone with experience and compassion before making a decision.”
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should be conditions for safer cy- cling. SMART member and local bor-
ough councillor Susan Grigg said: “We don’t want to become another platform for whingeing but to do something constructive to help our part of the borough.” The Green Party says nitrous
oxide levels have averaged 73 parts permillion this year atWheatsheaf, almost double the legal limit of 40ppm and is the second most pol- luted site in the county town. Party spokesman Stuart Jeffery
said: “Newhousing and additional car journeys along the Sutton Road willmake one of themost polluted spots inMaidstone farworse.”
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