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Brides!Get tochurch on time and bag a refund


A VICAR has found a novel way of ensuring his brides do not keep the groom waiting at the alter steps. When newlyweds at Holy Cross


Cllr Tony Harwood is surrounded by waste, some of it toxic, dumped on the Ringlestone estate


Why notmake toxicwaste an


‘enviro-crime’? AN urgent call has been made to protect an area inMaidstone that’s earning itself a reputation as a dumping ground for fly-tippers. Waste, including toxic asbestos


tiles, paint and plastics are being dumped repeatedly in vulnerable areas across the Ringlestone estate – four incidents sinceDownsMail’s first report during the autumn half- termbreak. The area’s borough councillor,


Tony Harwood, is now calling on landowner Golding Homes,Maid- stone Borough Council (MBC) and the police to tackle what he de- scribes as “an enviro-crime epi- demic blighting the Ringlestone estate”. He says in the most recent cases,


waste has been cleared from a parking area on the northern edge of the estate near Sheridan Close and three further fly-tips of broken asbestos tiles and leaking paint tins from the garage block on Calder and Egerton Road. The Calder Road site is particu-


larly sensitive because it is on a popular route to the RiverMedway towpath, used by local children and dog owners. CllrHarwood said: “Once again,


I had to liaisewithGoldingHomes and MBC to arrange an expensive specialist clean-up and decontami- nation.” He was in the area to discuss


housing issues with residents and says his efforts to clear themess left him splattered with emulsion and his shoes encrustedwith paint. CllrHarwood said: “I came to re-


semble a Jackson Pollock canvas while attempting to move the worst of the rubbish from the pedestrian route. I had to carrymy shoes and pad around in my socks.” He has now requested an urgent


meeting with Maidstone Council, GoldingHomes and Kent Police to tackle this issue.


10 Maidstone January 2018


Church, Bearsted, and St Mary’s, Thurnham, near Maidstone, get handed their certificate ofmarriage, Reverend Canon John Corbyn gives thema cheque for £100. Canon Corbyn hit on the idea


while on sabbatical in Uganda where he read a notice at Namirembe Cathedral, Kampala, about theirmethodof ensuringwed- dings took place on time. Canon Corbyn (58) said: “I had a


chuckle at the approach. Butwhen I got back home, there had been two weddings, inquick succession, atmy church when the brides were each more than 20 minutes late, without explanation, let alone apology. “I know it’s said that it’s the


bride’s prerogative to be late but this was a bitmuch.” More than 20 people can give up


their time to assist at awedding, in- cluding the verger, organist, choir and bellringers, he explained. “These people give an hour or so


out of their day – generally at a weekend – which can turn into 90 minutes or more if the ceremony runs late,” he said. “When we have children in the


choir parents arrange their day aroundthewedding.Whenabride is late, it disrupts them, too. The reper- cussions can be quite extensive.”


Reverend Canon John Corbyn checks his watch Now, when couples book a wed-


ding at Holy Cross, they are told about a £100 element built into the fee. If the service starts within 10 minutes of the due time, £100 is re- funded – a cheque is handed over along with the certificate of mar- riage. If not, the amount is distrib- uted among the members of the teampresent. The vicar said: “Obviously, if there


are genuine extenuating circum- stances,wewill take theminto con- sideration.” Wedding guests have mixed


views on the practice. “We thought it a bit oddwhen the


vicar gave the couple a cheque as part of the service andcongratulated


downsmail.co.uk Surgery applauded asmodel for care downsmail.co.uk


A GP surgery near Maidstone has been held up as amodel of outstanding care. In a report from the Care Quality Com-


mission (CQC), the hard work, dedication of staff and integration of services at Sut- ton Valence Surgery were praised for “making a real difference for patients”. The South Lane practice earned special


mention for having clearly defined and em- bedded systems to minimise patient risk and for its response to the needs of the eld- erly and travelling community. Care given at the surgery was rated Out-


standing for beingwell led and responsive to people’s needs, andGood for being safe, caring and effective.


CCTV call to stop


CALLS for the installation of CCTV cameras to prevent fly-tip- ping on a country road have been made by the local borough coun- cillor.


CQC praise for staff at Sutton Valence Surgery Vital bus services under threat Burberry Lane, near Kingswood,


CALLS on Kent County Council are being made by the public and local MPs in a desperate effort to save 78 subsidised bus services. Ten routes covering Maidstone


and Malling are earmarked for the chopunderplans byKCCto balance its books bywithdrawing its subsidy for ‘socially necessary’ buses. The 1.6 million journeys that


them for being on time!” said Allyson Harper from Guildford, who attended a recentwedding as a friend of the bride. Clara Hubbard, one of this sum-


mer’s brides, said: “People think I amalways late, so Iwas determined to get to church on time to prove themwrong – and claimthe £100! “I was ready in time but the car


got stuck in traffic on the A249. Though Iwas aminute or two over the 10minutes, I still got the cheque. My husband and l loved the service and thewhole daywas just great.” Canon Corbyn commented: “The


systemworks verywell. This year, I have been able to give a cheque to every couple.”


would be affected – many serving outlying communities such as Hollingbourne, Ryarsh, Leeds, Lin- ton andMarden – provide vital con- nections to the elderly, disabled and those getting to school. KCC says cutting the subsidy


serviceswill save almost £4m. But 11MPs, includingMaidstone


and Weald MP Helen Grant, say KCCmust explore other options for savings.


The issue is particularly pertinent


toMrsGrant,who has 16 secondary schools in her constituency. She held ameetingwith bus oper-


ators, parents and a representative from KCC just days before council- lors backed the cuts. She said: “While KCC may not have a statutory obligation to ensure


10XMaidstone – Ashford – WilliamHarvey Hospital 5 (evenings)Maidstone – Hawkhurst/Sandhurst 13, 59Maidstone, Grafty Green,Hollingbourne/Leeds, Stile Bridge, Hunton,Marden 59Maidstone – Grafty Green 266 Kilndown –Maidstone 88 Penenden Heath –Maidstone –


children attend the school of their choice, I feel it could domore to en- sure that children travelling from further distances are able to get to school.” She has beenmade very aware of


the frustrations among schools and parents of children arriving late or being left at stopswhile buses at ca-


Services facing county council axe Kings Hill


13Maidstone – Langley – Leeds – Hollingbourne – Bearsted 12Maidstone – Tenterden 150Maidstone –Walderslade


149 Halling – TheMalling School, EastMalling


has been targeted by waste dumpers for years, but in recent months, the problem has become more acute withwaste often strewn across the middle of the road. Cllr Gill Fort, pictured right, said:


“Every month we are having toi- lets, sinks and construction waste dumped in the village, specifically in Burberry Lane. 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 car remains on a footpath nearby,


58 Addington – Trottiscliffe– Ryarsh –WestMalling –Maidstone


STAPLEHURST vineyard Hush Heath will send its sparkling wine to Canada after landing a deal with one of the world’s largest alcohol buyers. Hush Heath’s Balfour 1503 Clas-


sic Cuvée is the first English sparkling wine selected for the Liquor Contril Board (LCBO) of On- tario’s Vintages Classics Pro-


Illegal fly-tipping is costing local authorities hun- dreds of thou- sands of pounds, says Cllr Gill Fort


pacity drive past.The letter goes on to highlight other cuts to routes by KCC and commercial operators. The proposed cuts will go out to


public consultation starting on Janu- ary 17. Any reduction in subsidised serv- ices would come in to affect next September.


is also


more than a year after itwas


dumped and torched. The church car park has also seen illegal dump- ing.


tomobilisepublic opinion to oppose the cuts, saying it targets the most vulnerable, deepens divisions in so- ciety and threatensmembers’ jobs. Aspokesman for KCC said finan-


cial support for socially necessary bus services –whichmake up 3%of Kent’s buses – is discretionary and urgedthepublic tomake their views known during the consultation, which closes onMarch 23.


gramme. The “significant deal” was announced as Prime Minister Theresa May was in Ottawa for talks with Canadian PM Justin Trudeau on how the UK and Canada can further strengthen their ties to build the closest, freest


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DownsMail deputy editor Jon Phipps is quizzed by Senacre’s Year 6 pupils on the world of themedia


Journalist Jon tells pupils howthe news gets published


YEAR 6 pupils at SenacreWood Primary School had amorning learning about the world of newspapers when theymet Downs Mail deputy editor Jon Phipps. Jon visited the class as part of a


unit the 10 and 11-year-olds are studying on newspapers. He explained about the history of the DownsMail, how stories and pages are put together and his own journalismcareer. He was then


asked questions by the children, ranging fromhis favourite stories and journalists, to his favour colour and holiday destinations. Jon said: “It was great to see so


much interest in journalists and what we do. “I think the children all learnt


something and I hope they enjoyed hearing what I had to say to them.” Year 6 teacher KirstinWright


said: “Year 6 have been learning about newspaper articles and journalismas part of our literacy this term. “Jon has been a valuable part of


making itmore real and he was informative and engaging. “The children have learned all


about how to interview sources, use shorthand and then how to structure a newspaper article ready for publishing.”


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