News News
Rail crossing
closure talks AMEETING todiscuss closingrail- way crossing point, used by walkers for decades, has been re-arranged. Network Rail wants to close the
unmanned crossing in Holling- bourne, known as Snarkhurst, and divert walkers to the station foot- bridge. It cites fears about the frequency
TRAVELLERS have moved back onto a popular park in Larkfield for the second time in six months. The families - in five caravans -
and speed of trains, poor site lines, sun glare and insufficient warning forwalkers of approaching trains as reasons for closure. The public meeting will now be
held during the afternoon of Tues- day, January 23, at Hollingbourne Village Hall. Representatives from KCCwill visit the site ahead of a meeting. Further details fromKCC’sAndy Tait
atAndrew.tait@kent.gov.uk.
Lock knife arrest AMAIDSTONEmanwasarrestedon drug andweapon charges in the town centre. A lock knife was seized when the
19-year-old was arrested in Palace Avenue onDecember 6. Hewas also arrestedin connection
with the supply ofdrugs, alongwith possessing a prohibitedweapon. Hewas bailed to return to the po- lice station at a later date.
pulled on to Gighill Green in Lunsford Lane on Sunday October ,, releasing dogs on the popular public open space and setting up washing lines within hours. It is un- derstood the fami- lies in- volv ed have been offering tree felling services to residents in the area. Parish council chairman David Thornewell says more has to be done to stop the travelling com- munity running circles around the police and local councils. He says the job ofmoving on trav-
ellers for a second time will run into thousands of pounds The last inci- dent, in early summer, costing the parish council £1,200, with the trav-
Anotherincursion at Larkfield park
Safety first for village warmemorial repairs
ellers simply moving on to take up temporary residence elsewhere in the area. He said: “They just seem to be
doing the rounds. These incidents have affectedWest Malling, forcing the closure of the village hall, and Leybourne, and now they are back in Larkfield. The police told resi- dents that this was a civil trespass when they reported it and that they couldn’t do anything and obviously the council offices were closed be- cause it was the weekend. These travellers know and play the sys- tem.” The council’s legal team served an eviction notice but it took aweek to enforce. Cllr Thornewell held talks with Laddingford Engineering in an effort to increase security further on the public land, near the M20. Valdemar Kalinin (pictured), of
the National Gypsy-Traveller-Roma Council said recently that local councils must provide designated traveller sites or “tolerated zone” which gypsy convoys can move onto. He said: “It comes down to racial prejudice against this com- munity.”
A PARISH council is facing a large repair bill to fix a villagewar memorial in time for the 100th an- niversary of the end ofWWI. Thememorial is in the grounds of
Holy Cross Church in Bearsted and plastic bollards have been aroundits edges after a crackwasdiscoveredin the stone cross at its top. Work to remove thedamagedpart
was due to be carried out before Christmas amid fears it could break off and injure passers-by. Bearsted Parish Council is keen to
have it restored in time for Novem- ber’s commemorations. The cost of the works is under-
stood to be in excess of £25,000. Council clerk Sarah Lewis said:
“We are definitely looking to get the work carried out in the early part of the year – and hope thatwe can. “It is potentially very dangerous
andthat iswhy I sent an email to our stonemasonto get the cross removed as soon as possible. “Iwas shocked – it reallywas in a
poor state. As well as a crack in the cross, the stonemason also advised us that the shaft is showing severe signs of deterioration, sowewill get
‘Spooktacular’ at the farm
Cllr Richard Ash beside the warme- morial in Bearsted churchyard
both parts replaced at the same time.” There were concerns over who
should take responsibility for the re- pairs of the memorial, because it is sitedwithin the church grounds, but theparish council has taken this task on. Parish councillor RichardAsh be-
downsmail.co.uk downsmail.co.uk
lieves that is completely the rightde- cision. He said: “In a lot of villages thewarmemorialwould be on pub- lic land – I would have expected ours to be on TheGreen, really. “It’s important that we do the
work to repair this facility and I do feel that it is our responsibility. “It is obviously a very big year for
war memorials in 2018 and it is im- portant that ourmemorial looks the part.” The bollardswere put in place by
MAKE the most of the October half-term holiday at Kent Life Heritage Farm Park’s Halloween Spooktacular in Maidstone. Brave kids are invited to the vintage village to knock on doors and
theReverendCanon JohnCorbyn of the church, but when asked about the site, he directed enquiries to the parish council. Mrs Lewis added: “There is a lot
discover who – or what – is lurking behind them from October 21-31. The award-winning attraction at Sandling, near Maidstone, has a few
other tricks up its sleeve to turn its usual exhibits into frightening farmhouses and horrifying homes. Youngsters can try pumpkin carving, dressing up and the Ugly Bug Ball. On October 25, there will be more spooky goings-on with Kent Life
5-6pm and, for older visitors, from 7-8pm. If you would like to know more about any of the above, call 01622 763936.
of hard work going on behind the scenes about the work on the me- morial, andit’s important thatwe go through the proper channels. “It has always been understood
After Dark, This event includes a spine-chilling tour suitable for under-eights from
that theparishcouncil looks after the war memorial. It could cost a lot of money and, of course, as a parish council we have a duty to spend money in the bestway possible. “We are working on finding
grants to help us provide the full cost andto get thework carriedout.”
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