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News News


downsmail.co.uk Comic’s views


‘wellmeaning’ RISING star of the comedy circuit Geoff Norcott will be appearing at Maidstone’s popular Hazlitt The- atre nextmonth. Fresh from a successful TV ap-


pearance at the Apollo and Ques- tion Time, Geoff will be treading the Hazlitt boards on Friday, Feb- ruary 23. The comic is on the “Right Lean-


ing butWellMeaning” tour,where he sees the funny side of his own Tory views. Tickets for the over-16s show


Anotherincursion at Larkfield park


TRAVELLERS have moved back onto a popular park in Larkfield for the second time in six months. The families - in five caravans -


cost £13.50 and are available on 01622 758611.


Filling station Kingswood, wrote


gets a revamp TESCOhas confirmed its filling sta- tion at Grove Green in Maidstone will be closed until February,while improvements are carried out. Downs Mail recently reported


apologised for any inconvenience caused and said it was working to reopen the station on Wednesday, February 14.”


that the forecourt was closed and since then a sign has been put up. A spokesman for the retailer


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-


parish ne nance”.


‘Thin air’won’t finance upkeep of our churches


THE parlous state of church fi- nances has led outspoken vicar Rev Steve Hughes to warn of two parishes potentially going bank- rupt within three years. AlthoughRevHugheswarns that


going bust is a “worst possible sce- nario”, the reality is that churches “cannot be run on thin air”. The Anglican vicar, who is in charge of the churches at Otham, Leeds,couldn’tLangley, Broomfield and in his


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 do anything and obviously


the council offices were closed be-local cause it was the weekend. These


eviction notice but it took aweek to he wrote,


many other places) are in a state of deThe council’s legal team served an is the “domain of


itravellers know and play the sys- tem.”


fi-


with Laddingford Engineering in an He added: “The parish of Otham


and Langley, for example, is likely to be bankrupt (literally) within three years – it is bleeding money at the rate of roughly £1,000 a month – unless there is a radical overhaul of what we are prepared to give.” He said that on average the six


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.”


effort to increase security further on the public land, near the M20.


s that our churches (and those in ‘Spooktacular’ at the farm cline.One of the areas of decline, enforce. Cllr Thornewell held talks


sletter: “The sad reality


services held at the two churches at- tract around 40 worshippers. Rev Hughes toldDownsMail that com- munal prayer is away to bringmore people together. He said: “Churches would be


stronger if the people took praying together seriously and making it a prayerful community. It’s true of all the churches, not just these. “The truth is that if a church holds


Rev Steve Hughes, left, with the Bishop of Dover, the Rt Rev TrevorWill- mott, centre, and Rev John Corbyn


within the church, and to say that things cannot go on forever.” Father Neil Bryson, in charge of


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


discover who – or what – is lurking behind them from October 21-31. The award-winning attraction at Sandling, near Maidstone, has a few


a jumble sale, you would get 10 to 20 volunteers to help out but if you hold a prayer meeting you would be delighted if 10 people turned up. It is just a challenge to the people


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.


After Dark, This event includes a spine-chilling tour suitable for under-eights from


the St Michael and All Angels in Tonbridge Road, Maidstone, said hall rentals bring extra income. In 2017, Fr Bryson introduced special services at Christmas which at- tracted almost 1,400 people, includ- ing many local schoolchildren. Midnight mass and its Christmas morning services saw a big jump year on year. Fr Bryson added: “Money is al-


ways a challenge but we always seemto cover it.”


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