News


Show and sale THE Rotary Club of the Weald of Kent will hold an art and craft ex- hibition and sale at Sutton Valence School on Saturday and Sunday, March 24 and 25. Entrance costs £1,which includes


a catalogue, and all proceeds will go to Rotary charities. Further details from Bob Taylor


on 01233 756379 orDerek Lamb on 01622 890650 or at www.weald- ofkentrotary.org.uk for entry forms.


Filmviewing HEADCORN Film Society will be screening Dunkirk (12) at the vil- lage hall on Saturday, February 24. Doors open at 6pm and the film


commences at 7pm. A small selec- tion of light refreshments will be available. Details at www.headcornfilm- socierty.webs.com


Winery’s deal STAPLEHURST winemaker Hush Heath Estates is boosting its activ- ity in the pub market by signing a dealwith a big player in the British bar industry. The winery has launched Hush


Heath Inns in a joint venture with EiManaged Investments.


downsmail.co.uk


Victory for public over A274widening scheme


PLANS towiden amain junction used by motorists heading into Maidstone fromthe south and the Weald have been dropped. Protesters living close to the junc-


tion where the A274 Sutton Road meets Willington Street attended themeeting of the cross-party Joint Transportation Board (JTB) in Jan- uary, and were relieved to see the plans rejected by the group. Following the JTB decision, Kent


County Council (KCC) vowed to rethink the proposal. KCC’s £4m plan would have


seen the roadwidened,which also would have meant the felling of a number of trees, some ofwhich are more than 100 years old. Computer-generated images


shown on the night attempted to present the impact on journey times in and out of the county town, but after the rejection, the plans have now been pushed firmly to the back burner. Cllr Gary Cooke, who proposed themotion to reject, said: "I amde-


Protestersmake their voices heard outside themeeting of the Joint Trans- portation Board lastmonth


lighted to confirm that KCC High- ways have accepted the decision of the JTB to reject proposals and... send it back for a rethink and a re- design on amuch smaller basis.” Petitions with some 900 signa-


tures were handed in on the night, with two local residents speaking against the plans. Brian Smith-Lowther, who lives


on Sutton Road, was one of the speakers.He said: “There is no traf- fic congestion, except at peak times. We would have faced nine months of hell, and we were not properly consulted on the plans be- fore theywere brought to the JTB.”


Campaign group WILLact still


has concerns about the traffic and the knock-on effect in Willington Street. A spokesman said: “We have no ideawhere the ever-grow- ing traffic will go from here. In peak times, no longer just two hours, traffic is at a standstill – not just in Willington Street but along the Ashford Road, New Cut Road and up to J7 of theM20. “Add to this, the extra vehicles


from homes in the pipeline along the Sutton Road and New Cut Road, plus those coming through from Coxheath, Yalding, Staple- hurst etc and it’s really not good.”


Thinking of renting, selling or changing agent this winter?


Contact us today. Mornings Open


Prep School Friday 2nd March 2018


Senior School Saturday 3rd March 2018


Book online now


Sutton Valence School svs.org.uk


Antique & Fine Art Auctioneers


We welcome Charles Crisford, our new clock specialist & valuer.


Resident in your area he offers free & confidential home valuations.


TO DISCUSS THE SALE OF YOUR CLOCK OR OTHER ITEMS CALL


Martin & Co Maidstone 23 Pudding Lane • Maidstone • ME14 1PA maidstone@martinco.com


12 Maidstone Weald February 2018


01622 690290 maidstone.martinco.com


0800 881 5691 charlesc@gorringes.co.uk


15 North Street - Lewes - BN7 2PE www.gorringes.co.uk Maidstone Weald February 2018 13


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