Maidstone East Edition Malling Edition
October 2017 February 2018
Panto ahoy! Group Plough-ing
on to save local VILLAGERS are stepping up their efforts to take over a local pub and reopen it as a community hub. The Plough Inn in Trottiscliffe
closed last year, but the Trosley Heritage Group is hoping that its status as an ssset of community value (ACV) will mean it can be saved. But the group admits it has
a “battle on their hands”. Full story on Page 3.
THE cast of Cinderella, which is to be staged at the Hazlitt Theatre in Maid- stone, took to the River Medway to launch this year's panto. On board The Kentish Lady were national treasure Rustie Lee (Fairy Godmother), former EastEnder Ste- fan Booth (Prince Charming), Eliza- beth Bright (Cinderella), Craig Anderson (Buttons) and, pictured, Stephen Richards and Adam Bor- zone (Ugly Sisters) . They were greeted by pupils from
South Borough Primary School and members of the media. The panto runs from December 1-31. For tick- ets go to
www.hazlitttheatre.co.uk.
Villagers revolt over planfor sandquarry
CCTV call in a bid to stop fly-tipping
RYARSHresidents say theywill not be forced to live beneath a “carcino- genic dust cloud” for the next 30 years. The response came at a packed
CALLS for the installation of CCTV cameras to prevent fly-tipping on a country road have been made by the local borough councillor.
public meeting to discuss the prospect of a 15-hectare quarry – in the heart of the village – featuring inKentCountyCouncil’sminerals’ extraction plan. Protestors say the prospect of
Burberry Lane, near Leeds and Broomfield, has been targeted by waste dumpers for years, but in re- cent months, the problem has be- come more acute. Constructionwaste, rubble, hard
quarrying for another 30 years and the reality of homes and the area’s primary school being coated daily in “dangerous silica dust” is unac- ceptable. KCC says the proposed site is a
core, windows and household fur- niture is left illegally – often strewn in the middle of the road. Cllr Gill Fort said: “Every month
potential source of 3.6m tonnes of soft and silica sand. Parish council chairman David Storey said it was “standing room
we are having toilets, sinks and construction waste dumped in the village, specifically in Burberry Lane, where 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 torched car remains on a footpath
nearby, more than a year after it was dumped and set on fire. The church car park has also seen
many instances of illegal dumping. But it is a problem in many rural
areas including Langley, Otham and Kingswood. Water Lane in Bearsted and Pilgrims Way have also been targeted recently. Last year, Maidstone Borough Council cleared 911 cases of fly-tip- ping and this year more than 163 have been recorded since April. The approaching darker evenings will prompt a rise in illegal tipping. Cllr Fort welcomed a joint initia-
tive by the Environment Agency and the Driver and Vehicle Stan- dards Agency to clamp down on
only” at a public meeting on Janu- ary 29 to discuss the suggestion. He added: “Everyone feels KCC
has to throw this idea out. There are 100 reasons to reject it and nothing to mitigate it. Ryarsh has been subjected to quarrying for more than 70 years and enough is enough.” Serious concerns were voiced
about traffic, health risks, pollu- tion, noise and the loss of green- belt near the Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. If approved, Borough Green
Sandpits has said it could utilise the site over 24 years, with five
unlicensed waste carriers, but be- lieves the cost to small firms of dis- posing of construction waste at a transfer station is proving a deter- rent that is costing councils more. Cllr Fort made her remarks as
one of the borough’s closest trans- fer stations at North Farm, Tun- bridge Wells, announced it will be closed for 10weeks. She added: “If you go along the
years ‘making good’. A spokesman for the newly-
formed Ryarsh Protection Group says another 30 years of quarrying disruption would “wreck the vil- lage”. Group vice chairMarkNankivell
line of increasing fines, they have to be enforced. A reduction in the charge or offering it free may have the desired similar effect.” Athree-monthly litter pick on the mile-long stretch of road through Leeds village produces an average 32 black sacks of rubbish.
Cllr Fort, who also serves as a
has lived in the village 22 years and is appalled by the potential for an- other “long-lasting blight on the village”. Protection group supporterOon-
01622 690290 YOUR LOCAL PROPERTY EXPERT
maidstone@martinco.com 23 Pudding Lane • Maidstone • Kent
parish councillor, says teaching children about social responsibility and the issue of litter in schools will help take the issue off the streets. She believes with every household receiving a weekly refuse collection service, there is no excuse for litter being thrown from vehicles or dumped in the road.
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agh Boyle added: “Silica dust is a group one carcinogen that would be carried over the surrounding area and its schools by the prevail- ingwind. This invisible dust poses too great a danger to too many people and the county council needs to be looking at alternative sources for sand or sites away from homes.” A spokesman for KCC said the
consultation on the extraction plan was an opportunity for the public to comment. It runs untilMarch 29. For details on the protection
group visitwww.ryarshprotection-
group.com.
Maidstone & Malling’s No. 1 newspaper
downsmail.co.uk
FREE No. 246
News
Maidstone & Malling’s No. 1 newspaper
Kate, 107, dies News
FREE No. 250
KATE Hart, a resident at an old people’s home in Bearsted, has died aged 107, her son David has disclosed.
HELEN Whately asked the government to halt the borough’s housing scheme.
Crisp ban wins fans3 MP’s Local Plan bid
A PRIMARY school head teacher who banned crisps in lunchboxes four days a week has re- ceived a positive reaction. 3
Support over surgery4 Plans for Dr Nigel 4 Churches challenged Jason Donovan date6
MORE than 100 residents rushed to sign a petition to keep their GP in West Malling.
THE widow of GP Dr Nigel Minnet will walk the Grand Canyon for charity. 12
THE former Neighbours star brings his show to the Hazlitt Theatre next May.
REVERENDS in the area say their churches are breaking even in tough times.
African adventure18
TWO teachers are getting ready for a trip to Malawi to meet with a local school.
THE Heart of Kent Hospice has been chosen as charity of the year by The Mall.
Obituaries Obituaries
Parish Councils 25-26 Parish Councils 34-35
32 Crime Reports 26
ASH dieback has been discovered in Monks Meadow in Detling; Hollingbourne village fete stall- holder co-ordinator Jean Duffy has resigned; yellow lines are needed for Buffkyn Way, Otham, to allow buses through Imperial Park; rub- bish bins in the sports field in Kingswoodare to be moved over to the picnic area and rear exit.
Town Talk
THE wheel nuts on a car parked in Ryarsh were loosened; a baby stroller was stolen from a garden in Kings Hill; a control station used for orienteering was taken from a park in Leybourne.
Comment 33-34 Crime Reports 35
VEHICLES have been driven over farmland in Lenham, causing damge to crops; an attempted break-in was reported in Detling; a vehicle was vandalised in Bearsted Rd, Weavering; pumpkins were stolen from an allotment in Lenham.
Comment 46-47
THE RECTOR of Snodland has announced he will be retring in September. Rev Hugh Broad- bent will be spending more time on hobbies he has had to put on hold when he leaves the role as he turns 65 – see Town Talk in this month’s Downs Mail. The bi-monthly inde- pendent magazine is dedicated to Snodland and Halling resi- dents.
8 Hospice gets a boost
10 23
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