News Bishop’s hope


ACELEBRATIONof fostering and adoption is to be held by the Dio- cese of Rochester. The special child-friendly serv-


ice, at Rochester Cathedral on Sat- urday, March 3, at 11.30am, will celebrate the dedication and love shown by fostering and adoptive families. The Bishop of Rochester, the Rt


Rev James Langstaff, said: “This celebration is for everyone, as we all have a role to play in ensuring children fostered or adopted in our community are fullywelcomed. “I have found it hugely encour-


aging to see thiswork begin and to sense the enthusiasm and interest among people. It ismy prayer that, as a result of this project,many vul- nerable children will find homes for good, where they experience welcome, care and love.” Free tickets can be reserved at


homeforgood.org.uk/rochester- cathedral


Plastics pledge


MAIDSTONEMPHelenGrant has vowed to reduce the amount of plastic her family uses. The government is committed to


cutting the amount of plasticwaste across the country. So far, the num- ber of plastic bags in circulation has reduced by 83%since the introduc- tion of a charge for them, mi- crobeads in cosmetic products have been banned and consulta- tions are taking place on a deposit scheme for plastic bottles, to en- courage recycling. The key to a radical change lies


with individual household behav- iours, she says. Mrs Grant, MP for Maidstone


and theWeald, said: “We can all do our bit to look after ourmarine en- vironment, be that in parliament or in our homes”.


RoyalMail site


MAIDSTONE Borough Council claims to be making progress on plans to redevelop the former RoyalMail sorting office. Chief executive Alison Broom


told a Built EnvironmentNetwork- ing Conference that MBC had ap- pointed amasterplanner to look at the site, and that a report is set to come back in June. The site is being lined up for


hundreds of newhomes, aswell as shops and offices. Mrs Broom also revealed that


masterplanning is also set to start on the Ghurkas and Royal Engi- neer barracks at Invicta Park, which has been identified as a lo- cation for 1,300 new homes, 500 of which are due inMaidstone coun- cil’s current Local Plan period.


8 Maidstone March 2018


downsmail.co.uk


Campaigners forced to drop challenge to farm


THECampaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) has been forced to drop aHigh Court challenge to the industrial development atWoodcut Farm, close to J8 of theM20.


The case was refused a judicial


review by Mrs Justice Lang and CPRE officials felt there was little chance of appeal at this stage. The CPRE had looked closely at


the possibility of mounting a legal bid to block the controversial scheme, which is now in the bor- ough’s Local Plan. CPRE Kent chairman Richard


Knox-Johnston (belowleft) said: “If we can’t have a judicial review there is nothingwe can do to stop it on that basis until it gets into the detail, and there may well be a roomfor a challenge then.” CPRE will wait to see the details


of the plan and may challenge on the grounds of its area of outstand- ing natural beauty (AONB) status, heritage concerns (Leeds Castle andGrade II listedWoodcut Farm) and/or air quality. Long-time critic of the plan, bor-


ough councillorDenis Spooner (far right) said: “It is very sad but that’s the end of it, really. I cannot see where another challenge might come from, or onwhat grounds.” Cllr Spooner hoped there may


have been scope to challenge the plan’s ‘parkland setting’ as he was not convinced there was sufficient room on the site to create green


spaces between structures, as would be required. The Joint Parishes Group was


told earlier this month by Mr Knox-Johnston that the body was notminded to fight on at this stage. MPHelenWhately expressed re-


peated concerns about the effect that the Woodcut Farm industrial


Woodcut Farmdevelopment campaigners protest atMaidstone Town Hall


development will have on attrac- tions such as Leeds Castle and the impact housing numbers and traf- ficwill put on local communities. Planning chiefs at LiberalDemo-


crat-controlledMaidstone Borough Council hope to mitigate against a huge increase in traffic volumes created by the Local Plan’s 17,600 newdwellings by persuading resi- dents to take buses, ride bicycles or walk in a controversial scheme known as “modal shift”. The popularity of the Local Plan,


which has been in discussion for 12 years, will be put to the test when the next tranche of borough elec- tions (for 18 seats) takes place in May.


AMAN has been jailed for child abduction after hiding amissing teenager in a flat inMaidstone. Thomas Ireland (49) was sen-


Man jailed for hiding teen in flat Ta-Kush in 3D In court, the


tenced to five years in prison after being found guilty of the offence in the summer. The 15-year-old girl, who knew


theman, had been staying at the flat in Bower Lane after running away fromhome in July 2017. She had beenmissing for two weeks when officers fromKent Police found her inside the flat. Officers spoke to Ireland several


times during the search and on each occasion he lied, saying he had not seen the teenager and had no idea where she could be. But during a search of his flat in DerwentWay, Rainham, they found paperwork relating to a flat inMaidstone that was being refur- bished, and subsequently found the girl at that address.


jury heard that officers had found texts be- tween the girl and Ireland and how he had al- lowed her to stay at the flat. He claimed if


he had known her true age he would not have allowed her into the flat. Speaking after the sentencing at


Maidstone Crown Court on Febru- ary 9, Detective Constable Chris Spencer said: “Ireland knowingly lied to officers. He knew a search was taking place and that her fam- ily were extremely worried. “He chose to keep her where-


abouts a secret and had officers not found this second flat then the outcomemay have been a very different.”


MAIDSTONEMuseum’s Ta-Kush, the Egyptian woman brought to life by 3Dand other state-of-the-art technology, proved a major attrac- tion at a special viewing of themu- seum’s newAncient Lives Gallery. The 2,700-year-old was one fea-


ture during a reception for Mu- seumFriends in early February. Fifty guests attended the event


organised byMaidstoneMuseums Foundation (MMF).


Scouting skills


THE Scoutmovement is to include badges for coping with the chal- lenges ofmodern life. Doorstep crime, managing


money, online scams and fire safety are included in 12 newmod- ules for Scouts, Cubs, Beavers and Explorers to study. Once established inKent, the aim


is to promote the Skills4Life scheme to Scout groups across the UK.


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