downsmail.co.uk


News Bats restrict club nightmatches


THE plight ofmoth-eating bats liv- ing inwoodland near theA274 be- came the focus of an impassioned planning debate recently. Bearsted Football Club was look-


ing to increase the hours floodlights can be used at its ground near Otham, but it was not sport that shaped the outcome butwildlife. The club,which is nowplaying in


the SouthernCounties East Football League, needs to increase its light capacity to enable it to compete in cup competitions that might go to extra time. The club, inHoney Lane,Otham,


wanted to be allowed to extend its floodlight time by an hour to 10.30pmon Tuesdays,Wednesdays


THREE people have been arrested in connection with the supply of con- trolled drugs after police stopped a hire car. The vehicle had been reported as


not having been returned, and was spotted by officers travelling from Bredhurst into Boxley. It was stopped in Styles Lane at around 1.45am on February 1, when suspi- cions were raised and the three


and Thursdays during the season. A previous hearing was deferred


so that an ecological survey could be completed into the state of the bat population and whether it might be affected by an increase in floodlighting at the site. The study found there would be


no discernible impact on the local bats. The LiberalDemocrat’sCllr Tony


Harwood said the area around the A274 Sutton Road and Otham was undergoing “urban sprawl” with house-building. He told fellow members of Maidstone Borough Council’s planning committee: “Lighting has an absolutely disas- trous impact on the moths which


Hire car alert leads to three arrests


were taken toMaidstone police sta- tion for a drug search. A 21-year-old man from Sutton


Valence was arrested on suspicion of possession of class A drugs with intent to supply alongside another man, 21, and a 39-year-oldwoman, who both come fromDartford. Drugs believed to be cocainewere


seized and all three remain in cus- tody under investigation.


are the prey species of the bats.” Ukip’s Cllr Gordon Newton, un-


happy at the possibility of residents being disturbed by extra lighting time, said that of the nine species of bat found in the UK five of them were present locally and dismissed


the ecological study as “absolute nonsense”.He protested: “Batswill be affected by what is going on here.” FellowUkipmember Eddie Pow-


ellmentionedhe hadbeen the chair- man of a club of a similar size to Bearsted FC.He said the chances of playing Manchester United on a Tuesday night in an FA cup replay were “extremely unlikely” so the re- action to the applicationwas “going over the top”. However, he bowed toCllrHarwood’s “superior knowl- edge” of British bats. The committee resolved to limit


the number of 10.30pm extensions to four per season and only in offi- cial FAtrophy competitions.


Two arrested on drugs charges Plain clothes officers took


TWO men were arrested after cash and suspected heroin were seized in aMaidstone entertain- ment complex. The men, aged 34 and 62 and


from the Maidstone area, were spotted acting suspiciously in the Lockmeadow Complex at around 2.30pm on Thursday, February 8.


them to Maidstone police sta- tion for a drug searchwhere the younger man was arrested on suspicion of possession of a con- trolled drug, and the 62-year-old on suspicion of supplying con- trolled drugs. The pair were later released under investigation.


Registered charity number 1062723


The Goodman Centre is a fully equipped, safe and homely day care facility for those living as a two course hot lunch with refreshments throughout their day.


‘’It’s amazing what a difference a day can make here at The Goodman Centre ’’


Why not try a Free day by calling us on 01622 736966 Email info@ageukmaidstone.org.uk or visit www.ageuk.org.uk/Maidstone 6 Egremont Road, Bearsted, ME15 8LH


Maidstone March 2018 13


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48