News Plan is refused


A SCHEME to build a two-storey detached house on the site of a dis- used garage in Glebe Lane, Maid- stone, has been turned down. Members of the borough coun-


cil’s planning committeewere con- cerned the building was out of keeping with the other homes in the street, off Tonbridge Road. One objector – a neighbour to the


rear – complained the rear of the new building would overlook his gardens and bedrooms. Cllr Tony Harwood said he could see no grounds for refusal.


Choral work


MUSIC fans have the chance to hear Brahms Requiemin Bearsted. The London version, Tragic


Overture, Four Serious Songs, will be performed by Bearsted Choral Society at the parish church of Holy Cross on Saturday,March 10. AndrewLowen, conductor of the


60-strong choral society, said: “We have a committed approach to our singing, but our primary aim is to enjoy making music together. The choir is known for its friendliness, something which is highly valued bymembers.” The concert starts at 7.30pm.


Tickets, £10, are available by email at tickets@bearstedchoral.org.uk or by calling 01634 666730.


Charity roles


THE charityUnlock,which aims to find jobs for former criminals, is looking for newtrustees. Applications are welcome from


thosewho have experiences of dis- advantage from having a criminal record. For information or to apply,


email the Marsham Street charity at valwoodcock@btinternet.com.


Will donations


IF YOUmake awill or update your existing one, you could helpHeart of Kent Hospice. Six local solicitors will give their


time free of charge in return for a donation to the hospice. Book before March 16 at www.hokh.org/makeawill.


Drugs factory


MORE than 40 cannabis plants were discovered when police raided a house in Harrietsham. Kent Police carried out a search


warrant at an address in West Street and found the cannabis fac- tory, which included growing equipment. A 47-year-old local man was ar-


rested on suspicion of cannabis cultivation. He was subsequently released under investigation.


22 Maidstone March 2018


downsmail.co.uk


Jobs uncertainty as food stores cutmanager roles


THREEmajor supermarket chains have announced they are to cut a number of senior roles. Staff at Tesco, Morrisons and


Sainsbury’s are facing an uncertain future after the announcements in January. Tesco,which has supermarkets at


Grove Green in Maidstone and in Larkfield, announcedthat it is to cut 1,700 shop floor jobs nationwide, with the roles of people manager, compliance manager and customer experience manager all to be axed, although their responsibilities will be shiftedto 900newroles across the business. That announcementwas followed


by news fromSainsbury’s of a simi- lar restructure, which will see a number of senior in-store posts slimmed down and replaced by fewermanagement roles as they try to “meet the challenges of today's re- tail environment”. Sainsbury’s su- permarkets in the area are in Maidstone town centre and at Aylesford. NowMorrisons is to cutmanage-


ment roles, meaning more jobs in Maidstone are at risk. The chain, which has a store off Sutton Road in the town, is shed-


Morrisons supermarket in Sutton Road is facing stiff competition fromthe newly-opened Aldi store


ding around 1,500 store manage- ment roles nationwide. It is understood that there are


around800 currentmanagement va- cancies, which those affected could apply for, but that couldmean some 700 other staff face redundancy or a lower-paid role. The company will, however, be


creating 1,700more junior jobs. The changes across the super-


market sector come as the compa- nies try to adapt to the public’s


Thanks for rubbish clear up


changing shopping habits. It is not known whether the opening last year of the cut-price, no-frills Aldi supermarket on the A274 Sutton Road has been affectingMorrisons’ trade. The new store was built to serve themassive housing develop- ment at Langley Park and other large-scale house-building schemes in southMaidstone, such as Bicknor Farm,which formpart ofMaidstone Borough Council’s plan for 17,600 nwdwellings.


BewlWater’s


river top-up A DROUGHT order has been issued to Southern Water, al- lowing it to top up its Bewl Water reservoir from the River Medway. In spite of recentwetweather,


the licence has been issued by the Environment Agency as a temporarymeasure. Thewater companymade the


VOLUNTEERS who pick up rubbish left by others in Maidstone have been given a tasty treat. Maidstone Borough Council or-


ganised a litter pickers’ lunch to say thank you to more than 40 groups that help keep the borough tidy, alongside events including the Au- tumn clean-up and the Great Big Spring Clean, taking place this year. James Gibson, the council’s envi-


ronmental improvement manager, said: “The annual volunteer litter pickers’ lunch is a small gesture


fromMaidstone Council to showour appreciation for the hard work car- ried out by the various groups.” He added: “It’s a thankless task


that requires a lot of dedication and tenacity. We are very grateful to anyone who gives up their precious free time to help keep the borough looking clean and tidy.” The lunch, which was organised


by the council’s waste team, was joined byMaidstone deputymayor David Naghi, who praised the work of volunteers.


application on January 5 after reporting the area’s reservoir was less than half full (42%) and morewill be needed to serve its 2.5msouth-east users this sum- mer. It says in spite of a wet De-


cember, autumn was very dry and, coupled with lower than average rainfall here lastwinter, many groundwater supplies and some reservoirs are low. Southern Water routinely


takes water from the Medway to fill Bewl Water, the largest reservoir in the south-east, but this permit will allow it to take more until the end ofMarch.


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