News
Bell tower is last straw in feud over bungalow
JUST when the discord between neighbours in the leafy conserva- tion area of Otham could get no worse, the protagonist in the feud over a 1920s bungalowconversion put a cap on it. Well, more to the point, a bell
tower – and this time he has really stuck a sour note. As the dispute over the develop-
ment of Bramley into a uniquely in- dividualistic property by its owner and designer Daniel Stradulet en- ters its fourth acrimonious year, the neighbours are really ready for a ding dong. They say Mr Stradulet’s bell
tower is just toomuch after the dis- turbance he has caused with end- less alterations to the property, allegedly without the proper per- missions fromMaidstone Borough Council. And theymay just get theirway,
for local borough councillor Gor- don Newton has revealed that MBC has issued an enforcement notice to return Bramley to its for- mer status, before the unauthorised works. Cllr Newton said a “temporary
stop notice” has also been issued but appealed byMr Stradulet. He said: “I expect a prosecution
Feting heroes HOLLINGBOURNE needs help with its village fete. The parish council has led the
bustling event for many years, but says in 2018 more stallholders and help are needed ensure the fete does not result in a cost to the parish council Under the theme ‘Heroes’, vil-
lagerswill be invited to join the fun at this year’s Hollingbourne Sum- mer Fete and Dog Show on Satur- day, June 9, which will be opened by Rev Paul Kite. Stall prices will be as last year –
£15 for Hollingbourne organisa- tions, £20 for outside organisations, and £25 for commercial traders. Bookings can be made at
pchollingbourne@gmail.com or by calling 01622 880526.
Free of charge A PUBLIC electric car charging point is opening in Stockbury. Tomsett Kent MOT Centre re-
cently became certified in the re- pair and servicing of hybrid and electric vehicles and has installed a charging stationwhichwill be free for customers to use.
14 Maidstone East March 2018
Rotarians tree plantingmission to help save our environment
THEmembers of three Maidstone Rotary clubs (pictured) joined forces to plant more than 100 trees to help the environment. It was part of a Rotary Interna-
tional initiative to plant one tree per Rotarian worldwide before April 2018. If that goal is achieved, it could amount to amassive 2.3mil- lion trees planted this year. The
area for the Rotary Wood was allo- cated by developerGallagher,which is re-instating the area after quarry- ing is completed in North Pole Woods, Barming. The area is next to the bridle path so thatmembers of the public will be able to enjoy the new woodland. A spokesman said: “This idea has been enthusiastically supported.”
The recently added bell tower at the controversial bungalow in Othamis fu- elling neigh- bours’ indignation even further
could be coming hisway if he’s not careful and he could end up in a lot of trouble.” Villagers are understandably
sceptical. They have long argued that if one resident can get away with unapproved alterations with- outmeaningful enforcement by the local authority for years, anyone will do it. One villager,who asked not to be
named, said: “The work being done there has been noisy and dis- ruptive and now Mr Stradulet has again been sticking two fingers up at us by erecting the bell tower on it to basically say ‘I can ring this whenever I like’. “Now that it’s built, it doesn’t
look so bad but onewonders if he’d got permission for it. I doubt it. This is meant to be a conservation area – the rulesmatter.” The owner continues to use the
wooden building screenboards outside the property to daub mes- sages of defiance in bright yellow paint to his neighbours. The handmade ‘for sale’ sign
which appeared last yearwith Lon- don and mobile telephone num- bers is still in place, although no one answers either. The rumoured asking price is £1.5m. Mr Stradulet failed to answer
Downs Mail calls. Maidstone Bor- ough Council was approached for a comment.
downsmail.co.uk
Do not frier government windfall plea
THE Conservatives have urged a government windfall handed out to councils to be spent on tackling the growing fly-tipping problem, plummeting air quality and traffic congestion. They accused Liberal Democrats
– who run Maidstone Borough Council– of frittering the cash on “marketing campaigns and share- holder engagement projects”. Tory spokesman Cllr John Perry
said: “Maidstone Borough Council received a potential windfall from government of up to £640,000 from being part of a business rates re- tention pilot scheme. “At the recent meeting of the
council’s policy and resources com- mittee, Conservative councillors called for the windfall to be di- rected to some of the key chal- lenges facingMaidstone, including air quality and traffic congestion. “However, Lib Demand Labour
councillors sanctioned £160,000 to be spent on marketing campaigns and shareholder engagement proj- ects. “In the samemeeting, Conserva-
tives refused to vote to increase council tax for residents by 3% while the Liberal Democrat-run council retains expensive subsidies for non-frontline services. “Conservatives called on mem-
bers to re-direct
spending...to the growing issue of littering and fly- tipping around the borough.” We approached Lib Dem MBC
leader Cllr FranWilson for a com- ment.
Shop support VILLAGERS in Detling have backed the idea of a community shop and service centre. Some 99%of those responding to
a survey asking for feedback on the idea of a community store, after a six year absence, said they wel- comed the prospect. Richard Finn, chairman of the
group assessing the viability of a new shop, said the response was “very encouraging”.
Dancing girls THE Detling Players are to stage the Brian Friel play Dancing in Lughnasa inApril. Produced by John Munson, it
will be staged at Detling village hall onApril 12, 13 and 14. The play tells the story of five im-
poverished sisters inCountyDone- gal in the 1930s. For tickets, call 07842 169725 or go to
www.detlingplayers.co.uk.
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