News Four arrests in


car parts probe FOUR men have been arrested in Maidstone by police officers inves- tigating reports of thefts fromcars. Night-time patrols have been


stepped up in the area after a num- ber of incidents in recent months where cars have been broken into during hours of darkness – with a number of steering wheels being taken fromBMWs. Officers on patrol on Tuesday,


March 6, saw a car in what police say was “suspicious circum- stances” in the Penenden Heath area, and later stopped it on the M20, where a number of tools and gloveswere seized. Two men, aged 33 and 23 and


fromIlford in Essex, were arrested on suspicion of theft from motor vehicles and going equipped to steal, but subsequently released under investigation. The following day, a car thatwas


being driven erratically was stopped by patrols on Andrew BroughtonWay in the town centre at around 11.20pm. A quantity of tools, car parts,


keys and number plateswas seized and two localmen, aged 26 and 32, were arrested on suspicion of theft formotor vehicles. They remain in police custody while the investigation is ongoing.


Girls go wild


LARKFIELD Ladies FC have been chosen to run a newinitiative to get primary school girls into football. The 16-week Wildcats Centre


programme starts on Thursday, April 12. The initiative is designed by the


Football Association and sponsors SSE and will be held at Larkfield and New Hythe sportsground, with an all-female coaching team and special guests and events each week. The £1 sessions will be from


5.30pm to 6.30pm and no team commitment, experience or ability is required. To register or for more details,


email larkfieldladies@hotmail.com, find them on Twitter or Facebook or visitwww.larkfieldfc.com.


Egg trail event


YOUNGSTERS in Birlingwill have the chance to take part in an Easter egg trail on Saturday,March 31. The event, in aid of All Saints


Church in the village, will start at 10am. As well as the egg trail for


youngsters under 11, there will be an easter bonnet prize, a raffle, re- freshments and a cake stall. Entry is £3. Formore details, visit http://fab-allsaints.com/


8 Malling March 2018 Shepherd Neame is giving its Spitfire pub at Kings Hill a £1mrefit


downsmail.co.uk


Local residents and school pupils demonstrate against the proposed Ryarsh sand quarry Picture: James Rowland


Residents rally to halt quarry plan for village


RESIDENTS from Addington, Leybourne and Birling turned out to support Ryarsh villagers cam- paigning against the prospect of a 15-hectare sand quarry within theirmidst. The united show of support saw


nearly 400 people turn out to the site, on Roughetts Road, which is suggested as the site for a possible sand quarry in the county council’s minerals’ extraction plan. MarkNankivell, vice-chair of the


newly-created Ryarsh Protection Group (RPG), told Downs Mail: “The resistance is growing. “We were overwhelmed by the


showof support. “Those who will be living near


such a quarry, if approved, are waking up to the idea that this would be in the heart of a residen- tial area, and would force them to


live beneath a carcinogenic dust cloud for the next 30 years.” Addington campaigners were


also upset that a footpath crossing the proposed site would be af- fected, breaking a vital foot link with Ryarsh that has been used for decades. Youngsters fromRyarsh Primary


School also supported the demon- stration,which has seenmore than half a dozen banners calling for the idea to be thrown out erected at key points in the village. The head at Ryarsh School, Ruth


Austin, said: “Lion class,which has been learning about the sand quarry as part of their local study, has written letters of objection to KCC, stating that their views should be considered and not over- looked just because of their age. “Our youngsters are particularly


concerned about the environmen- tal impact, especially animal habi- tats that would be destroyed, and the health impact on local resi- dents, including children playing outside at school.” She added: “All the parents I


have spoken to are united in their opposition to this proposal.” The RPG is now in regular con-


tactwith localMP TomTugenhadt. Mr Nankiviell said: “We will


fight the idea until it is rejected by KCC.” He hopes at least 500 letters of


objection will be received by Kent County Council before the consul- tation closes onMarch 29. KCC says the proposed site,


which backs on to West Malling golf course, is a potential source of 3.6million tonnes ofmuch-needed soft and silica sand.


Refit comes at right time for Spitfire pub


NEWS that the only pub in KingsHill is undergoing a £1m refit has been welcomed. The Spitfire closed its doors on


March 4 and is not expected to re- open until the end of April. Opened in 1999, the Shepherd


Neame pub is one of the major meeting points on the development. Tony Petty, chairman of Kings Hill


parish council, said: “It was getting to the stage where it needed a refit and I’m looking forward to seeing how it looks when it reopens.” “It really is important that we


have a focal point for the people who live here tomeet, and Shepherd Neame certainly know what they are doing.” The pub is so named as it is on


the site of a former Battle of Britain RAF base. It also shares that name with the brewers’ flagship range of beers. The ground floor, which is cur-


rently open plan,will be divided into three separate dining areas around a new central bar during the works, while the first floor will be turned into a function room with its own bar, which will be able to accommo- date up to 100 people. Two smaller function rooms will also be refur- bished. Outside, a newcovered dining ter-


race for up to 40 people will be in- stalled plus a new awning at the front of the pub, covering a newdin- ing area for 16 people. Nigel Bunting, director of retail


and tenanted operations at Shep- herd Neame, said: “This year marks the 100th anniversary of the RAF, so we seem to have chosen a fitting time to reinvigorate this popular pub.”


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