Maidstone East Edition North Edition October 2017 April 2018 Panto ahoy!
THE cast of Cinderella, which is to be staged at the Hazlitt Theatre in Maid- stone, took to the River Medway to launch this year's panto. On board The Kentish Lady were national treasure Rustie Lee (Fairy Godmother), former EastEnder Ste- fan Booth (Prince Charming), Eliza- beth Bright (Cinderella), Craig Anderson (Buttons) and, pictured, Stephen Richards and Adam Bor- zone (Ugly Sisters) . They were greeted by pupils from
South Borough Primary School and members of the media. The panto runs from December 1-31. For tick- ets go to
www.hazlitttheatre.co.uk.
CCTV call in a bid to stop fly-tipping
Protesters against the development of Fant Farm were instru- mental in stopping more than 200 homes
CALLS for the installation of CCTV cameras to prevent fly-tipping on a country road have been made by the local borough councillor.
Burberry Lane, near Leeds and Broomfield, has been targeted by waste dumpers for years, but in re- cent months, the problem has be- come more acute. Constructionwaste, rubble, hard 225 homes on the site sparked an left illegally – often strewn
the middle of the road. Farmprotest group.
we are having toilets, sinks and construction waste dumped in the village, specifically in Burberry Lane, where we are now thinking of installing cameras on private land, to oversee the problem area.” A recent event in Burberry Lane
saw a caravan burned out while a torched car remains on a footpath
spacewould be lost to houses. In earlyMarch, the building firm
gave up trying to gain permission for the Gatland Lane site, which Maidstone Borough Council had refused on a number of occasions. A letter from planning consult- ants BartonWillmore told the Plan-
FANT Farm has been saved from being turned into housing after devel- opers threwin the towel.
nearby, more than a year after it was dumped and set on fire. The church car park has also seen
many instances of illegal dumping. But it is a problem in many rural
Gleeson Developments’ plan for core, windows and household fur- nitureimmediisate backlash fr mlocal res- inidents who formed the Save Fant Cllr Gill Fort said: “Every month Theywere fearful a special green
areas including Langley, Otham and Kingswood. Water Lane in Bearsted and Pilgrims Way have also been targeted recently. Last year, Maidstone Borough Council cleared 911 cases of fly-tip- ping and this year more than 163 have been recorded since April. The approaching darker evenings will prompt a rise in illegal tipping. Cllr Fort welcomed a joint initia-
ning Inspectorate they were to withdraw its appeal from a public inquiry in July this year. Maidstone borough councillor for
Fant,Matt Boughton, said: “After a battle lasting more than two years, including one public inquiry and the threat of another, the appeal against the decision not to build on Fant Farmhas beenwithdrawn. “This is an excellent result for the
tive by the Environment Agency and the Driver and Vehicle Stan- dards Agency to clamp down on
community. The Save Fant Farm community group have fought this unwelcome application since the
Glee ashousebuilder withdraws farmplan
start and we have achieved the re- sultwe allworked towards. “The land at Fant Farmwas very
unlicensed waste carriers, but be- lieves the cost to small firms of dis- posing of construction waste at a transfer station is proving a deter- rent that is costing councils more. Cllr Fort made her remarks as
much the first green field you come to as you head west out of Maid- stone. We want to keep it that way.” MP Helen Grant said: ‘‘I was so
one of the borough’s closest trans- fer stations at North Farm, Tun- bridge Wells, announced it will be closed for 10weeks. She added: “If you go along the
pleased to learn that Gleeson has withdrawn the appeal to challenge the decision to refuse permission to build over 200 homes on Fant Farm. “Fant Farm was never an appro-
priate site for development with the harmful effect it would have had upon the distinctive Medway Valley and the lack of supporting transport infrastructure. Gareth Owen of the Save Fant
01622 690290 YOUR LOCAL PROPERTY EXPERT
maidstone@martinco.com 23 Pudding Lane • Maidstone • Kent
Farmgroup described the decision as a “huge victory”, while Fant’s Cllr PaulHarper (Labour) said that thousands of residentswill breathe a “sigh of relief” at the news.
line of increasing fines, they have to be enforced. A reduction in the charge or offering it free may have the desired similar effect.” Athree-monthly litter pick on the mile-long stretch of road through Leeds village produces an average 32 black sacks of rubbish.
Cllr Fort, who also serves as a
parish councillor, says teaching children about social responsibility and the issue of litter in schools will help take the issue off the streets. She believes with every household receiving a weekly refuse collection service, there is no excuse for litter being thrown from vehicles or dumped in the road.
Home Alarms supplied and fitted visit
www.amiga.co.uk or call 08000 199622
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Kate, 107, dies News
FREE No. 252
No. 246 News
Maidstone & Malling’s No. 1 newspaper
Council’s parking hike THEREhas been furious reaction to massive increases to off-street car parking charges in Madistone.
KATE Hart, a resident at an old people’s home in Bearsted, has died aged 107, her son David has disclosed.
HELEN Whately asked the government to halt the borough’s housing scheme.
MP’s Local Plan bid
4-5 4
Farewell to Shirley Plans for Dr Nigel
POPULAR ex-bank employee and Rotarian, Shirley Lowry, has been laid to rest.
THE widow of GP Dr Nigel Minnet will walk the Grand Canyon for charity. 12
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100 years of the WI Jason Donovan date
THE former Neighbours star brings his show to the Hazlitt Theatre next May.
U-turn over bus cuts
THE county council has performed a u-turn on plans to scrap bus routes.
20 Mela funds needed
A MULTI-cultural festival may not be staged this year without funding.
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Obituaries Obituaries
3632 Parish Councils 37 Parish Councils 34-35
STREET lamps in Tovil were said to be in need of repair; an oak tree in Barming needed to have branches removed and quotations were re- quested; noise coming from a local brewery in Loose was discussed; funding for a playground at the parish field was considered at Barm- ing; a planning application for a tractor shed at a nature reserve in Tovilwas approved.
ASH dieback has been discovered in Monks Meadow in Detling; Hollingbourne village fete stall- holder co-ordinator Jean Duffy has resigned; yellow lines are needed for Buffkyn Way, Otham, to allow buses through Imperial Park; rub- bish bins in the sports field in Kingswoodare to be moved over to the picnic area and rear exit.
Crime Reports 35 Crime Reports 37
A DUCK and chicken were stolen from a poultry shed in South Park Road; a residential driveway in Pe- nenden Heath was left covered in roofing nails; a mountain bike was stolen from outside the church in Week Street; two pots were stolen from a Tonbridge Rd garden.
VEHICLES have been driven over farmland in Lenham, causing damge to crops; an attempted break-in was reported in Detling; a vehicle was vandalised in Bearsted Rd, Weavering; pumpkins were stolen from an allotment in Lenham.
Comment 46-47 Comment 46-47
WE celebrate Women’s Institute’s centenary with a special report.
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