Maidstone South Edition October 2017 May 2018


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


Panto ahoy! Civic parade


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.


is cancelled THE annual parade through the town to mark the installa- tion of Maidstone’s new mayor,DavidNaghi, has been called off. Cllr Naghi is due to take on


the non-political, ceremonial honour for the year 2018-19 fromMay 19. A council spokesman said


Commonwealth glory for Pegasus gymnasts


CALLS for the installation of CCTV cameras to prevent fly-tipping on a country road have been made by the local borough councillor.


MAIDSTONE gymnasts returned from the Commonwealth Games with three gold medals – and their club could not have been prouder.


loch (pictured) and James Hall won a total of six medals between them on the Gold Coast. The pair, who are both 22, were


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


Pegasus members Courtney Tul-


part of the England squad who won the team gold, which was the country’s first gold medal of the games, before going on to enjoy in- dividual success. Former New Line Learning stu-


core, windows and household fur- niture is left illegally – often strewn in the middle of the road. Cllr Gill Fort said: “Every month


dent Tullochwon gold on the rings and a silver on the vault, while Hall, a former pupil at Oakwood Park Grammar School, added all-


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


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


around silver and a bronze on the horizontal bar. The pair both train at the Tovil-


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-


based club, and their successwas a source of huge pride for their


tive by the Environment Agency and the Driver and Vehicle Stan- dards Agency to clamp down on


coaches. Ovi Rugina, the head of floor and vault at the club, said: “Theywere both brilliant. “Of course we hoped they both


had a very good chance ofwinning medals, but for them to win as many as they did is amazing. “We are so pleased for them, they


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


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


work so hard and train for 30 hours a week, and this is a great reward for them.” The club, which meets in Far-


leigh Hill, was founded in 1987. This year it has suffered the loss of its chairman and founder Peter Griffin, who died on March 2 after a “short battlewith a cruel illness”. And the success inAustraliawas


the perfect tribute to him. Debbie Hounsell, who works on


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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


reception at the club, said: "He would have been so proud of the boys. “It's absolutely fantastic –we are


delighted for them, they work so hard.”


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.


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CCTV call in a bid to stop fly-tipping


the cancellationwas due to the Army,which plays a large role in the event, being deployed overseas at the time. 6 Former mayor Derek Butler and his wife Mary at the 2016 parade


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Maidstone & Malling’s No. 1 newspaper


FREE No. 246


Kate, 107, dies News


FREE No. 253


News


Park and ride unrest PARK and ride users in Maidstone claim new rules imposed by the council adversely affect pensioners.


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


MP calls train debate Plans for Dr Nigel


HELEN Grant is seeking an urgent debate over train timetable changes.


KIMS Hospital has been given a “good” rating in its latest inspection.


Election special


WE HAVE the campaign latest from the local elections on May 3.


THE body of missing Gloria Stringer has been found.


Obituaries Obituaries


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Missing Gloria found 27


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Parish Councils 37 Parish Councils 34-35


A REPLACEMENT tree was sched- uled to be planted in Tovil; a period of silence was held in Barming to mark the death of former chairman Jean Grice; overhead wires linked to a camper van suggested someone was living in the vehicle in Loose, ac- cording to Cllr Sue Grigg; the ab- sence of a police or PCSO officer at the Tovil meeting was noted and the force informed of concerns.


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


GRAFFITI was sprayed onto the windows of a house in Fordwich Close; a car in Buckland Road had two tyres slashed; a gate was stolen from a garden in Egerton Road; boat batteries were stolen in Teston; an allotment shed was bur- gled in Upper Fant Road.


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


THE widow of GP Dr Nigel Minnet will walk the Grand Canyon for charity. 12


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Hospital rated good Jason Donovan date


THE former Neighbours star brings his show to the Hazlitt Theatre next May.


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