News


Tovil tip traffic was ‘theworst’


MOTORISTS giving their homes and gardens inMaidstone a spring clean were left fuming on getting stuck in traffic at Tovil tip. One driver described the traffic


chaos on the approach roads as “theworst I can remember inmore than 30 years living in the area”. By midday on April 22, the


queue was said to be back to the junction with Lower Road and Dean Street. Michael Gibson says even the


previous weekend, tempers were rising, as drivers notwishing to use the tipwere caught up in traffic. He said: “There was shaking of


fists and drivers accelerating past me aggressively on thewrong side of the road to skip round the queu- ing cars on Dean Street.” But with only 18 county council


tips inKent and about 1.5mpeople living in the county,KCCwas hard pressed to respond with any good news. Aspokesman said a ghost island providing a dedicated right turn


lane into Burial Ground Road and the tipwas introduced for queuing traffic two years ago, which had helped. However, he agreed, the volume of traffic at Tovil on Sun- daywas “extremely high”. He added: “Increased housing


development in the area has no doubt contributed to the high vol- ume of visitors. “We believe the amount of cus-


tomerswe had at theweekendwas also due to the weather and the time of year. “Unfortunately, KCC does not


receive any funding fromplanning authorities to enable improve- ments to the infrastructure.”


Charity cycle is birthday treat


A BUSINESSWOMANfromWest Farleigh chose to celebrate her 60th birth- daywith a 103-mile charity cycle ridewith her family. Jackie Ellis is used to taking on challenges. As the co-owner of a private


management practice, she spent three weeks at the Everest base camp to celebrate her 50th birthday. This time, she roped in husband Simon, a knee surgeon atMaidstoneHos-


pital, and her childrenMaja,Tania andHarri, and his girlfriend Lizzie Thallon. Jackie said: “Iwanted to celebratemy birthdaywithmy family and came


upwith a three-day bike ride. They loved the idea.” Blessedwith goodweather, and overnight stops at a series of hotels, they


successfully completed theHadrian’sCycleway, stopping off at the hospital inWallsendwhere Jackiewas born. The Ellis family used their ride to raisemoney for the Heart of Kent Hos-


pice atAylesford and, just days after returning, their fund-raising total stood atmore than £3,600. Jackie said: “The staff at this incredible organisation provide such kind-


ness and support at the hardest time in peoples’ lives and yet have to rely on charitable donations.”


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