Maidstone Weald Edition October 2017 July 2018 Panto ahoy! Airfield welcomes children and veterans


ABOUT400schoolchildrenwere able to satisfy their curiosity about one of the country’s key historic events at Headcorn Airfield. The Lashenden Air Warfare Mu-


seum opened ahead of its popular weekend of air displays, for a schools and seniors day, part-funded by the National Lottery. Students fromHeadcorn andMar-


den and 100 local veterans toured themuseumand airfield, seeing the Aero Legends Supermarines Spitfires. The next day, Headcorn Aero-


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.


Nursery plan leaves ‘families in limbo’


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


VILLAGERS fear that their children will be left without a nursery after bulldozers appeared poised tomove in on a playschool in Headcorn.


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


OnlyMaidstoneBoroughCouncil


has still to approve the re-develop- ment of The Old School Nursery (TOSH), in StationApproach,desig- nated for housing in its Local Plan. Parents say thiswoulddestroy the


only village venue providing nurs- ery care, 52weeks a year.More than 100 have now formed Headcorn NurseryActionGroup (NAG). Parishcouncil chairmanLynSelby


said: “This is not an issue the parish councilwould ordinarily dealwith, but the possible closure of the nurs-


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


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


ery has caused great concern, and some 79 emails fromparents.The fa- cility is vital to ensure thatHeadcorn parents can go towork.” The housing proposal follows the


breakdown of a land-swap arrange- ment betweenDarrellKing,whohas run the nursery for 28 years, and WealdenHomes,which agreeda re- placement nurserywouldbe built in Grigg Lane in exchange for the Sta- tionApproach site. Mrs King has now applied for buildingpermissionherself. She told


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-


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


Downs Mail: “I was disappointed that plans for moving to Grigg Lane failed to come to fruition.” She says while closure is one op-


tion, she is exploring others, adding: “I will advise staff and parents of any developments.” A spokesman for Wealden Homes


declined to comment. NAG is calling on the community


to help find a replacement site or building for the nursery. One parent said: “I’m hoping to re-


turn to work in January, but fear the nursery could close as early as Sep- tember. Without an alternative, I will have to give up work.” The group’s Victoria Jones added:


01622 690290 YOUR LOCAL PROPERTY EXPERT


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


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


maidstone@martinco.com 23 Pudding Lane • Maidstone • Kent


“We are not here to discuss the whys and wherefores of the possible clo- sure, simply to sort out a temporary fix, and a future for the nursery.” Anyone who is able to offer assis-


tance should email the group at headcornnag@gmail.com.


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


CCTV call in a bid to stop fly-tipping


drome commemorated the 78th an- niversary of the Battle of Britain and the 100th year since the RAF was formedwithitsBattleofBritainshow.


No. 1 newspaper downsmail.co.uk


Maidstone & Malling’s No. 1 newspaper


FREE No. 246


FREE No. 255


News Kate, 107, dies News


ArnhemDes salute ARNHEMveteran Des Page, who died at the age of 94, was saluted at his funeral by former comrades.


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.


Woodland buyer MP’s Local Plan bid 3


A BUYER of the King’s Wood is the son of a former Bank of England Governor.


Plans for Dr Nigel


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


5 Eyes on the pies


LOCALS beat opponents from far and wide in the World Custard Pie Championship.


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


Publican’s award


A LANDLADY says it’s “in the blood” after being recog- nised for long service.


Mobile concerns


A SURVEY has shown 60%of Headcorn villagers cannot make calls when outdoors.


Obituaries Obituaries 20 3232 Parish Councils 34-37 Parish Councils 34-35


AN APP is to be used to record noise levels at events in Boughton Monchelsea; leaflets are to be dis- tributed in Coxheath to ask for Speedwatch volunteers; a bright LED light was causing issues in East Farleigh; urgent work was needed on the drainage at a hall in Marden; and a councillor’s house in Nettlestead had been broken into.


THREE ducks and their eggs were stolen in Sutton Valence; a goat was taken from a field in Marden; a number of vehicles were broken into on the same night in Yalding; and three motocross bikes and a quad bike were stolen from a garden shed in Staplehurst.


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


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


visit www.amiga.co.uk or call 08000 199622 Home Alarms supplied and fitted


visit www.amiga.co.uk or call 08000 199622 12


Jason Donovan date 8


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