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X Factor date


X FACTOR star Louisa Johnson has been lined-up to headline the Big Day Out to be held in Maid- stone in July. The singer, best known for the hit


Best Behaviour, will take the stage at Mote Park on July 1. She announced the gig on Twit-


ter, saying: “Big news! I’ll be head- lining the @BigDayOutUK Festival in Maidstone this July! Can’t wait to see you all there.” Also on the bill are Diversity,


who won Britain’s Got Talent, and girl band Atomic Kitten, who have Kerry Katona in their line-up. Louisa (19) won the X Factor in


2015, after singing with mentor Rita Ora in the final.


Assault case A MAIDSTONE woman has been charged with wounding after an al- leged stabbing in Shepway. Nicola Goslitski (40), of Sutton


HGVpark plan sparks concern


RESIDENTS in a rural part of Maidstone face the prospect of a hugepost-Brexit lorryparkontheir doorstep,DownsMailhas learned. HighwaysEngland(HE) haswrit-


ten to landowners and farmers about the possibility of exploratory ecological work on a 250-300 acre plot between Sandway and BoughtonMalherbe, near theM20. It is another indication that the


government is desperate to have a plan inplacewhenBritain leaves the EUon March 30 next year, espe- cially if no deal has been reached. Critics arewarning of severeprob-


Road,was arrested after policewere called to a report of an assault in Westmorland Road on Sunday, April 30. Officerswere told that two women had made theirway to hos- pital with arm injuries. They are be- lieved to have known the suspect. Goslitski has been charged with


lems on theM20, almost permanent OperationStack andthe fragility of a newcontraflowsystem. Robert Turner, chairman of


two counts of wounding with in- tent and one of possessing a knife in a public place.


BoughtonMalherbe Parish Council said: “The land is to be surveyed and we know there will be an an- swer beforeChristmas on the results of that and whether there will be further explorations. “We know they are looking at sites 50miles fromthe ports and the


THE PRINCESS Royal received a warm welcome from charity vol- unteers when she visited the Save The Children shop in Maidstone. Acrowd of onlookerswaited out-


side the store in Union Street to see Princess Anne. She was greeted by dignitaries including the Mayor of Maidstone Cllr Derek Butler, the charity’s retail manager Cheryl Adams and voluntary shop leader, Karen Elphick, before going inside to meet shop workers. The Princess, who has been presi-


dent of the charity since the 1970s, spoke of her appreciation of the con- tribution the shop makes to the work of the charity at home and abroad. She also presented certificates to Dennis Foad, Brenda Harris and Sylvia Thomas in honour of their long service to the charity. Seven-year-old Daisy, the daugh-


downsmail.co.uk downsmail.co.uk


Princess Royal meets charity shop workers


sites would have some sort of cus- toms clearance facility.” Borough councillor Tom Sams


said: “We have had the Channel Tunnel Rail Link, the M20 go through, 1,000 homes are planned and now there are plans for a lorry park. It is gutting for residents and all those associated with the com- munity.Wewill fight this one.” Cllr Turner said the land crosses


the parish council boundaries of BoughtonMalherbe and Lenham. He added the total area is about


270 acres. It is not known howmany lorries the park might hold, but lo- cals estimate it at 1,000.One resident said the narrowcountry roadswere “totally unsuitable for an HGV park”. It isunderstoodthatHEhasnotof-


ter of shop volunteer LoraMaxwell, presented the Princess Anne with a posy and a card she had made. The card had a picture of a horse be- cause Daisy had researched on the internet and found that the Princess


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Connecting with local people


ficially earmarked any sites but is searching for possible locations. Residents,MPHelenWhately and


the Campaign to Protect Rural Eng- land(CPRE)were expectedto attend a public protestmeeting as this edi- tion ofDownsMailwent to press.


COMMERCIAL development organ- isation One Maidstone has con- firmed that the county town has voted in favour of becoming a Busi- ness Improvement District (BID). The announcement came on July


13, after severalmonths of intense work to secure the support needed to become a BID. One Maidstone town centre co-


ordinator Ilsa Butler said the status would give the town “significant, tangible investment” and a voice in the direction it takes. She said: “One Maidstone is de-


The Princess Royal is greeted by Cheryl Adams, the mayor and Karen Elphick


lighted to confirm that Maidstone has voted in favour of a Business Improvement District for the town centre. “The BID will see significant, tan-


loved animals. Among the dozens of onlookers


who watched the Princess depart was 88-year-old BettyWarren who hadwaited for nearly an hour to see her andwas given a chair and a cup of tea outside the shop. The charity shop opened in Union


Street in 1980 when the building was bought for £12,000. Thirty- seven years later, its success contin- ues, with the volunteers having


gible investment in the town and will afford its businesses the oppor- tunity have a strong voice in the strategic direction that Maidstone takes. OneMaidstone thanks those businesses that have supported them through its history as Town Centre Management, One Maid- stone CIC and now in its new chap- ter as the lead body for the Business Improvement District, and looks forward toworking to implement its


Ilse Butler, of OneMaidstone


raised £40,000 for the charity last year.


are alwayswelcome at the tiny shop which is packed with goods ranging from clothing, children’s items, kitchen ware and a collector’s cor- ner. There is also a “wanted board” for people who are looking for something in particular and the vol- unteers will keep an eye out for them.


business plan from October and throughout the five years of its term. “One Maidstone would also like to record its thanks to our part- ners at Kent Police and Maidstone Borough Council for their support in the development of the business plan and the administration of the ballot.” She thanked Downs Mail for its


support. More donations and customers BID for better future


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