News


News Council ‘wishing away’ car crisis Get training


CAMPAIGNERS have calledfor residentialdevelopmentswithout sufficient parking to be barred, asMaidstone grappleswith a car crisis.


ning committee were told the streets are “at bursting point”. And, ina swipe at the authority’s


for road run HEART of KentHospice, the char- ity based in Aylesford, is urging runners to start practising for the Maidstone Road Run. The event, which starts at Hub-


Members of the borough’s plan-


solution,modal shift –where resi- dents are encouraged to ditch cars for alternative transport – planners were accusedof “wishing away the problem”. The damning assessment was


WORK is underway to revise paignerTiaRose,was lobbying thevis- borough to have a private devel- opment in Fantathrown out.


whTo,oaloungriwisth parkinmbg caidm- made byCouncillor JonathanPurle


Maidstone’splans for boost itor numbers. Businesses


nd organisations


et thismonthtodi cussupdating nised that planning applic tions


whatMaidstone has achieved and on the basis that Fant is close to


have insufficient parkingr,ebut the problemis somehowwishedaway


town, or there are ome buses, or tshere is avtirsain station.


looked atways to improve it. Recent


cal abstraction about sustainability alters, one jot, the concrete reality


8.“No amount of purely theoreti- tone’


Flower talk Barn dance


figures showed Maid- itor economy rose by


7% in 2017 and is now worth over £283million.


RESIDENTS in Barming are plan- ning to save lives at sea…by stag- ing a barn dance. The fundraiser, for theRoyalNa- tMional Lifeboat Institution (RNLI), will fea ure the callingandmusicof


Hall in Fant Lane starts at 7.30pm on Saturday, March 30. Contact Alan Cocks on 01622 761004 to book tickets andmeals.


£10 entry feewill include fo d. ralsoci ty.org formore details.


Ska special Funeral costs Carehomeget itsown‘pub’


THE borough council spent more than£6,000onpaupers’ funeralsbe- tween 2017-18. The costs are covered by the au-


thoritywhen there is no one left to make arrangements. Maidstone Borough Council


spent £6,296 on so-called “public health” services, which are simple ceremonies with a funeral director and a coffin but little else.


Teddy talk bears.


A SPECIAL mix of Two Tone and Ska is promised at theGreatDanes hotel inMaidstone. The Skatonics,with their blend of


classic Trojan Ska and covers from TheSpecials,Madness,BadManners and The Selecter,will be on stage at The Mercure Hotel, Ashford Road, Bearsted, from9pmon Friday, Feb- ruary22.The bar opens at 7pmand tickets are £10. Call 0844 815 9045


Poppy funds ARECORD£68,000was raised by


Maidstone area during Novem-


BARMINGHistory Society invited members and guests to tu n up to


British Legion area organiser iJts February 12meetingwith teddy


aneAye s said: “This beatMaid-


support a talk byMelanie Gibson- Barton on the history of the popu- lar toys.


4 Maidstone March 2019


Thiswill last until aboutMarch 11 problem, andwhenwe finally gotf traffic which would normally travel fromjunctions seven to nine. There will be 50mph speed restrictions for most of the day on theM20.


“The youth in Shepway is a and the A20 will bear the brunt


stop HGVs using Bearsted or New Cut Road to get to the M20 and drivers are warned of continued de- lays on the A20. It is hoped Operation Brock will


ber’s Poppy Day appeal, largely POLICE have dvised 4X4 drivers due to the help ofmembers of the Rotary Club ofMaidstone.


stone’s record by a long way.” Oak Green, T nte den and Mar- S Theunusual requestwasmade to


he praised o ganiser Doug Bag- den.nearMarden. uley’s “fabulously efficient and


latter was later


energetic management and coor- burned out inHollingbourne. dination”.


novel idea that Maidstone Mayor David Naghi (right) was first over the threshold to declare the snug at the newly-named pub – The Pem- bury Arms – open for business. Amy Roberts (24), activities co-or- dinator at Maidstone Care Centre toresidentialandnursinghome inBox- e secure after anumber of recent thefts inKent.


keeptraffic flowingif thereareprob- lems after Brexit.


bemake sure that their v hicles arley Road, came upwith the idea. Her parents Sue and Russell Cars have been stolen in Five


found


Roberts ran TheBull at East Farleigh nd TheWhiteHart at Collier Street


TheUnfortunately, her dad died in 2009, b


Amy was expecting her Police areworkingonthe theory


CREATIVE care staff have come up with an imaginative alternative to “a night in” for residents at a care home in Maidstone, by opening their own local. Such has been the support for the


Cones and signs are in place to At best, itmeans that vehicles can


move in both directions,while lorries can be stacked coastbound if there are disruptions to Port of Dover or Channel Tunnel services. Few critics give Operation Brock


much chance of success, as they be- lieve the system is too fragile and likely to falter with the slightest prang in either direction. But Highways England claimed: “The arrangement is part of a pack-


Jo n and Karen Sweeney and the what we want and how to get it, the main difficulty is keeping the


MAIDSTONE Horticultural Soci- ety has invited geranium expert Jacqueline Aviolet to talk on the garden favourites. The event, which is open to non-members, will be held at aidstone BaptistChurchHall in Knightrider Street at 7.30pm on Thursday,March 7.


Visit www.maidstonehorticul- tuThe event at Fant Community


funds up. It’s a huge barrier.


mHe said: “It seems to be recog- the borough’sDestinationManage- ment Plan. Delegates


viewed


bardsLane,Loose, is scheduledfor March 10, but athletes signing up now pay reduced entry fees. At present, the half-marathon is £23, 10kmis £15, 5kmis £8 andthe 1km family and fancy dress run is £3. For details go towww.hokh.org.


£3k asbestos blow to the ShepwayChariots


of a century or so of real people moving to Fantwith their cars and finding the houses have insuffi- cient parking…the cumulative ef- fect is streets that are literally at bursting point.” The councillor’s intervention


Livsted Sun ey House and right, Cllr Jonathan Purle asbestos in the ground.


ots have transformed half an acre of disused, fly-tipped land off Hampshire Drive into a fully- functioning wild life corner, growing fresh fruit and vegeta- bles for the community. Plans to build a kitchen unit, to hostworkshops on healthy eating with ingredients picked straight from the allotment along with an outdoor classroom, have been re- oked, following the discovery of


Members are now trying to


raise the money needed to safely remove and dispose of the pol- luted soil. Founder Nikki Gough (37), of


A MONTH of disruption, diversi ns funded by the National Lottery.”


Lincoln Road, said: “This used to be a dumping ground, full of rub- bish and anti-social behaviour. “When we got the allotment a couple of years ago, we removed 12 tonnes of rubbish fromthe site alone. We installed brand new fencing and built a classroom a


ritain prepares for life after Brexit. Lynley Close, said: “We know


came just days before auctioneers soldSunleyHouse, an iconic grade II listed office block in the centre of Maidstone and suggested it could be converted into apartments, de- spite having no parking provision. Sunley House – designed in the


A COMMUNITY gardening charity is trying to raise £3,000 to remove contaminated soil to build a public kitchen and outdoor classroom. Volunteers at Shepway Chari-


1950s by “the father of town plan- ning” SirWilliam Holford – went under the hammer for £430,000. The building, which originally


housed Barclays’ regional head- quarters, is sandwiched between High Street and Bank Street. The ground floor is still desig-


nated for commercial use, but the three storeys above have the po- tential for conversion, bidderswere told. Auctioneer John Stockey said:


“The accommodation might be suitable for conversion into resi- dential units, as long as all neces- sary consents are obtainable. “This listed building fronts both


the High Street and Bank Street and the three storeys on offer have previously been used for offices. “But with a premium on resi-


Founder Nikki Gough with volunteers Ian Prentice, Ami Oakley and Tony Davies, and puppies Charlie and Lola


Delays as Brockwork starts


delays started on February 9 as BVolunteer Ami Oakley (36), of Overnightworkwas being carried out to get ready for the Opera ion Brock contraflow system on M20.


all these outside youth organisa- tions to take an interest and who want to collaborate with us for work experience, we’re now hav- ing to restrict which parts of the site we can take them to because of the soil. “To think we’ve come so far


and nowfor it to potentially come to an end is frustrating.” Shepway Chariotswere invited


to become National Citizen Serv- ice community partners, as well as a place for students from the


dential accommodation, the new buyermightwish to try converting it.”


University for theCreativeArts to volunteer. Nikki said: “Our events are get-


age ofmeasures, known collectively asOperationBrock, thatwillhelpim- prove the resilience of the county’s roads. They also include Manston Airfield and theM26.” Highways England Chief Execu-


tive Jim O’Sullivan said: “The steps we are putting in place on theM20 are based on our extensive experi- ence of working with partners to keep the road network in this region operating safely and reliably. “They incorporate lessons learned


from our experience of Operation Stack in 2015 and techniques from major constructionschemes inother parts of the country. "They will make a significant dif-


ting bigger and bigger, and it’s upsetting because right now, we don’t have the freedom or space. As it stands, half the garden is un- usable. “To progress, we need the soil


disposed of in a professionalway. We are at a bit of a standstill.” To donate, please visit JustGiv-


ing and search for ShepwayChar- iots.


downsmail.co.uk


downsmail.co.uk


role of landlady.” What the residents-only bar lacks


ference to reducing the congestion and disruption to both theM20 and thewider road network.”


in a licence, itmakes up for in terms ofmemorabilia andmagic,with flo- ral wallpaper straight out of the 1940s; optics loaded with squash; board games; and even a piano. Amy thanked the centre’s main-


Theftwarning to drivers of 4x4s


that the 4X4 vehicles are targeted for possible use in ram raids on stores after attacks in Headcorn, Lenhamand Staplehurst. However, these recent thefts –


whichhappenedbetweenDecem- ber and January – are not thought to be connected. A police spokesman advised that owners park in a garage, se-


mumto be at the opening to greet the pub’s first “punters”. Amy said: “Everyone has been so


supportive and helpful, but I guess it will be down to me to take on the


ier Street, which appeal home’smanymot rbike fans. that the alarms are functioning.


cure car park or awell-lit location. this will give them somelwhere else to go for the evening and socialise near doors orwindows. It is better if theyare somewhere inaccessible way pictures fromher parents time ofDrivers arse reminded not leave lvaluables insideormake sure they are left in the boot and to ensure


tenance technician,Brian Thornton, for turning her and colleague Becky Hicks’ ideas into a reality Amy said: “Residents have their own rooms and shared lounges, but He add d: “Don’t


Thewalls are coveredwith speed- to unwanted visitors.” running


pe dway track at Col- to


h eave your


keys on display in your home, and reflect on days gone by.”


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