News


downsmail.co.uk Rail access blowto disabled


CAMPAIGNERS say they are disappointed by a government decision to reject their pleas tomake four stations in the borough accessible to the disabled.


They say the Department for


Transport’s decision to side-line strong cases made by users of Maidstone West, Marden, Head- corn and Lenham leaves the sta- tions stuck in the 1800s. Campaigners say disabled peo-


ple and parents with pushchairs are forced to struggle or use other stations because of the lack of lifts at theirs. The government’s £300 million


Transportminister Nusrat Ghani Fly-tipping


cost to farms FLYTIPPERS have been ac- cused of costing farmers the earth by dumping harmful waste in the countryside. The latest figures released


by the Department for Envi- ronment, Food and Rural Af- fairs (Defra) shows councils received 551 reports of rub- bish dumped on farmland in the South East in 2017/18. Described as just the “tip of


the iceberg”, the Defra statis- tics,which log a national total of 79,307 cases, do not include the majority of incidents on private land. In Maidstone, 1,041 reports


of flytipping were received and there were 507 in Ton- bridge and Malling during 2017/18. When it comes to rubbish


dumped in the countryside, estimates show farmers are cleaning up after others at an average cost of £1,000 per inci- dent. They are also liable to prosecution and fines if the rubbish damages the land. Insurance specialist Will


Kendrick, who advises farm- ers in the South East, said: “Flytipping is not only visu- ally impactful and a nuisance – it can be a source of pollu- tion. “For


those unfortunate


enough to have a flytipping ‘hotspot’ on their land, costs soon tot up and pose a threat to their business.”


24 Maidstone May 2019


grant was seen by many as a real opportunity to redress the bal- ance, with improvements that would bring the stations into the 21st century by making them ac- cessible to all.


However, the six stations from


Kent vying for the money have learned their campaigns have failed and they will be unable to reapply for another five years. Parish councillor Simon Even-


den, a wheelchair user from Headcorn, has led the campaign for improvements at the village’s station. He has to travel to Staplehurst,


where there are lifts, to get access between platforms. He told Downs Mail: “We will


not give up the fight. The parish council has agreed that we will look for alternativeways ofmak- ing these vital changes happen.”


“We understand there is amid-


termapplication period for fund- ing for improvements that can be delivered with less than £1m in government aid, which we could go for, and suggestions of alter- native cash that could allow lifts to be fitted to the existing foot- bridge over the line.” Maidstone and The Weald MP


HelenGrant,who backed the bids forMaidstoneWest andMarden, has asked for ameetingwithNus- rat Ghani MP, the minister for transport. Mrs Grant said: “Iwill not sim-


ply roll-over and accept this deci- sion – it is too important.”


Street pastors’work rewarded


THE work of the Maidstone Street Pastors' teamhas been recognised by the High Sheriff of Kent. The Christian team was singled


out for its work alongside the po- lice, paramedics and the “Urban Blue” bus project to provide sup- port to those in need on the streets of Maidstone town centre on Sat- urday nights. Maidstone's Rubicon Cares,


which provides counselling for vic- tims of crime, was also honoured. High Sheriff Jane Ashton pre-


sented the teamswith a certificate at County Hall,Maidstone.


Soul star Geno at fringe festival


THE soul legend who inspired the ‘80s anthem “Geno” will star at this year’s Maidstone Fringe Festival,Make SomeNoise. GenoWashington (75) features


withTheYoyos and support from King Size Slim at Pizza Express onSaturday,May 4, as the six-day festival (May 1–6).builds to its fi- nale on BankHolidayMonday. BorninAmerica, theUSairman


became known for impromptu gigs in London while stationed here, and played alongside James Brown, Ronnie Wood and Ian Brown, inspiring Dexy’s Mid- night Runners’ iconic track in support ofNorthern Soul. That track prompted Geno to


return to the stage after studying hypnosis and writing The Blood Brothers.


Up to 10,000 music fans are ex-


pected to enjoy shows by more than 100 live bands,DJs and per- formers at 17 town venues. The event, supportedby traders


andOneMaidstoneBID,will fea- ture ska, reggae, punk, hip-hop, Indie and rock offerings fromthe likes of Nine Below Zero, the Track Dogs, The Dub Pistols, Maidstone artist Clea Llewellyn, BrixAndTheExtricatedfeaturing Brix Smith, and Steve and Paul Hanley fromThe Fall. Festival founder Clive Austen,


fromBarming, said: “It’s a fantas- tic opener to thewarmerweather, with some of the best local sounds. Some are obviously tick- eted, but around 90%are free.” More at www.makesomenois- estudio.co.uk.


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