News


War grenade ismade safe


AHAND grenadewasmade safe by army experts after the man who found it in the River Med- way took it back to his home in Barming. Bomb disposal teams went to a


house in Whitmore Street, on Wednesday, May 8, after the un- exploded wartime grenade was found in the river at Tovil. They took the grenade to a field


near Teston, where it was de- stroyed in a controlled explosion. Aspokesman said: “Kent Police


were called at 4.15pmonWednes- day, May 8, following a report that a man had found an unex- ploded wartime grenade in the river and had taken it to an ad- dress inWhitmore Street. “Officers went to the premises


and the road was closed to traffic as a precaution. “A Ministry of Defence bomb


disposal team also attended and the grenade was taken to a field near Teston where it was de- stroyed in a controlled explosion at 7.45pm.”


Cliff suicide


MAIDSTONE woman Cheryl Tompsett killed herself and her five-year-old son Leo when she jumped off Beachy Head, a coro- ner ruled. Cheryl (42), of Sutton Road, had


been suffering frommental health issues and depression since 2004 and had recently lost her job. She leapt from the beauty spot


on June 18 last year, the East Sus- sex coronerwas told.


Tinnitus teas


TINNITUS sufferers canmeet at an event inMaidstone. Run by the deafness charity Hi


Kent, the Tea for Tinnitus after- noon will allow those affected by the condition to share experi- ences. The event is at the United Re-


formed Church in Week Street, between 2-4pmonMay 24. For details, call Maxine Harris


at Hi Kent on 01622 691151 or emailm.harris@hikent.org.uk.


Justice dates


YOUNG offenders are to be en- couraged to take part in work- shops to help them deal with the consequences of their actions. MaidSafe and One Maidstone


have joined with police to launch the “restorative justice” scheme for low-level criminals.


8 Maidstone June 2019


downsmail.co.uk


Park andRide reprieve as bus firmtakes over


APRIVATE bus company has thrown the crisis-hitMaidstone Park and Ride service a lifeline, by agreeing to take it on.


Maidstone Borough Council


chiefs say the six-year deal will mean a reduction in its subsidy to the buses. But Independent Maidstone


councillor Eddie Powell warned: “If Arriva can't make money at it, they'll be off.Whatwill become of the Park and Ride then?” Arrivawas the successful bidder


in a recent procurement process and offers a “pay to ride” service. The private firm will operate


from the Willington Street and London Road sites. The councilwill provide the use


of its carparks,worth an estimated £100,000. AnMBCstatement said: “InNo-


vember 2018, MBC’s Strategic Planning Sustainability andTrans- portation Committee decided to cease the current council-run park andride service fromMay 31, 2019, but insteadfacilitate a continuation of service through othermeans.” Most recently, theLiberalDemo-


crat-ledcouncil experimentedwith a system where patrons paid to park, whether or not they had a car. This proved unpopular. Two- and four-year reviews are


scheduled which could allow Ar- riva to bowout of the agreement. Bearsted borough councillor Denis Spooner said: “I have al-


THEmanwho createdMaidstone’s Park andRide haswelcomed the news of Arriva’s contract as “great news”. DavidHall,ofBearsted,was recruited30yearsagotolaunchthe scheme


in the county town. He said: “The current service is tatty and needsmod- ernising tomake it really attractive.Will the service accept senior citizens’ passes? It should do. “Will there be security in the car parks?The current buses are elderly and


unreliable.Will the newservice rectify this? “So a guardedwelcome fromme, but lots of outstandingissues to be re- solved ifwe are not to end up at square one very quickly.”


ways been a supporter of the Park and Ride service because it is of benefit to the older residents inmy area. “Maidstone Borough Council


thinks that Park andRide costs too much and it’s declining all over the country,with a fewexceptions, andMaidstone’swas hardly being used. “But just seeing it as a massive


loss-maker is not benefiting the wider population.” Michael Jennings,Arriva’s head


of commercial, said: “We are de- lighted to confirm that we have won the tender to run the Maid- stone Park and Ride, and this will begin operating fromJuly 1, 2019. “Further details


regarding


timetables and pricing will be an- nounced at a later date.”


Fringe festival draws crowds


THE May Bank Holiday weekend saw Maidstone’s ninth annual Fringe Festival of music, with more venues and more events than ever before. Attendances were high and a


number of new venues and events were offered including a Soul Guardians event at Junipers in the High Street. Headline names included Nine


Below Zero and, on May 2, “chap hop” headlinerMr B TheGentleman Rhymer played the Pizza Express Jazz Roomin Earl Street. Local actsmade up the bulk of the


talent. Snodland singer/songwriter Clea Llewellyn, who supportedMr B, is pictured. Local heroes One Day Elliott took to Facebook to say: “Even after 20


years, we’re always surprised and humbled by the amount of support we receive. “Thanks so much to every single person who came to check us out


this evening at the Albion for our set at this year’sMaidstone Fringe Fes- tival.We had a great night and hope you did too.”


ReviewbyNeilNixon


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48