News Crash rescue


A MAN was cut free from his car following a collision on theM20. Fire crewswere called to a crash


on June 7 involving one car on the M20London-boundbetween junc- tion 5 for Blue Bell Hill and junc- tion 4 for Leybourne. A spokesman for Kent Fire and


Rescue said: "Three fire engines at- tended and crews used hydraulic rescue equipment to remove the car roof and release aman trapped inside.Hewas passedinto the care of SECAmb paramedics.


Cafe sessions


THOSE aged over 65 are invited to grab a cuppa with new friends at MaidstoneMuseum. The drop-in session in the cafe is


from10.30-11.30am. Entitled Café Culture, the ses-


sions arenowa regular event at the St Faith’s Street museum (last Fri- day of themonth). The sessions are free to attend


and no booking required. For details call 01622 602853.


Historywalk


IF you have ever wanted to know more about the history of Maid- stone’sMotePark, then an evening walkwith an expert could provide youwith the answers to all of your questions. The chairman of the Mote Park


Fellowship will lead the guided tour around the park – lasting around 2.5 hours – fromthe café at 7pm, onMonday, June 24. To book your £3 ticket, go to www.moteparkfellowship.org.uk.


Vote on art


MAIDSTONE Art Society’s Sum- mer Exhibition is unveiled at The CountyGallery,CountyHall, from Saturday, June 29. Visitorswill have an opportunity


to vote for their favourite piece of work.


downsmail.co.uk


Newtip plan to resolve dispute over charges


PLANS to build a newrecycling centre atAllington have averted a clash between twowaste authorities.


Medway has givenKentCounty


Council 18months to put the addi- tional facility in place before it pulls the plug on the free use of its sites for KCC residents. The county has responded by


promising Allington will come on stream within the next 12 to 15 months. Tensions flared between the two


authorities earlier this year after KCC unveiled plans to charge householders for disposing ofDIY buildingwaste at its own sites. Medway feared the levy, which


started on June 3, would prompt an influx of people from Kent, wanting to use its free facilities.


Following the 11th hour negotia-


tions, Alan Jarrett, leader of Med- wayCouncil, said: “We arepleased to have come to a pragmatic, sen- sible agreementwithKent County Council to ensure that our centres will remain open to residents liv- ing in the Kent area. “Allowing KCC residents access


to our centres for the next 18 months will give KCC time to bring forward its own facilities to meet the needs of Kent residents.” Describing the talks as “satisfac-


torily concluded”, Kent County Council leader, Paul Carter, said: “We will open and fund an addi- tional household waste recycling


centre inAllingtonwithin the next 12 to 15months.” He said income fromthe “mod-


est charge” for the disposal of household soil, rubble, hardcore and plasterboard at each of Kent’s recycling sites, would be used to improve and expand the county’s waste facilities. The moves will also ease the


strain on Tovil’s waste and recy- cling centre (HWRC). KCC runs 18 household


HWRCs, handling around 185,000 tonnes of waste from 3.5 million visits each year, at a cost of ap- proximately £10million to the tax- payer.


Early finish for grammar school


STUDENTS atMaidstoneGrammar School will finish class 10 minutes early fromnext term. The governing body of the school


in Barton Road has agreed the final bellwill sound at 3.20pminstead of 3.30pm from September. Parents have been notified of the change. Aschool spokesmanadded: “After


careful considerationwithstaff,gov- ernors and some parents, the gov- erning body has agreed that the school daywill change.” The lunch breakwill be shortened


by 10minutes to accommodate the earlier finish time. Changes to the catering service have improved the speed of service. The spokesman said: “There are a number of aspects of the school,


particularlywith teaching and learn- ing,wewish to develop, so the extra 10 minutes a day will create more frequentblocksof timewhichcanbe used to deliver staff training.” The earlier finish will also allow


time for after school activities. The spokesman confirmed:


“These changes will not impact on the learning hours children receive.” The school,whose head teacher is


Mark Tomkins, earned a good Of- sted report in January but made clear it wants to improve areas, in- cluding teaching to achieve an “out- standing” rating.


Birthday honours for local community heroes


THREE people fromthe area have hadtheir service to the community recognised by the Queen in her BirthdayHonours List. Maidstone auctioneer Clive


Emson and Jim Findlay, from Hollingbourne, weremadeMBEs, andMolly Poulter, from Ulcombe receives a British EmpireMedal. Eighty-six-year-old Molly Poul-


ter (pictured) plans to wear a £20 cream dress she bought from a charity shopwhen she receives her medal.


20 Maidstone July 2019 Shewas adriving force in raising


the money to build the Heart of KentHospice inAylesford. She is a leadingmember of village life, set- ting up the playgroup, history so- ciety and the friends group for Ulcombe Church. Former stockbroker Jim Findlay


said the honour was flattering. He has used his financial skills to help charities including the Meadows Trust, ofwhich hewas a founding member, to buy land in the village to safeguard it from development.


He also sat on finance committees forMaidstoneGirls’Grammar and theCanterburyDiocese. Clive Emson (72) has been an


auctioneer in the area for 30 years. He earned hisMBE for his volun- tary work for charities including the Young Lives Foundation, of which he was the founding chair- man.The charity provides support and befriending services to young people. He described the award as “an


honour”.


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