Malling Edition October 2017
Panto ahoy! July 2019
Fairytale fun in Snodland
ORGANISERS of this year’s Snodland Carnival
have
THE cast of Cinderella, which is to be staged at the Hazlitt Theatre in Maid- stone, took to the River Medway to launch this year's panto. On board The Kentish Lady were national treasure Rustie Lee (Fairy Godmother), former EastEnder Ste- fan Booth (Prince Charming), Eliza- beth Bright (Cinderella), Craig Anderson (Buttons) and, pictured, Stephen Richards and Adam Bor- zone (Ugly Sisters) . They were greeted by pupils from
South Borough Primary School and members of the media. The panto runs from December 1-31. For tick- ets go to
www.hazlitttheatre.co.uk.
branded it a fairytale success after floats and walkers dressed up as storybook characters. The day raised more than £650
for Breast Cancer Awareness. See next month’s Town Talk for full report.
CCTV call in a bid to stop fly-tipping
Late worship to allow ‘morning after’ time
CALLS for the installation of CCTV cameras to prevent fly-tipping on a country road have been made by the local borough councillor.
Burberry Lane, near Leeds and Broomfield, has been targeted by waste dumpers for years, but in re- cent months, the problem has be- come more acute. Constructionwaste, rubble, hard
tion, the Rev Mark Montgomery at St Gabriel’s, Kings Hill, says he recognises that Sunday mornings are not ideal for visiting church, and has pledged to instigate the change from September. His congregation, which has
core, windows and household fur- niture is left illegally – often strewn in the middle of the road. Cllr Gill Fort said: “Every month
we are having toilets, sinks and construction waste dumped in the village, specifically in Burberry Lane, where we are now thinking of installing cameras on private land, to oversee the problem area.” A recent event in Burberry Lane
started worshipping at Valley In- victa Primary School while it searches for a dedicated home in the parish, has backed the move. Rev Montgomery, pictured,
saw a caravan burned out while a torched car remains on a footpath
said: “We understand that Sunday mornings are not always a great time to come to church… there’s sport, visiting friends, family, the night out the day before or per- haps the morning after that night out… and a whole host of other things. That’s why we are really
nearby, more than a year after it was dumped and set on fire. The church car park has also seen
many instances of illegal dumping. But it is a problem in many rural
excited to announce that from Sep- tember, we will be launching a new Sunday afternoon congrega- tion, in the new venue of Valley In- victa Primary School. “Initially, the congregation will meet twice a month, on the second
areas including Langley, Otham and Kingswood. Water Lane in Bearsted and Pilgrims Way have also been targeted recently. Last year, Maidstone Borough Council cleared 911 cases of fly-tip- ping and this year more than 163 have been recorded since April. The approaching darker evenings will prompt a rise in illegal tipping. Cllr Fort welcomed a joint initia-
tive by the Environment Agency and the Driver and Vehicle Stan- dards Agency to clamp down on
A CHURCH is launching Sunday afternoon services to head off clashes with youth football and recovery time after Saturday nights out. In a bold departure from tradi-
and fourth Sunday.” Although traditionalists may
baulk at the move, the clergy hopes initiatives like St Gabriel’s will help the wider Church carve out a new relationship with parishioners in the 21st century, and avoid closures like that of Offham’s 120-year-old Methodist chapel in April. The building, on Teston Road, is
now the subject of a planning ap- plication to be converted into a family home. Its former steward, Colin Wolfe,
unlicensed waste carriers, but be- lieves the cost to small firms of dis- posing of construction waste at a transfer station is proving a deter- rent that is costing councils more. Cllr Fort made her remarks as
one of the borough’s closest trans- fer stations at North Farm, Tun- bridge Wells, announced it will be closed for 10weeks. She added: “If you go along the
told Downs Mail: “Our congrega- tion had low numbers and we were all getting older. It reached the point where it was no longer viable. “It wasn’t unexpected. Going to
church was once part of life on a Sunday morning, but people do other things now.” The Rev David Green, of St
01622 690290 YOUR LOCAL PROPERTY EXPERT
line of increasing fines, they have to be enforced. A reduction in the charge or offering it free may have the desired similar effect.” Athree-monthly litter pick on the mile-long stretch of road through Leeds village produces an average 32 black sacks of rubbish.
Cllr Fort, who also serves as a
maidstone@martinco.com 23 Pudding Lane • Maidstone • Kent
Mary’s, West Malling, attended the deconsecration. He said: “A Methodist chapel has been in Offham since 1848 and the current building was built in 1898. Its clo- sure marks the end of an era for Christian worship in the village.”
parish councillor, says teaching children about social responsibility and the issue of litter in schools will help take the issue off the streets. She believes with every household receiving a weekly refuse collection service, there is no excuse for litter being thrown from vehicles or dumped in the road.
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FREE No. 246
News News
downsmail.co.uk
Maidstone & Malling’s No. 1 newspaper
Kate, 107, dies No. 267
FREE
KATE Hart, a resident at an old people’s home in Bearsted, has died aged 107, her son David has disclosed.
Postie Rick quits
HELEN Whately asked the government to halt the borough’s housing scheme.
Conmen calling
FROM planting dead rats to smashing roof tiles, we lift the lid on the doorstep scam- mers.
Plans for Dr Nigel
THE widow of GP Dr Nigel Minnet will walk the Grand Canyon for charity. 12
8 Foal left for dead Jason Donovan date
MEREWORTH vets have saved a new-born foal after she was thrown over a fence and left for dead.
THE former Neighbours star brings his show to the Hazlitt Theatre next May.
18 16
Online GPs praised
KINGS Hill’s virtual doctors have been praised by health service watchdogs the Care Quality Commission.
Obituaries
COUNCILLORS have expressed concern over lorries getting stuck under a bridge in Addington; grass cutting next to the donkey field in Leybourne has been difficult because of parked cars; the borough council has agreed to pollard trees in an Offhamcar park to prevent debris damaging vehicles; Trottiscliffe Parish Coun- cil has discussed the welfare of goats near the bridle path.
Obituaries
17 24
Parish Councils 26-27 32
Parish Councils 34-35
Crime Reports 27 Comment 34-35
ASH dieback has been discovered in Monks Meadow in Detling; Hollingbourne village fete stall- holder co-ordinator Jean Duffy has resigned; yellow lines are needed for Buffkyn Way, Otham, to allow buses through Imperial Park; rub- bish bins in the sports field in Kingswoodare to be moved over to the picnic area and rear exit.
Crime Reports 35 Inside this edition:
WEST Malling Parish Council is launching a crowdfunding appeal to fight off a controversial planning proposal.
VEHICLES have been driven over farmland in Lenham, causing damge to crops; an attempted break-in was reported in Detling; a vehicle was vandalised in Bearsted Rd, Weavering; pumpkins were stolen from an allotment in Lenham.
Comment 46-47 3
POPULAR Aylesford postman Rick Hollands is hanging up his mail sack after 45 years doing the rounds.
MP’s Local Plan bid 34
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