News


downsmail.co.uk Wheatsheaf sold to the council


PROPOSALS for adramatic change to one ofMaidstone’sworst bottleneck junctions have been re- vealed – four years after being first discussed.


Details have emerged that Kent


County Council has bought The Wheatsheaf pub at the junction of the A229/A274, dispensing with the need to buy homeowners’ gar- dens to create a signal controlled roundabout in its place. Maidstone’s JointTransportation


Board (JTB) agreed theA229Arm- strong Road junction will also re- ceive an extra lane south-bound to allow right turns into Armstrong Road, along with further capacity in ParkWay. Further south, theCripple Street


junction, which now includes space for an extra lane on theA229, has yet to be fully developed and will be progressed with ward member involvement. Cllr Brian Clark said: “Purchas-


ing theWheatsheafpub andfinally progressing the junction scheme without the need for further land purchase is verywelcome. “There are several considera-


tions to be ironed out, not least the junction with Cranborne Avenue


Family at war GETmore fromyour lunch break, at a talk on family life during WWI at Maidstone Library on Monday, July 29. Archivist Liz Finn will talk


about the Orchard family: the loss, heartbreak and remem- brance of life on the Home Front while theworldwas atwar. More than 740,000 British ser-


vicemen died in the conflict; the story of theOrchard Family, from Folkestone, illustrates the domes- tic upset for all concerned. The talk at the library in James


WhatmanWay is free and starts at 1pm.


Cycling drama THE first cycling theatre com- pany arrives in Maidstone this month. The HandleBards pedal from


venue to venue with the set, props and costumes to perform Shakespeare. The all-male troupewill present


Much Ado About Nothing at Cobtree Manor Park in Forstal Road, from 6.30pm, on July 26 and 27. Expect chaos, energy and laughter. Tickets are £17.50 for adults and £11.50 per child. Call 01622 758611.


8 Maidstone August 2019


and access to the Loose Road from the east, but I welcome officers’ openness to localmember involve- mentwith the scheme to date.” He added: “Whilemorework is


required to develop a suitable de- sign at the Swan junction, the Sheals Crescent and Armstrong Roadjunction changesweredevel- oped early on andwillmake a big


Councillors Brian Clark and Derek Mortimer at the Park Way/ Armstrong Road junction on A229


difference to congestion along the A229.” But, he complained, while the


scheme would improve flows on the Loose Road, congestion in Sut- ton Roadwould continue. Conservatives on the JTB re-


jectedanappeal fromtheLibDems to return to a former plan to create, what some describe as a six-lane


“super-highway” that it says would allow the junction of the A274withWillington Street/Wallis Avenue to cope with traffic build- up beyond 2031. The county council says the pub


will remain open to run down stock, afterwhich a single contract for the project will be awarded in March next year,with construction starting in theApril. Boardmember Cllr Gary Cooke


said: “These interim measures are needed tomanage the extra hous- ing being built in the borough. “What I hope is that Maidstone


Borough Council will work with KCCaspart of its localplan review to ensure that other important ele- ments, such as aLeeds-Langley re- lief road, are at the heart of highwayplans tomanage its hous- ing expectations.” JTB chairman CllrDavid Burton


the pub was bought in a commer- cial deal. He understands the inn has been on the open market for around £500,000.


Charlie remembered atmatch


MAPLESDEN Noakes football team swept to victory at amatch inmem- ory of classmate Charlie Girling. Joining the school team was his


dad, Les, who was cheered on by 1,500 supporters, including parents, friends and family. Staff described the day as a great


success, raising more than £2,000 for Charlie’sGarden at the school in Buckland Road. Once again, the venuewasMaid-


stone FC’s Gallagher Stadium, where12-year-oldCharliewasareg- ular supporter. This time, the chal- lengers were fromthe 1st Aylesford Scout Group, of which Charlie had been amember since the age of six.


Head Mr Richard Owen (pictured


centrewith thewinner’s shield)was delighted with the 4-2 win. He added: “We had a fantastic day comingtogether torememberChar- lie. It is so important to us that we can come together as a school com-


munity and celebrate his life. “Thank you to everyone involved


inmaking the day so special.” Charlie, who lived with his family


in Aylesford, died on July 24, 2016, after an asthma attack at an inter- national Scout jamboree in Finland.


Child sex offender jailed for 22 years


AMAIDSTONEchildsex offender has been sentenced to 22 years in prison. Mark Stanford (55), of St Peter’s


Street, repeatedly abused his vic- tim between 1999 and 2002, in- cluding rape. Stanford was arrested and


charged. He pleaded not guilty at court and the case went to trial. A jury convicted him on all counts,


and on Thursday, June 13, Stan- fordwas sentenced to 22 years.He was also given an indefinite Sexual HarmPreventionOrder. Detective Sergeant Lisa Feather-


stone, fromtheWest Kent Vulner- able Investigation Team, said: “Stanford subjected a young child to the most appalling abuse and usedtheir fear andvulnerability to ensure the child complied.


“Iwouldlike to thank the victim,


who has been incredibly brave to come forward. The damage Stan- ford has had a profound and dev- astating impact. I only hope now the victimcanmove forward.” Mark Stanford was convicted at


Maidstone Crown Court of two counts of rape, six counts of inde- cent assault, and a further count of gross indecencywith a child.


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