downsmail.co.uk
Park dam plan ‘a year’s work’
WORK to protect thousands of homes and businesses near Mote Park and Turkey Mill from a po- tential 12ft wave of flood water will not start until December. Repairs needed to the ancient
dam in Mote Park – revealed by Downs Mail – will reinstate the de- teriorating flood protection mea- sure and provide a “wave wall”. However, the work, which was described as essential during an in- dependent inspection, is expected to take a year to complete. In spite of torrential rain, concern
about the delay, Maidstone Bor- ough Council claimed a flood plan is in place. This comes, even though its own officers report that if the dam were to fail, flood water would “rapidly cover over 40 acres of land, includ- ing Turkey Mill, Mote Park and surrounding areas to an estimated depth of 12 feet”. An MBC spokesman said: “We have a multi-agency flood plan
that involves working with the emergency services and other part- ner agencies to respond to and work on recovery actions follow- ing all flood incidents. There is also a separate on-site plan for reservoir and dam incidents in Mote Park. “The works scheduled to be car-
ried out are part of our plans to en- sure the safety of the dam and improved flood management sys- tems. They will incorporate a risk management strategy that ad- dresses the risk of flood incidents whilst works are in progress.” Work to fell 300 trees between
the park and Turkey Mill Lake will be carried out in November. Lost trees will be replaced. Council leader Martin Cox said
the project had been in the plan- ning stage for some time. He added: “We are saddened to have to cut down trees, but the safety of residents is our top priority and we cannot risk the integrity of the dam.”
Local Trades
Year 9 pupil Rachel at Invicta’s MacMillan coffee morning Cake break raises £900
GIRLS at Invicta Grammar raised an incredible £900 in 40 minutes, with the help of coffee and cake. Thanks went to year 7 pupils for
providing the food, and form char- ity reps, house reps and the senior and house prefects for setting up and the clean-up operation. The house raising the most money (and 50 house points) was
Curie, which raised £146.63, with Roddick House in second place, with £128.09, and Nightingale in third with £116.25. Teacher Mrs Bridget Le Sbirel
congratulated students on raising such a large amount over the break-time period – £60 more than last year – with the Macmillan Cof- fee Morning.
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www.downsmail.co.uk Maidstone East December 2019 29
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