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News App boost for


eating places AN EX-policeman has launched a new app to promote restaurants in Maidstone.


Dad of two John Botting (58), of


The Hurstings, created food order- ing app Maidstone Eats to encour- age people to support local businesses, rather than national chains. Mr Botting said: “After falling ill


with a back condition I was look- ing for a challenge and stumbled across this around six weeks ago. “Within a few weeks we had


1,200 likes and 1,400 followers on Facebook. I think with Covid-19, people are becoming more inclined to eat locally and support smaller businesses.


“This fits Maidstone Eats per-


fectly, as we are all about shopping local.”


Pea eld plan


must change BARMING’S pea field has sur- vived a planning application for 187 houses – but the local resi- dents’ battle must go on.


Maidstone Borough Council’s planning committee deferred the Taylor Wimpey application for land off Oakapple Lane after criti- cism of the open space policy in the layout design.


Many councillors want to see a


large area of “real open space” at the western end of the site as a local amenity, as well as cycle paths and ecology enhancements.


The main access route is off Her- mitage Lane via Fullingpits Av- enue, but the second is through a residential area with narrow, crowded streets, with Broomshaw Road seen as very unsatisfactory. Committee chairman Cllr Clive English said the layout must change or the plan could be re- fused.


Tackling crime


VARIOUS local bodies have banded together to form the new Maidstone Task Force. Kent Police, Trading Standards, housing associations, Maidstone Borough Council and voluntary groups are pulling together to help keep people safe. The group aims to reduce thuggery, knife crime and widespread drug dealing in the county town.


The task force, which was launched on October 16, also wants to identify and understand the causes of certain crimes. l Comment, page 45


8


downsmail.co.uk


Agriculture students get scholarship help


MAIDSTONE students Morgan Tasker and Alice Edmonds have been named as recipients of a funding award as Kent Rural Scholars.


The teenagers, who have started further education in agriculture, will benefit from the Kent County Agricultural Society’s scholarship scheme bursary.


It has been running since 2016 and is designed to support Kent- based students looking to study agriculture or a land-based subject at university.


Former Oakwood Grammar School Morgan Tasker (18), from Maidstone, is studying agriculture at Writtle University in Essex. His studies will embrace chang- ing attitudes to conservation and climate-smart agriculture, agro- ecology, carbon farming, technol- ogy


use and management practices.


Morgan said: “I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to be- come a Kent Rural Scholar. I will use the funding to buy textbooks to help my studies.


“Becoming a scholar is a great


achievement and I look forward to being associated with the Kent County Agricultural Society.” Maidstone Girls Grammar School former pupil Alice Ed- monds is studying food marketing and business economics at the Uni- versity of Reading. She decided to


integrated


Kent Rural Scholars Morgan Tasker and Alice Edmonds


pursue a career in agriculture after joining New Line Learning Young Farmers’ Club.


Alice (18) said: “Becoming a


Kent Rural Scholar is rather excit- ing, and I am looking forward to the opportunities it will introduce me to. I am very grateful to the Kent County Agricultural Society for the generous funding towards my degree and I am proud to be representing the charity at the Uni- versity of Reading.” The current members of the Kent


Rural Scholars are studying a range of subjects from agriculture to forestry management at univer- sities across the country.


Chairman of the Kent County Agricultural Society, James Fork- nall, said: “The scholarship scheme is an important part of the socie- ity’s charitable work.


“The Kent Rural Scholars will be part of the future of agriculture and related industries, so it is im- portant that they are supported through their studies.”


Can you beat John’s prized pumpkin?


AS PUMPKIN season comes to an end, one green-fingered gardener has been admiring his work – a six stone whopper. John Eason (61), of Melville


Road, Maidstone, produces every- thing from onions, leeks, radishes, potatoes, kale, and butternut squashes on his plot at Square Hill Allotments. He said: “It is hard work, but


look what I get it out of it. Both of the pumpkins together weigh more than me.” John worked at Kent County Supplies in Kings Hill for 41 years before retiring to care for his sister Sue (65), who is blind. l Have you grown a bigger pump- kin or any other giant veg? Send us your pictures via email, on info@downsmail.co.uk.


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