Maidstone East Edition
Maidstone & Malling’s No. 1 newspaper
October 2017 April 1st Panto ahoy! - April 14th
Teen yobs ‘could end up killing someone’
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.
MAIDSTONE villages are being “terrorised” by teenage tearaways, writes Jade Schopman.
CCTV call in a bid to stop fly-tipping
Residents claim to have been threatened while there are reports of rocks and golf balls being hurled at moving vehicles on the A20 in Bearsted.
The youngsters have reportedly
hurled verbal sexual abuse at resi- dents and trespassed on property. One woman claims she had a cat- apult with a stone aimed straight at her face.
CALLS for the installation of CCTV cameras to prevent fly-tipping on a country road have been made by the local borough councillor.
Bell’s support
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
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
saw a caravan burned out while a torched car remains on a footpath
THE independent movement call- ing for potential candidates to stand at the borough council elec- tions in Maidstone on May 6 has won the endorsement of the for- mer BBC journalist and MP, Mar- tin Bell. The white-suited war corre- spondent won a seat in parlia- ment by overturning Tory Neil Hamilton's 22,000 majority in Tatton in 1997 on an anti-sleaze ticket. Speaking exclusively to Downs Mail, Mr Bell said: "Local councils are not well-served by party politics. The right indepen- dent candidate in the right seat could do very well in Maidstone." For more see pages 22 & 45
Cllr Gordon Newton, who repre- sents Downswood, said: “One of them threatened to stab me and punch my teeth in when I asked them to stop setting fire to aerosol cans in Mallards Way.
“My wife also witnessed a woman who had a catapult aimed at her face and we called 999. They are an absolute nuisance and they are going to kill somebody.” Cllr Val Springett said: “It has es- calated in the last month and things have taken a very sinister and dan- gerous turn. I witnessed a group of boys launching golf balls at moving cars on the A20 in Bearsted. They are getting so brazen, it is unbelievable. “Next time, I’ll be dialling 999 be-
cause someone could end up being killed.”
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
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
Cll Val Springett with a golf ball that was thrown at traffic
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
up a Neighbourhood Watch Scheme with three other locals to cover parts of Downswood. Mrs Clifford (53), who has lived in
the village for 28 years, said: “It's like we're being terrorised. It has never been this bad before.”
Chief Inspector Gary Woodward condemned the behaviour as “un- acceptable” and said officers are pa- trolling the area working to identify members of the gang. He said: “Officers intervened with
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
Resident Nicky Clifford is setting
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.
01622 690290 YOUR LOCAL PROPERTY EXPERT
delhispice
www.delhispice.co.uk
maidstone@martinco.com 23 Pudding Lane • Maidstone • Kent
two young people who were throw- ing stones and they received com- munity resolutions in the presence of the parents. They were told to change their behaviour or risk fur- ther police action.” Anyone with concerns should call police on 101, or 999 in an emer- gency.
Cllr Fort, who also serves as a
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.
visit
www.amiga.co.uk or call 08000 199622 The Rose Inn, 87 Ashford Road, Maidstone, ME14 4BS
Home Alarms supplied and fitted 01622 734747
Community warden Leslie Etheridge said the situation is now “a matter of urgency”.
downsmail.co.uk
FREE No. 246
News News FREE Kate, 107, dies No. 292
KATE Hart, a resident at an old people’s home in Bearsted, has died aged 107, her son David has disclosed.
Rotarian inspired
HELEN Whately asked the government to halt the borough’s housing scheme.
3 MP’s Local Plan bid
A ROTARIAN has been inspired by Captian Sir Tom Moore to raise funds for charity by walking round his garden.
No Lenham let up Plans for Dr Nigel
THE controversial council-led housing plan for Lenham Heath looks likely to progress to the next stage.
Jason Donovan date Leeds church facelift
ST Nicholas church in Leeds is being repointed after a funding boost.
THE former Neighbours star brings his show to the Hazlitt Theatre next May.
18 à10 Radical action needed
RADICAL action is required to prevent further crashes in Hollingbourne - including build- outs near the Pilgrims Way junc- tion which has become a lockdown car park.
Obituaries Obituaries
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.
Postmaster’s claim A FORMER Tovil postmaster is pursuing a claim against the Post Office for reputa- tional damage.
Parish Councils 34-35 Comment à45-47
Parishes
32 à44
à14 à33
THE widow of GP Dr Nigel Minnet will walk the Grand Canyon for charity. 12
à4 4 à3 & Fortnightly
Maidstone & Malling’s No. 1 newspaper
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Trench-life recreated Crime Reports 35
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.
AN HISTORIAN will bring World War One to life in a special project starting in Maidstone.
Fast link hope
Comment 46-47 à34
KENT County Council has “strengthened” its support for a fast rail link service to Cam- bridge via the capital and will continue to lobby the government.
Open 12th April For Outside Catering Order a takeaway online to receive 20% off - use code CV19
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