News
Road closures A BUSY road in Maidstone is due
to re-open on July 12. Plains Avenue shut on May 24 for three weeks between A229 Loose Road to outside number 4 Plains Avenue.
Marion Crescent closed from May 24 for six weeks at the junc- tion with Plains Avenue. The cycle track from Plains Av-
enue to South Park Road closed on May 31 for one week. The closures are required while gas main replacement works are undertaken by SGN.
Portillo visit
TORY MP turned TV star Michael Portillo paid a visit to Leeds Cas- tle in an episode of Great British Railway Journeys.
The former MP, who hosts a popular programme on Times Radio, explored the legacy of its last private owner Lady Olive Baillie. The episode was filmed during the last lockdown and aired on BBC Two at 6.30pm on May 21.
Shopping bus THE Kingswood Shopping Bus
scheme is due to return on June 16. A 16-seater bus will run every
Wednesday and Friday and will be offered on a first come first served basis. A return ticket costs £4. To re-
serve a place call Hayley on 07719317702 or 01622 474190.
Bloom date MARDEN in Bloom organisers
will hold an annual general meet- ing on June 24.
The meeting will take place at 7pm at Garden of West End Tav- ern. Everyone is welcome. For more information call Boswell on 01622 833351.
Anne
downsmail.co.uk
MPs ‘cutting aid to poor while lining their nests’
A LEADING Kent churchman has launched a vitriolic attack on the Government for cutting overseas aid.
Canon John Corbyn, the vicar at
the Holy Cross church in Bearsted, said it is "ironical" that political fig- ures are "lining their own nests" while slashing help to the world's poorest.
Writing in the Bearsted and Thurnham parish magazine, Canon Corbyn said that the UK once pledged 0.7% of the gross na- tional product to overseas aid, but this had been reduced by a third. In an ill-disguised swipe at par- liamentarians, he adds: "It is quite ironical (some might think tragic or wicked) that politicians should cut help to the poorest people in the world at the time whilst, quite lit- erally, lining their own nests at public expense.
"And on top of this they appar- ently feel no need to account to electors and taxpayers for the ne- cessity of spending such amounts on one of their two or more homes.
"This cut has been made at a time when we should be more aware than ever that we live in a world village. A virus from one part has affected the whole globe. “Just now, our own efforts to de- feat COVID-19 could be under- mined if, left rampant in other parts of the world, the virus mu- tates in a way which defeats our current vaccines. If it arrives on our shores it could take us back to square one – a terrifying prospect. "We can leave India and Brazil to their own devices but, in doing so, we might reap a terrible harvest.” MP for Bearsted and Govern- ment minister for social care, Helen Whately, was approached for a comment.
MP demands action on re safety
MAIDSTONE and Weald MP Helen Grant is pressing Gov- ernment ministers “as a matter of urgency” to try to solve the potential fire problems agonis- ing residents of Miller Heights in Lower Stone Street, Maid- stone.
She is supporting residents “in seeking a satisfactory out- come” and pressing for Gov- ernment money to fund required works.
Mrs Grant says in her latest constituency communique that ever since the properties in the
tower block office conversion were first occupied she has been helping residents resolve a range of unsatisfactory issues with fire safety at the top. She said: “The problem is not with combustible cladding, as at Grenfell Tower but a report has identified the need for a cavity barrier installation to prevent the rapid spread of fire around the outside of the build- ing.”
The residents complain that
Miller Heights – now with 122 apartments – is considered a de-
fective building and they can- not sell their properties. It was built almost 50 years ago as an office block and converted to apartments in the last few years. The managing agents for the building believe Government funding for such work could now be available, have made an application but still await a re- sponse.
Residents fear that if there is no Government support they may be held responsible as leaseholders.
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