No. 1 newspaper
FREE FREE
& Fortnightly No. 246 Maidstone & Malling’s No. 1 newspaper News
October 2017
Panto ahoy!
th August - Augustwhich 18this to be THE cast 5 of Cinderella,
downsmail.co.uk
staged at the Hazlitt Theatre in Maidstone, 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 Stefan Booth (Prince Charming), Elizabeth Bright (Cinderella), Craig Anderson (Buttons) and, pictured, Stephen Richards and Adam Borzone (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 tickets go to www.hazlitttheatre.co.uk.
KATE Hart, a resident at an old people’s home in Bearsted, has died aged 107, her son 3 News David has disclosed.
Family inspiration MP’s Local Plan bid AHELEN HAZLITT pantoasked star has Whately the paid tribute to his to family members, government halt the borough’s them housing describing as scheme. an in- 4 spiration to his career. à3
Plans for Dr Nigel Lockmeadow plan
THE widow of GP Dr Nigel Minnet HEAVY traffic at Lockmeadow will walk the Grand could be eased by a two 12 Canyon for charity. à4 lane system.
CCTV call in a bid to stop fly-tipping LEEDS Castle's chief executive Helen BonserWilton got to grips with a European eagle-owl as the treasure house opened up to the public again. Mrs Bonser-Wilton, who joined at the end of March, said her favourite place on the estate is
Kate, 107, dies No. 300
among the feathered raptors. She said: "What a place to work! “If I'm having a bad day, I head to the birds of prey centre – that's my happy place." Picture: Chris Lawson
Council faces court over ‘sewer secrets’
CALLS for the installation of CCTV cameras to prevent fly-tipping on a country road have been made by the local borough councillor.
Burberry Lane, near Leeds and nearby, more than a year after it unlicensed waste carriers, but believes the cost to small firms of disBroomfield, has been targeted by was dumped and set on fire. The church car park has also seen posing of construction waste at a waste dumpers for years, but in recent months, the problem has be- many instances of illegal dumping. transfer station is proving a deterBut it is a problem in many rural rent that is costing councils more. come more acute. Construction waste, rubble, hard areas including Langley, Otham Cllr Fort made her remarks as core, windows and household fur- and Kingswood. Water Lane in one of the borough’s closest transniture is left illegally – often strewn Bearsted and Pilgrims Way have fer stations at North Farm, Tunto explain why £400,000 of public money was COUNCIL officers who refused also been targeted recently. in the middle of the road. bridge Wells, announced it will be year, or Maidstone Cllr Gill Fort said: “Every closed for 10 weeks. writes Simon Finlay. written off must nowmonth discloseLast details face theBorough High Court, we are having toilets, sinks and Council cleared 911 cases of fly-tipShe added: “If you go along the than aand yearthis ago,year unelected MBC ofMaidstone Borough Council dis- ping has been ordered to answer all the more than 163 line of increasing fines, they have to construction waste dumped in the missed the cost of a sewer collapse ficials refused to answer any of questions. village, specifically in Burberry have been recorded since April. be enforced. A reduction in the The new Conservative town hall during the construction of the Ad- them, claiming the information was Lane, where we are now thinking The approaching darker evenings charge or offering it free may have administration described the ICO commercially sensitive. venture Zone in Mote Park as un- will prompt a rise in illegal tipping. the desired similar effect.” of installing cameras on private In a 10-page report upholding assessment as “embarrassing” recoverable. Cllr Fort welcomed a joint initialand, to oversee the problem area.” A three-monthly litter pick on the our by appeal to the Information blaming a culture at MBC of withBut when Downs Mail asked 11 tive the Environment Agency mile-long stretch of road through A recent event in Burberry Lane holding information, even to Commissioner's Office (ICO), MBC questions of the authority more and the Driver and Vehicle Stan- Leeds village produces an average saw a caravan burned out while a democratically elected councillors. torched car remains on a footpath dards Agency to clamp down on 32 black sacks of rubbish. Now MBC has been told bluntly Cllr Fort, who also serves as a by the ICO: "Failure to comply may parish councillor, says teaching result in the Commissioner making children about social responsibility written certification of this fact to and the issue of litter in schools will the High Court...and may be dealt help take the issue off the streets. with as a contempt of court." She believes with every household In June 2020, a small paragraph receiving a weekly refuse collection YOUR LOCAL PROPERTY EXPERT tucked away in the policy and reservice, there is no excuse for litter committee papers, council maidstone@martinco.com sources being thrown from vehicles or 23 Pudding Lane • Maidstone • Kent dumped in theContinued road. on page 8
01622 690290
Jason Donovan President Matt date
THEMaidstone former Neighbours brings THE Rotarystar Club has his show to the Hazlitt chosen Matt Mock as its new 18 Theatre next May. president in its centeà6 nary year.
Fruit farm’s £16m sale A FAMILY fruit farm in Boughton Monchelsea has been à10 sold for £16m.
Minister intervenes A CHURCHMAN has called for calm in the bitter Bearsted allotment row. à24
Obituaries
32
à33 Obituaries Parish Councils 34-35 ASH dieback has been discovered à37in Parishes
Meadow in Detling; village fete stallà45-47 holder co-ordinator Jean Duffy has resigned; yellowsays lines are MP Tracey yesneeded for Buffkyn Way, Otham, to allow MP TRACEY Crouch is to Park; marryrubbuses through Imperial her long-term Stevefield in bish bins in partner the sports after her brave Kingswood are battle to be moved over to against breast à30 the picnic areacancer. and rear exit. Monks
Hollingbourne Comment
35 Crime Reports Village gets apology
have been AVEHICLES UTILITY company hasdriven apolo- over farmland in Lenham, gised for bringing chaos to causing damge to crops; an attempted à32 Leeds village. break-in was reported in Detling; a vehicle was vandalised in Bearsted Drug dealer jailed Rd, Weavering; pumpkins were from heroin an allotment Astolen MAIDSTONE and crack in Lenham. dealer has been jailed after 250 wraps were found in his 46-47 à44 Comment car and home.
Home Alarms supplied and fitted visit www.amiga.co.uk or– call 08000 199622 01622 829183 www.balinea.co.uk – E: sales@balinea.co.uk
