Stargazing in 2021 and astronomical highlights to look out for
Published: 06:00, 08 February 2021
Whatever happens on Earth, space is going to keep doing its thing, from shooting stars to meteor showers and phases of the moon.
Here s what astronomical events are coming up this year - and there s no chance of them being cancelled.
Look out for a range of phases for the moon in 2021
February 27: Snow Moon
Also known as the Hunger Moon, the second full moon of the year is named after the snow that Native American tribes regularly faced in late winter.
March 20: March equinox and a chance to see Venus
People living between Aylesford and Maidstone feel swallowed up by non-stop development
Published: 06:00, 31 January 2021
A halt must be called to the âmarch towards overdevelopmentâ which risks leaving communities swept up into ever-expanding urban sprawl.
This is the demand of two MPs who say people living between Maidstone and Aylesford are having their âlegitimate concernsâ about levels of house building and strain on infrastructure ignored.
People in Barming near Maidstone say they are being swamped by housing developments. Picture: HawkEye Aerial Media
Helen Grant and Tracey Crouch are set to convene what they describe as an emergency meeting to discuss the ongoing development of land close to Hermitage Lane.
Campaign aims to get young people to vote in May elections
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The Government has confirmed that it is pushing ahead with the 2021 local elections.
In Maidstone, electors will have a voting spree because in addition to the regular four-yearly Kent County Council elections, the elections for a third of the borough council seats, which were postponed last year because of Covid, will also be held.
Few young people vote
On top of that there will be the postponed election for the Police and Crime Commissioner, postponed Parish Council elections in Barming, Boughton Malherbe, Boughton Monchelsea, Boxley, Bredhurst, Chart Sutton, Coxheath, East Farleigh, Headcorn, Hollingbourne, Hunton, Linton, Marden, Stockbury, Teston, Ulcombe and West Farleigh.
MPs Tracey Crouch and Rehman Chishti join residents fight against Lidsing Garden Village proposal
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Updated: 07:32, 12 December 2020
A campaign group opposing plans for a garden village on farmland has grown from five members to 1,000 in just a week and its objections have already been voiced in the House of Commons.
Against Lidsing Garden Development was set up to fight proposals by Maidstone Borough Council to designate a large area in the parishes of Boxley and Bredhurst for a garden village of 2,000 homes in its Local Plan Review.
One of the objectors banners
Although the area is officially in the borough of Maidstone, it is more closely connected to the Medway Towns than Maidstone, and the opposition group has already won the support of Tracey Crouch (Con), the MP for Chatham and Aylesford, and Rehman Chishti (Con), the MP for Gillingham and Rainham.