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'Disdain' for voters over election cycle


MAIDSTONE Lib Dems have been accused of ignoring the will of the public over the frequency of borough council elections. They – supported by Independents –


voted to retain the current system of elec- tions being held in a third of wards annu- ally, in three out of every four years. The ruling Conservatives backed a switch


to whole council elections, with ballots being held in all wards every fourth year. The council consulted residents last year


Preservation for


farm’s woodland MAIDSTONE Council’s plan- ning committee has imposed a tree preservation order on woodland at Great Oak Farm, Friday Street, East Sutton. Farm owner Damon Bridger


objected. His solicitor told the committee: “He has no inten- tion of destroying the wood- land. He wants it to be pasture woodland so would be happy to accept a TPOonly for trees around the wood. It is unrea- sonable, excessive and jeopar- dises the viability of his agricultural business.” But committee member Cllr


Clive English said: “There is nothing in the TPOthat will prevent the owner from coming up with a plan to allow him to manage it appropriately. What it does do is give the council cause to intervene if that is not the case.”


by sending out a supplementary question with electoral registration forms. Replies to the question were received from about a half of 44,000 households, of which 72% of electors (32,000) said 'yes' to changing the system. At December's full council meeting, 24


voted against the move and 27 for it. How- ever, the law requires a two-thirds majority for a change to be made. Cllr Paulina Stockell, whomoved the mo-


tion for whole council elections, said there was no doubt it would save money (an offi- cers' report suggested £75,000 over a three- year period), as well as improve voter turnout and efficiency. She said the 32,000 votes in favour was a


"phenomenal" consultation figure. "It's crys- tal clear, a no-brainer that the electorate pre- fer four-year elections," she added. Lib Dem leader Cllr Fran Wilson said


A LARGE Victorian post box was stolen from a driveway in Heath Road,West Farleigh. Atrespasser killed four chick-


Beat the criminals IF YOU CAN HELP, PLEASE PHONE: Police: 01622 690690 Crimestoppers: 0800 555 111 Criminal damage was caused


ens at Forstal Farm,Well Street, Loose. Two disc cutters


were stolen from a building site at Ams- bury Farm, East Street, Hunton, while workers were at lunch. Adigger bucket and manhole cover were stolen from a building site at Wares Farm, Redwall Lane, Linton. Tyres that had been left in a


yard were stolen from Culls Farm, Dean Street, East Far- leigh.


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to a tree in the orchard at Ams- bury Farm, East Street, Hunton, in an attempt to steal a mini dig- ger.


An up-and-over door was damaged in the at- tempted entry of a res- idential garage in Astbury Road, Cox- heath. Windscreen wipers


were stolen from a ve- hicle in Station Hill, East Farleigh. The door to a garage


there were three questions to consider. First, what is best democratic prac- tice?; second, how certain is it that savings will be made?; and third, what weight should be given to the consultation? Last year's mayor, Cllr Peter Parvin (Con) said he would have preferred the status quo but, as a large number in the borough said they wanted a change, he had to represent the people, so he could not see "in all conscience" how he could not vote for it. Cllr Tony Harwood (Lib Dem) argued that councillors are more responsive under the cur- rent thirds system "because of the healthy whiff of fear that they will lose their seats if they do something crass". He also claimed that, under a


was damaged at Riverside House, Vicarage Road, Yalding. A silver 02-reg Mercedes was


later found nearby after being taken from Redwall Lane, Hunton.


four-yearly system, council tax would go up after an election and come down the year before the next election. But Cllr John Horne urged members not to treat the people with "sophistry and disdain".


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