Huge police cuts mean there will be no more recruits


ANN Barnes, chair of Kent Police Author- ity, has spoken of her pride and sadness at potentially the last passing out parade to be held by Kent Police. The parade celebrates new recruits pass-


ing their exams and becoming fully- fledged police officers. But now due to a freeze on recruitment, to help towards coping with a 20 per cut


in funding, there will be no new officers joining Kent Police in the foreseeable fu- ture. In fact the force will have to lose about a fifth of its officers and support staff to meet massive spending cuts. Mrs Barnes said: “I’m very sad indeed


that we are now turning off the tap on new recruits, but we have to save money. The calibre of the individuals I have met at


passing out parades is extremely high and it’s fantastic to see their enthusiasm. So it’s a real shame to see an end to this, espe- cially at a time when a fifth of young peo- ple are out of work and there are fewer job opportunities.” The freeze follows announcements that


the force will have to find £53million in savings over the next four years.


It’s Mote Park’s view of the future


WORK has finally got under way on a major conservation and improvement scheme at Mote Park.


About 140 trees are being planted in February,


while areas of scrubland and some poor quality trees will be removed to recreate historic views that have been lost over the years. An example is the vista between the historic


Volunteers Pavilion and Mote House. The rein- statement of such views has been carefully co- ordinated with Kent Wildlife Trust to ensure that the park’s ecology is protected. No sub- stantial trees will be removed. The new trees include alder, birch, hornbeam,


sweet chestnut, Indian bean tree, eastern wal- nut, beech, tulip tree, oak, redwood and lime. Maidstone Borough Council was awarded a


£1.8m Heritage Lottery grant towards the £2.5m revamp. It is the biggest investment in the park since the council purchased it from Lord Bearsted in 1929 for £50,000. Cabinet member for leisure and culture, Cllr Richard Ash, said: “Mote Park is one of Kent’s biggest and best parklands and it has a special place in our lives.We have consulted park users and others. “These improvements will conserve the natu-


ral habitats of the park, restore many of the fea- tures lost over time, and add better facilities for families and disabled people.” Meanwhile, the council is offering volunteers


the chance to get involved. “Maidstone people really care about Mote Park. This is a chance to be part of the next chapter in its history, recre- ating the historic parkland of a bygone age and


MAIDSTONE Council has agreed to contribute about one-fifth of the £2.5m costs of regenerat- ing Mote Park. Cabinet members endorsed a recommenda-


tion to release £524,802 from the capital pro- gramme. Last September, the Heritage Lottery Fund granted £1.8m towards the revamp.


A CIVILIAN officer based at Maidstone Police Station has used her job as a police intelligence analyst to inspire her first crime novel. Elizabeth Haynes’ “Into The Darkest Corner” follows the path of a woman who gets involved in an apparently ideal relationship that later turns sinister. The author says her job of six years has been an ideal backdrop to forging a ca- reer in fiction. She said: “In my job, I look at crime figures


and try to establish a pattern of offending so we can direct resources into certain areas. It is an ideal job for a writer as we are trained to look at crime cre- atively as well as in a factual way.” In 2008, Elizabeth (39) wrote the


first draft of the book as part of Na- tional NovelWriting Month, which presents an annual challenge to write a 50,000-word novel during November. A tutor on her creative writing course passed this on to publisher Myriad Editions, who de- cided to release the book.


12 Malling


Arrows indicate the historic views which will be opened up by the clearance work


adding the facilities for more people to enjoy it,” said Cllr Ash. To volunteer, call Alan Frith, Mote Park audi-


ence development officer, on 01622 602119 or email alanfrith@maidstone.gov.uk


£1/2m backing for revamp is ‘absolute sense’ Cllr Richard Ash (leisure and culture portfo-


lio) said the scheme would improve "what is a very faded jewel in the crown". Council leader Chris Garland said it would be


a "huge boost" and that, as £524k represented 21% of the total cost, it made "absolute sense" to proceed with it..


Police job inspires second career in crime She added: “It has always been an unreachable


goal ofmine to have something published, so it is amazing that it is now happening. To see your name on the cover gives you a real buzz.”


Elizabeth’s second book, “Under a Hunter’s Moon”, will be published by Myriad in 2012. She is currently writing her third novel, but is happy to carry on with the day job. “I do love my job - the best I have


ever had,” she said. “It’s constantly changing and it never gets boring. I am hoping to keep the two side-by-side for as long as possible. “It is very inspirational in terms of


my writing because I come across a wide variety of people and, if I spent all day at home, I might lose the inspira- tion to write that I get from my job.” l“Into The Darkest Corner” is avail-


able in paperback for £7.99. Info - 01273 720000 / www.MyriadEditions.com.


The list of works includes: New landscaping and tree plant- ing, focusing on reinstating the parkland landscape. Improved pedestrian access, with new fully accessible footpaths com- prising an inner (around the lake) and outer circuit, enabling safe wheelchair and pushchair access throughout. Works to manage the outflow of the lake to reduce lake edge flood- ing. Repair of the lake crossing cause- way with a natural reed bed treat- ment to prevent erosion. New bridge to provide a pedes- trian route across the lake. Refurbishment of Mote Avenue and School Lane car parks. New parking facilities via Will- ington Street entrance. Electronically controlled gates to prevent unauthorised vehicular ac- cess. Reconstruction of the historic wa- terfall. Boathouse promenade and reloca- tion of the model boat club plat- form. Restoration of the historic pavil- ion. Interpretation points at the en- trances and way-finding signage throughout. New park furniture, including lit- ter bins, seating and cycle stands. Security improvements including extra CCTV cameras at key loca- tions. Two local park centres with play/disability equipment. Full kiosk refurbishment - new disabled and baby change facilities.


Festival set for


autumn return LAST year's inaugural beer and cider festival at East Malling Researchwas so successful that real ale campaigners are plan- ning a follow-up event. Aprovisional date of Septem-


ber 3 has been set by CAMRA's Maidstone and Mid Kent branch.


Chairman Jeff Tucker said:


"We'll be putting arrangements in place to ensure this year's event is bigger and better than ever."


Meet the Lions MALLING Lions meet on the third Monday of every month at 8pm at The Farmhouse in Malling High Street, not the Lobster Pot, as mentioned in last month’s Malling Mail sec- tion.


Have you got news for us? Phone our News Desk on 01622 734735


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