Sanctuary animals are under threat


A 72-YEAR-OLD woman fears she may have to put down the animals she gave up her home for, after failing to overturn an en- forcement order. Maggie Marfell has run a private livery stables and animal sanctuary at Hop Farm Garden Centre, inm Teston, for the past 20 years. Three years ago, she moved out of her home in Lower Fant Road, Maidstone, into a caravan on the site so she could cope with an ever-increasing workload and act as a se- curity presence to deter thefts. But Maidstone Council invoked an en- forcement order on the caravan, saying it constituted unlawful residential develop- ment in the open countryside. This decision was upheld on appeal, leaving Maggie with a deadline of September to move out of the caravan. Over the years the sanctuary has contin-


ued to expand and is now home to seven Shetland ponies, two donkeys, a sheep, goat, horse, geese and ducks. Ironically, MBC requested Maggie to take on the ownership of Mini, the goat, after it


pening, it was becoming harder for Mum to look after the animals without moving here. “We have had young people down here


doing work experience and youth offenders as well. Local people get a huge benefit from it.”


Head volunteer Fred Durham with Shet- land ponies Mitch (right) and Ziggy (left).


was discovered living in a ParkWood flat. Maggie’s daughter Fred Durham, the head volunteer, said: “With an increasing amount of animals to look after and more crime hap-


A CARE home assistant who stole cash from residents – some in their 90s – was trapped when police planted marked notes in a wallet. The sting also involved mark- ing groceries, which were later found in her car boot. Susan Browne, 43, of Dover Street, Maidstone, was


jailed for 12 weeks after she admitted stealing from pa- tients during the four years she had worked at the Dorothy Lucy Centre in Northumberland Road. In all, she stole more than £250. Browne has since lost her job. Magistrates heard she targeted vulnerable residents,


many with dementia. She said she took the money as she had fallen on hard times.


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Planning inspector Alan Woolnough re- ported: “The mobile home, extension and associated paraphernalia, considered as a whole, detract from the wider landscape. “I conclude that, with the exception of the hardstanding, the appeal development causes significant additional harm to the character and appearance of the countryside and that the attributes of the animal rescue centre and livery are not sufficient to out- weigh this.” However, Fred responded: “On our left is sewage works and on the right hand side is a mobile home. Mum has planted trees that hide the caravan. “They talk about the view from the Med-


way, but in the summer the other side of the river is opened up to caravans, which seems to be acceptable.”


Trapped by marked notes Worldwide guests at NLL conference


MORE than 300 visitors attended a Microsoft Conference at New Line Learning Academy, in Boughton Lane, Loose. Guests from schools all over the


world experienced NLL’s cutting-edge learning environment and partici- pated in a variety of workshops that covered innovative education prac- tices and new models for learning. There were also presentations from James Bernard, the director of Part-


ners in Learning at Microsoft Corpo- ration and Dr Chris Gerry, executive principal of Future Schools Trust, which runs NLL and the Cornwallis Academy near Coxheath. Sixth-form students conducted


tours of the academy and students who speak English as an additional language showcased their talents by conversing with their guests in Por- tuguese, Polish, Spanish, French, Lithuanian, Nepalese and Kurdish.


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