‘Minor fall caused
fatal brain bleed’ RETIRED florist Ellen Wells (81) died following a fall at her home in HavantWalk, Senacre, an inquest heard. Daughter Pauline Young said
her mother, with whom she lived, called from her bedroom early on the morning of March 16, saying she had fallen while using the commode. She sustained a small cut to
her head but it was not bleed- ing excessively. Mrs Young put a dressing on her mother’s head and gave her paracetamol. At 6am she checked her and
found the bump on her head was bigger and decided she should take her to hospital. When they got there, things
began to deteriorate, said Mrs Young. She became rapidly less conscious, the inquest was told. The hospital’s medical regis-
trar said MrsWells had died of a massive brain haemorrhage. Coroner Roger Sykes said it
was a very sad outcome from what appeared to be a minor bump. But he had heard of many similar cases where el- derly people, with even minor head injuries, bleed more read- ily.
MrsWells, who had heart dis-
ease and had suffered an em- bolism, was on warfarin and this made her even more prone to bleeding. My Sykes recorded a verdict of accidental death.
Village bid to set up shop
VOLUNTEERS to help run a community shop at Detling are being sought following the closure of the village store and post office. Parish councillors were told that, with plan-
ning permission being sought to convert the site to three cottages, it was clear that new premises would be required should a shop be opened in the village. The council was unable to get involved directly, but could give its support to a commu- nity venture. It was understood that some Gov-
Homes plan for
post office site OWNER Michael Tamsett has applied for planning permission to convert the former Detling Post Office Stores back into three cottages. Proposals are for two-bedroom homes,
each with garage and off-road parking space. The Victorian terrace in The Street
had provided accommodation for the village shop at number 20 since World War II and in 1984, the current owners expanded the business into numbers 16 and 18. The post office was acquired in 1990 after the demise of a neighbouring shop. The stores continued to flourish until around 2000, but “living styles, new reg- ulations and other outside forces began to take ef- fect,” says a planning application document. Mr Tamsett blamed new rules concerning staff holiday entitlement as the last straw that made the business unsustainable. Despite being on the market for five years, no
buyer for the business property came forward. While Mr Tamsett held out in a vain effort to sell
Rosie set to show judges she’s got talent
BEARSTED singer Rosie Pennie (14) has been wowing judges to make progress in two talent competitions. Her covers of All Of Me and Valerie in a heat at the Hazlitt Theatre helped her through to the national final of Britain Does Vari- ety at the Lighthouse Theatre, Ket- tering, Northants, on Saturday, June 11, where she will be compet- ing for a place in the grand final at the O2 Arena. Rosie’s rendition of Natural
Woman helped her win her age category in the first Kent heat of Festival4Stars held in Paddock Wood. She will now perform at the Lon-
don final on July 3 at The Broad- way Theatre, Catford.
Office conversion application refusal THE planned conversion of a store and office to a one-bedroom home in Bearsted has been blocked. Maidstone Council refused the planning application at The Barn, Thurnham Lane, citing an over-fenestrated domestic appearance, “which would cause significant harm to the simple form of the for- mer working building and thereby cause unacceptable harm to the character and appearance of the Bearsted Conservation Area”.
ernment funding might be available for the proj- ect.
The issue will be discussed at the parish annual meeting on May 17, starting at 7.30pm at the vil- lage hall. It is hoped that information will be available from organisations already running vil- lage shops. The Detling store closed in February with owner Michael Tamsett blaming competition from Tesco and recent changes in employment law as the “last straw”.
Michael Tamsett hopes to convert the village store and post office back to cottages after failing to sell it as a going concern.
the shop as a going concern, the business prop- erty value dropped from £412,000 to £365,000. Steps were taken to try to retain a village shop
and organisations including Detling Parish Coun- cil attempted to find a solution, but without suc- cess. The Charity Bank, based in London, was also approached about funding a community shop.
Fare dodgers pay high price for rail travel SOUTHEASTERN trains has been clamping down on passengers found travelling without a valid ticket for their journey.
James Edward Mcauliffe
(19), of Maidstone Road, Lenham, received a consoli- dated fines and costs bill of £144.10 for rail travel on three occasions, when he failed to purchase valid tickets for his journeys. Daniel Michael Mcauliffe
(20), also of Maidstone Road, Lenham, was fined a total of £453.90, including costs, for travelling to Maidstone East sta- tion without purchasing the re- quired £3.90 ticket. Tony Spilett (38), of
Wykham Grove, Leeds, was given a fines and costs bill of £458.50 for not having bought a £8.50 ticket for a journey to Bearsted station. Ben Jones (26), of Ware Street, Bearsted, received a fines and costs bill of £137.80 after pleading guilty to boarding
School’s playground access could boost inspection ratings LEEDS & Broomfield school hopes it will improve its Ofsted rating by providing better pupil access to its playground. The primary school, in Lower Street, Leeds, was given a satisfactory rating in its most
recent inspection in September 2009. The planning application is to provide a protec- tive canopy and improved access to the playground. According to the planning statement: “The proposals are a direct response by the school governing body to items highlighted in three previous Ofsted reports. “They point out the ongoing lack of free flow for children wishing to use the play- ground. The proposals will also result in easier access for parents wishing to pick up and drop off children.” KCC will consider the planning application.
42 East
a train without the £2.80 rail ticket for his journey from East Malling station. Lewis Gate (19), of Eythorne Street, Hollingbourne, pleaded guilty to having trav- elled to Maidstone East station without purchasing a £3.10 ticket. He was given a fines and costs bill of £120.10 Oliver Carne (19), of The Hampshires, Harrietsham, pleaded guilty to travelling without a ticket, price £3.90, for his journey to Maidstone East station. He was given fines and costs of £120.90. Kirsty Marie Chandler (18),
who lives in StWelcumesWay, Harrietsham, must pay fines and costs totalling £438.70 for boarding a train at Harrietsham without having bought the nec- essary £3.30 ticket.
Infant school continues
its outstanding work MADGINFORD Park Infant School has continued to perform so well that it will not require routine full inspection by Ofsted. The education watchdog has notified par-
ents that, following an interim assessment, the school has sustained its “outstanding” rating, achieved in June 2008. Ofsted will rely on annual assessments, unless it receives information which raises concerns.
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