Disqualification for
uninsured driver DISQUALIFIED driver Shahidur Rahman Chow- dury (44), of Glebe Lane, Maidstone, was ordered by magistrates to carry out 150 hours of unpaid work in the next 12 months. Chowdury, who also had
his licence endorsed with six points, pleaded guilty to driving along Palace Av- enue without insurance and while disqualified on June 8.
River lowering AN application to lower and reinforce a river mooring in Tovil has been accepted. Elaine Black’s proposal to
lower the stretch of theMed- way between Millers Wharf and the junction of Wharf Road by 1.5m was given planning committee con- sent.
Art gallery plan ARTIST Craig Turner wants to convert a residential ground floor and cellar into an art gallery and café at 52 Union Street, Maidstone.
Cable steal POLICE were seeking thieves who stole a length of electricity cable from tempo- rary traffic lights in an overnight raid in Tonbridge Road,Maidstone.
Online shift makes good sense – and savings too
MAIDSTONE Borough Council has agreed a “channel shift strategy” – away from traditional customer contact to more online communication. This growth in online services follows com- plaints about the current over-the-phone contact, with residents saying it is not easily accessible or open at appropriate times. An evaluation of the council’s website visitors
also reveals that 15% of contacts are via comput- ers in London, assumed to be local residents who commute to the capital. Therefore, they would find it easier to communicate with the council through a 24/7 online platform. Other advantages include customers being re-
sponsible for their data entry, meaning reduced mistakes and less time wasting. Unnecessary face- to-face and telephone contacts will be limited, di- verting about 40,000 contacts to the web and producing a 20% rise in online transactions. The council’s business analyst, Paul O’Grady,
told a cabinetmeeting that the strategy would en- sure savings could be delivered by 2015. Overall, the move would “ensure that people
can access the services they need in a way that suits them and provides value for money,” he added.
Council leader Cllr Chris Garland said: “This is a good strategy and the way forward.”
V Team gets Rotary donation
THE Rotary Club of Maidstone Riverside has made a donation of new equipment and overalls to V Team, a service of Volun- tary Action Maidstone. As a result, volunteers will be
able to continue to help some of the most vulnerable elderly and disabled people in Maid- stone with gardening, decorat- ing and DIY-type tasks. This enables people to remain inde- pendent and continue to enjoy living in their own homes. To celebrate the donation, V
Peter Bodycombe (seated) with V Team members
Team volunteers and staff met with Peter Bodycombe, imme- diate past president of the Maidstone Riverside Rotary Club, to show off the new over- alls and equipment.
at a level to suit you
100s of courses
0 4316 28 Town
01634 402020 www.midkent.a Find us on Facebook
FindusonFacebook
id
ent.ac.uk SeeusonYouTube See us on YouTube Follow us on Twitter FollowusonTwitter You can e-mail the Downs Mail —
info@downsmail.co.uk
job skills
Y OU CAN GET SOME
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48