Boss fined after man’s leg caught in grinder
A TREE surgeon has been fined after an em- ployee suffered severe injuries when his trouser leg was caught in a tree stump grinder while working at Bearsted. Davyd Dyer (30) suffered terrible injuries to
his right leg when his employer, Richard Curteis, left the machine running without being at the controls. Mr Curteis, trading as Aspen Tree Services, was prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) over the incident on September 29 last year. Maidstone magistrates heard the men were removing around six conifer tree stumps at an address on the Ashford Road. Mr Dyer, from Gravesend,walked in front of
the unmanned machine carrying a sheet of corrugated metal. His trousers got caught on the rotating cutting head and pulled his leg into the moving parts. He suffered a broken leg, severe muscle in-
juries and had to stay in hospital for several weeks while undergoing operations to recon-
POLICE officers will come down hard on those found drunk and incapable in Maid- stone town centre. As young adults enjoy their opening weeks at university and the Christmas party season approaches, officers are prom- ising to report for summons anyone found drunk and inca- pable in the town centre. Inspector Dave Coleman said: “Previously we have been will- ing to let those who are ex-
struct his limb. His injuries may prevent him from continuing as a tree surgeon. The HSE investigation found Mr Curteis, of
Wierton Hall Farm, East Hall Mill, Boughton Monchelsea, left the machine running while not at the controls, did not have suitable train- ing in the safe use of themachine, and did not follow a safe method of work. He pleaded guilty to breaching the Health and Safety at Work Act and was fined £5,000, with costs of £3,679. After the hearing, HSE inspector Paul Vin- nicombe said: “The serious injuries sustained by Mr Dyer show how hazardous the equip- ment used in the tree surgery profession can be, and the life-changing effects that an injury can have. “All those involved in tree work and grounds maintenance must ensure they have received the relevant training in the safe use of their equipment and remain vigilant when using it.”
tremely drunk receive care from the ambulance service but we will now be looking to re- port for summons anyone found drunk and incapable. “A criminal conviction can
harm job prospects and that should be a sobering thought and a strong deterrent. In the past we have come across peo- ple drunk and alone because they have been refused entry to
Rural bus routes
face New Year axe NINE rural communities face losing their Saturday bus services from Janu- ary.
Parish councils were informed earlier
this summer and their concerns have been taken up by Maidstone Rural Transport Group. The total annual cost of the services threatened with withdrawal is nearly £147,000. They include the following Saturday routes, which KCC subsidises to the tune of £5.02 per passenger: 13 Hollingbourne, Leeds and Otham 59 Grafty Green, Ulcombe, Kings- wood, Chart Sutton and Boughton Monchelsea 28/29 Marden and Chain-
hurst (Marden has an alternative, route 26, which also serves Yalding and Far- leigh areas) No change is proposed Monday to Friday though communities fear they may also be axed if usage declines.
Police get tough on town centre drunks
bars and clubs and been aban- doned by their friends. “We don’t want a small num-
ber of people to tarnish Maid- stone’s good name, so the message is clear – if you cause alcohol-related disorder in Maidstone we will look to put you before the courts.” Kent Police is also using the section 27 “direction to leave” to reduce disorder in the town,
giving officers the power to order someone to leave an area if it is believed they could cause alcohol-related crime and disorder. It is a pre-emptive measure to
avoid crime and disorder tak- ing place. They can be required to leave a specified area for up to 48 hours and failure to com- ply with the order is an ar- restable offence. In the last year over 400 orders have been is- sued across the town centre.
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