Stoves by Edmed


Smell of success in food recycling


PROBLEMS with flies and bad odours caused by the Allington incinerator have been eased since the borough council brought in a new food waste pol- icy earlier this year. Four out of every five homes


in theMaidstone area now recy- cle their food waste by putting it in separate kitchen caddies, for collection by the council. Each week,


more than 100 tonnes of food is sent for compost- ing to the Blaise Farm facility at West Malling. Prior


to


the scheme being introduced in January, house- holders put their surplus food in the same bin as general house- hold


waste,


which was trans- ported to the in- cinerator


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Allington. Residents on the estate used to complain regularly about the smell and the swarms of flies at-


Complaints log IN the last quarter of last year, the plant’s commu- nity liaison committee heard that 10 complaints had been received from residents. “Of these,” ac- cording to the minutes, “seven related to odour (four justified and three unjustified), two related to flies (neither of which was found to be justified); and one unjustified com- plaint related to black smoke from the stack.”


tracted to the plant. But there have been far fewer incidents now that the sepa- rately collected food waste goes to Blaise Farm. Local councillor Malcolm Robertson said: “We don’t have the odour or fly problems any more. The smell is much re- duced. “We had some jolly hot weather re- cently but we didn’t have the fly problem as before.” The borough’s recycling rate has shot up to 45% this year, putting


the


council well on track to achiev- ing its target of 50%. Cllr Marion


Ring, cabinet member for the environment, said local farm-


ers use the compost to grow more food. “It’s a great system, simple and very sustainable,” she added.


Tragic death of young carer AYOUNG womanwho was found hanging in her bedroom had suf- fered difficulties in finding work and with the break-up of a rela- tionship, a Maidstone inquest was told. Mid Kent and Medway Coroner Patricia Harding heard how 25-


year-old Felicity Bates, of Cross Keys, Bearsted, had become very depressed, but would not talk about her problems with her parents. Recording a verdict that she killed herself, the coroner said: “Fe-


licity was finding it difficult to get work but perhaps more impor- tantly, she had broken up with a partner that she felt very deeply about.” Her mother, Heather, said the family had found a note in her daughter’s room, which said she was sorry to do this to them, but she had to because she was in so much pain. Felicity had seen a doctor about a month before her death onMay


15, but was not on medication. She had studied at university, but had found it difficult to find work after losing her job and had been working as a carer.


New district commander returns to his roots


THE new district police com- mander forMaidstone has begun his second stint in the county town.


Chief inspector Adrian Futers


(42) started his career in Maid- stone in 1987 and, having risen through the ranks, has returned for a second spell. Hereplaces temporary chief in- spector Steve Griffiths, who is staying inMaidstone, but moving to head up the police element of the Community Safety Unit, based in the borough council of- fices.


Chief Insp Futers previously worked in Tonbridge as a tempo- rary superintendent. As the new


district commander, hewill over- see and control one of the largest policing dis- tricts in the county. He said: “It


feels like com- ing home. I know the area well, having spent the first seven years of my service


here and I previously played rugby for the local club.” Chief Insp Futers, who lives


just outsideMaidstone, is married with two children and his wife is also a police officer.


Christmas flowers event MAIDSTONE Flower Club's Christmas demonstration takes place at Sutton Valence Village Hall on November 10th, from 7pm. En- trance is by ticket only. Ticekts - £7 members, £8 non-members. A drink is included in the price. Info: 01622 741207.


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