Councillors speak out for housing eviction plan


MAIDSTONE councillors have delivered feedback on plans tomake it easier to evict tenants guilty of anti-social behaviour. The Government has proposed that local authorities and housing associations be able to evict residents found guilty of such conduct without having to go through the courts, as is currently the case. Housing consultative board chairman Cllr John Barned works as


a full-time community engagement officer for Hyde Housing and is vice chairman on the board of Golding Homes. He said: “At the mo- ment there is nothing in tenancy agreements that says anti-social behaviour can lead to a mandatory eviction notice. You have to go to court, get a possession order andwarrant and this can take a year. “If this goes through, it will be down to the director of a housing association to issue an eviction notice, providing an ASB investi- gator proves the offence. “As a housing professional, I think this is a good thing. If it is to- tally proven then it should be mandatory. ASB is the biggest prob-


A LAWNMOWER being used to cut a grass verge burst a gas pipe in the Penenden Heath area. It resulted in scores of residents being evacu-


ated from their homes as engineers repaired the damage. The incident, involving a commercial mower, happened one morning in early October in the Downs View Road area, off Sandling Lane. Residents within a 150-metre radius were evacuated as a precaution and a 300-metre cordon was put in place for pedestrians while the leak


THE Royal British Legion is looking for new blood - and not necessarily from the older gener- ation.


“Natural wastage” means that


RBL numbers are dwindling, and that’s as true of the local branch as anywhere else in the country. Leeds, Hollingbourne and Dis-


trict (the district takes in Bearsted and Thurnham) is ac- tively seeking new members to help with the work it does lo- cally and for the greater good. This year, its 90th anniversary,


theRBL nationally has set itself a target of raising £90m from the Poppy Appeal. Last year, the branch raised


well over £20,000 during the ap- peal. It is also involved closely with activities within the local community. Spokesman Norman Dabbs,


Leeds’s retired vicar, said: “If you fear that you may be put off by long boring meetings don’t be, ourmeetings are short and to the point followed by a social get to- gether. “More importantly you will not be dragooned into taking on tasks you may not wish to perform. “You do not even have to at- tend meetings as contact ismain-


Curves raises cash for cancer CURVES in Senacre Square raised money for breast cancer care throughout October. Thewomen’s-only fitness centre, located onWoolley Road, off


Willington Street, waived the joining fee for new members be- tween October 1 and 16 in return for a donation to Breast Can- cer Care or another breast cancer charity. Curves also collected old and/or unwanted bras from club members and local residents for the club’s bra recycling bank, with £1 donated to Breast Cancer Care for each kilogram of bras donated. There will also be a “Zumbathon” hosted by Curves on


Wednesday, November 2 at the community centre in Titchfield Road, Senacre. For further details call the club on 01622 662411.


36 East


lem in housing and takes up 50% of a housing officer’s time. Some- thing like this is the biggest help we can give them. It is a very good thing and long overdue. “Most housing professionals think the same.” Fellow Conservative Cllr Jenefer Gibson said: “We bend over backwards to be kind to people and I am not sure some people re- ally appreciate it. “Making people lose their home is a draconian way, butmaybe it


is the only way to do it. Perhaps it will focus people’s minds on their behaviour.” Lib Dem councillor for Fant ward, Stephen Beerling, said: “Most


of my ward work deals with anti-social behaviour. In the last two years I have never seen anything like it.” Maidstone’s head of housing John Littlemore will incorporate the board’s comments for the cabinet to discuss further before submit- ting the council’s thoughts to the Government.


Homes evacuated after gas scare


was investigated. Sandling Lanewas closed between the Running


Horse roundabout and its junction with Wordsworth Road. Downs View Road and The Hedges were also shut. Insp Jay Allen from Kent Police said: “I'd like


to thank everyone for their patience and coopera- tion whilst we dealt with this incident. "Although the road closures caused some in- convenience, they were all implemented to en- sure the safety of the public."


The Royal British Legion needs you!


tained by email and post. “The Legion”, the RBL magazine, is published regularly and delivered to your door.” He added: “If


you want to come along to ‘suck it and see’, feel free to join our friendly members for a trial


“Membership, costing £12 a year, is open to everyone. You do not need to be ex-Service with a blazer and a chest full ofmedals and aged around 75; all are welcome - men and women; old and young; ex- Service and non-Service.”


meeting. Just contact Derek on 01622 880650 or me on 01622 880482. We meet cur- rently once a month at either


Leeds or Hollingbourne village hall.”


CLASSIC Cars on The Green has celebrated its fourth annual event on Bearsted Green, raising around £1,100 for Kent Air Ambulance. Perfect weather helped to draw a record turnout of 175 classic vehicles including cars, motorcycles and a range of commercial, military


Anniversary play LENHAM Players will continue the celebration of its 50th an- niversary season with the pre- miere of Happy Endings? on November 18 and 19 in Lenham Community Centre. Specially written for the Play-


ers by Glenn Bryan, it com- prises three short plays, each offering a humorous yet sensi- tive description of the charac- ters whose life it portrays. Tickets cost £8 from Len Val-


ley News, the community cen- tre (mornings) or on 01622 858561. Bring your own drinks and nibbles.


Sycamores at risk FIVE sycamore trees could be felled in the Bearsted Conser- vation area. The proposal for 6 Moncrif Close also includes crown thinning two silver birch trees.


Maidstone Council will as- sess the planning application.


Vintage car event is record-breaker


and emergency vehicles. Organiser Philip Hill said: “This is our busiest


event ever.” He thanked event sponsors, as well as local pubs Oak on The Green, The White Horse and Ye Olde Thirsty Pig in Knightrider Street, Maidstone, for providing the trophies, which were presented to winning entrants by deputy mayor Cll Rodd Nelson-Gracie. Philip added: “Many thanks to Steve Burt for


his very generous prize of a flight in a helicopter following a Spitfire, which was won by Roy Bryant ofMaidstone. “Pending final confirmation from the parish council, we shall be back on the same weekend in 2012 for the fifth annual event. “It is a real reward for all the volunteers who


put in time and effort to make this happen, and to Bearsted Parish Council, whose generosity al- lows us to use the green.”


County care charges are increased


KCC has announced increased charges for the elderly and vul- nerable to receive care support. The decision means KCC will:


Charge people who use mental health services in the same way as all other people in receipt of services Include day care and transport as part of the services that can be charged Raise the amount of available income that is taken into account when working out a person’s charge


To contact Downs Mail just phone 01622 630330


Reduce the standard amount al- lowed for the Disability Related Expenditure Assessment (DREA) from £21 to £17 per week The measures will raise an


extra £2.9 million for the author- ity. Changes to do with the amount of available income and disability-related expenditure al- lowance will be made first and new invoices should be received in mid January 2012. New in- voices for mental health services, day care and transport will fol- low in April 2012.


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