Demolition worker in court after colleague injured on building site


A DEMOLITION worker at a Leybourne building site has been prosecuted under health and safety law after his actions left a colleague with serious leg injuries. Devon Stoner (44), of Croy-


don, was one of five employees sorting through rubble and re- claiming bricks at the former Leybourne Grange Hospital. The two-storey building was


being demolished with a large 13-tonne excavator. Maidstone magistrates court


heard that Stoner climbed into the vehicle,which had been left switched off but with the key in it, and began to move it around the site.


However, he was unable to control the machine and caused a wall to collapse. His co- worker could not move out of


Nicky’s marathon double challenge


A WEST Malling mum of two is hoping to tackle two major challenges this year. Nicky Whichelow, of Ewell Avenue, is training for the London 2012 Marathon and is also hoping to raise awareness of autism. Nicky’s son, who has just passed amajor milestone and gone to Bath university, has a form of autism called Asperger’s Syn- drome, which can be seen in an inability to read social interactions, facial expres- sions and an inability to lie. She said: “My son was not diagnosed


until he was seven and up until then I just thought he was a bit different. I found his complete honesty quite cute but also found his lack of understanding of group situa- tions difficult to cope with.” The ability to tell what someone is think-


ing by the expression on their faces usually just comes naturally. When it doesn’t, peo- ple can confuse it for rudeness or arro- gance, and her son found it increasingly difficult to cope at school. So when the opportunity came to achieve a life-time goal – to run the Lon- donMarathon, coupled with the chance to raise awareness of autism and Asperger’s Syndrome, Nicky jumped at the dual chal- lenge. “I’ve never run further than a local 5k


event before, so this will require all my willpower as well as some hours pounding the streets to cover those 26.2 miles on


Rotary club hears Para


the way quickly enough and was trapped. He suffered seri- ous injuries to his left leg, and has had to have a steel plate in- serted into a broken right ankle and shattered shin. Stoner was not trained or au- thorised by his employer, Sloane Demolition Ltd, to oper- ate this type of equipment and therefore should not have been driving the machine.


Health and Safety Executive inspector David Fussell said: “Workplace transport is the sec- ond biggest cause of fatal acci- dents and it is extremely fortunate that this incident did- n’t result in a death.” Stoner admitted breaching health and safety law and was ordered to complete 120 hours community service and pay £500 in costs.


Pear crop could be bumper FRUIT farmers at East Malling Research be- lieve their seven hectares of Sweet Sensa- tion pear trees could blossom into themost productive orchard in the country. The crucial first winter pruning of the 19,000 trees has got underway and Graham Caspell of East Malling Ltd said the time spent over the next three months would help to determine the orchard’s first harvest and early life. Planted in May, 2011, the orchard uses growingmethods developed inHolland and the East Malling team is working closely with Dutch experts on the pruning project.


Nicky Whichelow, whose dual goal is to run the LondonMarathon and raise awareness of autism


April 22. What will keep me going is knowing that I will be raising money for a charity that will help other parents like me”, she said. Nicky, whose daughter does not have autism, has been busy fundraising towards her £2,012 target with a cake bake sale at Kings Hill Primary School, tutored wine tasting evening and sponsorship. Plans also include a nearly new sale on Saturday, March 24, from 2-4pm at Kings Hill community centre and an auction of promises at the centre on Saturday, April 14, from 5-7pm. Entry is free and lots will include generous donations from West Malling and Kings Hill businesses. Contact Nicky on nickyrun2012@hot- mail.co.uk


chief’s Afghan account FORMER Para chief, defence commentator and author Col Stuart Tootal gave a stimulating and emotive talk to a hundred Rotarians and guests. They included Rotary district governor Lyn Mitchell, County Cllr Trudy Dean and a group of for- mer paras who had served under Col Tootal. The event, staged by the year-old Kings Hill Rotary


Club, was held at the Village Hotel, Maidstone. Guests enjoyed a carvery meal before hearing a moving talk about the ongoing conflict in Afghanistan and the fate of those injured serving their country. The talk opened with footage recorded by troops, using helmet- mounted cameras. Col Tootal, whose father is also a member of the


Kings Hill club, commanded 3 Para in 2006, but re- signed from his successful career over concerns about soldiers’ pay, lack of equipment and training; “ap- palling” Army housing and poor health care for the in- jured. He described how 3 Para had been first into Helmand on a supposed peace mission, but found themselves in combat with the Taliban, at a level not experienced by the British Army since the KoreanWar. On leaving the Army, he set up the 3 PARA Afghanistan Trust charity, and the £1,200 proceeds from the event and raffle are to be shared between this and Kings Hill Rotary Club’s charities. Signed copies of his book “Danger Close” were on


sale, providing further contributions to his charity. For more details about Kings Hill Rotary Club, co- tact Lynne Selman on 07768 297770


10 Malling


Arts and crafts and gardens THE Arts and Crafts Movement and its Gar- dens is the subject of a talk by Stephen Harmer at Hadlow College on Thursday, March 1, starting at 7.30pm. Tickets are £6 (£5 for students or garden


club members) including refreshments be- forehand, and are available from Broadview Garden Centre at the college, or by post. Cheques should bemade payable to Hadlow College (Horticulture) and please enclose a SAE, sent to Pat Crawford, Hadlow College, Hadlow TN11 0AL. For further information, call 01732 853211.


Addington garage inquiry A PROPOSAL to enlarge the roof of a de- tached garage at Addington Park Lodge, London Road, Addington, to provide first floor office accommodation, will be consid- ered at a planning inquiry. An appeal was lodged by Mr B Byford against Tonbridge andMalling Council’s rejection of the plans.


Council keeps to its precept pledge


EAST Peckham councillors say they have stuck to their pledge in cutting the parish’s council tax precept following last year’s controversial 76% rise. The council said it was delighted to


have been able to keep to the promise made last year that the rate for 2012/13 would be substantially lower than it was for 2011/12. Aprecept of £100,877–a22% re- duction on that set last year – was agreed, meaning a rate of £75.21 a year for a band D property.


Cash boost to give Councillors were criticised last year


for raising the parish precept from £73,295 to £129,525 to fund expensive repairs for the village sports hall. At the time, the council said it had decided to fund the £80,000 repair bill from the 2011/12 precept rather than saddle the village with high debt charges for many years. The project allowed the council to


save rent by moving its base at the Cur- ran Hall to the refurbished building, now known as the Community Hall.


park a facelift PLAY equipment in Nevill Park, Snod- land, will be given a makeover with the help of a £10,000 grant from Kent County Council. Friends of Nevill Park and the town council applied to KCC for help to- wards the cost of improvements and the cash boost will make it possible to start a part of the project in the south- ern end of the park. The friends have been consulting with families on the type of new items


Friends of Nevill Park meet to dis- cuss new play equipment


they would like to see and some of these can be installed. The group plans to brighten up existing equipment with wood staining in


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