‘Pile’ of dead rabbits dumped in ditch
POLICE are investigating the ap- pearance of a large pile of dead rabbits in aMarden ditch. The gruesome discovery was
made by landowner Peter Hall from Target Farm, in the gate- way to his land on Plain Road. Mr Hall, who was distressed
and angered by the find, con- tacted police and local commu- nity officer Nicola Morris, who arranged for the Environment Agency to collect and dispose of the remains. WPC Morris said: “There
were probably 12-15 rabbits. It wasn’t a pretty sight.” Mr Hall says he finds it hard to believe a local person could
Free clinic for
hard-of-hearing HI Kent, the charity that sup- ports deaf and hard-of-hearing people throughout Kent, is run- ning a free aftercare clinic for hearing aid users in Headcorn. People with NHS hearing
aids can drop in to the Methodist Hall in the High Street from 10am to 11am on Tuesday, April 24, and get their hearing aids cleaned and re- tubed, and collect fresh batter- ies free of charge. They can also get advice and information on Hi Kent’s range of equipment.
have carried out such an act, al- though aman was seen carrying an uncovered rifle, with tele- scopic sights and silencer, in the area at around the same time. He said: “This was so out of character with the way a coun- try person would behave. It is horrible and unnecessary to dump dead rabbits like that.” Mr Hall also had serious
safety concerns with regard to shooting on open, flat, land. He added: “People and their
dogs have a tendency to roam and do not always keep to pub- lic footpaths. There is a signifi- cant danger to the public if people are out shooting without
authority, especially around here where the land is very flat.” Mr Hall’s sonHugo is the only person with authority to shoot on the land at Target Farm and rarely does so, according to Mr Hall.
“Althoughwe accept that peo-
ple shoot rabbits for sport and for vermin control, these are re- sponsible people with the nec- essary licenses who usually have an arrangement with a local game dealer,” he said. “The area around here is not conducive to shooting. It’s just an accident waiting to happen.” WPC Morris said there had
School awards in new theatre
been no further reports of shoot- ing since the discovery of the dead rabbits. She said: “We are hoping it
was a one-off incident, although it is something of a mystery.” Ian Williams, from Yalding,
who used to run a gun club and carries out vermin control, said: “I am disgusted that someone would do this. It gives us all a bad name. Not only is it poach- ing, it is a public safety issue. “Everyone with a rifle knows
the rules about carrying a rifle in public and will be more than aware that what they are doing is illegal, and could result in an armed police call-out.”
Parish meeting SUTTON Valence Parish Coun- cil holds its annual parish meeting at 10am on Saturday, April 28. The meeting, at the village
hall, is open to the public and will be followed by a presenta- tion by Golding Homes about the new rural housing develop- ment at Haven Farm.
CORNWALLISAcademy held its annual awards evening in its newlecture theatre. More than 150 parents, staff and governors gathered at the event, held to celebrate the students’ outstanding achievements, which was hosted by head boy SamAustin and head girl GiorgiaWoods.
Solar panels plan AN application has been sub- mitted to demolish a garage and erect an outbuilding to form a home office with solar panels on the roof at Singleton, Station Road, Staplehurst.
All LOADS Ltd
Specialists in supplying aggregates Free Local Delivery
Plant Hire
Mini Diggers 1.5 ton to 7 ton
Dumpers 1 ton hi-tip 2 ton to 6 ton
Excavators 8 ton to 21 ton
Materials Ballast
Sharp Sand Building Sand Type 1
Shingle 10/20mm Road Plainings Topsoil Turf
Logs & Salt Grab Service
Muck Away Rubbish Hardcore Materials
Haulage Service Domestic Commercial Site Clearance Bulk Bag Waste
01622 873 231 •Mushroom Compost
Call All Loads For A Free Quote Get ready for spring •Turf •Top Soil
www.allloads.co.uk email:
aggregates@allloads.co.uk
Visit Downs Mail’s website —
downsmail.co.uk South 25
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 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56