High cost of parking fines Maidstone is
MAIDSTONE spends more money collecting parking fines than it earns from them. More than a third of parking
fines went unpaid in 2010/11 and over a quarter were written off, leaving the council to col- lect £583,106. However, according to statis-
tics released under the Freedom of Information Act, it cost £607,627 to run the service – a net loss of £24,521. The borough’s parking atten-
dants issued 17,897 penalty charge notices (PCNs) but only 11,669 of them were paid. Most of the expense goes on
Stones’ game
is a sell-out THE unveiling of Maidstone United’s new stadium at James Whatman Way will take place before a capacity 2,000 crowd. All tickets for the July 14 showpiece against Brighton & Hove Albion have been sold. But supporters have four other chances to see the Stones in their new £2.6m home before their Isthmian League Division One South campaign. There are friendlies against Dagenham & Redbridge (July 17), Tonbridge Angels (July 21), Ebbsfleet United (July 31) and Leyton Orient (August 8).
staffing costs, as outstanding parking fines no longer go to court, but are dealt with by the traffic penalty tribunal. Maidstone contracts out its parking enforcement to a com- pany called Apcoa, which em- ploys around 12 traffic wardens – now known as civil enforce- ment officers – plus a supervi- sor and contracts manager. In addition, around 11 staff
work on the council’s operations team, which deals with other matters, including traffic orders. Parking services manager Jeff Kitson said: “Nobody would ever expect a 100% recovery
rate. There are people who rightfully and successfully ap- peal and there are some vehi- cles not UK-registered which cannot be traced.” Because the recovery process
can take up to a year, there are always a number of PCNs out- standing at any one time, ex- plained Mr Kitson. He said: “Parking enforce-
ment is not designed to make councils a lot of money, but it provides a very important serv- ice. We aim to break even and any surplus would be ploughed back into highway improve- ments.”
Olympic Torch lights up Invicta
STUDENTS at Invicta Grammar School had a sneak preview of the London 2012Olympic Torchwhenamemberof theMetropolitanPolice team responsi- ble for the security of the Torch visited the school. Pupils in Years 7 and 8 sawthe torch carried in by lead teacher for PE, Fi Bradbrookwith PE teacher Bev Parish. The torch was then passed from one student to another so that all 360 stu- dents had an opportunity to hold it. Later, the school celebrated the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee with a party, with everyone dressed for the occasion in red, white and blue. Students also enjoyedaJubilee lunch and the celebration ended with a rousing rendition of the National Anthem.
squeaky clean MAIDSTONE Council raised al- most a quarter of a million pounds last year in on-the-spot fines to litter louts. But it paid out more than £155,000 to the six staff in the town’s litter enforcement squad. The county town doled out a staggering TEN times more fines than thewhole of Medway in the same period – 3,967 compared with 396 – reaping £241,425. Tonbridge and Malling issued 117 fixed penalties in 2011-12 and other local authorities in Kent significantly less. District councils can issue
fines of up to £80 for anyone caught dropping litter, and the town’s enforcement officers have a high profile presence. The council launched amajor offensive against chewing gum deposits several years ago, which is now being stepped up again after the resurfacing of the top end of the High Street and Jubilee Square.
Paddy Power plan PADDY Power has applied to set up a betting shop on the site of the former Ethos nightclub in Gabriels Hill, Maidstone. The building has been vacant
since January 2011 and the bookmaker has applied to sub- divide part of it to form a new shop. Maidstone Council will determine the application.
TO ALL NEW LANDLORDS TO CELEBRATE THE OPENING OF OUR NEW OFFICE IN MAIDSTONE Get back into or take up horse riding
Rekindle or discover the joy of climbing into the saddle and forgetting your worries, building a relationship with a horse and soaking up the fresh air and countryside…wherever life has taken you, find a little ‘me time’ to unlock that feeling and ‘Take Back The Reins’.
It’s never too late to discover or re-discover your love of Horses pick up that journey and enjoy riding….
Your local participating Take Back the Reins riding centre is: Coldblow Equestrian Centre, near Maidstone 01622 739997
www.coldblowridingschool.co.uk
To contact Downs Mail just phone 01622 630330 Town 23
01580 720055 Cranbrook Office
01622 747475 Maidstone Office
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