New bin for garden waste on way


HOUSEHOLDERS in Maid- stone Borough are being en- couraged to take on a third wheelie bin. Under a review of its waste


and recycling services, the council wants to scrap the sale of green garden sacks to house- holds who have space for a gar- den bin from September next year – which will increase most households’ number of “big” bins from two to three. Most houses in the borough already have one wheelie bin for paper, plastic and metal, a second bin for general house- hold waste and a third, smaller bin, for weekly food recycling. Some use a third, green, gar-


den bin, for garden refuse while others prefer to use gar- den sacks. Exceptions are made for blocks of flats built before recy-


Park assault DETECTIVES from Kent Police are appealing for witnesses after a report of a serious as- sault in Mote Park,Maidstone. An 18 year-old woman was walking in the park at about 1.30pm onWednesday, July 25, when she saw aman acting sus- piciously. The man is then said to have assaulted the woman, who fought him off and ran away. The suspect, said to be a


white man, aged about 50, with grey hair, was wearing a black baseball cap, a black T-shirt, and carrying a black rucksack. Detective Constable Paul Gavin, from Kent Police, said: “We hope someone can help us with our investigation.We have had a number of officers on pa- trol throughout the park.” Anyone with any information


is asked to call DC Gavin on 01622 604265, quoting crime reference YY/13347/12, or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.


Bike theft blow A MOTHER has criticised yobs who took her disabled son’s bike from their back garden and dumped it on the Shepway es- tate in Maidstone. Jordan Slender, 18, who has cerebral palsy and autism, uses his bike to visit friends. Hewas devastated when he woke up to find it had been taken from his back garden in York Road, Maidstone. His mother Jane said some-


one must have sneaked into the garden in the early hours using the rights of way which run be- hind the house. She said: “Nobody should be


able to take something which he treasures so much.” Jordan’s friends found the dumped bike and returned it. “He’s chuffed to bits it’s back,” Jane said.


32 Town


cling initiatives were thought of, although new developments are obliged to provide adequate waste recycling facilities and pay the council for the provision of wheelie bins. Under the latest proposals, householders who still receive a black sack collection are to be provided with food waste col- lection bins in line with the rest of the borough. However, sales of com- postable sacks would be lim- ited to households unable to accommodate a garden bin. Those who remain on sack collection will be required to register for an annual subscrip- tion, currently £30 – the same price as homeowners who have garden refuse bins. Brown wheelie bins will be gradually phased in to replace existing garden bins, with


smaller bins being offered at a 10% discount. Cllr Marion Ring, cabinet member for the environment, said: “Although the proposals will save the taxpayer money, it is not just about cost. It’s about working smarter and complying with the Govern- ment and European directives on waste disposal.” Cllr Ring said the current sys-


tem, whereby garden rubbish was collected fortnightly, was less than satisfactory, as those collecting the rubbish had no record of who had bins and who used sacks. “By getting people to register,


we will have a database of who is eligible for collection. People who don’t pay their £30 and register, won’t get their garden bins emptied or their refuse sacks collected.”


Cllr Ring said there would be


a big marketing campaign to highlight the benefits of the new system and she hoped that people with smaller gardens would opt to share a garden waste bin with a neighbour. She said: “Each propertywill


be treated on its own merits, but we are trying to encourage more people to use the bins.” Maidstone recently joined


forces with Ashford and Swale councils to streamline its waste and recycling services, and the contract is due to be awarded for next year in October. Prior to that, the public are being asked for their views. If agreed by the council, a marketing plan will be put in place to promote the switchover and new sub- scriberswill be offered the first two months free of charge.


Jailed for killing his baby son


A 22-YEAR-OLD Maidstone man has been jailed for five years after being found guilty of the manslaughter of his four- month-old son at Maidstone Crown Court today. Wayne Acott, of Sunningdale


Court, Square Hill Road, Maid- stone, was charged with the manslaughter of his son Mackenzie in January last year. The court heard how Acott


came home in the early hours of the morning on Friday, January 21, after playing computer games at a neighbour’s flat, and fell asleep on the sofa. His partner woke him a few


hours later and asked him to feed Mackenzie while she dropped her daughter off at school. When she returned and pulled into her parking bay, Acott called her mobile in a panic, saying Mackenzie had collapsed and he didn’t know what to do. She ran to her flat and saw Wayne holding Mackenzie in


his arms. She rang an ambu- lance and was instructed to per- form CPR on Mackenzie, as it was clear he had stopped breathing.


Mackenzie arrived at Maid-


stone hospital fighting for his life, and was immediately re- ferred to the special baby care unit at King’s College Hospital in London. He remained on life support


until January 28, when he died, having never regained con-


Awards for hospital planners FOUR members of staff from Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust have received awards at the Houses of Parliament for their con- tribution to emergency planning for our local hospitals. Tim Hubbard, Mel Mank-


telow, Jeanette Rooke and Alex Hine were given their awards by Baroness Emerton. Tim Hubbard, from Tun-


bridge Wells Hospital, won his award for integrating the- atres into emergency plan- ning for the new hospital. Mel Manketelow, from


A&E at Maidstone Hospital, received her award for her work with emergency equip- ment and training. Jeanette Rooke, from the MTWestates and facilities department,


Alex Hine, Mel Manketelow, and Tim Hubbard with Baroness Emerton


took the award for her involvement in the opening of TunbridgeWells Hospital. Alex Hine, from the transport department, won the award for the continuation of services and support during adverse weather.


sciousness. He died as a result of a trauma to his head. Doctors told the parents that


the injuries to Mackenzie were usually associated with a high- speed car accident. A post mortem examination revealed Mackenzie was subject to a sig- nificant traumatic event such as an impact to his head or a shak- ing injury. Acott was charged with manslaughter on August 9 and pleaded not guilty on October 28. Detective Inspector Trevor Fleming, from the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Direc- torate, said: “It is very sadwhen such a young life is ended by a parent. Many parents feel the strain of the early months of a new baby. It would appear this young man had a momentary lapse of control – he had before that been described as a loving father.Anumber of agencies are available to help new parents and they should not be afraid to ask for help.”


Making changes MENCAP is launching a project in Maidstone to help young people with learning disabili- ties make a difference to their communities. Changemakers offers young people, aged from 13 to 25, the chance to work in groups with mentors to choose an issue they want to change to make their communities more inclusive. The youngsters will learn


about their rights, how to speak up and how to make changes. There will be a meeting at Maidstone Mencap Hall, off School Lane, Maidstone at 10am on Friday, September 7, for all parents and carers and those under 25 with a learning disability, that they care for. For details call 01622 670 464.


You can e-mail the Downs Mail — info@downsmail.co.uk


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