Your chance to vote for new police chief
VOTING for Kent’s first police and crime commissioner is now just a matter of weeks away. As the Downs Mail went to
press, nine candidates had stepped forward to vie for the coveted £85,000 a year post at the head of one of the biggest police forces in England. The deadline for candidates to register was Friday, October 19. Voting takes place throughout Kent – and the rest of England and Wales – on Thursday, No- vember 15. Five independent candidates
are in the running. They are:Ann Barnes, chair of the Kent Police Authority for the last six years and a magistrate since 1986, busi- nessman and property mogul Fergus Wilson, former Kent po- lice officer Fran Croucher, former Medway mayor Dai Liyanage and campaigner Ken Little. Heading the political con- tenders are Medway councillor Craig Mackinlay (Conservative) and Ashford councillor Harriet Yeo (Labour), along with Tun- bridge Wells lawyer Piers Wau- chope (UKIP) and Steve Uncles (English Democrats), a health manager from Dartford.
The role of thenewPCCwill be
to cut crime and deliver an effec- tive and efficient police service. Voting takes place at polling stations throughout Kent from 7am to 10pm, where anyonewho is a UK citizen over the age of 18 and on the electoral roll byOcto- ber 31 is entitled to vote. Unlike political elections, the supplementary voting system will be used to elect the PCC – whereby voters will be asked to select their first and second pref- erence. If no candidate has 50% of the first preference vote, the two with the highest number go forward to a second count when ballots in support of an elimi- nated candidate will be re-allo- cated, based on their second choices. The key functions of the new
PCCwill be to listen to and serve the public, monitor the force and hold the chief constable to ac- count, set the police budget and ensure the force runs efficiently. The Federation of Small Busi- nesses has arranged a “question time” event at the Hilton Hotel, Maidstone, on Tuesday, October 30, when local businesses can quiz the candidates.
Alison, Alex and James get the
Demelza run under way in Mote Park
Hundreds run to help Demelza MORE than 470 people took part in the 5K and 10K Demelza Run in Mote Park, Maidstone, to raise funds for the children’s hospice. The runners were started by Demelza teenager Alec Martin who brought along his Olympic torch. He was joined by James Neate, who carried the torch inWestgate on Sea, and AlisonWard, who carried the torch from Folkestone through the Channel Tunnel. Alec, aged 14, has had cancer three times but despite this has fundraised for the charities who have helped him including Demelza. SarahMarsh, Demelza'sevents co-ordinator said: “Thank yousomuch for everyonewho supported this year’s Demelza Run.”
Hours extended PLANNING permission was granted to allow Fourayes Farm to increase its hours of opera- tion in Church Lane, Bicknor. The fruit processing business
was given consent to begin op- erations an hour earlier (6am) on Saturdays and to have deliv- eries and despatches from the site an hour later (7pm) on weekdays and two hours later (8pm) during the harvest in September and October. In addition, operations can
take place between 6am and 1pm on specified public holi- days at Christmas and Easter.
Tree ‘is decayed’ PLANNING consent has been granted to fell a protected ash tree at 15 Horton Downs, Downswood. Mr Westley’s ap- plication says it is suffering from excessive decay from pre- vious cuts. He has proposed to replant a mountain ash nearby.
Conversion idea DEVELOPER Prime Folio has applied to convert Grade II- listed 24 Ashford Road, Maid- stone, into four self-contained flats.
Maidstone Council will de- termine the planning applica- tion.
To contact Downs Mail just phone 01622 630330 East 13
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