Libel fear leads to parish reports ban


At GMS we only use genuine parts Specialising in


VW Audi SKODA SEAT


Mechanical Repairs & Maitenance •Servicing •Tuning •Air Con •Pre-MOT •Accessories fitting •Vehicle modifications •Electric diagnostic


Main dealer trained • Independently priced


Maidstone’s Best Kept Secret Now come and find us


Unit 2 Gibralter Lane, Maidstone, Kent ME14 2NG 01622 686824 Kings Hill Garage & Car Sales


• Servicing for all makes & models • MoT’s while u wait


• Tyres at competitive prices • Air conditioning re-gasing


• New & used car sales • Vehicle sourcing Garage 01732 849322


Sales 01732 220540 www.kingshillcarsales.co.uk


Three of the sick kittens that were rescued by the RSPCA in


Larkfield


Owner neglected sick kittens A LARKFIELD man was banned from keeping animals for five years after failing to provide veterinary treatment needed for his four cats and eight kittens. MichaelShaw(52), of Barrie Drive,was foundguilty in his absenceby


North Kent magistrates of causing the animals unnecessary suffering. Hewasalso givenaconditional discharge for12monthsandordered


All MOT’s £40.00


MoT Testing Free re-test and minor adjustments


Service & repairs carried out to all makes & models £30.00


WINTER CHECK OVER


Tyres • Exhausts • Tracking


FREE COLLECTION AND DELIVERY SERVICE WITHIN 10 MILE RADIUS


Local recovery service now available


Tel: 01622 663662 Unit 5, Bridge Industrial Estate,


Wharf Road, Tovil, Maidstone ME15 6RR Auto’s


to pay £350 costs. The animals–ablackandwhite male, three adult females and eight kittens –were left without treatment for eye infections, diarrhoea and heavy infestations of fleas. Magistrates made an order under the Animal Welfare Act banning him from owning or keeping animals for five years.


Pass helps canoeists and fish to travel through lock


MIGRATING fish are being given a helping hand by the en- vironment agency, with the building of a new “fish pass” at Teston Lock. The lock chamber is being re- furbished and, as with a recent project at Allington, the agency is using the closure to construct the fish pass, which will also benefit canoeists. Similar passes at Porter’s Lock


and Eldridges Lock, near Ton- bridge, allow canoeists to navi- gate the river from Tonbridge to Yalding. Concrete channels 1.5 metres


wide and 600mm deep allow canoeists – and fish – to migrate from upstream to downstream, with the help of artificial reeds known as fish brushes. The brushes allow canoes to pass over them safely without


any damage whilst being rigid enough to withstand water pres- sures and provide back-currents to enable fish to climb the pass. They were the first two of


their kind to be built in the UK, based on an idea which origi- nated from the University of Kassel in Germany. The Teston works began in October and are due to be com- pleted by March. The stretch of river below the


lock at Teston boasts one of the highest levels of fish stocks on the Medway, with pike, chubb, barbel, roach, perch and bream all in plentiful supply. The improvement works are


part of a major scheme being undertaken by the environment agency to allow migratory and freshwater fish free passage along the river.


You can e-mail the Downs Mail — info@downsmail.co.uk Malling 33


FEAR of libel has led Ley- bourne Parish Council to ex- clude points raised bymembers of the public from the records of its meetings. Members agreed unanimously


to amend the council’s standing orders to exclude the public session minutes. Proposed by chairman Cllr


Bob Ulph, the decision fol- lowed a discussion on “the po- tentially libellous nature of comments made during public sessions at recent parish coun- cil meetings”. Resident Sarah Kitchener


later posted a message on the council’s website asking why minutes for its October 2 meet- ing did not record the views


and concerns expressed by parishioners during the public session. She said she was surprised to


see no details recorded, having been assured at the start of the public session that they would be.


Parish clerk Julie Pilbeam


said they were reviewed at the following council meeting on November 6, where members unanimously agreed not to pub- lish the comments made at the public session. She added: “As the public session is concessionary and does not form part of the meet- ing, it is at the discretion of the parish council to publish the details.”


Tilyard


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