Dog watch clamps down on fouling
A NEW “dog watch” scheme is out to catch careless canine owners in the borough. To coincide with the introduc-
tion of new dog control orders in April, the council is calling on residents to tell them about prob- lem “dog poop” areas – and the dogswho are responsible. Under the new dog watch, the council will direct increased numbers of enforcement offi- cers to places identified as problem areas and will use in- formation provided by residents to catch the irresponsible few dog owners who don’t scoop their pets’ poop. Several parishes have com- plained about dog fouling, in- cluding Bearsted, which is planning to highlight the prob- lem with yellow bags, while in Vinter’s Valley Nature Reserve, the warden raises the profile of the poop by spraying it pink. A council spokesman said: “Information provided by resi- dents increases the chances of the council’s enforcement offi- cers catching the culprits.” The new dog control orders, which come into effect on April 1, make it an offence for a dog owner not to pick up after their dogs anywhere in the borough, and exclude dogs from any en- closed children’s play area with a “no dogs” sign. These orders
Plants for sale MAIDSTONE Mencap will be holding a plant and book sale on Saturday,May 18, at Cobtree Hall, Mote Park (School Lane entrance off Willington Street). Doors open at 2.30pm. Contact Sonia Foster on 07922 010406.
Cllr Marion Ring with environment officers Jamie Duffy and Louise Duke and environmental operations manager Martyn Jeynes on a dog watch patrol
are designed to promote re- sponsible dog ownership. Not acting responsiblywill lead to a £75 fixed penalty notice. Cabinet member for the envi- ronment, Cllr Marion Ring, said: “The irresponsible actions of the minority can have a sig- nificant, negative impact on the local environment. “With help from the public,we
can ensure that our environmen- tal enforcement officers are di- rected to areas where there is a problem, so that they can take ac- tion against the few who do not control their dogs responsibly.” To report a problem in confi- dence, residents can call 01622 602202 or complete the form at
www.maidstone.gov.uk.
Four new captains FOUR new captains have been chosen at Bearsted Golf Club – Bob Peall (club captain), Sylvia Waterton (ladies), Roger Hub- bard (vets) and Carl Burrows (juniors). Rod Holbrook takes over as president from Peter Hood, who served three years.
School improving, says Ofsted INSPECTORS who visited Holy Family Primary School in Bicknor Road,Maidstone, following a report that it required improvement, found that the school was on the up. Governors were now better informed, and there were systems in
place to support their monitoring. The quality of teaching was being monitored and the head had a clear understanding of the school’s strengths and weaknesses. Targets for pupils had been made more demanding, but the school improvement plan did not reflect this. The plan identified the areas of improvement required for the school to become good, but it was not clear how these improvements would be achieved. Inspectors recommended that the plan be revised to focus on chil-
dren’s learning and how improvements would be made. Monitoring should be evaluated and teaching improved, so that swift action could be taken to raise pupils’ achievement.
Conversion plan APROPOSAL has been submit- ted to convert 13 Wheatsheaf Close, Maidstone, into three separate residences. The five bedroom house – originally the residence of the chief fire officer – would be di- vided into two three-bedroom dwellings, with a garage con- verted into a two-bed home. Maidstone Council will de- cide the planning application.
Drink-drive ban EMMA Christmas (40), of Oak- wood Road, Maidstone, was disqualified from driving for 18 months after being more than twice the drink drive limit. She pleaded guilty after being stopped in her Honda Accord in Sevenoaks. She had 77mg of alcohol in 100ml of breath. She was fined £250 with £85
costs and a £25 victim sur- charge.
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