Retiring magistrate ‘won’t miss the job’
THE town’s longest-serving magistrate has retired, following a distinguished ca- reer spanning 37 years. Alan Sheppard, 70, left his position on
June 5 and has reflected on his time at the bench and the changes that had taken place. He said: “I shall miss the people I worked with, but not the job itself. Un- fortunately politicians of all parties have interfered with sentences, court houses have closed and justice is no longer local.” Mr Sheppard said that when he began
his career in 1976, there were 13 magis- trates’ benches, but this had been reduced to three.
Cutbacks had meant that as well as Maidstone, Mr Sheppard could be called to serve over a wide area, from Sevenoaks to Sittingbourne and beyond. The Ringlestone resident said the vital
Tree ‘blocks light’ JOANNE Hogg has applied to fell a pro- tected conifer tree at 3 Little Orchard, Bearsted. Her supporting statement said: “This is a
very large conifer in close proximity to my house. It creates excessive shading to the garden and also makes my daughter’s bed- room very dark, as it blocks out the light. “I bought the house from Munroe Homes
and they had permission to remove several other conifers with TPOs. I cannot proceed with having further landscaping tomy gar- den carried out without the removal of this tree.”
local element to justice has been lost and that knowledge of an area and its issues allows magistrates to be better informed. The qualified butcher, who has worked
across Kent, including at the former Co- op in Bearsted, also expressed concern that there was too much emphasis on the offender, and not enough on the victim. He said: “I am concerned that the vic-
tim is not always properly represented and that so much time is spent on stop- ping people from re-offending, that the victims of crime are forgotten.” Mr Sheppard was presented with a cer- tificate and gift by Lynda Jones, chairman of Central Kent Magistrates’ Bench, before the start of Maidstone Court The father and grandfather, who has
been married to wife May for 48 years, says that he intends to spend longer en- joying his garden and may contemplate voluntary work in the future.
Plan for castle toilets TOILETS within the Gate Tower at Leeds Castle may be refurbished. The Leeds Cas- tle Foundation has applied to make the fa- cilities accessible for people in wheelchairs and to establish a cleaner’s cupboard. Maidstone Council will deter- mine the listed building application.
Plant sale boosts church SUPPORTERS of St Mary’s Church, Thurn- ham, held their annual plant sale in Bearsted Green. First held 35 years ago to raise funds for the church, this year the sale raised £460.
Chairman of Central Kent magistrates Lynda Jones with Alan Sheppard
Summer fair success MAIDSTONE Mencap’s grand summer fair made an expected profit of at least £5,000, which will help to continue the work of its playschool and clubs for adults and chil- dren with severe learning difficulties and disabilities. Delighted organiser Ann Tutte thanked
all who had helped to make the event on June 8 such a success. “On the day we also received a very gen-
erous donation of £4,000 from The Scottish Country Dancers who have supported us for many years. A big thank you from everyone atMaidstone Mencap, “ she said.
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