Gipsy families’ caravan plans


TWO gypsy families compris- ing 10 people could set up resi- dence in Linton. The proposal for Stilebridge


Paddock in Stilebridge Lane would see the introduction of four caravans to house the fam- ilies of Bill Lee and his brother Wes. Bill would live with wife Wessy and four children, Wes


with wife Charlene and two children. The supporting statement


said: “They have made en- quiries for the places at the local school and nursery to en- sure that their children receive a proper education.” Maidstone Council will rule on the planning application.


Unique day with top composer


MORE than 250 singers from all over Kent gathered at Sutton Valence Preparatory School for a unique day with John Rutter, one of Britain’s most celebrated composers. He is particularly recognised


for his Christmas carols and sa- cred music, including a work commissioned for the Queen’s


Golden Jubilee thanksgiving service in St Paul’s Cathedral. He shared some of his musi-


cal secrets and expertise with the choristers, who had flocked from all over the county to take part.


The event was arranged by


the Sutton Valence Choral Soci- ety.


Drink fuelled teens’ arson attack


A MARDENteenager and his pal have been ordered to spend three-and-a-half years in a young offenders' institution after a "devas- tating" arson incident. Stephen Whiting, 19, of The Cockpit, and


Terry Payne, 18, of Brishing Lane, Park Wood, caused £15,000 dam- age to a house in Shepway, Maid- stone, where the latter's former babysitter lived. They were both drunk at the


time, Maidstone Crown Court heard. Payne poured a can of petrol


onto the ground outside the maisonette home of Cherry Garstang in Durham Close. Whit- ing lit the fuel and the flames spread rapidly. The youths panicked and fled the scene. Mrs Garstang, 61,who had minded Payne


ONE of the stars of the long- running TV comedy series “Red Dwarf” helped bikers raise almost £2,000 for the Kent Air Ambulance after a fellow rider was left fighting for his life.


Danny John-Jules, who played The Cat in the BBC sit- com, took his famous pink R1 Yamaha on a few parade laps of Brands Hatch and signed auto- graphs. The keen motorcyclist agreed


to support the helicopter after it airlifted a biker who was seri- ously injured in a crash at the circuit in July. Each flying mission costs be-


tween £1,500 and £2,000 so the sum raised is enough to help the air ambulance to potentially save a life. Danny said: “To save one life


is amazing because at the end of the day it could be a family member or a friend.”


A PLANhas been submitted to convert existing equestrian buildings into two units for hol- iday accommodation at Duck- hurst Farm, in Clapper Lane, Staplehurst. The applicant says the pro-


posal would be linked to users of the Duckhurst Farm Show Centre, which provides eques- trian training for children. “This is for eight to 10 children at a time who generally come to stay for about five days during the school holiday periods,” said the design and access state- ment. “At present there is dormitory


18 South


Danny John-Jules and Tony Buchan with Air Ambulance volun- teers Dennis and Linda Harrild at Brands Hatch


Craig Jennings was taking


part in the first Norfolkline Yamaha PastMasters race of the day when he crashed. He was


Equestrian holiday units proposal


accommodation for the chil- dren within the main building. Where parents, guardians, car- ers or extended family wish to join, they have to be accommo- dated in bed and breakfast facil- ities around the area. “The idea is to provide a fa-


cility within the establishment that can accommodate the fam- ily on site and enjoy the facility as well as more comfortable ac- commodation so that tuition can be extended to a broader market.”


Maidstone Council will rule


on the application, which re- quires listed building consent.


airlifted to hospital and is now out of a coma. Craig’s friends wore pink T-


shirts over their leathers to raise funds for the charity. All 150 T-shirts with Craig’s racing number 94 were sold with £5 from each going to the charity. Organiser Tony Buchan said:


“Craig’s family were quite over- whelmed by it all and his wife came over and thanked Danny for his efforts.”


Alzheimer’s concert THE Alzheimer’s Society will gain the proceeds from a Christ- mas concert performed by the Kent Police Male Voice Choir at St Michael and All Angels Church, Marden. The event takes place on Saturday, De- cember 4, from 7.15pm. Tickets are £7.50, including interval drink. Contact 01622 747181.


To contact Downs Mail just phone 01622 630330


when he was a child, had to be rescued by firemen from her balcony. The blaze wrecked her home and she lost nearly all her possessions. The court heard that Mrs Garstang, who suffers from bipolar dis- order, had to be admit- ted to a psychiatric unit shortly afterwards and now lives in sheltered accommodation. Chris Simpson, prose-


Stephen Whiting


cuting, said Mrs Garstang had not been deliberately targeted by the youths but that it was drunken behaviour with “devastating conse-


Judge Martin Joy said they had both shown remorse for their actions but added: “Even though ultimately the victims left with their lives, they did suffer the effects of the fire. This act showed reckless stupid- ity without any thought for oth- ers.”


Terry Payne


quences”. Both teenagers admitted arson, being reckless as to whether life was endangered.


Comedy actor’s big charity boost


Afterwards, Det Con Jono Pearce, of the Area Major Enquiry Team, added: "This was a cow- ardly and reckless act, which could have very well ended in tragedy for the two victims in the house, had it not been for the heroic efforts of the firefighters and neighbours that night.” Firefighters inMaidstone's Red Watch recently received certifi-


cates of congratulation for rescuing Mrs Garstang and her ex-husband, who was vis- iting her at the time.


No room to start


their family PLANS to replace an existing mobile home with a permanent dwelling in Stockett Lane, East Farleigh, have been submitted. The mobile home has tempo-


rary permission and is used to run a livery business operated out of stables. Applicant Christopher Sendles’ support- ing statement says: “The exist- ing mobile home provides very basic cramped one-bedroom ac- commodation for the occu- pants, Christopher Sendles and his female partner, who is largely responsible for running the stables at present.” However, there is insufficient


room for them to raise a family. “The provision of a perma-


nent dwelling on site would play an important psychologi- cal role in the couple’s long- term future in running the business together while also raising a family.” Maidstone Council will de- termine the application.


Stop and search up


– but it is still low MID-KENT Police last year un- dertook one of the lowest num- ber of stop and search exercises in the county. A total of 1,701 stop and searches were performed in 2009/10, up from 1,565 in 2008/09, but only West Kent had fewer. In Mid-Kent, there was a reduction in the number of racial or religious aggravated offences from 133 in 2008/09 to 117 in 2009/10. Across the force as a whole


there was a reduction of 24 re- ports between the two years.


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