500 police jobs set to go ...


ABOUT 1,500 jobs are likely to go at Kent Police after the Government’s comprehensive spending review confirmed cuts of around 20% over the next four years. Kent Police Authority chairman Ann Barnes


said 500 of these jobs would have to be police of- ficers. “There’s no alternative,” she added, “be- cause 80% of our budget is spent on employing people”. While Kent Police anticipated this level of cuts,


there is still doubt over how much less it will re- ceive in government grants. One of these, for Police Community Support Of- ficers, will be stopped by May 2011, leaving Kent


Police with the decision of whether to continue the project through its own funding. Currently, PCSOs cost £11.8m, which includes partner and government funding. Mrs Barnes said: “PCSOs are a valuable part of


the family.We have 400 of them in Kent and they do a really good job for the community. “Some police forces have already made their


PCSOs redundant but we have not gone down that route. We are looking at configuring our forces.” One way Kent Police has been working to save money is by setting up a joint procurement unit with Essex Police.


... and £2m election warning


ANN Barnes, chairman of Kent Police Authority, says that the election of a police and crime com- missioner in Kent could cost taxpayers up to £2 million. The Government has outlined plans to replace


the KPA(and its equivalents throughout the coun- try) by May 2012 with an elected individual re- sponsible for holding police to account. Mrs Barnes currently undertakes this role in conjunction with nine elected councillors and eight independent members. Through calculations by the Local Government Association (LGA), she has estimated that elec- tion costs could be the equivalent of employing


Police band event THE Police Band Christmas concert at Sutton Valence Vil- lage Hall takes place on Sunday December 12 at 3pm. Tickets are £6 (£3 for concessions, with children free) and available from the post office or parish councillors.


Headcorn garage A PLANNING application has been submitted to convert a garage into extra residential ac- commodation in Moatenden House, Maidstone Road, Head- corn. The proposal also in- cludes the erection of a porch.


KENT County Showground at Detling aims to take on the might of London's exhibition centres in a new marketing drive. The initiative was announced as the Kent County Agricultural Society unveiled its new executive manager, Roger Moore, as well as plans for a £1m refurbishment of its Cornwallis building. The new marketing slogan will be: “How-


ever big or small your event, the Kent Event Centre can accommodate it”. The centre, offering a total of 6,500sqm of


space, will be competing with a £60m de- velopment at Bluewater, due for completion in 12 months. But the Kent centre spokeswoman said:


"We are by far the largest conference and event centre in the county. We are compet-


Beat the criminals IF YOU CAN HELP, PLEASE PHONE: Police: 01622 690690 Crimestoppers: 0800 555 111


AN attempt was made to burgle the affordable homes building site in Ashford Road, Kingswood. Copper pipes were


stolen from a drive- way in Whitebeam Drive, Coxheath. Sus- pect was described as male, about 5ft 8in with a thin build, short brown hair and wearing a blue tracksuit with stripes down one arm. A black 57-reg Ford Focus sa-


22 South


loon was stolen from the road- side in Lower Road, East Far- leigh. A burglary took


place at Tumblers Hill, Sutton Valence. There were three burglaries from prop- erties in RomanWay, Boughton Monchel- sea.


There were two inci- dences of criminal dam-


age in Headcorn Road, Sutton Valence.


around 50 police officers. Mrs Barnes said: “Policing and Crime Commis- sioners will cost taxpayers. I do not think that now is the time to be putting money that we haven’t got into an uncosted proposal that lacks clarity and detail. “At best this is a rebranding exercise, as the commissioner is expected to have exactly the same role and powers as our existing Police Au- thority.” There are also plans to introduce a police and


crime panel to oversee the work of the commis- sioner. Every KPA member, with the exception of one, was strongly opposed to the proposal.


Petition over Hunton gypsy


application RESIDENTS have petitioned against gypsies becoming estab- lished in Lughorse Lane, Hunton. The land, known as The Chances, is the subject of two planning applications. In Au- gust, the Collins family applied to make permanent their ex- pired three-year temporary per- mission. A plan has now been lodged for two gypsy families to live in a sub-divided plot on the same land. Residents, concerned that all


nine plots will soon be filled with travellers, presented a pe- tition to Hunton Parish Coun- cil.


The two families, both sur- named Smith, want to establish two mobile homes, two touring caravans and two utility blocks. The design and access state-


ment said: “The families are currently homeless with nowhere to live. They have been doubling up on other sites. The families need to be settled so they can access health and education services.”


St John cadets to benefit


from centenary season THE Maidstone division of St John Ambulance has been named as the chosen charity partner for the Maidstone Symphony Orchestra’s cen- tenary season. The five-concert season began in October


with a concert held at Mote Hall, Mote Park, and will run through to May 2011. A percent- age of the proceeds from tickets sold through the division will be donated to the charity. Peter Thurley, divisional officer of St John Ambulance Maidstone, said: “Members will be encouraging family and friends to attend the concerts which will then, we hope, translate into much needed funds for St John Ambu- lance.” See page 19.


Revamped county showground squares up to London centres


itively priced and the refurbishment will put us in an even stronger position." The revamp of the Cornwallis building


will convert a 34-year-old, earth-floored barn into a modern, 1,700sqm conference, entertainment and exhibition centre. Facil- ities will include: a viewing gallery commercial kitchen catering for up to


Hugecompetition


for Tesco jobs THERE were more than six ap- plicants for every part-time job available at the new Tesco Ex- press store now open in Week Street, Maidstone. More than 200 people ap-


plied to fill the 30 positions. Store manager Tracey Beeson said: “I was overwhelmed by the huge response.”


Equestrian plan A RETROSPECTIVE applica- tion has been submitted to con- vert agricultural land into equestrian use for the proposed formation of a riding school in Wilson Lane, East Farleigh.


1,000 WiFi internet access cargo door to admit HGVs Power Float floor for maxi-


mum weight load 125sqm exhibition hall with attached meeting room two 60sqm conference rooms. There are 62 venues in Kent


with conference, exhibition and meeting facilities. Dover Cruise Terminals has 1,992sqm; University of Kent in Canter- bury 1,295 sqm; and Margate's Winter Gardens 1,050 sqm. The O2 Arena at Greenwich


has 20,000 seats but is geared to music and entertainment and now has very little capacity for trade and visitor shows.


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