Town’s Tories Parish fury over police inaction
MAIDSTONE and The Weald Conservative Association looks certain to move its offices out of town. The group is planning to
face merger KENT Police has been taken to task over its “to- tally unacceptable” response to youth problems in Kingswood. The police were first informed about problems
merge administration with the Conservatives’West Kent Group, currently covering Tonbridge and Malling, Chatham and Aylesford and TunbridgeWells. Membership losses have led to declining income, which, says chairman Cllr John Wilson, means “the association cannot continue in its present form”. The association moved from
Rock House in Terrace Road, Maidstone, several years ago to a house in Albion Place, Maid- stone. This will be sold to re-fi- nance the association, ahead of borough elections next June and the next general election, possi- bly in 2015. The association, with branches throughout the con- stituency, is the political and fi- nancial powerhouse behind its MP (Helen Grant), and its KCC and Maidstone Council mem- bers. A key role is fundraising. The association is talking with Andrew Kennedy, agent for the West Kent Group. Cllr Wilson said: “They are happy we should join and share costs while retaining our operational independence.”
with youngsters by Broomfield and Kingswood Parish Council after it received dozens of com- plaints from villagers. But according to the parish council: “Residents
were either told the ‘police are too busy’ or ‘you will have to wait until your PCSO returns from leave’. Not once has a police officer attended the village.” Unhappy with the response to its concerns, the council referred the matter to police commis- sioner Ann Barnes, but this only appears to have
caused further frustration. The parish council was told by the police com- missioner that she had referred councillors’ con- cerns “back to the police”, who subsequently responded, saying: “Your correspondence has been recorded under reference **** and has been passed to Insp Martin for her to action on return from annual leave next week”. Councillors say the police response to the issue
is “totally unacceptable” and will write again to Ann Barnes. A council spokesman said: “The initial inci-
dents reported are now over five weeks old, and anti-social behaviour should be dealt with at the very earliest opportunity.”
American football camp
MAIDSTONE youngsters had the chance to learn some basic American Football skills during a two-day camp at the New Line Learning Acad- emy in Loose. Cllr Brian Clark, who made a contri- bution from his KCC member grant, and Cllr Derek Mor- timer, stopped by to see the teenagers learning ball-handling skills and some ter- rific tackling techniques. Cllr Clark is pictured with the group. The pilot scheme, set up by the South East Youth American Foot-
ball Federation (SEYAFF), is designed to introduce participants aged between 11 and 18 to the sport, and encourage them to con- tinue beyond the camp. The camp also received funding from NLL and the Maidstone Pumas American FootballOrganisation, enabling youngsters from all backgrounds to take part free of charge.
Aquarius
Polytunnels agreed PLANNING permission has been granted for two polytun- nels at Roughlands Farm, Goudhurst Road, Marden. A supporting statement says the structures will be located in an adjacent field to existing plant- ing areas and used for the grow- ing of iris flowers.
Cinema consent MR P Tourett has been given planning permission to convert a detached garage into a home cinema at Cherry Tree Farm, Cross Drive, Kingswood.
Solar panels plan DAVID Elphick has applied for retrospective planning permis- sion to install solar panels in a garden at Beale Barn, Goud- hurst Road,Marden.
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