A good place
for small firms TONBRIDGE and Malling is a good place to do business, ac- cording to statistics compiled by KCC officials. Despite the economic down-
turn, unemployment levels in the borough have remained low at 2.1%, compared to the na- tional figure of 3.8% The borough’s economy is predominantly a small busi- ness one, with 70% of compa- nies employing less than five people and 82% having less than 10 staff. Business survival rates in the borough are strong when com- pared to Kent and the whole of Britain. For example, 65% of new businesses in the borough survive to three years com- pared to only 61% in Kent and 57% nationally. Service industries dominate
in the borough, with less than 10% of all staff employed in manufacturing and agriculture. However, Tonbridge and Malling has more people em- ployed in manager/professional roles and higher than average earnings. On the downside, youth un- employment has remained an issue, with nearly 28% of all jobless in the borough aged 24 or under, compared to 21% in Tunbridge Wells and 26% in Sevenoaks.
Two arrests in murder case
TWO men have been arrested following the murder of a young West Malling teacher in Qatar. Lauren Patterson (24) had just returned to the Middle East after attending her grand- mother’s funeral in England when she disappeared in a car with twomen in the early hours one Saturday morning. Her badly-burned body was
found hours later in the desert near Doha. Lauren had been out for the evening with her friend Lea Monet and they accepted a lift home from two men they had been drinking with at Club 7, a popular Qatar nightspot. They dropped off Miss Monet
Christmas fair THE popular Christmas Fayre at the Brassey Centre in Ayles- ford runs from 10am to 3pm on Saturday, November 16. Stalls, games, raffles and a
visit from Santa are all prom- ised. Tombola prizes, cakes and
other suitable donations would be welcomed from 9.30am on the day. The Saturday market contin- ues through November until December 14. On November 23 and24itwillalsohostCob- down Art Club’s autumn exhi- bition and sale.
Lauren’s mother Alison, who
is widowed and lives in Ley- bourne Chase, flew out to Qatar vowing to fight for justice for her daughter, the eldest of her three children. If found guilty, the two sus-
Alison and Lauren Patterson
and continued with Lauren, who assured her friend she would be safe. When Lauren was discovered missing, the search for her went viral on the internet. The fol- lowing day, her Maltese boyfriend James Grima posted the news that she was dead.
Guilty of theft A WEST Malling man was given a suspended sentence after admitting burglary. Joseph Cheyne (30) from
TempleWay, admitted enter- ing a garage in High Brooms Road, Tunbridge Wells, in August and stealing alcohol worth £200. West Kent Magistrates sen- tenced him to 56 days in prison, suspended for 12 months, and ordered him to have treatment for alcohol dependency. He must also pay an £80 victimsurcharge.
pects could face the death penalty under sharia law. Reflexologist Mrs Patterson
wrote on Facebook: “Thank you so much to everyone for your wonderful words about Lauren. She was a truly remarkable girl, my rock, always there for every- one. “I know she’s in heaven now,
in her Daddy’s arms.” Lauren has a sister Georgia (16) and brother David (14).
Parish room COUNCILLORS on Tonbridge and Malling planning commit- tee are to visit the site of a pro- posed parish room at St James’ Church in East Malling before making a decision. Officers raised no objection to
the development in the ceme- tery to provide toilets, a small meeting room and kitchen. However, the application has caused concern from some resi- dents, particularly over the loss of a yew tree in the grounds. A decision by the planning com- mittee will now not be made until after the site visit.
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