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for migrants A LARGE number of the new eastern European immigrants to South East England are expected to head for Maidstone, a report has claimed. The “network” effect cited in a


study suggests the county town will be the most favoured desti- nation in the South East for Bul- garians and Romanians coming to the UK, following the lifting of immigration restrictions for the two countries on January 1. A report by Reading Univer-


sity found that a significant num- ber of Bulgarians and Romanians had made it into Britain, despite previous restrictions. Of these, Maidstone had registered 15.4% of all Bulgarians settling in the South East and 9.2% of Romani- ans. Tonbridge and Malling reg- istered 4.5% and 3.9%.


downsmail.co.uk


Landlords plan to evict all tenants on benefits


MAIDSTONE’S best-known landlords have opened their doors to the in- flux of eastern Europeans – but slammed them shut on benefits claimants.


Judith and Fergus Wilson have


sent out 200 eviction notices to ten- ants on benefits and advised their letting agents they will no longer take on tenants in receipt of hous- ing support. The Wilsons, who live in Boughton Monchelsea, became mil- lionaires through snapping up buy- to-let properties last decade. With a portfolio of 1,000 homes, chiefly in Ashford and Maidstone, theWilsons say their gesture is no different to that of many other pri- vate landlords, who find working tenants rarely fall into arrears,


POLICE are on the lookout for thieves who are taking advantage of flood vic- tims’ misfortune. Jewellery was stolen from a property in Lyngs Close, Yalding. Ablue canoe with a wood ash trim, a gent's carbon fibre mountain bike and a Honda lawn mower were stolen from a flood-damaged garage at a property in Yalding High Street. Copper pipe was stolen from a property in Smithers Lane, East Peckham. There were three white male suspects, all of medium build and about 5ft 7ins. The first was described as about 18-19, with short dark hair, wearing a dark jacket and light- coloured trousers. The second was wear- ing a light grey hooded top and possibly jeans and wellington boots. He was carry- ing a tool or bar. The third was possibly wearing a dark red hooded top with a sin- gle word logo on the front, jeans and wellington boots. Agrey/blue inflatable dinghy with a Honda T27 outboard engine was stolen from a cabin cruiser to which it was at- tached at Little Venice Country Park and Marina, Hampstead Lane, Yalding. Fishing equipment was stolen from the garage of a home at Hampstead Leisure Home Park and Marina Caravan Park, Hampstead Lane Yalding. Tools were stolen from a Ford Transit van parked in Green Lane, Langley. About half a tonne of ballast was stolen from outside a property in Gravelly Bot- tom Road, Kingswood. An 18ft holly tree was cut down and stolen from the garden of a home in Gibbs Hill,


Nettlestead. There was an attempted burglary at Mar- shall's Barn, Crow Plain Farm, Collier Street. AYamaha motorcycle was stolen from a rear garden in Horseshoes Lane, Langley. Two chainsaws were stolen from an out- building in Plumtree Road, Headcorn. There was an attempted burglary at a property in PloughWents Road, Chart Sutton.


26 Maidstone South February 2014


while single parents and other fami- lies relying on housing benefit often do.


Mr Wilson


said: “Ten- ants on bene- fits


are


competing with eastern Europeans who came to the UK in 2005 and have built up a good enough credit record to rent privately. “We've found them to be a good


category of tenant who don't de- fault on the rent.” Mr Wilson claimed that of the number of tenants on benefit, more were in arrears than those who were not. He said sympathy for single mothers and the unem- ployedwas fast disappearing. But Stuart Jeffery, of Maidstone Greens, said: “I urge him to recon- sider his decision. His portfolio of properties covers Maidstone, which has seen an eight-fold rise in homelessness in the past three years and now is sure to rise even higher.”


NeighbourhoodWatch Working to reduce crime. Call Crimestoppers 0800 555 111 or local police


Computer equipment and several sets of keys were stolen from a property in Park Road, Marden. The suspects were two white men, one short and stocky with dark hair, the other skinny, wearing a hooded top. There were two other men sitting in a Ford Transit van with a roof rack and ladder on top who were possibly connected with this crime. Intruders cut the padlock off a gate and switched off security lights at a property in The Quarries, Boughton Monchelsea, before stealing two large garden orna- ments.Awhite van was seen in the area. Afull set of alloy wheels was stolen from a BMW parked in the forecourt of Williams Group, Culls Farm, Dean Street, East Farleigh. Fourteen red propane bottles were stolen from Netherfold Farm, Gravelly Bottom Road, Kingswood. There was an unsuccessful attempt to break in to a home in Lower Road, East Farleigh. Intruders got in to a property in Sheep- hurst Lane, Marden. There were no other details. AHalfords spanner set was stolen from a silver Mercedes ML350 in the yard of a home in Barhams Mill Road, Egerton. Ablue and silver Ford Ranger pick-up, registration GR04 XJT, was stolen from the driveway of a home in Marden Thorn, Marden. The metal gates were stolen from the driveway of a home in Chartway Street, Sutton Valence. There was an attempted burglary at an outhouse at a property at The Green, Boughton Monchelsea. Three golf buggies were damaged in an attempted theft at theWeald of Kent golf course, Sutton Valence. Asilver Peugeot 307, registration KR03 HGB, was stolen from Lower Road, East


Farleigh. There was an unsuccessful attempt to get in to Orchard View Garage in Twyford Court, Hampstead Lane, Yalding. Television equipment was stolen from a home in Church Green, Marden. AHitachi television was stolen from a property in Den Lane, Collier Street. Ablue Peugeot 406, registration S487 DYJ, was stolen from Pattenden Lane, Marden. AQualcast lawn mower, petrol can and wood were stolen from a shed in Beres- ford Hill, Boughton Monchelsea. Asat nav system and a coat were stolen from a Volvo parked in Thorneycroft Close, Kingswood. AStihl disc cutter was stolen from a tipper lorry parked in CharlesfordAvenue, Kingswood. Two large oak garden gates were stolen from a property in Lenham Road, Kingswood. The spare wheel was stolen from a Ford Ranger on the drive of a home in Brick Kiln Lane, East Sutton. Awing mirror and indicator light were stolen from an orange Fiesta in Amber Way, Chart Sutton. Jewellery was stolen from a home in The Priory, East Farleigh. The suspect was de- scribed as a white male, 5ft 8ins tall, and slim, with dark brown hair. He was wear- ing white trainers, grey tracksuit bottoms and a black hooded top.


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