downsmail.co.uk
Prison staff ordered to stay quiet over closure
A‘GAGGINGorder’ is effectively silencing staff from speaking out about the planned closure of East Sutton Park Prison, it has been claimed. Asource close to staff at the jail –
a punishment centre since 1946 – said those employed by the prison have been told they will be offered jobs elsewhere, providing they ob- serve a condition of their employ- ment and don’t speak to the press. Our source said: “I had no idea
how difficult itwould be to protest about this closure. Staff have effec- tively been silenced.” The prison is one of only two fe- male open prisons in the country
that the justice minister Chris Grayling has said will be replaced by open units attached to closed prisons. In a letter to East Sutton’s MP
Hugh Robertson, who is against the closure, MP Grayling says the changes will givewomen prisoners improved resettlement and rehabil- itation opportunities. But our source said: “Everything
the minister says he is trying to achieve is already being done at East Sutton Park, so why reinvent the wheel?” Prisoners at East Sutton already
hold down jobs and interact with the community through voluntary
TWO former pupils from Sutton Valence School, studying interior design in Lon- don, have picked up a design award. Emily Coyle, from Sutton Valence, and
Alice Simmons, from Hunton, left the school three years ago and are in their final year of studying BA Interior Archi- tecture at the University ofWestminster. The girls, both 21, won first prize and
work, the prison’s farm shop and the sharing of prison grounds for the village fete. Our source continued: “The av-
erage re-offending rate for most women’s prison’s is 45-57%, but at East Sutton Park it’s less than five.” An online petition opposing the closure has secured 1,300 names. Miss J Drury, a local resident, said: “[The prison] rehabilitates, with the lives of many women turned around and as a taxpayer this is what I expect of the prison service.” East Sutton and Sutton Valence
parish councils are urging people to sign the petition at www.epeti-
tions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/57071.
Design award for former pupils
collected £2,500 in a competition to pro- duce a live/work space at a site in Bayswa- ter, in the collective design award, run by London residential property developers The Collective Ltd. Their design was based on a sliding partition, which acts as a modern kitchen on one side and a practical office space on the other.
News ‘Community’
homes plan HUNTON Parish Council has re- ceived an ambitious plan for a 55- home ‘community development’ on five acres in the village. The proposal for the land off
West Street – next to Bensted Close – is for mixed housing and includes items listed as desirable in Hunton’s neighbourhood plan, in- cluding a farm shop, post office, bus stop on West Street, overflow community parking area, recycling centre and wildflower meadow. David Hubble’s proposal also in-
cludes a financial contribution, as part of a section 106 agreement. Hunton Parish Council chairman
Roger Sawtell said: “This is a draft plan that is being put to the bor- ough council for inclusion in the sites selected to meet housing needs in the Maidstone Local Plan. “Until MBC has made its deci-
sion and the parish council is asked for its official comments, there is lit- tle point in discussing this plan.” Godfrey Chapples, David Hub-
ble’s agent, said: “The proposal is open for full and frank discussion and debate. It is given in a spirit of goodwill and seeks to help with the ongoing achievements of both Hunton Parish Council and Hunton’s Village Plan Steering Committee.”
We are working to #FindandfixKent
Kent County Council is investing an additional £3 million to repair damage to Kent’s roads and we have crews out there tackling potholes, broken manhole covers, flood damage and fallen trees following the winter storms and exceptional rainfall.
Potholes are a common problem for the highway across the country, and especially during and after the winter months. Our crews are out there identifying and fixing them as fast as they can, so please bear with them.
We do understand that potholes are a frustration for road users, and we are doing all we can to fix them as quickly as possible.
We also need your help in identifying potholes so please go online and let us know about them.
#FindandfixKent
kent.gov.uk/potholes Maidstone South April 2014 15
FiX FIND &
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56