downsmail.co.uk
News Ann apologises aer C4 exposé
KENT Police and Crime Commissioner Ann Barnes has apologised after her appearance in a fly- on-the-wall C4 documentary left her, Kent police officers and staff red-faced.
But the £85,000 a year commis- sioner has vowed to stay in her job, despite claims her participation in the programme made had made the force “a laughing stock”. The Kent Police and Crime Panel
was forced to consider the future of the commissioner after Mrs Barnes appeared on prime-time TV in what she thought would be a reve- lation to the people about her role. In the event, it left many thinking the commissioner looked inept and foolish – and Kent Police claiming its reputation had been damaged. Mrs Barnes, who was featured painting her nails, taking her dogs to work and struggling to come up with a job description for her role, apologised to the Kent Police and Crime Panel when she was hauled before them to explain. A second blow, within days of the screening, came with the revelation that Mrs Barnes’
recently-ap- pointed Youth Commissioner History trail
at Kings Hill STORIES and poems about King’s Hill’s illustrious past as RAF West Malling have been set in bronze, steel and stone to create a wayfind- ing trail through the heart of the community.
The project, commissioned by de-
velopment partners Liberty Prop- erty Trust and Kent County Council has involved workshops run with local schoolchildren, busi- nesses and World War II veterans. As well as wartime accounts, the scheme highlighted memories of the Beatles filming in the area in 1967 and the Great Warbirds Air Display in 1982. Artworks have been placed in the areas around Liberty Square and the listed RAF Control Tower which has been restored. Liberty’s managing director An- drew Blevins said: “This project would not have been possible with- out the community’s involvement and enthusiasm and we would like to thank everyone who took part.” Work was expected to continue through June with the official launch taking place in September when the public will be able to view the artworks and take brass rubbings of roundels depicting the planes which flew from the airfield, such as Spitfires and Hurricanes. There will also be a chance to meet the artist Richard Wolfstrome and community contributors.
Formore local news
www.downsmail.co.uk
Kerry Boyd had been suspended following allegations she had been conducting a relationship with a 50-year-old married man. The 20-year-old former London 2012 torchbearer was given the role in March after her predecessor Paris Brown (17) resigned over of- fensive comments she made on Twitter. Miss Boyd was suspended from her role.
In considering the impact of C4’s “Meet the Commissioner”, the panel agreed with Mrs Barnes, who said the decision to participate in the documentary was an “error of judgment”.
The panel said it believed the ex- pose had damaged the reputation of the Kent PCC, PCCs nationally and the reputation of Kent Police and asked the commissioner to re- port back on her plans to repair the damage.
Mrs Barnes has also been asked to reassess her style in dealing with
Police and Crime Commissioner Ann Barnes, pictured at a roadshow mentary.
the police force and the public and to be more co-operative in her deal- ings with the panel from now on. In a statement, Mrs Barnes said:
“I would like to offer an apology to the hard-working men and women of Kent Police. I know some of them are upset about the docu-
“The only reason I agreed to do the documentary was to help peo- ple better understand the role of police and crime commissioner. It is very complex and there are lots of challenges. Unfortunately I don’t think the programme did that.”
Mayor Sasha Luck and Kelly Holmes with pupils at the baton-passing Pupils welcome baton
THOUSANDS turned out to witness the Queen's Baton Relay ar- rive in Malling and Maidstone – two of five stops in Kent to mark the launch of next month’s Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. Dame Kelly Holmes, who lives in Tonbridge, led the team of six baton bearers, including John Simmonds, from Maidstone, as they arrived at Tonbridge Castle on June 5. There to greet her and guests, including Olympic medallist Lizzy Yarnold, was Tonbridge and Malling’s mayor Sasha Luck and about 1,000 children. The event was organised by
The baton has visited 69 of 70 Commonwealth nations and arrived in the UK on May 20.
It will visit 16 locations en route to its final journey to the start the Games in Glasgow.
Tonbridge and Malling Coun- cil and KCC with the aim of in- spiring youngsters to take up sport.
The XX Commonwealth Games start on July 23 and run until August 3.
England is sending a team of 400 to compete in 17 sports.
The fifth and final stop of the day was County Hall in Maidstone, where the team and guests were met by sports minister and Maid- stone MP Helen Grant and the Lord Lieutenant of Kent. Maria Heslop, Tonbridge and Malling Council’s cabinet member for leisure and youth, thanked the pupils who took part, adding: “I can’t think of a better way to wish Team England all the very best at the XX Commonwealth Games in Glasgow this summer.”
Bike shed plan A PROPOSED bike shed, decking and a wooden stepway at listed almshouses in Aylesford would be detrimental to the historic village setting, council planners were told. The trustees of Trinity Court in Rochester Road sought permission from Tonbridge and Malling Coun- cil for the shed at the rear of the property to house cycles for active residents. The decking and steps were planned to provide access for the gardener who tends the site and so that residents could create small flower beds.
The council approved the scheme despite opposition from a neigh- bour who said the decking and bike shed would be highly visible from listed houses in Mount Pleasant and would be detrimental to the historic setting of the area.
Speaking out
WEST Malling businesswoman Aly Harrold has won third place in a national speaking competition. Aly (56), from West Malling earned her place at the Association of Speaking Clubs national final after winning the West Kent Speak- ers’ Club contest and the South East District Speech competition. Aly spoke about women’s fasci- nation with shoes, hormones and the menopause before culminating at the finals with a speech about the way men and women sometimes misunderstand each other. She said: “I was thrilled to come third. I’ve been with the local speaking club for about seven years and thoroughly recommend it.”
Malling June 2014 33
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