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Floodwardens prepare plans
ATEAMof flood wardens –many of whom were affected by last winter’s floods – has been drawn up to link communities and co-or- dinate responses to flood risk. The Environment Agency, in partnership with Kent Fire & Res- cue Service and KCC, has trained the team ofwardens to cover high- risk areas, including East Farleigh, East Peckham, Collier Street, Boughton Monchelsea, Little Venice (Yalding), Aylesford and Maidstone. As part of their training, thewar-
dens learned about thework of the EA, how the floodwarning service works, and the local flood risk to their community, highlighting spe- cific areas that are more suscepti- ble to flooding and areas where debris can build up. The wardens are now talking to
parish councils to discuss how they can work together during a flood event, activating community plans, in the event of flooding this winter. Maidstone, Tonbridge and Malling and Sevenoaks councils
have funded equipment, but more volunteers and flood wardens are still needed, especially in Collier Street andAylesford. RobWiles, of the Kent Resilience
Team, said: “The local knowledge that flood wardens can provide to us on the ground will greatly en- hance our response capability. How communities prepare and work together before, during and after flooding makes a real differ- ence.
“Floodwardens are vital to help-
ing communities survive the ef- fects of flooding.” No new wardens have been re- cruited for Yalding – apart from at Little Venice, whichwas one of the worst-affected areas. A spokesman said: “Yalding is a community that responds well to the threat of flooding, in that they have a plan and they know how to enact it. “Thework withwardenswas fo-
cused on different communities who might not have been so alert to the risk of flooding.”
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Maidstone Town September 2014 11
Councillors John Perry (left) and Councillor Steve McLoughlin (centre) with staff from Cobtree Manor Park
Parks latest to win green flag
COBTREE Manor Park in Maidstone is one of three parks in the area to have been awarded the Green Flag this year. Along with Teston Bridge park in Maidstone and Manor Park in West Malling, it joins Mote Park,Whatman Park and Clare Park which already hold the award. This is the first time Cobtree has won the award, which follows the opening of a new play area and sculpture trail. The national Green Flag award scheme, run by the environmental charity
Keep Britain Tidy, recognises and rewards the best parks and green spaces across the country. Mote Park, Whatman Park and Clare Park have retained their flags for their second, fifth and seventh years respectively.
Drink-driver banned aer collision
BEN Winton (27) of Beckworth Place, St Andrew’s Road, Maid- stone,was banned from driving for 18 months and fined £450 after ad- mitting several motoring offences. Mid Kent Magistrates’ Court
heard he failed to stop his BMW 325i after a collision and when
stopped, a breath test showed 69mg of alcohol in 100ml of breath. The legal limit is 35mg. He admitted drink-driving, using
a vehicle without insurance or a li- cence, and failing to stop after an ac- cident. He was ordered to pay £85 costs and a £45 victim surcharge.
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