downsmail.co.uk


News Loss ofwardens ‘disastrous’


THE chairman of a leading local crime prevention group haswarned that the idea to almost halve the number of Kent’s community wardens “could lead to disaster”.


KCC has been consulting the


public on a proposal to centralise the service, which would lead to a reduc- tion inwardens from 79 to 40 and widen each of their geo- graphical areas of responsibil- ity.


Jim Wilson


The proposal would save the


county council £1.28m and go to- wards its overall target of cutting £206m in the next three years. Jim Wilson, chairman of Maid-


stone and District Neighbourhood Watch, told the Downs Mail: “Com- munity wardens are attached to particular parishes and areas and are trusted by people who see them not as a threat or an authority, but as a fellow person who will help them.”


Community wardens tackle is-


sues including anti-social behav- iour, fly-tipping, graffiti, vandalism, domestic and neighbour disputes and traffic management. They can-


Dogwalkers


raise £2,000 DOGS and their owners hope to have raised about £2,000 for the Heart of Kent Hospice with a six- mile sponsored walk along the Downs. The Woofs and Wellies event – starting and finishing at the Kent County Showground in Detling – attracted 45 pets and their owners. A small team from Riverside Ro-


tary, led by Graham Scott, devised the course for the charity event and made sure all the arrangements were in place. He said: “Itwas a pleasure work-


ing alongside the Heart of Kent Hospice team and between us, and some good luck with the weather, we had amost successful morning. We are grateful to all those who helped or participated.” Among the supporters from Ro-


tarywas assistant district governor Carol Vizzard, who helped with the raffle. Marshalls ensured no one got lost and other helpers di- rected the traffic and served re- freshments at the showground. Caroline Brinkman, head of com- munity engagement for the Heart of Kent Hospice, thanked Riverside Rotarians for all their help.


not make arrests but pass on intelli- gence to police and the emergency services. “They know their limitations but


get around that by building up a tremendous level of trust,” contin- ued MrWilson. “They always follow up their con-


versations and get back to people. “Often people are daunted by communicating with police or a local authority and are not sure which department to contact. Com- munity wardens are considered neutral by people who don’t want to talk to police, or be seen to be talking to police.We are risking this relationship and it is a tremendous threat. “It could lead to a disaster and


we, as a neighbourhood watch, get on with all of our community war- dens. We cooperate and exchange our ideas with them and support each other at various events.” MrWilson said that the commu-


nitywarden scheme’s success since KCCintroduced it 12 years agowas due, in part, to clever recruitment. He said: “They attracted the right people who have sympathy with


communities. They have been in- credible. “Getting rid of them would be a double whammy because it would come out of KCC funds at a time when police funds are also being cut.


“If the changes go ahead, thewar-


dens will have huge areas to cover and consequently the one-to-one re- lationships they have built will be lost.”


Maidstone Council leader Annabelle Blackmore wrote toKCC


COMMUNITY wardens in Kent are fighting proposed swingeing cuts to their service. An official e-petition has been launched. If it receives 2,500 sig- natures the cuts have to be con- sidered by the KCC cabinet. As the Downs Mail went to


press, more than 700 people had signed the petition. Stuart Ellesmere, from Maidstone’s communitywarden service, said: “This is a very valuable service to


chairman Paul Carter a year ago, pleading with him not to reduce the number of communitywardens. She said: "These people are our


eyes and ears on the ground. They know who the vulnerable people are in their areas and interact with all the different age groups, from older people to youngsters who hang around in bus shelters. They have to stay." KCChas now finished consulting on its 2015-16 budget.


Petition calls for a rethink


vulnerable people around Kent.” A number of the community


wardens have signed the peti- tion, including district support warden Dawn Riach-Brown, Liz Lovatt (Boughton Monchelsea and Loose) and Adam McKinley (Bearsted) aswell as several bor- ough councillors, including Mar- tin Round (Headcorn), Stephen Munford


Monchelsea) and Fay Gooch (Barming).


Driver in court


County president Colin Leggat presents the Shield to members Stephen Paine, Lucy Clements and Samuel Jenkins at the Kent YFC County AGM


Young farmers’ club success


NORTH Downs Young Farmers’ Club, based in Maidstone, has won a silver shield for increasing its club membership. The club grew from just six members in 2013, to 18 members in Sep-


tember 2014 – a three-fold increase and the largest growth of member- ship in Kent. Club chairman Louise Paine (18), said: “In spite of the name, you don’t


have to be a farmer to be a young farmer!” Young Farmers’ Clubs are open to anyone aged between 10 and 26 and


there are 20 clubs, with 520 members, across Kent. They meet regularly for social, educational and team-building activities, from training animals to night hikes, raft-building and kayaking. The North Downs group meets in Maidstone andWest Malling, with a


varied calendar of events, fromoutdoor adventure sports and barn dances, to showing animals at the Kent County Show. Of the 18 members in North Downs YFC, only three come from a farm-


ing background. Louise said: “We are a friendly andwelcoming club and are always look- ing for new members.”


after accident A MAN has been charged with dangerous driving after a pedes- trian was involved in a collision with a car in Harrietsham. Police were called to East Street at 11.20am on November 1 and the 26-year-old was taken to hospital. The road was closed for three hours.


Spencer Holley (46) from East Street, Harrietsham, has been charged with grievous bodily harm with intent and dangerous driving. He will appear before Maidstone Crown Court on Friday, November 21.


Speed limit


A TEMPORARY 40mph speed restriction will be introduced on the A20 Ashford Road near Hollingbourne between the junc- tions with Roundwell and Musket Lane.


The restriction is to enable foot- path resurfacing to be carried out by Kent Highway Services. The work will run from November 24 until December 19 and then Janu- ary 5 until February 6, until the work is completed.


For more local news and information, go to www.downsmail.co.uk Maidstone East December 2014


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