downsmail.co.uk


at the same time. What about school clubs and homework clubs?We are not talking about a great time difference and would it not benefit the bus services to have a staggered service, so as to avoid distress for our children who are trying to get on an overfilled bus due to demand? This would be like trying to get on the London Underground during busy rush hour times. The system works. I do not feel that the


bus company has a right to complain and why should parents challenge the schools? Perhaps they are looking at their profit margins and trying to disguise it as caring about the children'swelfare. Mychildren do not rely on a bus service


but I regularly drive past a chaotic bus stop filled up by one school on a daily basis. Jo Cates, by email


Bus boss’s eye on profit


Dear Sir – I fundamentally disagree with Norman Kemp’s assertion that all schools should finish at the same time. The only logic behind his claim appears to be increased profit for himself. Varying school times ease some of the congestion on our roads and availability of car parking spaces – especially where there are several educational establishments in one area, such as the Oakwood Park complex, or the area around Maidstone Girls Grammar School, Maplesden Noakes and Brunswick House Primary School. Julia Ba, Charlton Street, Fant


Ukip a serious challenge


Dear Sir –As a Maidstone Ukip supporter I must challengeBWGodding’s leer that Lib Dems offer the only objective candidate who could deprive ConservativeHelen Grant of the Maidstone andWeald constituency. I accept the Lib Dems have punched above


their weight in Maidstone local elections, but this is a national election and the relevant evi-


Police towear video cameras


OFFICERS in Maidstone are being fit- ted with body worn video (BWV) cameras as part of a trial by Kent Po- lice.


The town is one of three areas tak-


ing part in the trial, after which the equipment will be rolled out across the county next year. The technology will help officers capture evidence from the scene of an incident and will increase the trans- parency of policing in the area. It is expected to be of particular assistance in cases of domestic abuse and late- night incidents. Forces in other parts of the country, including Essex and Northumber- land, have introduced BWV, with benefits including an increase in early guilty pleas and a reduction in offen- sive behaviour, resulting in improved safety for the public and officers. Kent’s Deputy Chief Constable


Paul Brandon said: “BWV will be- come an invaluable asset for officers as they deliver a first-class service to the people of Kent.”


dence is the Lib Dems’ poor showing in May’s European elections for Maidstone. Addto that the LibDems’ very dismal current


rating in national opinion polls. Ukip came out top in the local European vote


with the Tories second and in the General Elec- tion the Lib Dems would do very well to come third in Maidstone. This election will be fought on national mani-


festos and won by a party and leader inspiring most public confidence. We know that immi- gration, the EU, taxation, and faith in economic competence will be very big issues. DC Brown, Maidstone, by email.


Keep the election clean


Dear Sir – I agree with Dennis Fowle (Mail Marks) with his plea for a clean General Election in Maidstone and the local area. I think things have improved in the past few


years. Idecided long agonot to vote for any party which tries to profit from personal attacks I think are based on inaccuracies, innuendo or down- right lies. Iwant all parties to campaign on their policies


and hopes. I am a long-standing immigrant to Maidstone and a peace-lovingMuslim and find there is so much to test electors just now in our very troubled worldwithout irrelevant nonsense. MrsMPatel, Maidstone, by email


Let’s talk about parking


Dear Sir – I am becoming increasingly aware, both as a resident and parish councillor, of concerns and anger at the use of the Elizabeth Harvie playing field as a car park. Years ago, when the only local event of


notewas the village fete, parking was provided on the industrial estate between the green and the railway line. As the event became larger and more commercialised the fieldwas used as an overflow car park. In recent years it has become the norm


for any large-scale event in the village – firework night, village fair etc. In spite of


stewarding and signposting asking visitors not to park on local roads, the area around Cross Keys almost always becomes clogged up, causing inconvenience to residents. The latest proposal is for aWinter Wonderland on the green over three days in December, which is expected to aract several thousand visitors. Although at the time ofwriting it might not go ahead due to the lateness of the application, it will no doubt be resurrected next year. Imagine the scenario: day one – it rains


and scores of cars are stuck in mud and the field is so churned up it can't be used by the Bearsted Raiders’ football team for the rest of the season. Days two and three – because the field can no longer be used, visitors (who have to buy tickets in advance) will be forced to park in surrounding roads. Iwould imagine that Elizabeth Harvie, who bequeathed the field for the use of the children of Bearsted, would be turning in her grave. I have had representations from residents in the Church Lane area about severe congestion when events on the Church Landway have clashed with weddings. On a recent Saturday there were twoweddings on the same day as the Woodland Trust open day. Apparently guests for the secondweddingwere trying to get to the church before the first wedding had finished. This, combined with the open day, caused chaos in the area.


These issues are in addition to the increasing problem of commuter parking in residential areas of the village. I believe there is an urgent need for a


public discussion on all aspects of parking in the village with the parish council, church, Woodland Trust and tennis and bowling clubs all represented. Iwould ask that any other concerned residents make their feelings known to the parish council. Tony Grieve, Bearsted, by email


Man jailed for his role in theft of 12 diggers


A SPECIALIST gang of vehicle thieves who stole 12 mini diggers from a pound in Maidstone are behind bars after a two-year in- vestigation. Matthew Butler (36) from South


Street Road, Stockbury, was in the gang of four involved in the theft of diggers and trailers worth more than £185,000 from a storage com- pound in Bircholt Road, Park Wood, on December 10 2012. Butler had denied conspiracy to


steal but was convicted and jailed at Maidstone Crown Court for four years.


Associates AshleyAustin (24), of


Essex Road, Maidstone and Nigel Black (52), of Warden Road, Eastchurch admitted the theft and were jailed for 31 months and three years respectively.


A fourth man – Grant Hodgson


(34) ofWarden Road, Eastchurch – also pleaded guilty to theft and was to be sen- tenced at a later date. The court heard


Matthew Butler


how staff found 12 Caterpillar mini-diggers and 12 trailers missing


from their compound after chains locking the front gates had been cut. Four vehicle registration plates were also stolen. In the early hours of December


12, electronic trackers on the ma- chines led Kent Police to a lorry in Lodge Road, Staplehurst, contain- ing the missing diggers. Black, who was standing next to


the vehicle, and Austin, who was lying underneath it, were arrested at the scene. Hodgson attempted to run away, jumping off a 10ftwall – breaking his back as a result – be- fore getting on a train at Staple- hurst. Hewas arrested on the trian and taken to hospital. The lorry on which the diggers


were foundwas traced to Butler – a known associate of his three co-de- fendants –who had bought the ve- hicle the previous month from a dealership in Suffolk but registered it in somebody else’s name. Investigating officer Det Con


Becky Saunders said: “These four men are repeat offenders specialis- ing in vehicle crime, so it will come as a relief to law-abiding members of the public that they are now off our streets.”


Maidstone East December 2014 39


Comment


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