News
Wardens to stay, council decides
KENT County Council has bowed to “people power” and is looking to keep its community wardens. The council had hoped to reduce uniformed numbers from 70 to 46 to make savings but, after a public outcry, now says it is likely to re- tain the service at its present level. Cllr Mike Hill, KCC’s cabinet member for community services, said: “We carried out a six-week consultation which produced nearly 1,200 responses. “More than 100 of those were
from district and parish councils and the vast majority praised the wardens, either as individuals or as a service, and were keen to see it retained.” Bearstedwas one of many parish councils which wrote to KCC, ob- jecting strongly to any reduction in the service. Cllr Hill said: “We were already
aware of the important role that ourwardens play in the areas they serve, but this consultation has brought home to us how valued they are by those communities.
“We have listened and paid at- tention to public opinion and I am recommending that the correct course of action is to maintain the status quo. “I received an indication of sup-
port from my cabinet colleagues at a meeting in November, since when we have been working on some operational issues which have now been resolved.” Although all of the present uni- formed wardens will now remain, KCC hopes to achieve some sav- ings by a reduction in back-office staff and by closing three area of- fices.
There will also be some minor re- organisational changes to address the imbalance in some parts of the county, said Cllr Hill. “The main impact ofmy decision
is that we have heeded public opinion and, assuming my recom- mendation is ratified by the full cabinet early in January, this im- portant service should remain at its current level.”
downsmail.co.uk Chloe in Britain’s top 15
A YOUNG businesswoman from Maidstone has been placed in the top 15 of Britain’s beauties. Business and management
graduate Chloe Davis (21) was awarded the title of Miss Kent, putting her into the finals of Miss Great Britain. A former student of Cornwallis
Academy and the University of Kent, Chloe, from Downswood, said: “I was thrilled to finish in the top 15 out of 50 girls.” It could be some weeks before
Chloe finds out her final placing but she had special thanks for her sponsor Allied Fabrications Ltd and also Bridal Gowns at Jodi for providing her evening dress, as well as Chris White for his photography. Before taking part in the event, Chloe raised £95 through a charity
boot fair and cake sale for the Rainbows hospice for children and young people. She said: “The experience has
been incredible. I havemade some fantastic friends.”
Plans to improve roundabout
PLANS will finally be drawn up to tackle long-term congestion at Stockbury roundabout, accord- ing to the Government. The project revealed in the au-
tumn statement will include im- provements to slip roads with the M2 and enhanced approaches to
the A249 junction, which carries 46,436 vehicles a day. The plans for the roundabout
will need to address where and how the junction can be made bigger. The Highways Agency said there were currently no dates for work to begin.
8
Maidstone East January 2015
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