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, andwere 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 reorganisational changes to ad- dress the imbalance in some parts of the county, said Cllr Hill. “The main impact of my deci-
sion is thatwe have heeded public opinion and, assuming my recom- mendation is ratified by the full cabinet in January, this important service should remain at its cur- rent level.”
Kingswood tops results list
PUPILS leaving Kingswood Primary School in 2014 achieved the best results of any local primary school. The school, in Cayser Drive, had
the highest percentage of its 10 and 11-year-olds reaching level four – the Government’s benchmark for average achievement – at the end of Key Stage 2. All but one local school – Sutton
Valence – surpassed the Government’s target minimum of 65% achieving level four. The tests focus on reading, writing and maths. In Kent, 68% achieved level four, compared to 67% nationally.
The figures are as follows, with
the 2013 figures in brackets: Kingswood – 92% (75%) Headcorn – 90% (82%) St Margaret’s, Collier Street – 87% (88%) Yalding – 85% (82%) Staplehurst – 84% (65%) Hunton – 83% (38%) Coxheath – 79% (81%) Egerton – 79% (67%) Loose – 78% (69%) Laddingford – 75% (58%) Boughton Monchelsea – 74% (72%) East Farleigh – 72% (73%) Sutton Valence – 53% (83%)
Air ambulance chief praised
THE chief execu- tive of the Kent, Surrey & Sussex Air Ambulance, based in Marden, has been named as one of Health Service Journal’s Top 50 Innovators in healthcare for 2014. Adrian Bell, pictured,was com- mended for the charity’s develop- ment of its full 24-hour Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS).
Introduced in September 2013, it is the only air ambulance in the
8 Maidstone South January 2015
country to provide such a service. The development of the service
from 12 to 24 hours took the char- ity’s team, led by Adrian, nearly three years to implement. In the first year of its night op- eration, crews attended more than 430 patients aswell as about 1,400 patients by day. Adrian said: “My name being
on this list is due recognition of what everyone, and I include all our supporters and volunteers as well as staff, both operational and charity, have achieved in deliver- ing to the community a service all our patients so desperately need.”
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 final of Miss Great Britain. A former student of Cornwallis
Academy and the University of Kent, Chloe, fromDownswood, took part in the contest in November. She said: “Iwas thrilled to finish in
the top 15 out of 50 girls.” It could be someweeks before
Chloe, whose grandmother Daisy Ware and aunt and uncle Van and Chrissie Williams all live in Staplehurst, 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, aswell 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.”
Call for courtesy on school run PARENTS on the school run in Headcorn are being advised to steerwell clear of residents’ drives. Police have been contacted numerous times about mums and dads parking their cars in Brooklands, close to drop-off and pick-up times. However, instead of parking sensibly, they have a tendency to park part-way across residents’ drives, making it impossible for them to get their cars out. Headcorn PCSO Stuart Ellesmere said: “There have been occasions that residents have been unable to access their own drives.” Mr Ellesmere has spoken to the schools and asked them to plead with parents to be more considerate so that he does not have to take further ac- tion against any offenders.
Rape bid man is jailed eight years on
A MAN who attempted to rape a teenager in a Yalding car park eight years ago has been sen- tenced to seven years in prison. In May 2006, Gavin Jones drove the 14-year-old girl to an empty car park at Yalding sta- tion and threatened her with violence unless she took off her clothes. Jones (36), for- merly of Abbey
Wood, London was known to the victim and arranged to give her a lift home from work. Instead, he headed for the station, telling his victim: “I'm going to scare you.” He locked all the doors and broke
her phone, before trying to rape her. The victim was too scared to report the offence, but in May this year, Kent Police received informa- tion linking him to the incident. She then agreed to pursue charges. Jones appeared at Maidstone Crown Court, having pleaded guilty to one charge of attempted rape, where hewas jailed for seven years and placed on the sex offend- ers' register indefinitely. Detective Constable Jono Pearce
said: “The victim showed great courage in coming forward and as- sisting with our investigation.
“Jones has finally been brought
to justice for an offence which oc- curred eight years ago and I would like to remind anyone who is a vic- tim of a sexual assault that it does- n't matter how long ago an offence occurred, we will always investi- gate every single complaint.” Detective Sergeant Paddy Kerr,
from the British Transport Police, said: “Violent crime on the railway is rare, but this was a truly horrific crime.”
Oaks to go
PLANNING permission was granted for the removal of two oaks and one horse chestnut tree in ChurchWalk, Headcorn. Conservation area consent was
also granted to reduce a separate oak tree by 25% atWalnut Cottage. “All of the above are less than 18 years old and were planted by the owner,” a supporting statement said. “The reason for the fells is to remove the risk of them growing into overhead cabling. One of the trees already has branches touch- ing the cables.” “The idea is to perhaps replant
with a slower growing variety such as a field maple.” Maidstone Coun- cil allowed the scheme on condition that the trees are replaced.
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