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
onwater main ESSENTIAL work has begun to upgrade a leaking water main in High Street and St Leonard’s Street, West Malling. The 920m section of pipeline has
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.”
downsmail.co.uk High sheriff visits hospice
THE High Sheriff of Kent, Hugo Fenwick, visited the Heart of Kent Hospice, based in Aylesford, to see the care provided to patients with life-limiting illness – aswell as its new extension. The extensionwasmade possible with capital grant funding fromthe De- partment of Health. Patients can access a range of services including com- plementary therapy, art therapy and rehabilitation – ormeet fellow patients and enjoy a meal. A multi-disciplinary team of
staff and volunteers is on hand to meet patients and give ad- vice and assistance. Mr Fenwick chatted to pa-
tients in the inpatient unit, where a four-bed bay has been converted into three en-suite rooms. He said: “The extension has
been carefully constructed to provide a real sense of space.”
High Sheriff of Kent Hugo Fenwick with staff from Heart of Kent Hospice
Benefit fraudster to repay £3k
A SNODLAND man found guilty of benefit fraud has been ordered to repay more than £3,000 to Tonbridge and Malling Council. Kevin Leybourne, of Church Field, failed to tell the council his earnings
had gone up, which resulted in him being overpaid £2,631.45 in housing benefit and £365.89 in council tax benefit. It is the 13th successful prosecution by Tonbridge and Malling Coun-
cil in relation to benefit fraud and related offences since April 1, 2014. Leybourne (36) was also given a 12-month conditional discharge and ordered to pay £100 council costs at Sevenoaks Magistrates Court after he admitted failing to notify the council of his change in circumstances. Anyone with information can call the investigation team in confidence on 01732 876337 or go to the council’swebsite
www.tmbc.gov.uk.
Upgrade work 48 jobs to go at City Link
burst five times during the past five years causing disruption to mo- torists, pedestrians and businesses. Construction is taking place in
High Street and St Leonard’s Street between the High Street/Water Lane junction and along St Leonard’s Street to a point near the crossroad junction with Teston Road. Chris Love, delivery manager at
South EastWater, said: “While this important work is taking place the shops, cafés, restaurants and busi- nesses will all be open as usual in the town centre. “Upgrading failing pipelines
such as this is essential to ensure our customers inWest Malling con- tinue to have an uninterrupted water supply 24 hours a day, seven days aweek. Construction is due to be complete by the end of May.”
You can read our archived editions FREE online at
www.downsmail.co.uk 28 Malling January 2015
DELIVERY firm City Link is to close its depot in Bellingham Way,Aylesford with the loss of 48 jobs. The company, which went into administration on Christmas Day, announced that seven staff would be made redundant by Thursday, January 15, after last minute talks to save the business fell through. These are in addition to the 41 people notified of redundancy on New Year’s Eve. Meanwhile cus- tomers have been retrieving their parcels from the depot.
The company is closing 51 sites
across the country. Joint administrator Hunter Kelly
said: “It is with regret that we an- nounce further redundancies at City Link Limited which will take effect over the coming days as the company’s remaining UK depot operations close.” An unnamed financial consor-
tium had been involved in a po- tential rescue bid for the company but the deal collapsed. Chatham and Aylesford MP Tracey Crouch voiced her con-
£400 boost for grotto gifts
SOUTH EastWater, whose head office is in Snodland, donated £400 to Christmas in Snodland to help pay for the presents Father Christmas gave to the children who visited him in his grotto at the Pavilion Cafe. The chairman
of the town coun- cil,
Anne
Moloney, is pic- tured with Father Christmas and SamHolmes, and Angel Aymer, aged six, and Cody Lee-May- nard, aged nine.
cerns about the availability of sup- port for staff and sub-contractors at a meeting with employment minister Esther McVey. She said: “I am very disap- pointed that the depot will be clos- ing but we are reassured by the minister that those directly af- fected will get all the support of the Department for Work and Pen- sions.” A Facebook page called City
Link Job Board has been set up to help affected workers find em- ployment.
Artists compete
CHILDREN from Eccles and two other villages near the new Peters Village development are taking part in an arts project with £3,500 worth of prize money. Primary schools in Burham, Wouldham and Eccles have agreed to join the “Why I LoveMy Valley” project, sponsored by developer Trenport Investments Ltd and con- tractor Bam Nuttall. Individual winners will receive vouchers and the winning school will get £2,000 cash. It is hoped the project will produce at least one public artwork.
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