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News


Driver banned ASHEPWAY man caught driving with more than twice the legal amount of alcohol in his body has been banned for 22 months. Jay Stubberfield (24), of Hamp-


shire Drive,was stopped in his Re- nault Clio on theA26 at Hadlow on September 20.Abreath test showed he had 87mg of alcohol in 100ml of breath. The legal limit is 35mg. Stubberfieldwas also ordered by


Mid Kent Magistrates’Court to pay a £110 fine, £150 criminal court charges, £85 costs and a £20 victim surcharge.


Berry theft APARKWood man has been given a suspended prison sentence after stealing strawberries from a farm in Boughton Monchelsea. Shane Dawkins (54), from Beau-


fort Walk, admitted the theft from the farm in Brishing Lane. Dawkins was sentenced at Mid


Kent Magistrates’ Court to 42 days in prison, suspended for 12 months. He must also pay a £180 criminal courts charge and an £80 victim surcharge.


Log blaze


FIREMENwere called to a large log fire at Foords Wharf, Allington. A water shuttle had to be put in oper- ation to tackle the blaze.


downsmail.co.uk


New owner ready to take over at Kent Life


THE award-winning Kent Life visitor attraction in Lock Lane, Sandling is poised to go under new management. “Restrictive” conditions imposed


by Maidstone Council during its tendering process mean Contin- uum, which has managed the park since 2008, has pulled out of its contract as of November 30. A new company – Hampshire-


based Planning Solutions Ltd – which operates similar attractions in the UK and Europe, was due to be signed up to manage the park as the Downs Mail went to press. Maidstone Council says no jobs are at risk, with staff being transferred to the new operator. However, animals and livestock brought in by Continuum to en- hance the experience are in the process of being rehomed, along with some of the leisure attrac- tion’s equipment. A planned No- vember fireworks extravaganza has been cancelled. Planning Solutions Ltd has in-


vested in, developed and managed a number of tourism and leisure businesses for 20 years including


County’s efforts to help refugees


COUNCIL officers in Maidstone are working with statutory services in the county to help asylum seek- ers and refugees coming to Kent. The council’s housing and com- munities team is liaising with KCC, other district councils, the police and other services to achieve a “joined up” approach. Although accommodating chil-


dren and young people is the re- sponsibility of KCC, Maidstone councillors were told that residents might like to consider helping this priority group. The council has already begun contacting housing associations and private landlords who might have properties available for adults and families. Chief executive Alison Broom


told members: “There is consider- able public interest in the arrange- ments that councils are making to ensure a constructive and effective response to the current refugee cri- sis..”


There are now three reception centres in Kent and a national sys- tem for “distributing” adults and families.However, unaccompanied


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children under 18 who are asylum seekers arriving through the chan- nel ports are the responsibility of KCC.


There are currently about 730 un- accompanied children in KCC’s care, of which about 75% are aged 16-17. A significant portion come from Eritrea, Afghanistan and Africa. Mrs Broom said: “There is clearly considerable cost in providing ap- propriate accommodation, care and support to these looked after chil- dren. There is likely to be an in- creased service need for over 18s and this in turn will have an impact for district councils if care leavers become homeless.” Asylum seekers who cannot sup-


port themselves are supported by the government – the only ones di- rectly supported by local authorities are the unaccompanied children. The council is waiting to hear


what its responsibilities will be in relation to Syrian refugees but Mrs Broom said: “The key services im- pacted will be housing, health, edu- cation, policing and community services.”


Maidstone Town November 2015


kets and address other needs such as education, lifelong learning and healthy living.” A spokesman for Maidstone Council said: “We have had an ex- cellent relationship with Contin- uum, which has operated the site very successfully over the past few years. We have been through a competitive tendering process for the contract to ensure best value for money.” The council said Planning Solu-


Conkers, a £16 million visitor at- traction in the New Forest and The National Brewery Centre, formerly the Bass Museum in Burton upon Trent. It also manages the Harry Rams-


den’s franchise in Brighton and a bakery on the Isle ofWight. A spokesman said: “We under-


stand the challenges faced by the visitor attraction, heritage and leisure sectors and how to create and cost-effectively promote visi- tor experiences which are commer- cially viable, meet the needs of the community and tourist and mar-


tions would honour all wedding bookings and annual passes, and the attraction would continue to operate as normal, with new in- vestment and activities. Continuum’s contract ends on


November 30 and the site will be in a transitional period in preparation for the hand-over from November 15.


Kent Life members will be con-


tacted regarding membership va- lidity from November 30 onwards. Continuum Attractions operates


seven visitor experiences across the UK, including The Coronation Street Tour and The Canterbury Tales.


Mote House cycling challenge


MAIDSTONE printer Mark Bidewell smashed hisway through a nationwide charity cycling challenge during aweekend ofwellbeing at AudleyMote House. The retirement village on


the edge of Maidstone’s Mote Parkwas one of five Audley premises taking part in the ARCOWellbeing Weekend, to raise money for the British Heart Foundation. Allington manMark (37),


fromBison Print in Tovil,was one of a number of residents, staff and suppliers who between them cycled the equivalent of the 603 miles between Land’s End and John O’Groats. Audley is about to launch the final phase of its Mote House develop-


Bison team:Matt Barnes, Jenna and Mark Bidewell with Harriet Dunstan of Mote House


ment,which will see 35 new apartments in Alexander Court, named as a tribute to the architect ofMote House, Daniel Asher Alexander.


Enterprise plan for campus


A NEW business enterprise zone could be coming to Kent – incorpo- rating the new Maidstone Medical Campus. The campus, in Bearsted, has


linkedupwith the RochesterAirport Innovation Park and Ebbsfleet Gar- den City to bid for funding as a new North Kent Innovation Zone. Aswell as attracting business rate discounts, companies working within the new enterprise zones are able to get enhanced capital al- lowances for plant and machinery,


giving an upfront cash flow benefit. Local business rate retention


means councils can help fund fur- ther development within the enter- prise zone. Enterprise zoneswere introduced


by the Government in 2011 to help create the conditions for strong, sus- tainable and balanced growth. Existing zones have attracted hun-


dreds of new start-up firms, with simplified planning rules, super-fast broadband and millions of pounds in tax breaks for new businesses.


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