News
downsmail.co.uk Making the river work for town
DRAGON-BOAT racing, regattas and rowing could spearhead a push to put Maidstone’s stretch of the River Medway on the map.
The new destination manage-
ment plan for Maidstone focuses on strengthening visitor activities on or close to the river, particularly near All Saints’ Church, at Lock- meadow and at Cobtree. Invicta Rowing Club and other
river users will be asked to get in- volved with Maidstone Council, the Medway Valley Partnership and business owners to create a programme of tourist-friendly river-based activities such as row- ing events, regattas, dragon-boat racing and a festival of lights. The plan is music to the ears of a number of local groups, including the Medway River Users Associa- tion (MRUA), which has been cam- paigning for greater use of the river for many years. MRUA chairman Mark Smurth-
waite said: “It is very encouraging to see so many people in support of improving Maidstone and more importantly the river. This is a very much under-used commodity that
Traderwarning
THE onset of bad winter weather has brought a rise in rogue traders. Maidstone Neighbourhood
Watch is urging residents, espe- cially the elderly, to bewary of any- one knocking on doors looking for work. A spokesman said: “Rogue traders are opportunistswhoknock on doors hoping to catch people off guard so that they agree to the work.
“They haveno intention of doing
the work properly, if at all. Do not allow anyone into your home. If you do not recognise the person at your front door, do not answer it.” Anyonewhoneeds repairs carry-
ing out to their property should fol- low the following advice: Shop around before making a decision. Never pay up front and don't pay by cash. Get at least three quotes from reputable businesses.
clude signs to the entrance points to the river from the town centre, in- vestment in footpaths with signs indicating distances to key points, greater accessibility for cyclists, in- vestment in moorings and parking for river visitors. It alsowants to explore the possi-
bility of providing camping cabins or luxury camping huts to facilitate long-distance walking, canoeing and rowing. Tony Monk, from Coxheath, who
Maidstone Council and KCC seem to have very little interest in, de- spite using pictures of the river in much of their literature. “The river is such a beautiful
asset and it is dramatically under- used and under-resourced.” The MRUA is already working
with the Environment Agency and other official bodies to try to im- prove the condition of the river and surrounding areas and, with the support of MP Helen Grant, is in the process of identifying areas of
responsibility. A new River Medway Alliance
has been formed and Mr Smurth- waite said: “Following the alliance meeting later this month, we hope to be in a position to put forward some sort of action plan for im- provement, and will make public all the information regarding this.” In the meantime, the council is proposing a programme of en- hancements and improvements to make the river more accessible and appealing to visitors. This will in-
convened a meeting with Mrs Grant to discuss some of the con- cerns about the river, said: “If the works go ahead it will, after many years, be a positive and very excit- ing step forward for Maidstone. “Much of the riverside of Maid- stone’s stretch of the Medway has, in my opinion, been spoilt by de- velopment, but there are some beautiful stretches and the town has some superb architecture dat- ing back to the 13th century along with its varied and rich history.”
Pupils step out with new skills
PUPILS from the Cornwallis Acad- emy inMaidstone have successfully completed a programme designed to explore confidence, self-aware- ness and motivation. The Stepping Out programme de-
veloped by CXK – a charity designed to help children, young people and adults maximise their potential – was delivered over six sessions to en- courage participants to reflect on their own emotional resilience and look at strategies for development or support. Itwas funded by KCC coun- cillor Gary Cooke's member grant. Cllr Cooke said: “I felt a pro-
gramme was needed that gave young people the initial skills, which they could then develop, either in school or on another developmental programme such as the National Citizen Service. After conversations
Fromleft, Joshua Dodd,Amy Perkins, Aby Gibbins, Courtney Knight, Bethany Fryer, Lara Potter,OwenWatson, Jazmin Kane and Caitlin Gabriel
with Sean Kearns, the chief execu- tive of CXK, Stepping Out was born.” This year, 30 pupils benefited from
the programme (with a further 25 benefiting in 2014). They were drawn from Cornwallis Academy, New Line Learning Academy and Swadelands School. Presenting the
certificates, Cllr Cooke said: “Just like a tradesman who, to do his job well, needs more than one tool in his tool- box, you will, through life, build up different tools to help you cope. This course is one such tool and by com- pleting it you have given yourself every chance of future success.”
Trucker jailed for role in alcohol smuggling
A MAIDSTONE lorry driver was one of two men sent to jail for their part in an alcohol-smuggling plot. HGV drivers Mervyn John Osgood (61, pictured) from Maidstone and Darren Brooker (46), from Ash- ford were found guilty of
importing non-duty paid alcohol into the UK on several occasions
36
which was bought from a bonded warehouse in France. The alcohol was delivered to locations across the UK and sold at “duty-free” prices. An investigation byHMRevenue
and Customs revealed the pair evaded almost half a million pounds in duty. Border Force officers at Dover
docks stopped a lorry in October 2012 that had arrived from Calais laden with beer. Officers realised that the paperwork had already
Maidstone Town December 2015
been used the day before by Os- good, who had arrived at Dover with an identical load. The lorry driverwas arrested. Osgoodwas arrested in February
2013 and, after being linked to the fraud by Osgood’s telephone records, Brooker was arrested in July 2013. Both men were found guilty of alcohol-smuggling offences and sentenced at Maidstone Crown Court.A third manwas cleared. Osgood was sentenced to four
years and six months in jail and Brooker to two years and six months. The movement of duty-sus- pended alcohol is controlled by HMRC and foreign customs au- thorities. Alcohol can be stored and moved between bonded ware- houses within the EU without the payment of excise duties. Once the business needs to re-
lease the alcohol to retail outlets the excise duty becomes payable at the rates applicable in the host country.
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