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News Waste freighter service to be axed
MAIDSTONE Council’s Saturdaywaste freighter scheme is to be scrapped as part of a cost-cutting exercise across the borough.
The council feels the service re-
sults in inequality as not all resi- dents, especially the elderly and disabled, can access it. The bulky refuse freighter, which
has been a regular sight in the vil- lages at weekends since it was started in 1991, costs £45,000 a year to run. It visits 99 sites across the bor-
ough on a 10-week rota and collects bulky items and household waste, such as old furniture and children’s toys, but will be withdrawn from the end of April. The service pre-dated the intro- duction of wheelie bins and recy- cling centres and was designed to help residents dispose of all types ofwaste, particularly bulky items. Over the past 10 years, the serv-
ice has been adapted to reflect the changing needs of the borough but monitoring has shown a steady de-
could not be separated for recy- cling, which reduced the council’s recycling rate by 0.27%. “Small pockets of residents are benefiting from a service which is paid for by all taxpayers,” said the report to members. The council’s bulky collection cer-
cline in usage, the borough envi- ronment committeewas told. Only 2,600 residents used the service in 2014, compared with more than 12,500 10 years ago. Last year, 300 tonnes ofwastewas collected and sent to landfill as it
vice, which charges £23 to collect between one and four items and £33 for five to eight items, costs £68,500 a year to run but generates £80,000 and will continue. “The Saturday freighter service provides an inequality of service to Maidstone residents as it enables abled-bodied people to dispose of bulkywaste free of charge;however those who are unable to transport their waste would be required to pay for a bulky collection,” says the report. “The Saturday freighter service has also been found to be used fre-
quently by commercial businesses that are unable to access Tovil HouseholdWaste Recycling Centre (pictured) and would be required to travel to Sittingbourne to dispose of theirwaste responsibly.” The council plans to introduce a subsidy to the bulky collection serv- ice for those on low incomes, mean- ing they will only pay £16 for the removal of up to four items, which will be reviewed after six months. The council will urge residents to recyclewaste to charities and is also in discussion with Kent County Council to explore opportunities for accepting commercial waste at the council’s depot in Park Wood. Members heard that the with-
drawal of the service would sup- port the council’s waste strategy and have a positive effect on the borough’s recycling rate of about 0.2%.
Restaurant Planners beaten on home decision
workers held TWOpeoplewere arrested at a restaurant in Tovil following a swoop by immigration officers. The 29-year-old woman and
37-year-old man, from Indone- sia, were found to have over- stayed their visitor visas following a tip-off to enforce- ment officers. Neither had the right to work in the UK and have been transferred to a de- tention centre, pending their removal from the country. The Oriental Chef has been ordered to demonstrate it made appropriate right-to-work checks on the two people; fail- ure to do so carries a fine of up to £20,000 per worker. The arrests followed a visit
by enforcement officers to the Church Street premises at about 7.30pm on March 11. Two other members of staff were cleared to work in the UK. Richard Lederle, from Kent’s enforcement team, said: “There will be no slowdown in our ef- forts to tackle illegal working in the county. Using illegal labour is not a victimless crime; it defrauds the Treasury of much-needed funds, undercuts honest businesses and cheats legitimate job-seekers out of employment.” He urged the public to report suspected immigration abuse to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
PLANNING officers from Maid- stone Council were overruled re- garding the development of a new home in Boughton Monchelsea. The planning department recom- mended that a proposal to build a house on land next to Rock House in Boughton Lane be refused due to its unsustainable location and the potential harm it would cause to the open countryside. However, the planning commit-
tee took on board the parish coun- cil’s support for the scheme and granted planning permission. Cllr Sara Evans, from the parish council, said: “This won’t hurt any-
body. There is no opposition locally or from statutory consultees. “The site is perfect and the house
would be well positioned with woodland around
it.Given its prox- imity to developments in Boughton Lane the sustainability objection can be overcome. “Boughton Monchelsea’s archi- tectural heritage is not only rich but varied. There are some absolute gems from every era, except per- haps our own. It is exciting to have something with architectural merit for our own age. If this is built, peo- ple in 10 years’ time will say it is a home befitting of the 21st century.”
Assault case man in court
APARK Wood man has appeared back in court following a series of of- fences in the town, including assault. The crimes, which included shoplifting and driving without a licence
or insurance, were committed by Abraham Joseph (33), of Wallis Av- enue, while he was still serving a conditional discharge. Mid Kent Magistrates’ Court accepted his guilty pleas to stealing cleaning products from a shop inWillington Street, assaulting a woman at a shop in Northumberland Road and the motoring offences in a Toy- ota Yaris in Sutton Road on December 27. Magistrates sentenced Joseph to 120 days in prison – topped up to 150
days because of the operational period of his conditional discharge – suspended for 18 months. He was also banned from driving for eight months and must pay £133 compensation, a £110 fine, £85 costs and a £20 victim surcharge.
Work order for food thief
A THIEF who broke in to the Malta Inn and stole food valued at £2,730 has been ordered to do 200 hours unpaid work in the community. Dean Manser was sentenced at West Kent Magistrates’ Court after pleading guilty to the burglary at the Allington Lock restaurant on Oc- tober 20. The 30-year-old, from LullingstoneAvenue in Swanley,was sentenced
to 26weeks in prison, suspended for 18 months, and ordered to pay £500 compensation, £85 costs and an £80 victim surcharge.
The single-storey home, to be
built on an unused garden close to the junction with Bottlescrew Hill, is to include a roof terrace, pond and swimming pool. Cllr Stephen Mun-
ford (pictured), local ward councillor, said: “We have 25 houses on the oppo- site side of the road
and 71 homes up the road. This res- idence would be the fourth closest in my parish to a bank and bus service. This is sustainable, there are no objections and it is an innovative design.”
Scamwarning MAIDSTONE residents are being warned of a telephone scam oper- ating in the area. Homeowners are being called
and told they will need an Energy Performance Certificate from April 2016. The scammer says they can send someone that day to carry out the survey. Kent Trading Standards have pointed out you only need an En- ergy Performance Certificate if you are selling or renting your prop- erty. For further advice call Citizens Advice consumer service on 03454 040506.
Companions
THE Good Companions Club will meet in the British Legion Hall in Priory Street at 7.30pm on Monday, April. A talk about moles will be given by Chris Stewart.
Maidstone Town April 2016 39
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