News


downsmail.co.uk Keep it clean,warnsMPGrant


MAIDSTONE MP Helen Grant has called on her Liberal Democrat rival in the race for the parlia- mentary seat to run a “clean and positive campaign”.


Mrs Grant faces a challenge from


23-year-old Oxford graduate Emily Fermor, who launched a thinly veiled attack on the MP as her can- didacywas announced. Former Invicta Grammar School


pupil Miss Fermor, of Heath Road, Coxheath, claimed that the county town needs a local person with “energy, enthusiasm and commit- ment” which “we have not had for a number of years”. Mrs Grant responded with a


terse statement: “Another woman choosing to engage with our democracy is mostwelcome. I now invite her to join me in giving a public pledge to run a clean and positive campaign.” Mrs Grant swept aside the previ-


ous Lib Dem challenge from Jasper Gerard and was re-elected with a 10,000 majority at last year’s gen- eral election. Mr Gerard had been expected to do well but a downturn in his party’s for- tunes nation- ally scuppered his chances, de- spite having worked full- time in con- stituency for


three years. When shewas selected, Miss Fer-


mor (pictured) said: “I am proud of our county town and believe we need a local person representing


Democracy up for debate


CHILDREN were given a chance to take on the role of Kent County Council members when they took part in Local DemocracyWeek. Pupils from The Holy Family


Catholic Primary School and SenacreWood Primary, both in Maidstone, took their seats in the council chamber and County Hall as Gary Cooke, KCC Cabinet Member for Corporate and Democratic Services, presided over proceedings. The debate was ‘Should school


uniforms be abolished?’ and arguments included: “Well, what’s


the point in being part of the school if you don’t wear the uniform?” and “I want to abolish school uniform because it’s itchy.” Students voted 40 to 13 in favour


of abolishing uniforms. Second on the agenda was whether pupils should be allowed to use mobile phones at break time. It proved to be another lively


debate and the vote ended with 30 pupils voting it should be allowed with 21 against. The next day, year six pupils from SenacreWood also enjoyed a tour


AVEHICLE parked in Ulcombe Road, Lan- gley,was broken into and cashwas taken. Two vehicles parked in Leeds Road, Lang-


ley,were broken into but nothing appears to have been taken. A vehicle was taken from Knights Way, Headcorn. Both number plateswere stolen from aVW


Passat parked in Wheeler Street, Headcorn. A black Skylark rucksack containing an iPhone andpersonal itemswas taken from the car park at the aerodrome in Shenley Road Headcorn. A wheelie bin was taken from Lenham


Road, Boughton Malherbe. A home in Lenham Road, Ulcombe,was broken into and electrical equipment was taken. Two gas cylinderswere stolen from a farm


in Ulcombe Road, Ulcombe. A vehicle parked in The Street, Ulcombe, had its rear lights damaged.


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of County Hall and Cllr Cooke’s talk on democracy, followed by debates on the topics: “Should ratings be


removed fromvideo games and films?” and “Should children under seven watch television?”


NeighbourhoodWatch Working to reduce crime. Call Crimestoppers 0800 555 111 or local police Awindowwas broken at a home in Bottle-


screw Hill, Boughton Monchelsea. A garage at a home in The Quarries, Boughton Monchelsea,was broken into and a blueATX mountain bikewas stolen. A gate to a field in Church Hill, Boughton Monchelsea, has been damaged but nothing taken. A vehicle parked in Wierton Road,


Boughton Monchelsea,was broken into and a mobile phonewas taken. A small trailerwas stolen from a driveway


in Park Way, Coxheath, but later recovered nearby. Awindowwas smashed at a homeinWest-


erhill Road, Coxheath. A vehicle parked in Duke of York Way, Coxheath, was broken into and an iPod was taken. A blue and grey Alpha mountain bikewas


stolen from a shed at a home in Huntington Road, Coxheath. Ashedwas broken into at a home in Kettle


Lane, East Farleigh. Ahomewas broken into in Chart Hill Road,


Chart Sutton. The rear window of a Hyundai I10 was damaged on a driveway in Goudhurst Road, Marden. Both number plates were stolen from a


Volvo V50 parked in Tilden Lane, Marden. A padlock and chain were taken from a


farm gate in Tilden Lane, Marden, releasing the livestock. Nothing else appeared to have been taken. A Vauxhall Zafira parked in Gurr Walk, Marden, was broken into. A Tom-Tom sat nav and other itemswere stolen. ADacia Logan parked in The Cockpit, Mar-


den,was keyed. A fork lift truck was taken from outside a property in Goudhurst Road, Marden. A Jeep Cherokee parked in a farm yard in Clapper Lane, Staplehurst,was keyed. Avehiclewas stolen from a community car


park in Bell Lane, Staplehurst. Aheight restriction signwas damaged at a


car park in Headcorn Road, Staplehurst. Itemswere stolen from a car on the drive of a property in Bell Lane, Staplehurst.


us, with energy, enthusiasm and a commitment to the local area – something we have not had for a number of years. I have lived in Maidstone all of my life and have a knowledge and understanding of our local town and villages that can’t be taught. “I relish the opportunity to prove myself in the coming years.” Miss Fermor’s selection reflects a growing sense in Lib Dem ranks that Prime Minister Theresa May could call a snap general election next spring. Tory sources say that this is unlikely. Mr Gerard – who is now working


as a campaigner for his party – said: “Emily was part of my team in 2015 and was absolutely bril-


liant. She worked incredibly hard and is very popular as a person. “I think she’ll make a fantastic candidate.” With a huge majority to overturn,


few will give Miss Fermor – a con- sultant with the public relations firm Bell Pottinger – much chance of winning. Miss Fermor added: “The Liberal Democrats are well placed to fight a general election whenever it is held, and I amraring to go. “Since the referendum we have


signed almost 20,000 new members nationally, a large number in Maid- stone and TheWeald. “This means that we now have


more members than we’ve ever had in this century.”


Crime reports


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