News Homes crisis


COUNCILchiefs say a combination of soaring property prices and wel- fare reforms could see social hous- ing organisations buying up sites in Kent. A new report by Kent County Council delivers the warning against a backdrop of benefit caps and a tightening up of eligibility. It claims that housing associations


fear a cut in social housing rents until 2020 could mean 600 fewer homes being built each year in Kent.


Mummyscan


THE Maidstone Mummy has been scanned to reveal the secrets of the 2,700-year-old teenager. Ta-Kush, who was 14 when she


died, has been scanned at a local hospital in the hope her face can be reconstructed and any other details of her life revealed. It is also hoped to prove once and


for all that she is not, in fact, a he. Ta-Kush has been a favourite at


the St Faith’s Street collection and came to England in the 1820s.


Burger plans


THEGourmet Burger Kitchen could be opening a branch in Maidstone. The restaurant is looking at prem-


ises formerly occupied by the Fogo Chophouse in Lockmeadow. It has applied for permission to


open from 10am until 12.30am each day at the cinema complex in the town centre. The chain operates 80 branches


across the country, including those in Canterbury and Bluewater.


Fridge plan


MARKS and Spencer plans to site a 40ft fridge outside its Aylesford food hall to provide extra storage for Christmas stock. The store has asked Tonbridge and Malling Council for permission for the chilled container to be placed in the service yard behind the shop at Quarry Wood business estate be- tween November 1 and December 3 each year.


Festive songs


MAIDSTONEMencap members in- vite everyone to a Christmas con- cert with the Detling Singers at Cobtree Hall, Willington Street on Saturday, December 10. Refresh- ments will be available from 6pm and the concert starts at 7pm. Tickets are £6 each. Contact Ann on 07548 152201.


Poppy appeal


THIS year’s Poppy Appeal was launched at County Hall in Maid- stone onWednesday, October 26. ArmisticeDay falls on Friday, No-


vember 11, and Remembrance Sun- day on the 13th.


20 Malling November 2016 Park in UK’s top 10


MAIDSTONE'S Mote Park is one of the country's favourite open spaces. It is ranked in the top 10 of the


Green Flag People Awards, which attractedmore than 30,000 votes for a variety of parkland across the United Kingdom. Mote Park was recognised in the "people's choice" category, which reflects its popularity among local people and visitors. Voters were asked to scoreMote


Park for its cleanliness, facilities, events and overall appeal. Maidstone Borough Council's


David Pickett said: "Mote Park truly represents one of the finest and most popular attractions in the borough of Maidstone. "Thanks in no small part to the


range of events and activities hosted throughout the year, plus the magnificentmaintenance work and the efforts of volunteers at the park, we’re exceptionally proud that Mote Park has been named among the UK’s 10 most popular public spaces. “It can be easy to take for


granted just how importantMote Park is to Maidstone. “Whether it’s for those looking


to experience nature and wide- open spaces, to picnic with the family or enjoy the water sports, or even to welcome internationally-acclaimed events and concerts, Mote Park represents all that is great about the borough.” Photo by Russell Cleggett


downsmail.co.uk


Lier police are back on beat after review


MAIDSTONE’S “litter police” are back on duty after being hauled over the coals by the borough council…and one departure from the sub-contracted team. It follows complaints from the


public about the council’s private enforcers being too heavy-handed. A woman was fined £80 at Tovil


for feeding ducks – because the warden maintained there were no birds around. The fine was later withdrawn by the contractor, King- dom Security. It follows the return of 61 fines by


the private enforcement firm since the company won the £160,000 two-year contract to enforce the council’s litter laws last June. But it appears this was the final


straw, leading the council’s envi- ronmental enforcement manager Martyn Jeynes to suspend the serv- ice for a thorough investigation. The suspension of the service,


which lasted 26 days, saw officers finally return to the streets on Oc- tober 12, minus at least one male of- ficer, amid calls for better training of all frontline staff.


Butt of the fines


A BREAKDOWN of the fines issued since September 1 2015 shows more than 2,000 fineswere issued for dropping cigarette ends, while only about 130 were issued for dropping litter. Fixed penalty notices were is-


The borough council’s head of environment, Jennifer Shepherd, said enforcement officers would be returning to duties following the review of the contract, which runs until June next year. She added: “I can confirm there


have been a number of personnel changes which Kingdom have made during the review andwe an- ticipate that two new officers will be joining the team. “We have been working closely


with Kingdom to ensure officers are able to provide a service which fulfils our priority of a clean and


sued for: • Cigarettes - 2,043 • Food/food packaging/chewing gum – 36 • Dog fouling – 8 • Other litter (cellophane, plastic stirrers etc.) – 98 • Literature – 16 Total 2,201


safe environment.” It is understood this will be a commitment to ensure officers re- ceive full training and regular re- fresher courses about the way in which they conduct themselves in response to the council’s enforce- ment requirements. Kingdom Security declined to comment.


Gambler took


OAP cheques A GAMBLING addict has been jailed after he stole cheques from vulnerable pensioners and paid them into his own bank account to fund his betting habit. Mihai Robu took blank cheques


from the bedrooms of two men, aged 89 and 92, he was employed to look after and then wrote them out to himself. Robu (29), formerly of Gabriels


Hill, Maidstone, stole more than £25,000 between 2015 and 2016. He was arrested by Kent Police in April this year, after concernswere raised by relatives of the victims. Robu, now of Tunbridge Wells, admitted the thefts and told officers he had a gambling addiction and stole the money to fund this habit. Mobile phone records revealed photos of the stolen cheques and images of his victims’ bank cards. Robu admitted two counts of


theft and two counts of fraud by abuse of position. He was sen- tenced to 16 months imprisonment at Maidstone Crown Court. Detective Constable David


Turner of Kent Police’s Public Pro- tection Unit said: “Robu has shown a considerable deal of remorse for his crimes…this sentence sends a clear message that any abuse by people employed in a position of trust can expect to be dealt with se- verely by the courts.”


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