News


downsmail.co.uk £80k fine for death of father


A RECYCLING companywas fined £80,000 after an employeewas buried alive when a 30ft pile of waste material collapsed on top of him at Blaise Farm Quarry, near Kings Hill.


Maidstone Crown Court heard


how 39-year-old father-of-two NevilleWatson (pictured right), of Lakeside, Snodland, was working close to the mound of waste mate- rial after connecting a shredder to the loading shovel he was driving. He died of asphyxiation as other workers tried to rescue him from the pile of rubbish with their bare hands. An investigation by the Health


and Safety Executive (HSE) into the tragedy, which happened on Au- gust 9, 2014, found that New Earth Solutions Group Limited, failed to undertake risk assessments, or safe systems of work for the creation and management of the stockpiles,


Get spinning


A FREE spinning class is being launched at Larkfield Leisure Cen- tre in January. Spin for Health is an eight-week programme for girls aged 16 to 19, who work or study in the Ton- bridge and Malling borough. The programme targets young women from low income families, those who may be overweight, lack self- confidence or suffer anxiety or stress. The hour-long sessions will in-


clude a 45-minute spin class fol- lowed by a 15-minute chat. This will include a talk on the benefits of physical activity and gives girls the chance to ask questions about health-related issues. For details and to register your interest, email Natalie Smith at na- talie.smith@tmactive.co.uk.


or adequate training. The court heard that the machine


was usually operated from the loading truck’s cab, but it was being repaired, and Mr Watson, who had started work there seven months earlier, got out of the cab to manoeuvre the shredder. He had not been given any train-


ing for the task, but had been shown what to do by a colleague the previous day. The Dorset-based company pleaded guilty to breaching health and safety at work rules and was fined £80,000 and ordered to pay costs of £38,373.92. Judge Philip Statman indicated that if the com- pany had not been in administra-


tion, the fine would have been be- tween £600,000 and £1.3 million. HSE inspector Guy Widdowson said after the hearing: “The request for Mr Watson to carry out the shredding operation was made without any form of structured training being in place. “The company failed to ensure


that MrWatson was supervised by an employee trained in the task he was carrying out, particularly in light of the fact that he had never carried out the task before.” Mr Watson worked as an indus-


trial cleaner at the plant which pro- duces compost from waste. New Earth Solutionswent into adminis- tration in June with £40m debts.


Council picks up animalwelfare award


THE borough council’s work with stray dogs has earned it a gold award fromthe RSPCA for the fifth year running – putting it among the top15%of councils in the country. The society’s Community Animal


Welfare Footprints Gold Award for Stray Dog Services recognises the council’s high animalwelfare standards and the commitment of Tonbridge and Malling dogwarden Lorraine Baseden, whoworks for the council throughWard Security. This year Lorraine microchipped


more than 400 dogs free of charge at public events in the area in collaboration with the Dogs Trust. These details helped reunitemost of the 245 strays dealt with by the council in the 12 months to April.


Dog warden Lorraine Baseden with Lee Chapman, ofWard Security (left) and Cllr David Lettington


Eclipse Park plan forWaitrose is agreed


A £14M Waitrose will be built at Eclipse Park in Maidstone near the M20.


Members of Maidstone Borough Council's planning committee ap- proved the new food store – thought to be the biggest in the county – by 10 votes to one. If work goes ahead according to


plan, the new shop, near junction seven of the motorway, is unlikely to open before spring 2018 but could create more than 200 local jobs.


Cllr David Burton, chairman of


MBC's Strategic Planning, Sustain- ability and Transport committee, sought to play down fears of traffic problems in an already busy road network. The member for Marden and Yalding told Downs Mail: “You can


16 Malling December 2016


balance an increase in movements with the fact that the park and ride is not there any more. “Whilst the store will bring some


more traffic, we have got some money to improve that junction.” Kent County Council had of-


fered some observations about traffic build-ups in the area, but withdrew its concerns when


pledgeswere made to provide bus routes to and from the store. Arriva will operate the services


to stops on the Bearsted Road on the existing 333 and 334 services. Cllr Burton said that shoppers tended to use the nearest and most convenient food store to where they live, but could see customers coming from areas such as Vinters


Park, Penenden Heath and Grove Green, which already has a large and popularTesco. TheWaitrose will sitalongsideother


chains such as Next and Hilton at EclipsePark. Other sites considered included


BalticWharfonStPeter’s Streetandthe empty Royal Mail sorting office site in central Maidstone, althoughnonewas thought to offer the same as the site which is owned by Gallagher Proper- ties. A Waitrose spokesman said: “The proposed food store serves a different catchment to Allington Park, and analysis suggests there would be lim- ited overlap of trade between the two locations.” It is estimated that construction will


take nine months, plus a two-month internal fit-out.


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