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downsmail.co.uk Town air ‘worse than London’


THE government could be facing court action in the European Court of Justice for failing to meet air pollution limits.


And with the busiest transport corridors from Europe, Kent and specifically Maidstone is at the cen- tre of consistent breaches of EU law as the air quality crisis looms large, causing fog and notching up alarming new fatality figures, ac- cording to Green MEP for the south east, Keith Taylor. He has slammed the govern- ment’s lack of action as the EU “prepares to escalate action against the UK for breaching air quality laws”. In November, Maidstone Greens installed “guerrilla” monitoring stations around Maidstone, with four out of five locations breaching legal air pollution limits. Upper Stone Street was a stag-


gering two-and-a-half times over the legal limit, making it worse than central London, while other


Three years off the road


A MAIDSTONE man has been banned from driving for three years after admitting he was over the drink limit while at the wheel. Martin Cizmar, from Queens


Road, was sentenced at Mid Kent Magistrates’ Court on January 11 for driving his Peugeot 206 in Westree Court, Maidstone, with ex- cess alcohol in his body. The court heard he gave a breath


test of 66 microgrammes of alcohol in 100ml of breath, when the legal limit is 35microgrammes. As well as the three-year driving


ban, Cizmar was ordered to pay a £150 fine, £85 costs and a £30 victim surcharge.


Boozing ban


A 22-YEAR-OLD man from Maidstone will spend the next 18 months off the road after receiving a driving ban in court. Bradley Holloway, from Aving-


ton Close, was sentenced on Janu- ary 27 at Mid Kent Magistrates’ Court. He pleaded guilty to drink driv-


ing on January 12 in a Fiat Punto in Lucerne Street, Maidstone. He gave a breath test of 66mg of alcohol in 100ml of breath. The legal limit is 35mg. As well as the ban, magistrates


fined him £130 and ordered him to pay £85 costs and a £30 victim sur- charge.


Formore local news


www.downsmail.co.uk 24


Maidstone March 2017 Motorist, 21, back in court


A 21-year-old from Maidstone has been banned from the road for more than two years and ordered to perform 200 hours of commu- nity service after being caught driving while disqualified. Billy Lee Draper, of Oak Trees, admitted the offence and also driving a Ford Mondeo without insurance in CumberlandAvenue, Maidstone, onAugust 31. He was handed the service order and a 28-month driving ban at Medway Magistrates’ Court on February 2. He must also pay £85 costs and an £85 victim surcharge.


Apple pie on the menu at quiz


MAIDSTONE Mencap members will be dishing up food for thought at their annual Apple Pie Quiz on Saturday, March 11, at Cobtree Hall, School Lane. Tickets cost £6, which will in- clude apple pie, and teams should


be a maximum six to eight people – call Rita on 07790 643218. The group is holding a jumble


and nearly new sale on Saturday, March 25 at the same venue. Entry is 50p and refreshments will be available. Contact 01622 892433.


done about it.” He understands the latest EU re-


hotspots included the town centre gyratory and Buckland Hill. In Maidstone, 5.4% of deaths are


now attributable to air pollution, says Mr Taylor. The latest EU review shows Britain in breach of vital EU nitro-


gen dioxide limits since 2010, and London overshooting its whole 2017 allocation in the first five days of the year. Mr Taylor says: “Air pollution


levels in Maidstone are the same as in central London, yet little is being


view could result in court action if the Government fails to send a sat- isfactory response to the findings. Mr Taylor, a vocal air quality campaigner, added: “The failure highlighted by the European Com- mission review is as much moral as it is legal. “Ministers have displayed an ex- tremely concerning attitude of in- difference towards their duty to safeguard the health of British citi- zens.” He added: “That the European Commission is having to hold to account this government for a pub- lic health crisis that costs the British public more than £20bn a year is a shameful indictment of the Conservatives' irresponsible and deadly apathy.”


Hospital needs your green-fingered talents


MAIDSTONE Hospital is looking for green-fingered volunteers to help make-over some of the courtyard gardens for patients. Visitors will also be able to use


the outside spaces, which provide a great place to relax, think and get some fresh air. Volunteer services co-ordinator Anne-Marie Stevens said: “We are hoping to work on several of the small gardens at the hospital and it would be great to have some members of the local community to lend a hand. They don’t need to be experienced gardeners as they will be working with hospital estate’s staff, and we will provide all tools and equipment.” Tasks are likely to include


One of the hospital gardens that could get amakeover for patients


digging, pruning, propagating plants and flowers, watering duties and using battery-powered tools. Anyone who would like to be part


of the team can visit www.jobs.nhs.uk with the job reference: 359-VOL4620 or call Anne-Marie on 01622 22471.


Festive drinker


A MAIDSTONE man who admit- ted driving his car in the town while over the drink-drive limit has been banned from the road for 20 months and fined £700. The court heard Temir Albay (46)


was stopped by police driving his Vauxhall Movano on Christmas Day in Royal Engineers Road. The driver, from Buckland Hill,


gave a breath test of 84micro- grammes of alcohol in 100millili- tires of breath. The legal limit is 35microgrammes. Mid Kent magistrates handed


Albay the ban and the fine on Janu- ary 13 and also ordered him to pay £85 costs and a £70 victim sur- charge.


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