downsmail.co.uk


Rehab trust’s charity award


THE Kenward Trust has been named Kent’s Charity of the Year. The Yalding-based rehabilitation service picked up the top title and a first in the Care category at a pres- entation ceremony at the Mercure Great Danes Hotel in Holling- bourne.


Speaking after the Kent Charity


Awards ceremony, the Trust’sCEO David Philpott said: “For nearly 50 years the Kenward Trust has been providing residential rehabilitation services. To have this kind of work, which is often seen as unglam- orous, recognised sends a very pos- itive message to our staff who work tirelessly in challenging situations. “We are overwhelmed to have


achieved Charity of the Year.” The trust provides residential re- habilitation programmes for alco- hol and drug misuse. It also runs outreach educational programmes in schools and prisons.


BMWarrest


ADRIVER has been arrested at the wheel of a stolenBMW, police have reported. Kent Police Roads Policing Unit


(RPU) said the motorist was ar- rested in the early hours of March 31 in Maidstone.


News


Lorry fine brings hope of ban being enforced


A FOREIGN lorry was stopped at the gates of Leeds Castle, leading to fresh hope in the village that the lorry ban might finally be imple- mented. The HGV stopped on March 16


hadAustrian plates on the container and Czech plates on the cab. Kent Police officers in a van and


one on a motorcycle stopped the driver, who was fined £50 for ex- ceeding theweight limit. The road through Leeds has had a


lorry ban – designed to prevent any vehicle over 17 tonnes entering the B2163 – inplace for several years, but it has rarely been enforced by police. Zayla Ralph wrote on Facebook:


“At last! It is so annoying – I had a Polish driver shout at me for being in his way when he was driving through, andmanya time I have fol- lowed them through (Leeds) and they are not stopping at the farms on this road either. They've just have carried on over to the Heath Road.” Another villager said: “If it means


the police are finally doing some- thing, then hurrah! But if it’s just a


gesture once in a while, then the lor- ries will be trundling through every day like they have been for years, de- spite the lorry ban.” Local county councillor Gary


Cooke recently held a meeting with Chief Constable Alan Pughsley ask- ing for his officers to fulfil their obli- gation to enforce the ban. Cllr Cooke told a residents’ meet-


ing in Otham: “I was assured that more will be done.” Ukip spokesman Eddie Powell,


who lives off the A20, said: "It's funnyhowGary managed to get the police to do something when we're a fewweeks from the county council elections in May. “With respect to Gary, he's had


years to do this and yet it's only hap- pening now. Funny that.” A Kent Police spokesman said:


"The weight limit is 17 tonnes and the lorry was about 40 tonnes. The driverwas fined £50.” Leeds resident and Maidstone borough councillor Gill Fort said: “A £50 fine is no deterrent. The enforce- ment has to be done by police but they are so short-staffed.”


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*From the same key


Maidstone Weald April 2017


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