downsmail.co.uk


‘Lier police’ contract ceases after TV furore


THEcontract with Maidstone’s lit- terwardens will cease at the end of this month. It follows a meeting with King-


dom Security, a company recently featured in a Panorama investiga- tion into bonus payments that saw wardens in the town briefly sus- pended before being allowed to re- turn to work. Maidstone Borough Council -


which hired the private firm - was blasted by critics after Downs Mail revealed Kingdom derived most of its cash by targeting smokers in Maidstone. The statement read: “Maidstone Borough Council and Kingdom Se- curity have come to a mutual deci- sion not to extend the current contract. Kingdom Security has been providing enforcement serv- ices in relation to littering in the bor- ough since 2011 but this will cease at the end of this month (August).“ The decisionwas made following


a meeting held on August 1. The council’s head of environment and public realm, Jennifer Shepherd, said: “When our contract began


News


MPsigns list of rail demands


MAIDSTONE and Weald MP Helen Grant is among a dozen Kent MPs to sign a “comprehensive” list of demands on government from the new South Eastern rail fran- chise.


In a detailed six-page letter to rail Minister Paul Maynard, 12 Tory MPs have set out their expecta- tions from the franchise – cur- rently out for


consultation – reflecting the huge concerns voiced by thousands of constituents. Mrs Grant said: “We have com-


with Kingdom our focus was very much on targeting littering and irre- sponsible dog ownership. This has been very successful at reducing lit- tering and encouraging people to use litter bins and act responsibly. Our focus has to change and adapt to new challenges we are seeing in the borough.Nowthe contract with Kingdom is coming to an end, we will work to ensure we continue with our enforcement service in a


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way which is flexible but meets the needs of local residents. All options will be explored and that includes retendering for a new enforcement contract or bringing the service in- house.”


Kingdom’s methods came under


close scrutiny in the BBC investiga- tion and led to furious criticism from locals who questioned MBC’s moral responsibilty for taking 50% of the fine cash.


piled a comprehensive document for consideration by government in its deliberations over the forthcom- ing franchise bid for the county. “It covers not only the train oper-


ators, but also issues for Network Rail to address and extends to a de- mand for Crossrail to be extended to Ebbsfleet – a major strategic step for Kent and for Maidstone in par- ticular, as a link to its high speed service from MaidstoneWest. “Together with my Kent col- leagues I will be monitoring this franchise process very carefully.”


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