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Virgin Media is fined formess


VIRGIN Media has been fined more than £14,000 for disruption and damage caused in its laying of broadband cables in Bearsted. The work, carried out by contrac-


tor McNicholas, started in May and has prompted a hail of complaints. Residents say damage has been


done to property, phones cut off and a water pipe burst during the na- tionwide “Project Lightning” work. The Bearsted and Thurnham Soci-


ety met with Kent County Council (KCC) for a briefing. As well as being fined by the council for contractual breaches,we understand there has been at least one personal injury claim relating to Grove Green. The society is concerned that safe working practices are maintained and that proper signs and secure barriers are used.Members also re- quested minimal damage to prop- erty and the proper reinstatement of footpaths. They also want Virgin Media to


accept liability for all damage and for its complaints line to be free and manned by competent operatives. However, the Bearsted and Thurnham Society suggests that KCC“holds the key” to the working standards of Virgin’s contractors as it issues the permits.


AKCCspokesman confirmed that


Virgin Media had been fined for breaching its obligations. He added: “KCC Streetworks


team monitor all utilities working on the highway through the Kent Per- mit Scheme and New Roads and Streetworks Act. “Virgin Media have been working


in Bearstead and have been fined by KCC for non-compliance and breaches of permitting conditions.” Downs Mail approached Virgin


Media for a comment about the fine but the company did not respond. But an earlier statement – released shortly after Virgin was forced to suspend work – conceded the com- pany had to make “improvements” in working practices. It added: “We have taken steps to


ensure that once the work restarts, it is carried out with the highest stan- dards of professionalism.”


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We offffer sensitive, constru approach to rre Muck-spreading season over


A SIGH of relief will go up from many as Kent approaches the end of the sewage spreading season. The operation has been a feature


of the farming calendar for decades – but it is the smell of today’s various organic soil improvers that never fails to cause complaints. Residents in Bearsted reported particularly bad odours. North Downs farmer Kevin Attwood said muck-spreading – fromJuly to September – is a sustainableway to deal withwaste. He said: “Farmers don’t go out of


theirway to create a nuisance. As a societywe have rightly decided not to pollute our seas with sewage with outfalls any longer andwe have new recycling targets. Farming now plays an increasing role in helping


society achieve these targets.” Most organicwaste also travels


less than 15 miles fromthe nearest sewage works before being incorporated back into the soil. In the local area, farmers use:


poultry manure; paperwaste frommills; compost fromcouncil brown bins; heat-treated human sewage; waste gypsum. Mr Attwood, who farms 4,500


acres of arable land, said: “They all have an aroma. Nevertheless, farmers do all they can to incorporatewastewithin 24 hours, and if theweather is fine the smell lifts quite quickly, whereas if it rains it can linger. Somewaste contractors also use “perfume” fans to mask the smell.”


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