News


Top 80s bands to share stage


TWO 1980s groups will share the stage for the first time since Live Aid this year – andMaidstone is on their blockbuster tour. Simple Minds and The Pre-


tenders will play at the Kent Event Centre on Saturday,August 4. When the two last performed to-


gether, their singerswere amarried couple, though Simple Minds’ Jim Kerr and the Pretenders’ Chrissie Hynde divorced in 1990. Simple Minds’ playlist will in-


clude hits such as Don’t You (For- get About Me) and Alive and Kicking. The Pretenders are best known for their epic I’ll Stand By You and early hit Brass In Pocket.


Driving ban


A MAIDSTONE woman has been handed an 18-month ban for drink- driving at twice the legal limit. Fern Toni Richardson (28), of


Elmstone Lane, pleaded guilty to drink-driving when she appeared beforemagistrates in the town. Aswell as the ban, shewas fined


£450 andmust pay £85 in costs and a victimservices surcharge of £45. Richardson was caught driving


in Bedford Place on November 11 and gave a breath test of 77 micro- grammes of alcohol in 100 millil- itres of breath. The legal limit is 35.


downsmail.co.uk


Relief roadsummitnow delayedbytwomonths


APEACE summit to resolve a long- running squabble between Kent CountyCouncil andMaidstoneBor- ough Council over a relief road for thecountytownhasbeenpostponed until thismonth at the earliest. Leaders of the two authorities


vowed tomeet at the recent rally in support of a Leeds-Langley by-pass onNovember 2. The leaders andchief executives of


the two authorities agreed to come together under the auspices of local MPs Helen Whately and Helen Grant. Acancelledmeeting inNovember


was followed by a rescheduled date in December, but this was also put back until the newyear. In themeantime, there has been a


testy exchange of letters between KCC andMBC over their respective positions, both past and future. MBC Liberal Democrat leader


FranWilsonwrote to herKCCcoun- terpart, PaulCarter, “concerned this (the meeting) will prove to be a fu- tile exercise going over old grounds for disagreement yet again”. Relief roadcampaigner Jenny Sut- ton express her “great disappoint-


ment” at the authorities’ decision to postpone the meeting until January 2018. She said: “We were all hoping


they’d give us a present for Christ- mas but it seems not, sadly. It’s a great disappointment.” Mrs Grant had told 400 local peo-


ple at the relief road rally that she was prepared to lock the squabbling sides in a roomuntil theywere able to thrash out some sort of a compro- mise plan for a link between the A274 and theA20.


A spokesman for Mrs Whately


said: “Unfortunately, it just wasn’t possible to get a date in December that fitted into everyone’s diary.” County councillor Gary Cooke


(pictured), who organised Novem- ber’s publicmeeting at theMercure (Great Danes) Hotel, said KCC – which is the highways building au- thority – was committed to taking the process forward. He said that around £200,000 had


been earmarked in the coming budget to carry out surveys so that a business case for a relief road can be made. KCC had been hoping that MBC


could have insisted on developer contributions towards the relief road project but members of the ruling LibDems decided against this. TheMaidstone Local Planwill see


around 17,600 new homes built in the borough and a further 7,000 im- posed by central government. MBC says that it can mitigate


against the expected massive surge in traffic numbers by some modest road improvements and by encour- aging people to take buses, walk or cycle.


Town top in county for drugs arrests


MAIDSTONE is the number one town in Kent for drug arrests, ac- cording to newly published fig- ures. The Kenward Trust charity –


which helps peoplewith drugs and alcohol issues – has revealedthat be- tween 2013 and 2016, 517 people across Kentwere detained. Of those, 143 were in the county


town, the Freedom of Information Act request showed. Margate had 112, Chatham


ranked third in the tablewith 93 ar- rests andGillinghamfourthwith 88


detentions. InCanterbury, 81 people were detained. Chief Inspector for partnership


and communities at Kent Police, Tim Cook, said: “Officers do inter- venewhen someone is suspected of possessingdrugs andwill look to re- solve the situation using the most appropriate outcome.” Kenward Trust spokesman John


Shanley said: “A lot of this iswhere there are high volumes of footfall, like inMaidstone. “There’s also a nightlife culture in the High Street, which can see peo-


ple focus around drink and drugs. Drugs like ketamine are quite popu- lar with young people at the mo- ment, as well as stimulant drugs, because they generate more en- ergy." Aspokesman forKent Police said


that active enforcement means that “themore you go looking, themore you'll find.” Chief Insp Cook said: “Although


the FOI figures only show arrests, for someminor possession offences, a street caution or diversionary op- tion such as a drug intervention pro-


gramme or referral to drug treat- ment agencies, is bothmore propor- tionate andmore effective at dealing with the overall issue and people’s addiction problems. "It also means police custody


areas are kept free so they can be used to detain suspects who pose a greater threat of risk and harm to the community. "Recent stop and search reforms


have led to a reduction nationally in the number of people stopped, searched and arrested for a variety of offences."


Lions’ hi-vis gift will help keep pupils safe


MAIDSTONE Lions Club had great pleasure present- ing Allington Primary Schoolwith hi-visibility jack- ets so that classes can be seen and stay safewhen out and about. Lions Derek Ransley (left) andMalcolmLuxton


presented the gift to head teacherMrs Carolyn Howson. The tunicswill be used for outside school trips


and got their first outing on December 18when youngsters attend a carol service at StNicholas Church in Allington. Lions president Derek Ransley said: “Itwaswon-


derful to be doing something to keepMaidstone’s youngsters safe.”


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Maidstone East January 2018


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