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downsmail.co.uk Police target parking at schools


SCHOOLS in the Malling area are being targeted in an effort to persuade parents to park safely when dropping off their children for classes.


Operation Cactus is an initiative


being run by PCSOs Joanne Tiller and Ross McMillan, with support from Tonbridge and Malling Bor- ough Council’s parkingwardens. Posters have been put up at St


Katherine’s School and Nursery in Snodland as part of the scheme. Other schools in the area experi- encing problems such as those in Roberts Road and at Ryarsh are also being visited in a visual show of support for parking controls. PCSOMcMillan said: “Some par-


ents simply do not think about the dangers they are creating for chil- dren, including their own, by pulling up in the road or not park- ing safely. We are helping traffic wardens bring home themessage.” The project is being run until the


summer holidays and will resume in September.


record event GARDENS opened by families in West Malling over a weekend raised a record £5,724 for charity. Peter Cosier, who was one of


ing issues have been identified have been selected for attention during this campaign. “The aimis to raise awareness of


how important it is to park safely and legally around schools.” Aylesford MP Tracey Crouch


said: “While I appreciate it is not al- ways possible for children to walk to school and parents might need to park nearby, I would hope that they do so safely and legally. “Initiatives that prevent danger-


ous parking are very welcome, es- pecially if it reminds people of their responsibilities to protect children during school drop-off and pick-up times. “Iwill continue toworkwith the


Andy Edwards, head of technical


services for Tonbridge andMalling Borough Council, added: “Our parking teamis pleased to support


our local PCSOs in their campaign to deter irresponsible parking out- side schools. “Schools where persistent park-


authorities on both prevention and enforcement measures so that our children can go to and fromschool safely.”


Open gardens’ Campaign aims to cut underage drinking


RETAILERS in Snodlandwere given a helping hand to drive home themes- sage that alcohol won’t be sold to those under-age. The Snodland Community Alcohol


those to open his garden for the National Garden Scheme on Sun- day, June 3, said: “The town was packed with visitors and many took the chance to read the town’s historic Blue Plaques.” Other gardens opened to the


public included Town Hill Cot- tage, Abbey Brewery Cottage, Went House, Lucknow, Brome House, 2 New Barns Oasts and 1 and 2 New Barns Cottages, which also provided refreshments. Donations from the NGS open


garden scheme go to charities. This year they include Hospice UK, Marie Curie, the Carers Trust, MS Society, Parkinson’s UK and We AreMacMillan Cancer Support.


Partnership (CAP) was outside the Co-Op in the High Street onMay 31 to raise awareness of their work to reduce drinking among under-18s. PCSO Ross McMillan was at the


event and believes the CAP has been hugely successful in Snodland. He said: “Anti-social behaviour


prompted by alcohol was a problem here, but it is now the exception rather than the rule.” CAP project manager Gillian Pow-


ell (pictured right), lives at St Peter’s Village, and was also there with CAP member John Shanley (centre), proj- ect manager from the Kenwood Trust. She said: “This is a collaborative effort that aims, with the support of licensed premises’ owners and par-


ents, to change attitudes to drinking and help young people to avoid drinking toomuch or too soon.” She believes attitudes among the


young are beginning to change,with the fear of being seen drunk on so- cial media, a decreasing interest in alcohol among the young and the success of the national Challenge 25


initiative, which requires anyone under 25 buying alcohol to provide proof of age on request. “The campaign is working well in


Snodland, andwe hope ourworkwill help this to continue.” The initiative is backed by Ton-


bridge andMalling Council and KCC Trading Standards.


Drug dealer came knocking during raid


A HEROIN dealer from East Malling has been jailed after knocking on the door while police searched an address inMaidstone. Michael Dunn, of Elm Crescent,


East Malling, was in possession of heroinwith a street value of almost £3,000 and a lock knife when he was arrested. After being found guilty of pos-


session of heroin with intent to supply and possessing a bladed ar-


8 Malling June 2018


ticle in a public place atMaidstone CrownCourt on ThursdayMay 31, the 45-year-old was sentenced to four and a half years in prison. Dunn was arrested when he


knocked on the front door of a house that was being searched by plain-clothes officers in Woollett Street,Maidstone. When the officer answered the


door, Dunn appeared startled and ran off towardsCounty Road – and


was seen rolling a package on the floor. When he was arrested, the knife


and £700were found in his pocket, and the packagewas found to con- tain 27.6g of heroin, which had an estimated street value of up to £2,760. Chief Inspector Mark Hedges


said: “This was a large amount of heroin in the possession of a drug dealerwho came toMaidstone also


armedwith a lethalweapon. “When he called at the address


he will no doubt have been sur- prised when the door was an- swered by one ofmy officers. “A lengthy spell in prison will


protect the public from this indi- vidual and will send out the mes- sage to drug dealers that my officers can appear when least ex- pected and bring them swiftly to justice.”


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Almost 20% of Brits fear a trip to the Optician


Voted the UK’s best Optometrist, Alisdair Buchanan has been testing eyes for nearly 20years and has looked after many nervous clients. He tells us how he can help the 20% of us who dread going to the opticians.


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