News


Arson is suspected in £20k strawbale blaze


A LARGE stack of straw bales worth many thousands of pounds has been destroyed in a suspected arson attack. Flames about 40ft high were visi-


ble for miles as the blaze took hold in Broomfield onAugust 11. Resident Philip Highland (pic-


tured), who lives in nearby Park Barn Road, saw a brown Cherokee jeep parked next to the bales min- utes before the fire at about 8pm. He said: “Therewas no firewhen


itwas there andtherewas amassive blazewhen it had gone. It’s difficult to imagine thiswould have gone up in flameswithout some help.” Mr Highland keeps an eye out in


the area because of the unrelenting problemof fly-tipping, especially in Park Barn Road and Burberry Lane. Farmer Guy Eckley, of Staple-


hurst, said there were up to 550 bales of strawfroma 45-hectare cut, stacked just yards fromthe road. Despite recent heavy rain, the core and sides of the stack would have


remained dry. He added: “It is hard to see howit


could have gone up on its own at night. It is such a terrible shame. There is a shortage of everything, in- cluding straw bedding and fodder after the dry summer, and then this happens.” He was unsure of the exact value


of the damage caused by the fire. A large bale of good quality win-


ter wheat straw can cost about £40, which would make this loss as


much as £20,000 plus. MrHighlandsaidthat rural crime,


particularly in Burberry Lane, con- tinueswithout proper enforcement. Locals say that despiteMaidstone


Borough Council’s recent claims of a crackdown on illegal dumping in the area, it has gotworse. CouncillorGill Fort has fought for


years to have CCTV put in because MBChas failed to catch the culprits, enforce the lawand bring the guilty to court.


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Defibrillator is installed as a


villagelife-saver LIFE-saving equipment has been installed in Langley for use by res- idents and themany football teams who use the village playing field. The parish council has funded a


defibrillator, which has been at- tached to an outside wall at Lang- ley village hall, in Horseshoes Lane, so that it is accessible 24 hours a day. VillagerWendy Young, a former


Langley parish councillor and local campaigner, said: “It is very im- portant that everyone in the area is aware of its presence so that in the event of an incident that requires a defibrillator it can be accessed quickly.” The availability of Automated External Defibrillators


(AED)


makes the treatment within the first fourminutes of an attackmore likely, increasing the chances of survival by up to 70%. National body, the Resuscitation


Council says: “Public access defib- rillation is a highly effective strat- egy for patients with sudden cardiac arrest due to ventricular fibrillation who arrest in public placeswhereAEDs are installed.”


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