News
Call to speed up traveller eviction
A MAIDSTONE councillor has called for the law on illegal trav- eller encampments tobe tightened. Cllr Jonathan Purle says tougher
laws are needed to prevent travel- ling families setting up camp with- out landowners’ permission. It follows another illegal encamp-
ment atMaidstone’sMote Park. The situation, involving 14 cara-
vans, began on Monday, August 6, at about 10.40pm. Maidstone Borough Council,
which owns the land, acted swiftly, according to Cllr Purle, to obtain a court order to evict them, but this was did not resolve thematter. Councillor Purle says illegal en-
campments are becoming far too frequent and police are too slow to act, adding: “This keeps happening, like some sort of annual event. “We need the lawto be tightened
tomake it illegal for travellers to set up camp without the landowner’s permission, which would allow the police to step in and arrest them.” The Tory councillor for Bridge
Wardadded: “Whathappensnowis that the council visits the site, tries to find out the identities of the people who have set up the camps and has to go throughthe slowprocess to get rid of them. It delays things.” Neighbours report gateways have
been destroyed and a collection of dogs, vehicles and quad bikes have also assembled. The council also reporteda further
two caravans arrived on site on Monday night (August 13). CllrPurle said: “Alot of anti-social
behaviour builds up in these illegal encampments. The police need to act to stop this and enforce the law. If they domove down the road and pitch up again illegally, the police need to be able to arrest them.” As DownsMailwent to press the
travellers had not moved from the park and the council was consider- ing its options. A spokesman said: “The most likely option, although not confirmed, is to instruct a bailiff to forcibly remove the encamp- ment.”
A show of 30s classics
THE Pasadena RoofOrchestrawill be performing at theHazlitt Theatre on September 8. The orchestra, formed over 50 years ago, specialises in classics fromthe
20s and 30s. They will perform songs including Puttin’ on the Ritz, Sweet Georgia
Brown, The Lullaby of Broadway. The Hazlitt is offering £5 off tickets with the code PASAROOF5, which can be used online or over the phone when calling the Hazlitt box office.
Rogue trader suspect arrested
POLICE have arrested a rogue trader suspected of defrauding aMaid- stone pensioner. On Saturday, August 11, Kent Police were called after a man in his
60s said he had paid a large amount of cash for building work at his home. But he had nowbeen asked towithdrawmoremoney fromhis account. Plain clothes officers went to the house where they later arrested a
48-year-oldman fromCanterbury on suspicion of fraud. He was sub- sequently bailed to return to the police station on Tuesday,August 14.
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