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downsmail.co.uk Farmworkers plan ‘too small’


FARMERS have questioned whether a new government plan to attract fruit pickers to Kent will be enough to halt the decline in seasonalworkers coming to the UK fromabroad.


Between spring 2019 and Decem-


ber 2020, the scheme aims to helpre- duce labour shortages during peak production periods by allowing six- month visas for up to 2,500workers a year. Some workers are now being de-


terred by the high cost of living in the UK, while the agricultural sec- tors in parts of eastern Europe are starting to thrive. The Seasonal AgriculturalWork-


ers’ Scheme,whichwas launched in early September, is supported by MPHelen Whately. But James Smith, of Loddington Farms in Lin- ton, said: “It’s encouraging to see, but in terms or numbers it’s too small for what the industry needs. It’s difficult to get the number of workers thatwe need, andwhenwe do it is even harder to keep them.” Terry Gilham, of Winterwood


Farms in Chart Sutton, which em- ploys 45-50 seasonal pickers and250 full-timers in the pack houses, said: “It is not really enough, since the in-


been harderover the last fewyears to recruit, especially over the last two years, because the EU is pumping money into agricultural projects and work in the countries most of our employees come from. “It doesn’tmake sense for themto


come to England if there is already work at home. We’re very worried aboutnextyear, aswe already have a lot of people saying they have been offered jobs back home. “We expect about 60% of people


to have come back this year, but next year we fear the number will be much lower. The pilot scheme will help, but it’s just at the starting point.” Faversham&Mid KentMPHelen


dustry needs between 80-100,000 each year.Only about one in 100 on- line applications comes from local people. “There is awhole range of factors and I don’t think Brexit is entirely to


MP could lose seat if changesgo ahead


FAVERSHAM and Mid Kent MP Helen Whately, right, is facing the prospect of losing herparliamentary seat after proposed boundary changeswere passed. Her constituency, which she has


represented since 2015, is to be split into three, with other areas taking up its constituent parts. The change is part of government plans to cut the number ofMPs from650 to 600, but the plans could come in for fierce opposition from Labour and campaignerswho feel it is unfair. The Boundary Commission for


England said its final report on Sep- tember 10 took account ofmore than 35,000 comments fromthe public. A spokesman for Mrs Whately


(pictured) said: “The Favershamand Mid Kent constituency will be di- vided into three under the current plans. But these are still only plans andnothing has yet been decided. It would have to go to a vote in parlia- ment and that is not necessarily going to happen either.” The Canterbury constituency


would be re-cast as Favershamand Canterbury,


represented by


Labour’s Rosie Duffield. If selected, MrsWhately could contest the seat at the 2022 general election.


34 Oxford-educated Mrs Whately


was recently given the vice-chair of theConservative Partywith respon- sibility forwomen. If the commission’s plans are


passed, Jeremy Corbyn would see his Islington North patch split up and former Brexit minister David Davis’ Haltemprice and Howden constituency phased out. Former foreign secretary Boris Johnson might see his Uxbridge and Ruislip constituency slipinto amoreLabour leaning district. The shadow cabinet office minis-


ter, Cat Smith, said the final recom- mendations amounted to “an undemocratic power grab”.


Maidstone Weald October 2018


blame, either. According to what we’re hearing, there are recruitment problems in Spain, Germany, Hol- land and Portugal, too.” Robert Pascall, of Clock House Farms in Coxheath, said: “It has


Whately said: “We’ve been arguing for twoyears that labour shortagesare holding back Kent’s thriving fruit in- dustry. The pilotwill provide just a small proportion of the seasonal workforce needed, but it should lay thefoundations foramoresubstantial scheme in future.”


NeighbourhoodWatch


Working to reduce crime – Call local police or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.


ABRICK shed at a farmwas bro- ken into in Hermitage Lane, BoughtonMonchelsea.AKarcher pressurewasher, a leaf blower and twoHonda strimmerswere stolen. Ahousewas broken into inAd-


bertDrive,East Farleigh.Car keys and a vehiclewere stolen. A Ford Mondeo parked in a


driveway was broken into in Whitebeam Drive, Coxheath. Climbing equipmentwas stolen. Someone tried to break into a


garage inWest Street,Hunton. A Fiat 500was broken into on a


driveway in Station Road, Head- corn.Awallet containing cash and personal itemswas stolen. Amanwas seen breaking into a


house in LenhamRoad,Ulcombe. He isdescribedas inhis 30s,white, about 6ft tall and stocky build.He left in a dark blue Ford Fiestawith a female said to be in her 20s, white, slim build, around 5ft 2in, with shoulder-length black hair. The roofwas slashedon anAudi


A3 convertibleparkedinHawken- bury Road,Headcorn. A parked vehicle was keyed in


High Street,Headcorn. Avehiclewas stolen in Lenham Road,Ulcombe.


Ahousewas bro-


ken into inWheeler Street, Headcorn. A man’s gold and silver watch, two otherwatches, a sapphire and dia- mond ring, a safe and spare keys for an Audi Q5 and VW Caddy van are allmissing. Fuel was stolen from a Honda


Civic parkedin the roadinHamp- stead Lane, Nettlestead. The rear windscreenwas also smashed. Someone damaged a door and


removed a padlock from an out- side electricity box inTheCockpit, Marden. A white Boardman bicycle and


a white Cuda bicycle was stolen froma garden inCranhamSquare, Marden. Five parked vehicles were bro-


ken into and their catalytic con- verters stolen in Collier Street, Marden. A shed at a house was broken


into in Tilden Lane,Marden. A grey Excel 240 inflatable boat


was stolen from its moorings in Lees Road, Yalding. A black Vauxhall Corsa parked


in the road had both number plates stolen in Maidstone Road, Nettlestead.


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