News News
Fraud arrest
VOLUNTEER Kent Police officers have assisted with the arrest of a man from Essex over a suspected valeting fraud inMaidstone. Detectives were called on Octo-
ber 13 to reports of a suspicious in- cident at a supermarket in Tovil. Officers from the Kent Special
Constabulary arrested Richard Lyttle (50), fromBrentford. District Chief Inspector Mark
Hedges said: “The special consta- bles are a very effective team and work closely with local officers to keep our communities safe.” Mr Lyttle was subsequently
Anotherincursion at Larkfield park
TRAVELLERS have moved back onto a popular park in Larkfield for the second time in six months. The families - in five caravans -
charged with fraud by false repre- sentation and bailed to appear be- foreMaidstoneMagistrates’ Court on October 26.
Flashing case
A HOMELESS man has been ar- rested after complaints of indecent behaviour inMaidstone. Officers were called to Gabriel’s
Hill at 7.30pm on Tuesday, Octo- ber 9, 2018. Timothy Smythe (56), of no fixed
address, was arrested and later charged with indecent exposure, two racially-aggravated public order offences and two public order offences. He was remanded until a later date.
pulled on to Gighill Green in Lunsford Lane on Sunday October ,, releasing dogs on the popular public open space and setting up washing lines within hours. It is un- derstood the fami- lies in- volv ed have been offering tree felling services to residents in the area. Parish council chairman David Thornewell says more has to be done to stop the travelling com- munity running circles around the police and local councils. He says the job ofmoving on trav-
ellers for a second time will run into thousands of pounds The last inci- dent, in early summer, costing the parish council £1,200, with the trav-
School faces the future with newhead teacher
THE governors of Staplehurst School have appointed a newhead teacher, to start early next year. Lucy Davenport will begin her
newrole on February 1, 2019. She will take over fromAmanda
Stevenson, the deputy head, who has been running the school since the resignation of former head Cathy Farthing earlier this year. Miss Davenport has extensive
ellers simply moving on to take up temporary residence elsewhere in the area. He said: “They just seem to be
school leadership experience, hav- ing worked as head teacher of a large primary school in the London area, andmore recently as an execu- tive headteacherwith responsibility for three primary schools in Kent. Chris Roome, chairman of gover-
nors, said: “Following a thorough selection process over two days in September, the governors, with the support of an advisor fromtheLocal Authority, appointed Lucy Daven- port to be the school’s head teacher. “We are delighted that she is join-
doing the rounds. These incidents have affectedWest Malling, forcing the closure of the village hall, and Leybourne, and now they are back in Larkfield. The police told resi- dents that this was a civil trespass when they reported it and that they couldn’t do anything and obviously the council offices were closed be- cause it was the weekend. These travellers know and play the sys- tem.” The council’s legal team served an eviction notice but it took aweek to enforce. Cllr Thornewell held talks with Laddingford Engineering in an effort to increase security further on the public land, near the M20. Valdemar Kalinin (pictured), of
ing our school early in 2019. “Mrs Stevenson will continue to work as our acting head teacher
the National Gypsy-Traveller-Roma Council said recently that local councils must provide designated traveller sites or “tolerated zone” which gypsy convoys can move onto. He said: “It comes down to racial prejudice against this com- munity.”
Ofsted said Staplehurst pupils, pictured here on an adventure trip, receive good personal development
until Miss Davenport takes up her post in February.” The school was inspected by Of-
‘Spooktacular’ at the farm
sted inMay this year andwas given a “requires improvement” rating. It was previously rated “good”. Leadership andmanagementwas
describedas lacking rigour, teaching standards were found wanting and pupil outcomes were not making progress. But the school was praised for its
early years provision, personal de- velopment and studentwelfare. The acting headteacher hadmade
MAKE the most of the October half-term holiday at Kent Life Heritage Farm Park’s Halloween Spooktacular in Maidstone. Brave kids are invited to the vintage village to knock on doors and
many positive changes andachieve- mentwas improving, particularly in year six. Mr Roome told parents after the
discover who – or what – is lurking behind them from October 21-31. The award-winning attraction at Sandling, near Maidstone, has a few
other tricks up its sleeve to turn its usual exhibits into frightening farmhouses and horrifying homes. Youngsters can try pumpkin carving, dressing up and the Ugly Bug Ball. On October 25, there will be more spooky goings-on with Kent Life
5-6pm and, for older visitors, from 7-8pm. If you would like to know more about any of the above, call 01622 763936.
inspection report: “Staplehurst is a school where children come first andwewill continue to strive to en- sure improvement in the quality of educationwe provide.” Staplehurst parish and borough
After Dark, This event includes a spine-chilling tour suitable for under-eights from
councillor John Perry said: “The school is an important part of the community and Iwelcome the new head and look forward to the school going fromstrength to strength.”
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