News


downsmail.co.uk Price hike boosts rental sector


SINGLE first-time buyers need to fork outmore than 10 times their annual earnings to get a foot on theMaidstone property ladder, an estate agent has revealed. ClaireHarvey (pictured), a direc-


“Home ownership was the goal


tor at Seekers Homes, says wage rises have failed to keep trackwith soaring house prices, and this dis- parity is changing the way people viewhome ownership. According to the Office of Na-


tional Statistics, the average first- time buyer property in Maidstone costs £220,000 – up £60,000 on the £160,000 price tag of a decade ago. By comparison, average wages


for first-time buyers have increased by little more than £4,000 in the same period, from£17,098 a year to £21,277. “Maidstone first-time buyers


need 10.3 times their annual salary to get on the housing ladder,” said Mrs Harvey, adding that she be- lieved this had prompted “amind- set change”.


Age UK cash THE future of a crucial lifeline for hundreds of disabled people is hanging in the balance as council- lors prepare to inflict swingeing cuts on grants. Maidstone’s Disability Travel


Voucher scheme faces the axe as part of the borough’s wider drive to wring ‘efficiencies’ from its budget. ButDownsMail understands the


move has set the council on colli- sion course with Age UK Maid- stone -


the charity which


administers the £50,000 service on the authority’s behalf. Those applying are unable to use


public bus and train services be- cause they have severe visual, physical ormental impairments, or mobility issues. Successful applicants receive


£70-worth of vouchers, valid for a year, to use with participating taxi and community transport organi- sations.Around 500 people benefit directly from the scheme but sup- porters also point out the funds are “recycled” within the Maidstone economy – providing income for cab companies and transport char- ities. Paul Coles, the charity’s chief ex-


ecutive, said: “We’re currently in talkswith the council.” Maidstone Borough Council had


not commented by the timeDowns Mailwent to press.


4 Maidstone December 2018


of youngsters in the latter half of the 20th century,” she said. “Britain is now changing to a European model, where people rent to early midlife,wait to inheritmoney from their parents, and then buy.” The shift fromproperty purchase


to renting is nothing new. Just under a quarter of Brits owned their own home 100 years ago, while the rest rented. Fifty years ago, homeowners accounted for 46 per cent of the population. Mrs Harvey says the current na-


tional “addiction” to home owner- ship was kick-started in the 1970s and has been fed by successive governments through schemes like council house “right to buy” in the 80s, tax relief on mortgages, relax- ation of mortgage rules in the 90s,


and the recent “help to buy”. “This homeownership thing is


quite a recent phenomenon,” she said. She forecasts that, if current


trends continue, the demand for privately-rented accommodation will continue to grow in the long term. For those first-time buyers with


their hearts set on a place of their own,Mrs Harvey offers hope. She says the rawfigures fromthe


Office of National Statistics do not account for the fact thatmost first- time buyers are coupleswith a joint income, borrowing is cheap with mortgage rates at an all-time low, and 95% “loan to value” first-time buyer mortgages mean it is possi- ble to secure a dreamhomewith as little as a 5%deposit.


Council to cut Shoplifter racially abused guard


A JOBLESS Maidstone woman punched a Morrison’s security guard in the face and screamed racial abuse after stealing ham and cabbageworth £6.50, a court heard. Lori Ring (20), ofOld Tovil Road,


appeared in court on charges of racially aggravatedassault andtheft. SamuelKwabia sawRing stealing


the food items on CCTV and ap- proached her at the doors of the su- permarket in St Saviours Road. Ring proceeded to hitMrKwabia,


leaving himwith a bloody nose and a swollen eye as her boyfriendstood behind her.


Debbie Jones, prosecuting, told


Maidstone Magistrates Court that Ring continued hurling racial abuse such as: “You don’t belong here!” Another of the insults was so of-


fensive,we could not publish it. The court heard: “Lori started to


become physically aggressive to- wardsMr Kwabia after she refused to give back the items and tried to get out of the door, which he was blocking.” The court heard Ring had admit-


ted to police shewas “brought up to be racist” and therefore deemed her behaviour acceptable at the time.


Defending, Keith Middleton said


Ring had been so desperate to feed her family andmoney was tight, so she proceeded to steal food. The court also heard Ring suffers


fromanxiety and depression, and is on medication that sometimes causes violent outbursts. Ring has been out ofwork for two


years, with her last job being a pub potwasher, and liveswith her part- ner, his mother and father, and his two brothers. The defendant pleaded guilty to


both charges and was to be sen- tenced later.


Newest police recruits on parade


OVER40 newofficerswerewelcomed to Kent Police in the largest passing out parade the force has hosted in 20 years. After 19weeks of training, the offi-


cers are now set to start their duties serving the people of Kent. Chief constableAlanPughsleyQPM


and Police and Crime Commissioner Matthew Scott congratulated the re- cruits infront of their friends andfam- ily at the Kent Police Training College, Maidstone, on Friday,November 2. Chief constableAlan Pughsley said:


“Our43 newest recruits are joining an extremely dedicated teamof officers, staff and volunteerswho are focused on protecting our communities and putting victims at the heart of every- thing we do. There has never been a


better time to become a police officer in Kent.” The new recruits are part of an


extra200officerspolicingthe county, funded from an increase in the local council tax precept.


Police and Crime Commissioner


MatthewScott said: “Iwas delighted, alongside the Chief Constable, to launch the force’s recruitment drive back inFebruaryandit isgreat tonow see the campaign bearing fruit”.


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