downsmail.co.uk


Walker confronted by bull faces ‘28-daywait’


WALKER Will Stableford was not sure what shocked himmore – the bull barring the remote country track ahead of him or Kent County Council’s 28-day re- sponse time to shift it. The keen hiker had beenmarch-


ing along the North Downs Way when he was confronted by hun- dreds of kilos of immoveable bovine near the Hollingbourne beauty spot of Eden’s Hole last month. Will (59), from London, was re-


luctant to turn tail and retrace his steps, but the animal, which had sauntered onto the footpath through an open farm gate, re- fused to budge. Will says hewas forcedto scram-


ble over barbedwire, slide down a slope and crash through brambles to circumvent the bull. “I’mawalker not amatador,” he


protested. “I defy anyone to take on an animal like that – he had very sharp horns.


Will Stableford, and left, the bull blocking the path


“Iwas scratchedandtiredby the


time I re-joined the path. Itwas ei- ther that, though, or just stand there until the bullmoved.” But ifWill thought the standoff


was drawn out, the county coun- cil’s response was even more gla- cial. He said: “I rang KCC’s emergency line. They promised they’dsendsomeone to investigate …within 28 days. I’mnot sure the bullwillwait that long.” A KCC statement said: “The breed in question is aWhite Park,


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but the fact that it has horns does notmean it is definitely a bull. “We appreciate thatmanymem-


bers of the public are wary when coming across cattle. It is lawful to keep cattle in fields crossed by public rights ofway. “Bulls may be kept in fields


crossed by public rights ofway, al- though,when over 10months old, onlybullsof anon-dairybreedmay be kept in a field crossed by a pub- lic right of way and they must be accompanied by cows or heifers.”


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999 firefighters FIRE chiefs are looking to recruit part-time firefighters capable of covering Lenham. Successful applicants would be


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years old, have a good level of fit- ness,work or livewithin fivemin- utes of Lenham’s fire station, and be availablewhenthe stationneeds cover. More details and an application


formare available in the job section of the fire service’s website, www.kent.fire-uk.org


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