Maidstone East Edition Maidstone Weald Edition
October 2017 January 2019 Panto ahoy!
Fly-tipping: just one conviction in a year
THE council’s ability to tackle fly-tipping has come under fire after it
admitted it has secured just ONE prosecution in 2018. cameras would help secure convic- tions and “will soon send a mes- sage out to offenders”. Robin Edwards, regional direc-
THE cast of Cinderella, which is to be staged at the Hazlitt Theatre in Maid- stone, took to the River Medway to launch this year's panto. On board The Kentish Lady were national treasure Rustie Lee (Fairy Godmother), former EastEnder Ste- fan Booth (Prince Charming), Eliza- beth Bright (Cinderella), Craig Anderson (Buttons) and, pictured, Stephen Richards and Adam Bor- zone (Ugly Sisters) . They were greeted by pupils from
Maidstone Borough Council
says it issued 34 fixed penalty no- tices for fly-tipping and waste car- rying, and seized six vehicles, two of which were crushed. Seven warnings were given. But the
South Borough Primary School and members of the media. The panto runs from December 1-31. For tick- ets go to
www.hazlitttheatre.co.uk.
CCTV call in a bid to stop fly-tipping
Country Land and Business Asso- ciation (CLA) said the council must secure more convictions if a deter- rent message is to be effective. Borough councillor Eddie Pow- ell said the use of mobile, covert
tor of CLA South East, which rep- resents farmers, landowners and rural businesses, said: “Fly-tipping is a considerable problem in Maid- stone, with a total of 1,041 incidents reported in 2017/18, well up on the 973 reported in 2016/17 and 796 in 2015/16. “The true figures will be even
CALLS for the installation of CCTV cameras to prevent fly-tipping on a country road have been made by the local borough councillor.
Burberry Lane, near Leeds and Broomfield, has been targeted by waste dumpers for years, but in re- cent months, the problem has be- come more acute. Constructionwaste, rubble, hard
nearby, more than a year after it was dumped and set on fire. The church car park has also seen
many instances of illegal dumping. But it is a problem in many rural
core, windows and household fur- niture is left illegally – often strewn in the middle of the road. Cllr Gill Fort said: “Every month
School opens new library
we are having toilets, sinks and construction waste dumped in the village, specifically in Burberry Lane, where we are now thinking of installing cameras on private land, to oversee the problem area.” A recent event in Burberry Lane
saw a caravan burned out while a torched car remains on a footpath
YOUNGSTERS at Staplehurst School have bucked a county-wide trend by expanding their library facilities. Pupils at the community primary enlisted the help of children’s author
tive by the Environment Agency and the Driver and Vehicle Stan- dards Agency to clamp down on
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Nick Carter to open their converted classroom. The school’s literacy leader, Sally Seymour, said“Wewantallour children
to readwell,with confidence and
pleasure.Nowwe can offer themawide range of books to appeal to all tastes, develop a life-long love of reading and build a solid foundation for learning.”
areas including Langley, Otham and Kingswood. Water Lane in Bearsted and Pilgrims Way have also been targeted recently. Last year, Maidstone Borough Council cleared 911 cases of fly-tip- ping and this year more than 163 have been recorded since April. The approaching darker evenings will prompt a rise in illegal tipping. Cllr Fort welcomed a joint initia-
higher than these official statistics, as many incidents go unreported. “While it is encouraging to see
unlicensed waste carriers, but be- lieves the cost to small firms of dis- posing of construction waste at a transfer station is proving a deter- rent that is costing councils more. Cllr Fort made her remarks as
one of the borough’s closest trans- fer stations at North Farm, Tun- bridge Wells, announced it will be closed for 10weeks. She added: “If you go along the
MBC taking direct action in some cases, it is vital that more prosecu- tions are brought forward to act as a deterrent. Councils must send a message to fly-tippers that they will face strict consequences. Imposing and enforcing stiffer penalties which better reflect the seriousness of the crime is crucial, along with seizing vehicles used to fly-tip.” Cllr Powell said covert cameras
line of increasing fines, they have to be enforced. A reduction in the charge or offering it free may have the desired similar effect.” Athree-monthly litter pick on the mile-long stretch of road through Leeds village produces an average 32 black sacks of rubbish.
can be used for up to 28 days. Leeds borough councillor Gill Fort has been campaigning for cameras at the Burberry Lane hotspot for years. She said: “The trouble is that it is just not enforced.” An MBC spokesman said: “To
01622 690290 YOUR LOCAL PROPERTY EXPERT
maidstone@martinco.com 23 Pudding Lane • Maidstone • Kent
parish councillor, says teaching children about social responsibility and the issue of litter in schools will help take the issue off the streets. She believes with every household receiving a weekly refuse collection service, there is no excuse for litter being thrown from vehicles or dumped in the road.
proceed to a prosecution there needs to be solid evidence linking the waste back to the fly-tipper. Depending on the type of waste, it can be difficult to establish this. “Fixed penalty notices have a fi-
nancial impact on fly-tippers and are a means of instant punishment. The money raised is used to fund resources including CCTV and clean-up costs.”
visit
www.amiga.co.uk or call 08000 199622
visit
www.amiga.co.uk or call 08000 199622 Home Alarms supplied and fitted
Home Alarms supplied and fitted Cllr Fort, who also serves as a
Maidstone & Malling’s No. 1 newspaper No. 246
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No. 261
Kate, 107, dies News
KATE Hart, a resident at an old people’s home in Bearsted, has died aged 107, her son David has disclosed.
HELEN Whately asked the government to halt the borough’s housing scheme.
MP’s Local Plan bid
Teacher’s night life Plans for Dr Nigel
Let therebelight NEWlighting has invigorated an ancient church…and exposed its worn carpets.
3
5 4
AS FIRE chiefs recruit officers for Headcorn and Marden, meet Leanne – a teacher by day and a firefighter by night.
Jason Donovan date
THE former Neighbours star brings his show to the Hazlitt Theatre next May.
Village fete appeal
PLEA to save popular village fete as volunteer numbers dry up. 20
Obituaries Obituaries 24 Parish Councils 34-35
ASH dieback has been discovered in Monks Meadow in Detling; Hollingbourne village fete stall- holder co-ordinator Jean Duffy has resigned; yellow lines are needed for Buffkyn Way, Otham, to allow buses through Imperial Park; rub- bish bins in the sports field in Kingswoodare to be moved over to the picnic area and rear exit.
The Methodist Church in Head- corn has asked for a crash barrier to prevent its wall being dam- aged by vehicles; Parish council- lors in Coxheath have been asked to nominate a new street name for a new development; the parish council and village hall committee in Yalding consider installing CCTV; Kent Highways to repaint white lines on Leeds Road, Langley.
Parish Councils26-30 32
Caravan windows were smashed in Boughton Monchelsea; forklift parts were stolen from a farm in Hunton; cash was stolen from a supermarket in Headcorn; tools were taken from a van in Staple- hurst; a ball bearing was thrown through a window in Loose; jew- ellery and cash were stolen from a house in Sutton Valence.
VEHICLES have been driven over farmland in Lenham, causing damge to crops; an attempted break-in was reported in Detling; a vehicle was vandalised in Bearsted Rd, Weavering; pumpkins were stolen from an allotment in Lenham.
Comment 46-47 Comment 38-39
Crime Reports 30 Crime Reports 35
COUNCIL planners are to consider ways to build homes on parks and play areas.
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THE widow of GP Dr Nigel Minnet will walk the Grand Canyon for charity. 12 Play areas at risk
6
Maidstone & Malling’s No. 1 newspaper
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