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News House firemurder case


AMANarrested in connectionwith a house fire inWestMalling, inwhich awoman died and a childwas injured, has pleaded not guilty to charges ofmurder and attemptedmurder. Simon Childs (52) entered the pleas via video link atMaidstone Crown


Court onDecember 19, 2018,when he deniedmurdering hismother-in- law, Jacqueline Allen, in a fire at the family home. Appearing fromElmley Prison wearing a khaki jumper, he spoke only


to enter a plea and confirmhis name, date of birth and nationality. A provisional trial date has been set for May 1 before a High Court


judge.Mr Childs was remanded in custody. Grandmother Jacqueline Allen (65) died following the fire in Spitfire


Road on Saturday,November 17, and a childwas treated for a leg injury and smoke inhalation. A dog also died in the blaze.


Landsearchcost ‘highest inUK’


LAND search charges for busi- nesses by the borough council are the highest in the country and are discouraging firms from setting up in the area, claims an expert. Figures released by small busi-


ness campaigner Ibrahim Dogus (pictured) show prospective pur- chasers are charged £351.80 (resi- dents are charged £170.60) by Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council (TMBC). But Wakefield in West York-


shire levies the same fee of £44 for residents as it does for businesses, as do 267 other local authorities. Research by Mr Dogus, chair-


man of Labour Party-backed SME4Labour, shows TMBCis one of only nine councils charging companies double the amount residents pay. The national average charge for


businesses is only slightly higher than that for residents – £146 comparedwith £132. Mr Dogus said: “Many busi-


nesses are at breaking point in the current climate. Firms should be offered incentives to open new premises and bring employment to areas instead of being pe- nalised by an additional tax. “There is no reason why there


cannot be a standardised fee charged for commercial searches. IfWakefield is charging £44,why can other local authorities not fol- lowsuit? The information is read- ily available to councils and should not cost any more to pro- vide, it’s disgraceful.” TMBC Liberal Democrat mem-


ber Timothy Bishop said: “The charges are in line with central authorities’


recommendations and are considered to be reason-


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Malling January 2019 5


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