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downsmail.co.uk


Postworker drove home drunk froma night shift


ROYAL Mail bosses has launched an investigation after a worker was caught twice the legal alcohol limit at thewheel of his car.


Dean English (61) of Cornwall


Close, Shepway, had driven home after a night shift atwork. Hewas pulled over by police in


his blue Ford Fiesta near his home at 6.30am, after he finishedwork. He appeared at Maidstone


magistrates court on February 22, where he admitted being drunk in charge of the vehicle on Sep- tember 20, 2018. English, who has worked at


Royal Mail for more than 30 years, was breathtested at the roadside and later failed a urine testwith a reading of 232mg – the limit is 107mg. Defending, Eleanor Scott


Davies told the court: “Mr Eng- lish knows and admits that drink- ing alcohol all night at work is wrong. “Although he works in the let-


ters and packages section of the Royal Mail, meaning he does not deliver, this has really been a wake-up call for him.” She said her client had not had a drink since before Christmas.


Dean English was ‘foolish’ The court heard English had


changed his shifts to the day time rather than at night, as he “would never drink during the day”. Chairman of the bench,Adrian


Atmore, said: “We see the effects of drink-driving every day, and


half six in the morning is when most people would be driving intowork. “You have not only put your


own life at risk, but also the lives of innocent pedestrians and driv- ers on the road.” English admitted the offences


and was disqualified from driv- ing for 18 months, with a £569 fine. He has been married for 42


years, with two daughters, and has worked at the Royal Mail since 1987. Speaking at his home after the


case, he admitted that he had been “foolish”. When we asked if his employ-


ers knew about his drinking at work, he replied: “No, not yet.” He added: “I have had a lot of


time to reflect on all of this. Itwas a foolish thing to have done.” A Royal Mail spokesman said:


“RoyalMail does not comment on individual court cases.We are car- rying out an internal investigation into thismatter.”


News


‘Let’s talk’ to travellers call


THE leader of Maidstone Bor- ough Council’s Conservative group has urged Government to talk to travellers in a bid to devise effective planning guidance for gipsy sites. With imminent appeal hearings


in Maidstone that could approve another dozen caravans in Staple- hurst on theMarden and Fritten- den roads, John Perry estimates there are 50 pitches in hisward. “The majority of these are the


result of retrospective applica- tions that have seen the number of gipsy and traveller sites in the area growexponentially,” he said. “There needs to be a proper de-


bate about effective regulation that can be fairly applied. All too often these sites are occupied and approved retrospectively and with inconsistency. We need to workwith the gipsy council to ad- dress these issues fully.” “Working together is the way


to get appropriate legislation that represents the interests of both.” Vhin O’Reachtighan, from the


Gipsy and Traveller Coalition, said: “We are happy to talk but in- variably it just ends up being talk. “Any government has to have


an appetite to oblige councillors to provide a fair amount of ac- commodation for travellers and overlook the planning regulations if travellers can provide for them- selves; this iswhat leads to unau- thorised camps. The current law unfairly discriminates travellers.”


Funerals to be


streamed live MOURNERS who cannot attend the funerals of their nearest and dearestwill nowbe able towatch proceedings streamed live in a webcast. Maidstone’s Vinters Park Cre-


matorium says it will broadcast services securely over the internet, allowing invited guests to view themfromanywhere in theworld. Sharon Smith, Maidstone Bor-


Mayor opens newplay equipment


NEWequipment has been donated to an outdoor playground in Ul- combe. The Mayor of Maidstone, Cllr


DavidNaghi, unveiled the facilities at a celebration attended by par- ents and their children on February 16.


The new apparatus cost approx-


imately £20,000. Cllr Naghi said: “I was delighted


to open this revamped play area. It’s a fantastic facility and I am sure it will be enjoyed for years to come.” The cost of the new kit was


shared between Ulcombe Parish Council and the borough and county councils. Cllr Naghi is pictured right, with


Peter Titchener, chairman of Ul- combe Parish Council, and children enjoying the playground’s new equipment.


oughCouncil's bereavement serv- ices manager, said: “For a growing number of reasons, live webcasting is a service that more are choosing. With an aging pop- ulation, elderly family members homebound, those who are sim- ply not able to travel due to eco- nomic conditions or perhaps family who live abroad, offering webcasting is a way to include everyone regardless of their geo- graphic location.”


Maidstone Weald March 2019 27


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