No. 1 newspaper Maidstone South Edition October 2017 October 2019 Panto ahoy!


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


CCTV call in a bid to stop fly-tipping


Residents in fear of ‘feral’ youth gangs


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.


VICTIMS of a youth gang’s 12-month reign of terror have accused the authorities of losing control of Shepway’s streets.


Residents living above shops


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


less than half a mile from Kent Police headquarters, say the neighbourhood has suffered in- timidation, breaking and enter- ing, criminal damage, theft and drug dealing on an unprece- dented scale. But they claim the culprits still


core, windows and household fur- niture is left illegally – often strewn in the middle of the road. Cllr Gill Fort said: “Every month


congregate around Northumber- land Road precinct with im- punity. Eddie Powell, borough council-


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


lor for Shepway South, said: “These youths are feral. They have no boundaries. They face no consequences for their actions.” Residents have revealed a


saw a caravan burned out while a torched car remains on a footpath


shocking catalogue of antisocial behaviour that has left many afraid to leave their homes after dark. Those who have dared to chal-


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


Cllr Eddie Powell (right) with shop- keeper Umesh Patel at the Northumberland Road precinct


lenge the youths, dubbed the Shepway Ball Gang, aremetwith threats and abuse. One man, who complained


about late night noise, barricaded himself in his flat after members of the gang stormed his balcony


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-


tive by the Environment Agency and the Driver and Vehicle Stan- dards Agency to clamp down on


to get at him. In a separate incident, a pizza


delivery man was barred from leaving the block. Residents say that, on some


nights, upwards of 60 youths con- gregate on the streets…some are driven in by shameless parents. “They come here because they


get a kick out of intimidating peo- ple,” said onemum. The youths show little fear of


the police and dispersal orders served on the area are having lit- tle impact, Downs Mail has been told. One resident said: “They brag


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


on social media about carrying knives and Iworry it’s just amat- ter of time before they’ll use them.” Sergeant Nick Hatcher, from


Maidstone Community Safety Unit, confirmed police are aware of the concerns. He said officers are working


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.


Cllr Fort, who also serves as a


with the local housing association and community to “continue to resolve the issues”. He added that police would


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“continue to crack down on the small minority who insist on making lifemiserable for others”. Full story, page 4.


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.


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Councillor warns of ‘barbarism’ in county town


A 16-YEAR-old boy has been charged with the murder of Andre Bent (pictured) in the centre of Maidstone. The juvenile, who cannot be named for


legal reasons, appeared before Medway magistrates on September 2 for the stab- bing on August 25. Conservative councillor for the area, Cllr Jonathan Purle, warned against the county


town’s “descent into barbarism”. Kent Police Chief Inspector Ray Quiller


sought to assure the public Maidstone is safe but drafted in extra officers to the town centre following Londoner Mr Bent’s killing. The Gallery nightclub, where it is alleged


the violence may have had its beginning be- fore spilling onto the streets, had its licence temporarily suspended.


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downsmail.co.uk No. 246


FREE


Maidstone & Malling’s No. 1 newspaper


News 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.


FREE No. 270


3 Zoe is Kent queen


BEAUTY queen ZoeHetherington whose personal story touched readers haswon a place in theMiss GB finals.


MP’s Local Plan bid


HELEN Whately asked the government to halt the borough’s housing scheme.


KCCCarter resigns


PAUL Carter, leader of Kent County Council for 14 years, is to step down.


3 Plans for Dr Nigel


THE widow of GP Dr Nigel Minnet will walk the Grand Canyon for charity. 12


5 Morrisgroupcloses Jason Donovan date


ACLOG-shod group ofMorris dancers has decided to disband due to a lack of partici- pants.


THE former Neighbours star brings his show to the Hazlitt Theatre next May.


Council taxmaygoup


THE Lib Dem-led borough coun- cil admits itmay propose a hike in council tax in 2020 to meet rising costs.


Obituaries


24 28


CROPS have been stolen from al- lotment holders in Barming, prompting security to be stepped up and a review of fencing.


Parish Councils 29 Obituaries


32


Parish Councils 34-35 Crime Reports 29


A BIKE was stolen from outside a property in Shepway; five youths were seen damaging property in Fairmeadow; a car was egged and scratched in Fant; carpentry tools were stolen from a Ford Transit van in Granville Road; nail polish was thrown over a parked car in Shepway; a shop window was smashed in Earl Street; a house window was bro- ken by a ball-bearing gun in Fant; eight trees were pulled out of the ground by a group of youths in Mote Park; a barbecue and gar- den tools were taken from a Col- lege Road house.


Comment 38-39


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.


Crime Reports 35


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


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