News


B2163 inchaos afterpipe leak


THE closure of Leeds village on September 14 to fix a burst water main causedchaos fordriverswho use the B2163 as a cut-through. Motorists, who need a connec-


tion between theA274 andtheA20, were forced onto single track back roads, resulting in blocked high- ways, frayed tempers and long de- lays. Work was delayed on the South


EastWater pipe repair as the crew were called elsewhere on an emer- gency. KentHighways had estimated a


closure of up to five days, but the water workers had the problem sorted in amatter of hours.


Hospital unit


WORKhas started on an £8mpur- pose-built Acute Assessment Unit (AAU) atMaidstoneHospital. The new building – next to the


Emergency Department – will house 14 short-stay beds, eight as- sessment beds and three separate treatment rooms. It is expected to be fully operational by January next year. A spokesman for the hospital


said the state-of-the-art, dedicated assessment unitmeans emergency patients will be cared for in a fit- for-purpose,modern environment, with improved dignity and pri- vacy,with access to the emergency facility.


Showchange


ORGANISERS of theKentCounty Show at Detling have announced that next year’s eventwill nowtake place on July 10, 11 and 12. It has been necessary to change


the dates of the show to avoid clashingwith similar events in the national events calendar.Manager Lucy Hegarty said: “After review- ing agricultural showdates across the country,we havemade the de- cision to hold the Kent County Showaweek later than previously announced.”


Caravan fire


FIRE crews tackled a deliberate caravan blaze in a village near Maidstone. Two fire engines were sent to


Maidstone Road, Sutton Valence, after reports of a caravan alight in the middle of the road at around 8.30pm on Friday, September 6. Crews used two hose reel jets to put the fire out. There were no reported injuries


but the fire is thought to have been started deliberately.


8 Maidstone East October 2019


downsmail.co.uk


Stab chargewife had history of PCassault


A WOMAN jailed for stabbing her husband had been in court just months before for hurling a bottle at a policeman. JulietWaghorn (52) was sent to


prison for plunging a nine-inch blade into her partner’s hand dur- ing a row at their home inWyke- hamGrove, Leeds. A court was told Waghorn


grabbed the weapon froma carv- ing block and lunged towards the victim,who sustained his injuries defending himself. Later shewas found by police at


the same address and in breach of her bail conditions and again used the knife to threaten officers. Back inMarch, DownsMail re-


ported how drunken Waghorn hurled a bottle at a police officer who had been sent to help her lo- cate her husband. Mr Waghorn vanished after a


“minor” row on Valentine’s Day. On that occasionWaghorn, a part- time secretary, pleaded guilty and was fined £285 including £50


compensation to the officer. She blamed her behaviour on


her “high emotional state” and anxiety about her husband’s whereabouts. PC Katie-Louise Hazard, of the


Maidstone Vulnerable Investiga- tion Team, said: “Waghorn has a lengthy history of controlling and abusive behaviour, subjecting her victim to repeated physical and verbal abuse. “The assault with a knife could


easily have had fatal conse- quences had he not used his hand to deflect the blow. I sincerely hope her victim, who has been physically and emotionally af- fected by this, can nowtake com- fort fromthis sentence and is able tomove onwith his life.” At Maidstone Crown Court,


Waghorn pleaded guilty to charges of unlawful wounding and assaulting an emergency worker. Shewas sentenced to 14months


imprisonment.An application for a restraining order was also made.


Lions’ 60 years


of fundraising MAIDSTONE Lions’ Club has cele- brated its 60th anniversary by tak- ing a cruise aboard The Kentish Lady on the RiverMedway. Duringthe cruise, PresidentDavid


Frost (left) received a certificate of appreciation on behalf of the club from south east district governor David ButlerOBE,who thanked the club members for all their efforts over the years in raising in excess of £1mfunding local, national and in- ternational projects.


Pipe flush to clean drinkingwater


ATEAMof technicianswill be un- dertaking a “deepclean” of theun- derground drinking water pipework in Bearsted. The work involves pumping


water through pipes at high speed to flush out naturally-occurring sediments which build up over time, such as iron ormanganese. Theworks ismost likely going to


affect residents in: Ashford Road, BiddendenClose, BlenheimClose, BramleyCrescent,EgremontRoad, Grenadier Close, Lambourne Road, Laxton Close, Madginford


Close, Madginford Road, Merton Road, Mote Park, Orchard Drive, Rosemary Road, Rosemount Gar- dens, Royston Road, Tydeman Road,Weavering Street,Willington Street,Winifred Road. Works are scheduledto begin on


September 23, for oneweek. Jenny Rhodes, regional network


manager at South EastWater, said: “The freshdrinkingwater entering our mains after treatment is ex- tremely high quality. However, over time, deposits can build up in the pipes, particularly if the water


is slowmoving. “To help minimise the risk of


any disruption, we usually avoid flushing between 6am and 8am, and5pmand10pm,whendemand is highest. “£Customers will receive ad-


vance notice if we are going to be working in their area, and we do encourage anyone with a medical conditionwhichcouldbe impacted by an interruption to their water supply to sign up to our Priority Services Register at southeastwa- ter.co.uk/help.”


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