News


downsmail.co.uk Police crime claimopposed


KENT Police have come under fire for claiming that crime in Maidstone is down. At the first meeting of the bor-


ough bouncil’s crime and disorder committee since the killing of Lon- don man Andre Bent in August, members bemoaned lack of police in areas such as Shepway andrural villages. Opposition Conservative Cllr


Jonathan Purle challenged Inspec- tor Mark Hedges over police fig- ures, which claimed a decrease of overall crime of 6.1%, and sug- gested crime in recent years had gone upmore than tenfold. Cllr Purle spent three days com-


COUNCIL proposals to move the war memorial from the Broadway to BrenchleyGardens tomakeway for flats could cost up to £200,000. A leading expert warned that


relocation of the historic monu- ment would be “very controver- sial”, while one town centre councillor said the move would “dishonour thewar dead”. Themove could cost £200,000. Each November thousands of


piling an 86-page analysis ofHome Office crime statistics shortly be- fore themeeting to offer a counter viewto the figuresprovidedby the Community Safety Partnership of which the force is a keymember. Cllr Purle persuaded members to declare the police figures “in-


Newsman dies


local people turn out to the mu- nicipalmemorial,which is almost a century old, to remember the fallen of the two world wars and modern conflicts. Liberal Democrat-led Maid-


stone Borough Council is explor- ing “aspirations” for several sites in the county town, which could see 1,000 new homes. These in- clude a 14-storey block on the site of the Broadway shopping centre, whichwould be demolished. GordonNewton,who runs The


FORMER TV news anchorman Peter Sissons has died at Maid- stoneHospital, aged 77. Mr Sissons, of Sevenoaks, who


was a newsreader for theBBC, ITN and Channel 4, died onOctober 1. The Oxford-educated journalist


reported from many parts of the world andwas presenter of Ques- tion Time.


IMMERSE yourself in the smooth harmonies and classic songs of a group thatwill never be forgotten. Tribute band, The Beach Boys


Classic songs Crime rates


Stone Shop inMaidstone and spe- cialises inwarmemorials, said: “I would imagine any such plan would be very controversial. “Obviously, I don't know how


it was built, but a few years back, I did some restoration work on it and the stonework is not in par- ticularly good condition, having been exposed to the weather and road grit salt formany years.” He said it is unlikely that the


monument could be simply relo- cated. Only the bronze statue would be likely to survive. A new structure with Portland


complete” and failing to recognise “the substantial increase in crime anddisorder afflicting the borough in recent years”. The motion was carried five


votes to nil,with four abstentions. Kent Police saidthe figureswere


the most accurate available and that the methods of recording crime had changedmarkedly. The committee also approved


motions fromCllr Purle calling for the council to explore tightening the licensing of late-night venues, introducing a comprehensive street drinking ban in town, and forming a working group to look into rural crime. When Cllr Purle's work was


challenged, Independent Maid- stone Cllr Eddie Powell (Shepway South) told the committee: “I’m looking at two reports here.One of


the reports, that Cllr Purle has put together, is far more in-depth. If I had a choice between this one and that one, I think I know where I’d be going…itmust have taken him the best part of aweek.” Kent Police claimed that serious


and violent, robbery and public order crimes were all on the slide. But weapon possession and drug offence detections are significantly up, due to increased police re- sources dedicated to stop and search andtargeting “county lines” drug gangs. Inspector Hedges said 300-400


stone and a concrete core would cost £40,000, but a solidmemorial could cost up to £200,000, esti- mated Mr Newton, who is also a borough councillor. A council document to high-


light potential town centre sites mentions “the relocation of the war memorial to provide more space for vehicularmovements”. Independent Maidstone Cllr


Eddie Powell said: “It dishonours the war dead. It is where people have gone to pay their respects to their loved oneswhomade the ul- timate sacrifice. It is notmuch dif- ferent to a gravestone. It should be sacred ground.” Opposition Tory councillor


Jonathan Purle drew attention to the reputation BrenchleyGardens has now got for street drinking


years of prison sentences had been imposed for county lines crimes but conceded that as one gang is disrupted, anothermoves in. The average age of Kent gang


members is 15,while the youngest recordedwas just 10.


and drug-dealing, despite a con- certed effort by Kent Police to dealwith the problem. He said that moving a war me-


morial is “akin to sacrilege”. Labour councillor Margaret


Festival promotes town cycling


THOSE keen to get on their bike were met by Cycle Fest supporters in Maidstone on September 28. They were asked for their view on


the idea of a cycle path from Maid- stone to Mote Park, along the same lines as The Loose Valley Greenway footpath and cycle route, from Loose into town. Cllr Paul Harper, chair of Maid-


Smile, will be at The Hazlitt in Maidstone on Friday,November 1. Tickets for the show, which starts at 7.30pm, are £21.50.


Continued frompage one The average age of Kent gang


War memorial plan ‘akin to sacrilege’


ems established as the ‘crime tchewar dead. It is the placewhere


apital of Kent’, and how parts of people have gone to pay their re-


harply in recent years” made the ulti


not much different stone.


It sho ld


ate sacrific . It is to a grave- be


sacred


ground.” Opposition Tory councillor Jsonathan Purle drew attention to the reputation BrenchleyGardens has now got for street drinking and drug-dealing, despite a con- certed effort by Kent Police to


the borough have deteriorated spects to their loved ones who Labour member for Shepway S uth, Cllr Malcolm McKay, told themeeting onTuesday night: “On August 25, a youngmanwasmur- dered not 50 yards fromwhere are itting. It is such a pity hat one or wo police officers were not avail- able becauseAndreB n might still bewith us today.”


Chief Inspector Ray Quiller said dealwith the problem.


uickly and had tended to some of morial is “akin to sacrilege”.


his off cers had responded very qHe said that moving a war me- thewounded on the night.


4 Maidstone November 2019


members is 15,while the youngest recordedwas just 10. Conservative Cllr Dan Rose (Parkwood) said: “Jonathan’s re- port shows how crime and disor- der here has risen by 66% since 2013, that Maidstone High Street seContinued from page one


FORMER Conservative MP Michael Portillo came to Maid- stone to film the latest of his BBC programmes on railways. Hewas snapped by Joe Brock-


Labour councillor Margaret


Rose, who lives in the centre of town, described the idea as “an insult to thosewho gave their life in the name of freedom and democracy.” MBC has been showcasing a


lehurst, who works for Maid- stone-based design house GeoMedia, on the London- bound platform of Maidstone East with his camera crew around himon October 1. Former defence secretary Mr


number of potential new sites which it claims “will deliver a high quality variety of newhomes as part of a mixed use opportu- nity at thewestern gateway to the town centre”. The proposalswill be discussed


by Maidstone council's Strategic Planning Committee on Novem- ber 5 at 6.30pm.


Portillo (66)was seen holding his copy of Bradshaw'sGuide. Bradshaw’swas a series of rail-


way timetables and travel guide books published from1839 until 1961. Mr Portillo, who represented


the Enfield Southgate andKens- ington & Chelsea constituencies during his two periods in parlia- ment, basesmuch of his railway


 RESIDENTS in Fant are furi- ous about the idea of demolish- ing the Broadway Shopping Centre – home to their nearest large supermarket. Locals turned out to an open


meeting organised by Labour councillors to discuss opinions on the Local Plan relating to Fant. However,


the subject


quickly shifted, with the main bone of contention being the town centre proposal. Fant councillor Margaret Rose


said: “The demolition of Mata- lan and Lidl were the main is- sues coming from those living in


Fant. They feel this would deny them access to a popular and convenient supermarket. “Residents were also con-


cerned about the proposed high rise apartment block that would replace it. They said the tower block would overlook the most historic part of town, including the Carriage Museum and the Archbishop’s Palace.” Cllr Rose added: “On a per- sonal note, after


the Grenfell


programme-making around the various Bradshawbooks. Mr Portillo, pictured here in a


Tower disaster, I cannot under- staalmon jacket, often presents his o build a high-rise block of flats ywhere.”


nd why anyone would want tprogramme in colourful jacke and trousers.


TV rail star calls at station


stone Cycle Forum, organised the event and welcomed visitors, who included the Mayor of Maidstone, Cllr Marion Ring, and her husband Richard (pictured); Cllr Margaret Rose and her nephew Brandon Hilder, joined Cllr Harper cycling stints on a static bike.


Rose, who lives in the centre of town, described the idea as “an insult to thosewho gave their life in the name of freedom and democracy.” MBC has been showcasing a


number of potential new sites which it claims “will deliver a high quality variety of newhomes as part of a mixed use opportu- nity at thewestern gateway to the town centre”. The proposalswill be discussed


by Maidstone council's Strategic PlanningCommittee at 6.30pmon November 5.


Memorialmove ‘sacrilege’ Residents fear


(Parkwood) said: “Jonathan’s re- port shows how crime and disor- der here has risen by 66% since 2013, that Maidstone High Street seems established as the ‘crime capital of Kent’, and how parts of the borough have deteriorated sharply in recent years” Labour member for Shepway S organised by Labour councillors emeeting onOctober 1: “OnAu- ust 25,


losing stores RESIDENTS in Fant are furious with the idea of demolishing the Broadway Shopping Centre – home to their nearest, largest su- permarket. More than 50 homeowners turned out to an open meeting


ered not 50 yards fromwherewe artehe main bone of contention thbeing the proposal in the nearby ntown centre.


ing becauseAndre Bentmight still bsaid: “The demolition ofMatalan and Lidl were the main issues oming fromthose living in Fant. They feel that this would deny em access to a very popular and convenient supermarket, on the right side of the town for them. Residents were also con- cerned about the proposed high rise apartment block that would replace it. They said the tower block would overlook the most historic part of town, including the Carriage Museum and the Archbishop’s Palace.”


Cllr Rose added: “On a per-


sonal note, after the Grenfell Tower disaster I cannot under- standwhy anyonewouldwant to build a high-rise block of flats anywhere.”


Chief Insp ctor Ray Quiller said hics officers had r sponded very quickly and had tended to some of thtehwounded on the night.


outh, Cllr Malcolm McKay, told thto discuss opinions on the Local gPlan relatiynog to Fant. However, dthe subject quickly shifted with sitting tonight. It is such a pity at one or twopolice officerswere ot available onthat Sundaymorn- Fant councillor Margaret Rose ewith us today.”


ung man was mur- Conservative Cllr Dan Rose


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