downsmail.co.uk
News CCTV sign’s number is up
A MAIDSTONE couple have been plagued for six years by callers who think they are ringing a council-run CCTV crime prevention scheme. Despite reporting the problem
to Maidstone Borough Council on at least 10 occasions, David Ham- mond (71) said the calls kept com- ing.
Defunct signs for the Safer Maidstone Partnership carry the telephone number now used by Mr Hammond, who lives at Pe- nenden Heath. He said: “We have been getting regular calls, dozens of them, since we moved in here about six years ago. A lot of them have been from car parks with the signs up. “We tell people we’ve nothing
to do with the scheme and most are apologetic, but some are
‘Crime spree’ man in court
for assaults A MAN who allegedly as- saulted a woman in Maidstone faces 15 charges following a Kent crime spree. Ryan Miskin (25) reportedly
set a car alight during a series of incidents in Maidstone and Rochester on July 21. He is also alleged to have as- saulted two men at a home in London Road, Rochester, on August 20. Mr Miskin is also suspected
to have attempted to rob a mo- torist of a car in Northcote Road on the same night. He has been charged with
two counts of wounding with intent, attempted robbery, in- flicting actual bodily harm, common assault, arson, crimi- nal damage, threatening un- lawful violence and two charges of possessing an offen- sive weapon in a public place. He was arrested on August 21 and while in custody, he is re- ported to have assaulted two police officers. He has been charged with two counts of as- saulting an emergency services worker. Mr Miskin appeared at Med-
way Magistrates’ Court on Sat- urday, August 22 and was remanded in custody to appear at Maidstone Crown Court on a date to be determined.
clearly frustrated and quite irate.” On August 22, a householder who lives in a village near Maid- stone rang the number on a sign in her road, but realised the per- son on the other end of the line had nothing scheme.
to do with the
She said: “We had suffered a burglary on the driveway of our home when my husband’s van was broken into on August 21. I was hoping that the perpetrators might have been picked up by the camera supposedly monitoring the area. “Anyway, I rang the number and the chap very politely ex-
plained he had nothing to do with CCTV scheme or the council. He said he’d had quite a few similar calls and notified the council, but seems not to have had much suc- cess.”
Maidstone Borough Council said: “Unfortunately, the CCTV sign is a historic one that has not been operational for some time and should have been removed. “Having been alerted to the matter, MBC will be arranging for the sign to be taken down as soon as possible and apologises for any confusion caused. We would ad- vise anyone who needs to report a crime to contact Kent Police.”
Market boss sorry to lose job
THE former manager of the coun- cil-run Lockmeadow Market has spoken of his disappointment at losing his job. Richard Feakins (52) was in post
for only 15 months and left on July 31.
Although Mr Feakins, himself a
former market trader and fitness club owner, understood his role went as part of an internal restruc- turing at Maidstone Borough Council. Mr Feakins, of Whitstable, told
Downs Mail: “I would say I upset too many people, but I am straight and honest with people. I tried to make this market as viable as pos- sible and to make a profit for the council. “So, yes, I am a bit miffed about
losing my job. I believe that we have made great progress in mov- ing the market forward and to gen- erate more revenue from it.” The council reopened the market in in mid-June, offering free pitches
to new traders at the market which has existed for 700 years. MBC said: “Unfortunately, this is
not a subject we are able to com- ment on as it is a personnel issue and, therefore, not appropriate.”
Fruit growers buy new farm
A BOUGHTON Monchelsea fruit company has bought another 1,200-acre farm in Kent as part of an expansion programme. Bardsley England, based in
Chart Hill Road, has acquired Newmafruit’s growing and pack- ing business near Canterbury, fi- nanced by the Shawbrook Bank. Ben Bardsley, managing director
of Bardsley England, said: “New- mafruit is an excellent addition to the Bardsley England group. We recognised a well-organised busi- ness with a robust structure in place, full of great people and an ethos akin to our own.”
He said the purchase strength-
ens his company’s position in the industry as one of the UK’s leading growers, as well as opening up op- portunities to ensure strategic al- liances with customers.
Chairman of Newmafruit, Melvyn Newman, said: “We are delighted to be handing over the reins of our family business to an- other family business who not only recognise the true art of running a top fruit enterprise but also have a solid vision for the future of the in- dustry and realise the need to in- vest in both people and technological advances.”
Bardsley England, which is 128
years old, has undergone a period of rapid expansion since Mr Bard- sley took up the role, becoming a joint venture with Belgian multi- national Greenyard last year. It produces 10,000 tonnes of fruit but will increase this to 23,000 tonnes with its acquisition across its combined 2,000-acre estate. Steven Munt, director of Corpo-
rate Lending at Shawbrook Bank, said: “This was a challenging trans- action involving asset transfers, lease assignments and freehold property to be valued and charged.”
29
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48
