Maidstone East Edition
Maidstone & Malling’s No. 1 newspaper
October 2017 June 3rd
Panto ahoy! Calum follows
- June 16th
Navy dream FORMER Cornwallis Academy pupil Calum Godden has joined the Royal Navy and completed basic training. Calum (18) worked in retail after
school but now he is an engineering technician after being accepted as a trainee on HMS Collingwood. He said: “It’s my dream job. My
family history is in the services with relatives serving during WWII. “I’ve made friends for life and
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
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.
Killer ‘out too soon’
THE seven-year sentence handed out to the killer of Maidstone man Jason Orwin last summer has been dismissed as “totally inadequate”.
CCTV call in a bid to stop fly-tipping
learnt skills I never thought I would. My shipmates are a second family.”
The 55-year-old business devel- opment manager sustained fatal head injuries in an unprovoked at- tack just yards from his parents’ home in Bower Place on July 31. Murder charges were dropped
against Lance Colston (36), a resi- dent at the Fleming House bail hos- tel in Tonbridge Road, after he pleaded guilty to manslaughter back in December last year. Friend and local Conservative councillor Jonathan Purle said: “Lance Colston should never have been there to kill Jason. “He had been let out of prison far
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
core, windows and household fur- niture is left illegally – often strewn in the middle of the road. Cllr Gill Fort said: “Every month
too early. He was just off Tonbridge Road because that’s where the au- thorities chose to place him.” On the night of the attack, Mr
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
saw a caravan burned out while a torched car remains on a footpath
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
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-
Jason Orwin and killer Lance Colston
tive by the Environment Agency and the Driver and Vehicle Stan- dards Agency to clamp down on
Orwin was out with a friend when they noticed two men who ap- peared to be drunk. Mr Orwin’s partner was nearby and he warned her to be wary of the pair. Colston overheard this and crossed the road to confront Mr Orwin and punched him across the head, knocking him unconscious.
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
Colston also assaulted Mr Orwin’s friend, hitting him with a milk bottle, and tried to punch the victim’s father.
Mr Orwin died in hospital the next day.
Cllr Purle added: “I appreciate the court is bound by sentencing guidelines, but this sentence feels totally inadequate for the taking of a life and the devastation he has caused. “The judge’s conclusion that Col-
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
ston is not a ‘dangerous offender’ will feel perverse to most reason- able people.”
Colston had two previous con- victions for violence in a long crim- inal career. Senior Investigating Officer DCI
01622 690290 YOUR LOCAL PROPERTY EXPERT
maidstone@martinco.com 23 Pudding Lane • Maidstone • Kent
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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Neil Kimber said Colston showed no concern for the welfare of his victim as he lay unconscious. DCI Kimber added: “A family is now mourning their tragic loss. I would like to thank the witnesses and, in particular, members of Mr Orwin’s family who have assisted us throughout the investigation and enabled us to bring this violent individual to justice.”
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FREE No. 246
News FREE
Kate, 107, dies News
No. 296
KATE Hart, a resident at an old people’s home in Bearsted, has died aged 107, her son David has disclosed.
HELEN Whately asked the government to halt the borough’s housing scheme.
3 MP’s Local Plan bid
Medical helpers Plans for Dr Nigel
Elmer volunteers
SPOTLIGHT ON WEST MALLING Pages 14 & 15
4
THE widow of GP Dr Nigel Minnet will walk the Grand Canyon for charity. 12
THE chronic pain unit at Maidstone Hospital has raised more than £16,000 for a medical facility in India.
THE former Neighbours star brings his show to the Hazlitt Theatre next May.
Woodcut jobs
AN AERIAL image shows how the Woodcut Farm develop- ment, which is set to create hundreds of jobs, will look once completed.
Obituaries Obituaries
Parishes à8
à35 32 à37
Parish Councils 34-35
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.
Mosque donors THE Imam has thanked cash donors who are helping to fund Maidstone’s new mosque.
Crops hit by frost 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.
FRUIT farmers are expecting a short season this summer caused by a cold, unseasonally dry April.
Comment 46-47
A ‘STAYCATION’ summer is needed for Leeds Castle to refill its coffers after the COVID-19 pandemic, says its new boss.
Contact Thomas visit
www.amiga.co.uk or call 08000 199622
07832 739424 see our Main advert on Page 17
à21 Castle ‘staycation’ bid à28 Comment à45-47 Jason Donovan date
ORGANISERS behind the Heart of Kent Hospice Elmer parade are seeking volunteers to help out.
18 à6 à5 & Fortnightly
Maidstone & Malling’s No. 1 newspaper
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