downsmail.co.uk
New leaders shake up troubled parish
IT IS all change at Kings Hill Parish Council following a recent vote of no confidence in long-time chair Sarah Barker, writes Chris Lawson. During an extraordinary general
meeting of the beleaguered parish council on June 28, former leader Sarah Barker was asked to stand down.
Controversy has raged for many months over the state of parish fi- nances and the management of the Kings Hill Sports Park, a commu- nity sport and leisure complex op- erated by the parish council. Leisure management company tmactive has agreed to take over the day-to-day running of the facility. Cllr Shakira Falzon-Thomas told the meeting she was saddened by the ‘lack of leadership’ since she be- came a councillor in October 2020. She believed a new regime was vital, with a transparent chair who could lead the council out of its pre- sent difficulty. Cllr Tony Petty, pictured, was
Man charged
with car theft A MAIDSTONE man has been charged with seven counts of burglary and theft. Thomas Levey (27), of Douglas Road, reportedly stole a car from Tintern Road after its keys were taken from inside the owner’s house. The vehicle was found two days later on June 7. On June 18, items were re- ported stolen from two cars in Farleigh Lane. Levey allegedly targeted other
vehicles in Tarragon Road, Co- riander Drive, Marigold Way and North Street in just two days. It is also alleged that over the same period, he tried to open car doors and, in two cases, entered and searched vehicles in Abing- don Road, North Street, Hop Garden Close and Oaken Reach. Levey was charged with bur-
glary, seven counts of theft and four counts of vehicle inference. He appeared before Medway Magistrates’ Court where he was remanded to a hearing at Maid- stone Crown Court on a date to be confirmed.
Eight dogs seized
SIX puppies and two dogs have been rescued after they were found living in poor conditions at a property near Headcorn. The dogs were found by the RSPCA on July 12. An RSPCA spokesperson said:
"We worked alongside officers from Kent Police following a call to Headcorn and now have two adult dogs and six puppies in our care." Enquiries are ongoing.
and Malling Borough Council as an experienced clerk and “trouble- shooter”.
Mr Nash will be contracted on a full-time basis until matters are under control, expected to take about three months, then em- ployed part-time as per the coun- cil’s needs.
The finance and human re- sources committee and the ameni- ties committee have been dissolved and rolled into full council. The troubled sports centre and
elected chair by a majority vote, and Cllr Falzon-Thomas was voted deputy-chair following the resigna- tion of former deputy, Chris Finlay. Another change saw parish clerk Julie Miller replaced by Stephen Nash, recommended by Tonbridge
the proposed management agree- ment with tmactive, the charitable deliverer of sports and leisure facil- ities, is now in the hands of lawyers following administrative deficien- cies. There is much to do for the new regime. So much, in fact, that three parish council meetings have been scheduled for July.
News David Brown
appeal date VIOLENT David Brown, who was convicted of assault and engaging in coercive behaviour against his ex-partner, will not have his ap- peal hearing until the end of September.
Mr Brown, of Owletts Close, Shepway, strangled his victim on the sofa until she passed out in January 2019. She suffered a swollen eye and injuries to her neck. At the trial, the court heard how
Brown had coerced his estranged ex-partner for years, shortly after the birth of his first son. It was also alleged Brown took his victim’s memory box to her stillborn child, poured petrol over it and burnt it in a fire pit in the garden. Brown was acquitted at trial of criminal damage. The date for appeal against con- viction is set for September 30.
Body in river
A MAN’S body has been recov- ered from the River Medway in Maidstone.
Police conducted a large-scale
search near House of Fraser on Fri- day, July 9. A police helicopter also arrived at the scene shortly after 4.40pm. A Kent Police spokesman said: "Officers attended the scene, alongside Kent Fire and Rescue Service, Kent Search and Rescue and the South East Coast Ambu- lance, where the body of a man was recovered.
"The death is not being treated as suspicious, and a report will be prepared for the coroner."
Band success
A MAIDSTONE indie rock band has been attracting the attention and airplay of BBC6's respected presenter, Gideon Coe. The Shop Window, comprising Carl Mann, Simon ‘Syd’ Oxlee, Martin Corder and Phil Elphee, re- leased their album The State of Being Human in June. Carl said: “We can’t wait for some proper gigs, to build on the growing support we’ve had.”
Puppy pals A CHARITY which trains assis-
tance dogs is seeking volunteer "puppy raisers".
dog
The role means taking a guide recruit
at seven weeks
through to 12-16 months when they start training. Contact Guide Dogs at
www.guidedogs.org.uk.
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