Kent on Sunday (East), January 14, 2017

9.5 MB·English

by  KOS Media

Kent on SundayFFRREEEE
www.kentnews.co.uk January 15, 2017 East edition No 747
TRANSPORT
City support for
traffic free day
But traders fear impact of bid to
ease mounting pollution
INDUSTRY
MP calls on leisure
WEATHER vision for port
Is snow set
Council told to consider its future
following latest setback
HOMELESS
to return?
Warning: More will
die on our streets
Forecasters warn of another icy blast
Charity calls for changes to
hitting the county next week
rough sleeper rules
ADVERTISING FEATURE
A winter warmer for your
team and your business!
SES Business Water is offering and could make a big difference Pick ‘n Fix is just one way in Bad weather and flooding costs
one lucky local business the to your business this winter. which SES Business Water businesses of all sizes thousands
are demonstrating their of pounds each and every year.
opportunity to win a fantastic Enter now by visiting
commitment to helping local For smaller businesses, losses
£1000 to treat their team. www.sesbusinesswater.co.uk/win businesses get watertight for could threaten survival - but
What better way to keep winter. Their recently launched despite the worrying statistics
Pick ‘n’ Fix from SES Business
spirits high during the long, Winter Hub is packed full around winter damage, around
Water offers businesses the
of useful information, easily 60% of UK businesses have
cold winter months! chance to choose from a boiler
digestible tips and expert advice
T no plans in place. If you would
service, repairs to dripping taps,
- as well as handy infographics
The winning business, like to find out more about
repairs to leaking sinks, stopcock
along with three runners which are free to download and how to protect your business
up, will also receive an repairs, or repairs to dripping share with your team – because
from winter damage, about
ball valves. Each service making plans to get your
expert Watertight Makeover, the small changes which could
normally costs £50 under the business watertight is easiest
allowing them to choose three make a really big difference,
offer, and could help businesses when everyone is on-board!
and about how SES Business
essential fixes from the SES
avoid much more costly repairs Here in the UK, winter can Water can help, why not take a
Business Water Pick ‘n’ Fix
this winter. You can find out often mean not only freezing look at their Winter Hub today?
range of services – worth £150. more at www.sesbusinesswater. temperatures and possibly snow, www.sesbusinesswater.co.uk/
Entering only takes a minute, co.uk/pick-n-fix but also rain, rain and more rain. watertight
2 Week ending January 15,2017 kent-life.co.uk www.kentnews.co.uk
Kent on Sunday
Sister title of www.kentnews.co.uk
Liberal and conservative
views are both essential
PAGE
THERE is a tendency in this day of necessary to sway opinion (regard-
11 »
Brexit and Donald Trump to assume less of its basis in fact) which sways
anything ‘liberal’ is something to be elections. A worrying trend in so
scorned, derided and ignored. many respects as it pulls the rug
That amid the backlash against from rational, reasoned debate and
the so-called political elite, we have instead pulls simply at our fears or PAGE
decided anyone who dares ponder anxieties, rather than hopes and 09 »
options and listens to alternative dreams. Shout the loudest and you
points of view – as per the definition will win appears to be the new
of liberal – is part of the problem and mantra of election agents.
thus no longer relevant. The truth is a ‘liberal’ approach to PAGE
It has then been extended to any life is one which underscores the very 22 »
party with a traditional political way our society is run and our British
‘liberal slant’ – a broad brush values of fairness, tolerance and
approach designed to silence those understanding. For the most part,
for whom politics are more that is actually demonstrated by
than just a knee jerk reaction politicians of all hues, regardless
but actually align to their of their reputations. PAGE
very way of life. The truth is that the 19 »
Whatever your political balance of liberal and
persuasion – and I make no conservative views is actually
judgement here – it’s a what creates a safe, balanced,
dangerous position to adopt. inspiring society. Ignore either
Because if there is one thing and trouble lurks.
we now must accept in Politics is endlessly
western democra- fascinating, but to
cies, it is the ability simply ignore a
to bellow and say view is to stifle
whatever is Editor Chris Britcher true democracy.
(cid:2) Kent on Sunday and its journalists are committed to abiding by the Society of Editors Code
of Practice. If you have a complaint which can’t be resolved by Kent on Sunday editor Chris
Britcher ([email protected]) please contact the Independent Press Standards
Organisation, Gate House, 1 Farringdon Street, London, EC4M 7LG, or via complaints@ipso.
co.uk. More information about IPSO and its regulations can be found at www.ipso.co.uk
PAGE PAGE
Contents 20 » 25 »
News 12 City’s traffic 20 Homeless HOW TO CONTACT US…
05 Snow and ice free plans deaths fear Editor: Chris Britcher
Email [email protected]
Address: Kent House, 81 Station
sweep in Roads may be closed Call for rough sleeper
Road, Ashford TN23 1PP
for a day in summer protocol changes Editorial: News: 01233 653475
County hit as weather Sport/Leisure: 01233 653479
14 May ‘too late’ 22 Film posters Email [email protected]
take a cold turn
Advertising:
06 Debate over says head up for sale Jobs/Notices: 01233 653461
Business: 01233 653461
armed police Mixed response to PM And one alone could Email [email protected]
Retail/Leisure/Motors: 01233 653461
mental health plans fetch thousands Email [email protected]
Federation chief urges Distribution: 01233 653470
16 Castle snaps The Arts
public consultation
FOLLOW US ONLINE @
09 Race track to up garden 25 Interview: • kentnews.co.uk
• kentnews.co.uk/mobile
fight on exhibition Josie Long • jobsforkent.co.uk
• homes24.co.uk
Loss of key event will Some cheerful images TV and radio star on • drive24.co.uk
• twitter@kosmedia
not derail circuit amid the gloom life on the road
Published in Kent and printed by Archant Print,
11 Future of our 19 What is port Plus d(Civoi sRioeng oNf oA 1rc9h3a0n0t) C. Roemgmistuenreitdy MOfefidciea: LPirmositpeedc t
House, Rouen Road, Norwich NR1 1RE
rail services future? Letters .....................
Page 32
Images of Kent ......
MP hits out at TfL as MP calls for debate PAGE Page 33
KCC debates future of over Ramsgate port’s 14 » Sport ........................Page 39
Southeastern franchise future vision
kentnews.co.uk kent-life.co.uk East Week ending January 15, 2017 3
4 Week ending January 15,2017 kent-life.co.uk www.kentnews.co.uk
s k
Snow could return this
e
e
w
y t
s week as icy weather bites
a
p

e
h
a
t

g
By Chris Britcher
n
i [email protected]
r
u
d
d
KENT was hit by the winter blast
on Thursday and Friday as snow
k
and ice caused chaos on the roads
u - with forecasters saying the
. temperatures will pick up this
o weekend before plunging again.
c Snow started falling during the
. Thursday night rush hour
n s following several hours of heavy
w rain, causing major delays for
many travelling across the county.
e
One motorist said a journey from
n Bexley to his home near Folkestone
t took him six hours.
n Snow caused havoc on the major
e e motorways as it started to lay on DISRUPTION: Cars in Wrotham on Thursday night as the snow started to fall
k the lanes. Then the temperatures
plunged to sub-zero overnight, couldn’t grit on Thursday after- better than others, however. There last for long, however.
@
turning much of the surfaces into noon during heavy rain and heavy was little snow in Thanet, while A spokesman for the Met Office
ice rinks and causing problems for traffic made it difficult to treat the west of the county woke to a said: “A change to milder condi-
v s drivers heading into work on when it snowed. blanket of the white stuff. tions is expected on Sunday and
e Friday morning. “All crews were fully prepared In addition, there were, on Monday, but it will remain
Gritting lorries were in action and were out by 5pm and stayed out Thursday, a number of flood warnings generally cloudy with periods of
n
one the rain started to turn to throughout the night. While we in place along the Kent coast - al- rain. A return to brighter, much
li snow, but with rain washing away would love to be able to treat all our though these were lifted by Friday. colder conditions are possible on
d the salt, they had been unable to roads, we have over 5,200 miles to The wintry weather continued Tuesday. It will feel very cold for
a treat many of the county’s roads maintain and it is just not possible.” on Saturday, but forecasters say many, especially in the east and
e e before the snow started to fall. Some areas then experienced today (Sunday) temperatures south, with sleet or snow showers
h A Kent County Council spokes- further snow on Friday morning. should start to pick up as a warmer possible across eastern coastal
man explained: “Unfortunately we Certain parts of the county fared air front moves in. It is unlikely to parts.”

e
h
t
s e SMEs to benefit from
Engineering work to disrupt
d
a
m £5m loan fund to boost rail services this weekend

h
jobs and productivity
c
ENGINEERING work on our rail It means the service between
i
h routes will cause some disruption Victoria and Canterbury East will
w this weekend. not run and a replacement bus
Work is taking place between service will operate between
SMALL and medium businesses (SMEs) for business and I’m delighted KCC Sittingbourne and Herne Bay and Swanley and Strood. Sole Street
s
across the county are set to benefit after can continue to help and support Dover, with bus replacement will be served by a mini bus to and
e
Kent County Council announced a local businesses grow stronger and services running instead. from Strood.
i
r further £5m of loans to boost economic more prosperous.” In addition, work will be taking Southeastern advises passen-
o growth and job creation. A recent independent audit report place between Swanley and the gers to check their journey before
t KCC’s Regional Growth Fund (RGF) praised KCC for demonstrating Rochester Bridge junction, closing setting out and to allow extra time if
S
has already supported some 242 strong and improving relative all lines. services are disrupted.
companies in the county with £55m performance in creating and
of loans that have created more than safeguarding local jobs and for being
2,212 jobs, safeguarded a further ‘unique’ in its decision to award Ambassador at launch of
» Download your free 1,663 and has been matched by grant money as interest free,
£87.3m of private sector investment. recyclable loans.
Kent News iPhone Now the Kent and Medway The loans can be used to develop Pocahontas 2017 events
and iPad App available Business Fund is offering a further new or expand existing products,
£5m of interest-free loans between services, or processes in businesses
at the Apple App Store £50,000 and £500,000 to SMEs. that would otherwise struggle to find
This additional round of funding funding from banks. US AMBASSADOR Matthew Gravesend’s St George’s Church.
comes through the start of repay- This latest scheme is designed to Barzun paid a special visit to She was just 21.
ment loans lent through earlier RGF encourage enterprise, growth and jobs Gravesend on Wednesday for the Now Pocahontas 2017 will
schemes, including Expansion East in the private sector and support areas start of a series of very special celebrate her pioneering life.
» Follow us on Kent, TIGER and Escalate. and communities across the county. events to mark the 400th anniver- The ambassador, in his final
KCC leader Paul Carter said: “The Businesses applying for funding sary of Pocahontas; the Native official speech before stepping
Twitter @kosmedia or Kent and Medway Business Fund is a must show that these will lead to American who travelled from the down, said: “We have heard how
Facebook KOS Media fantastic opportunity for businesses new jobs, deliver business growth US to live with her husband John Pocahontas’ bridge building
to get investment and grow with and improve productivity. Rolfe amid London society, only to inspires people. Heading home, I
confidence. Pre-applications can be submitted die as she travelled down the am so full of hope and inspired by
“The county is an attractive place until January 19 via the KCC website. Thames. She was buried at Pocahontas and her example.”
kentnews.co.uk kent-life.co.uk East Week ending January 15, 2017 5
s k
e
e Huge surge in crowds for Turner homecoming
w
y st CHIEFS of Margate’s Turner Contemporary say more The figures mark an increase of more than 31.5 per
a than 100,000 people visited its most recent exhibition cent compared with autumn 2015 and smashed the
p – the highest recorded since the gallery first opened 2.25 million visitor mark for the venue.
more than five years ago. In addition to the Turner exhibition was John

e Crowds flocked for JMW Turner: Adventures in Akomfrah’s Vertigo Sea – a three-screen video
h Colour for a chance to see 149 artworks by the famous installation offering a ‘meditation’ on our relationship
a artist, who once lodged on the site the gallery now sits. with the oceans. A new exhibition stars January 21.
t

g
n
i Public must be involved
r SOLD: One of the rare cups sold
u
d £46,000 for
d

k in any move to arm more pair of rhino
u
.
o horn cups
c cops – vows police chief
.
n s
w TWO rare Chinese cups, crafted from
rhino horn and spotted by the eagle-eye
e
of a Kent auctioneer, have sold for
n £46,000 in auction.
t By Tom Pyman ing,” he said. “The way we deal with They were from a collection of a
n terrorism is not just about arming family in Westerham, near Sevenoaks
e to m.py man@ arch ant.
e officers – contrary to what some who had called on a local auction house
k may believe we have very safe bor- to value a number of items they wanted
A SENIOR police chief says there are ders and we have a far more joined- to sell.
@
no plans to routinely arm officers up approach than on the continent. And although damaged, the valuer,
around the county and insists a pub- “We foil plots and intercept threats Alan White from Ibbett Moseley in
v s lic debate would have to be held be- but that doesn’t mean we should be Sevenoaks, spotted their potential and
e fore such a move was made. complacent. advised they be entered into a specialist
It comes after the Metropolitan Po- “If we ever got to a position where auction.
n
lice Federation launched a survey we were going to routinely arm offic- The two libation cups dated to the
li among members asking if they want- ers that would have to involve a mas- Quing Dynasty which stretched from
d ed to carry guns and tasers in a bid to sive public engagement because we 1644 to 1912 and received internation-
a combat the threat of terrorism. would be changing the way the po- al interest when they went on the
e e Last year Kent Police promised to lice operates. I don’t think we could market – eventually selling for £46,000.
h recruit an extra 24 firearms officers just say ‘we’re going to do it’ unless Mr White said: “We think the cups
and increased its presence around key we reach a state of emergency.” were probably purchased by a wealthy

e locations such as Bluewater, the Port It follows plans reported at the end Chinese buyer. I was especially sur-
h of Dover and Canterbury city centre. of last year to provide forces with a prised as they were damaged which I
t And police and crime commis- new taser, which is currently being thought would affect the value. The
s e seiaornlieerr tMhiast tmhoewnt hS hcoe twt aasn pnlaounnncinegd ARMED: Kent police debate aRsusdedss.ed by home secretary Amber fraemlatiliyv et hwihnok sd tihd elo ctus posf wtraervee lblionugg ahnt db y a
d
to raise the police precept on council A police spokesperson said: “Kent bought them back from China as a
a tax bills by an average of £5 to main- “We are not going to survey our Police follows national policy with souvenir.
m tain a frontline presence. officers at the moment about wheth- regards to the use of taser. We care- “They are some of the highest value
However, Ian Pointon, chair of the er they want to be routinely armed fully consider the risks posed to offic- objects I’ve spotted in 35 years in the
h Kent Police Federation, which repre- but I can understand why they are ers and provide a proportionate business. I feel relieved I spotted the
sents rank and file officers, told us he had asking in light of the new types of number of taser trained officers to cups otherwise they might have been
c
no plans to follow in the Met’s footsteps. terror threats Europe is experienc- protect themselves and the public.” thrown out or sold in a car boot sale.”
i
h
w
MP’s Gurkha fears Bodies found at cliffs Traffic analysis sees

s
e
over barracks closure confirmed as twins drop in Dover TAP
i
r
o
t
S
MAIDSTONE MP Helen Grant ramped up her THE identities of the two bodies found at the foot of cliffs CHIEF at the Port of Dover say a controversial traffic
campaign to prevent the closure of Invicta Park in Dover on New Year’s Day have been confirmed as management scheme leading up to the port is being
Barracks with a special meeting at Westminster 59-year-old twins Muriel and Bernard Burgess. implemented less, as a result of a major examination
this week. The brother and sister were both from the village of of its traffic flows.
» Download your free She met with a number of MPs from other Elton in Chester and found at the foot of Langdon Cliffs. And they say they are reaping the benefits of a
constituencies also facing proposed closures as As an inquest into both deaths was opened then two-year partnership with traffic specialists from the
Kent News iPhone part of the government’s Better Defence Estate adjourned until March, police are still appealing for University of Kent’s Business School to map pinch points.
and iPad App available strategy. It proposes the closure of a number of help to trace the last movements of the twins. They It says the combination of the new buffer zone
MoD sites. are keen to hear from guest houses, B&Bs, hotels, within the port complex - which is capable of holding
at the Apple App Store The discussion centred on the MPs’ fears about pubs and taxi drivers who may have been in contact four kilometres of traffic – and improved forecasting
the impact the proposed base closures will have on with them over the Christmas period. has resulted in a drop in the Dover TAP traffic
their communities and also on the ability of the The twins were wearing dark-coloured wet scheme. It was used 13 fewer times in April and May
Army to recruit and retain the best personnel. weather clothing and may have been seen at the top 2016, compared with 2015.
The Conservative MP said: “This decision is not of the cliffs in the period between Boxing Day and The port, the busiest ferry terminal in Europe, has
» Follow us on fair on those who give so much to our country and New Year’s Day. been working with traffic specialists to analyse data
deserve to be treated with a great deal more com- A man whose body was also discovered at the and build up a comprehensive picture of vehicle
Twitter @kosmedia or passion and understanding. bottom of the cliffs on January 1 was formally identified movements.
Facebook KOS Media “This rings particularly true for our Gurkhas to as a 45-year-old Scott Enion, from Manchester. Port chief executive Tim Waggott said: “We are
whom Maidstone has become their long term The deaths are not being treated as suspicious and doing more than ever to keep Dover town moving
home and for whom the closure of the base would police are not linking the death of Scott Enion with that while 17 per cent of the UK’s international trade
cause the greatest wrench.” of the Burgess twins. passes through the port.”
6 Week ending January 15, 2017 East kent-life.co.uk kentnews.co.uk
Not a public convenience as
Port’s £115m revival
works get started
council forced into more cuts
CONSTRUCTION is under way on a £115 million
project to revive Dover’s Western Docks.
The first construction stage includes the design
and build of two new berths including quay walls
By Luke May and land reclamation, a new marina pier and
dredging work. Following key enabling works,
[email protected]
this major phase of the construction programme
is set to begin within the next few weeks and is
GRAVESEHAM is set to hike up parking scheduled to be completed at the end of 2018.
charges and call time on a number of public
toilets in the latest wave of enforced cuts to Garage boss dies after
the local council.
A cabinet meeting this week proposed a
host of measures in a bid to slash £1.43 mil- brain tumour battle
lion off its budgets as central government
funding continues to be wound down.
To save £260,000, the Conservative-con- FORMER owner of the Cherry Tree Garage in
trolled council plans to increase parking fees Dover and a life-long member of the Methodist
by 30p for each tariff band, with resident and Church, Keith Tutthill has died. He was 71.
visitor parking permit prices also set to rise. He passed away at his home in Danes Court
Up to five public toilets could also close, in- earlier this month, a year after being diagnosed
cluding ones on Clive Road, Parrock Street with an incurable brain tumour. He had sold the
and Perry Street in Gravesend. CENTRE: Gravesend will see parking charges hikes and public toilets reduced business in March 2016 when he became ill.
Deputy leader at Gravesham Borough Coun-
cil David Turner explained: “With the an- and public convenience provision compares “embracing technological developments
nouncements made by the government in De- with other districts. and introducing alternative operating Flash burns on boat
cember the council’s need for savings has only “Gravesham will remain one of the cheap- models”, according to the council.
grown further and means that difficult deci- est places in Kent to park, with toilet provi- These changes, along with restructur-
sions have had to be made in order to continue sion retained within strategic positions in ing licence fees, and cutting down on pa- PARAMEDICS took a man in his 50s to hospital on
to deliver frontline services for our residents.” the town, such as the market, The Woodville per, could save up to £364,000. Thursday suffering flash burns and hypothermia
Last month the council announced plans and the council’s recreational grounds.” The cuts could continue, as the final following a boat fire off St Mary’s Island.
to close a tourism advice centre in St George’s Elsewhere the council is looking to share round of Gravesham’s budget review will Crews were called to the River Medway near
Square to save £66,000. its environmental health service costs with be looked at in the spring. Samphire Way where they found the man had
A council spokesperson defended the cuts another local authority, and do the same These latest plans are now to go before been rescued from the river by Army personnel
saying: “These changes following a thor- with its revenues and benefits service. the overview and scrutinee committee, based nearby, who had heard a small explosion
ough review of how the parking provision Money spent on CCTV will also be cut, by which will meet on Thursday, January 19. and seen smoke.
kentnews.co.uk kent-life.co.uk East Week ending January 15, 2017 7
Kentnews.co.uk... Kentnews.co.uk... Kentnews.co.uk... Kentnews.co.uk...
Nuclear strike threat alert
Manston campaigners stage
raised after talks splinter
summit to prove its viability
THE threat of strike action at ment’s expectation is that the
Dungeness edged closer this final salary pension schemes in
CAMPAIGNERS working to save week after talks failed to resolve a place across the NDA estate will
Manston Airport have called on row over pensions, leading to be reformed by April 2018.
supporters to unite ahead of a thousands of nuclear workers at Justin Bowden, of the GMB,
crunch meeting next month where sites across the UK being balloted said: “We remain committed to
the site’s future will be discussed. over future strike action. resolving these issues amicably
Thanet District Council is Members of trade unions and is available for meaningful
launching a public consultation on including the GMB, mainly talks should the government
its draft local plan, in which the site involved in decommissioning want to pull back from this
is to be turned over for mixed use, work, will vote in the coming shocking episode of broken
rather than aviation. weeks on whether to launch a promises to workers in the
The land is owned by the Stone campaign of industrial action nuclear industry.”
Hill Park project, which aims to in protest at plans by the The NDA spokesman said:
build 2,500 homes and leisure Nuclear Decommissioning “Government policy is that all
facilities through a planning Authority (NDA) to make public sector final salary
application submitted last year. savings of £660 million. pensions schemes should be
A report by consultants Avia Strikes could be held at the end reformed by 2018, and four
Solutions concluded that airport repeatedly stood by it. Winter Gardens from 10am until of February if there is support million public sector workers
operations at Manston were “very Described as a “technical 2pm on Saturday, February 4. A from workers. Workers affected have already moved to new
unlikely to be financially viable” meeting”, organised by Thanet spokesperson for the group said: “It include those at sites such as pension arrangements. Specific
and while its validity has been Liberal Democrats, the summit will will amount to a clear statement Sellafield, Anglesey, Ayrshire, decisions on how to change the
slammed in some quarters, Thanet bring together groups fighting to that Manston can be a sustainable, Dounreay and Dungeness. NDA’s estate pension schemes
council leader Chris Wells has save the airport at Margate’s viable aviation services hub.” The unions said the govern- have yet to be taken.”
Your chance to be on TV Jail for coke and gun Cut free from M20 crash Crook’s double danger
A BBC TV series is offering people the A DRUG dealer who hid cocaine and a EMERGENCY teams had to cut free a A CROOK who burgled two homes in one
chance to have a ‘money makeover’ that firearm at his home in Dartford has been woman from the wreckage of her car night has been jailed for three years and
could save them thousands of pounds. jailed for more than nine years. following a smash on the M20 motorway on four months.
Right on the Money is returning for a third Lee Nevard was arrested in 2015, after Friday morning. Christopher Anderson, 32, from London,
series and wants people from Kent to take large quantities of Class A drugs and a The smash took place near junction 11 for broke into two properties in Sandringham
part. Email [email protected] or loaded handgun were recovered from a Hythe at around 9.30am. The woman was Road, Gillingham, last month. He was caught
call 07711 387316. property in Sandringham Drive. taken to hospital for treatment. when using stolen cash cards.
8 Week ending January 15, 2017 East kent-life.co.uk kentnews.co.uk
Kentnews.co.uk... Kentnews.co.uk... Kentnews.co.uk... Kentnews.co.uk... Kentnews.co.uk... Kentnews.co.uk...
Circuit vows to keep on racing
Chiefs at Lydden Hill racetrack insist it still has a bright future despite losing the rights to host the
World Rallycross Championship which regularly pulls in 15,000 fans, but blames development delays
By Tom Pyman BRANDS UNLIKELY TO MAKE F1 BID
[email protected]
BRANDS Hatch chiefs have However, despite Brands
remained tight-lipped over hosting the race a dozen times
B
OSSES at the Lydden Hill speculation linking the circuit – the last of which being in 1986
race circuit say an inabili- with a return to hosting motor- – it is thought the huge expense
ty to deliver new facilities sports’ premier event – the of staging the race, and the
contributed to its loss of an British Formula One Grand Prix. improvements required to the
annual rallycross event F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone circuit, as well as traffic and local
last week – but insist the circuit near claimed two other UK circuits resident considerations, would
Dover will not close. had contacted him after Silver- prevent the circuit in West
Management and events firm IMG, stone suggested it may not renew Kingsdown pursuing the
which owns the rights to the compe- its deal to host the race. contract.
tition, shocked the sport when it an-
nounced the UK round of the World the world event, is looking forward clude truck, motorbike, classic car
Rallycross (WRX) Championship with excitement and optimism that shows, classic touring cars and cy-
would switch location to Silverstone POPULAR: Lydden Hill, near Dover, has become a big draw for race fans. the planning application for the new cling events to name a few of the ar-
in Northamptonshire in 2018, away facilities will come to fruition,” he eas under the team’s focus in the new
from the track where many consider entrance, grandstands and hospitali- the event has developed and grown said. events calendar.
the sport to have been born. ty centre which fell in line with the faster year on year than the circuit “Rallycross is still a big focus for “We also look forward to working
Race chiefs argue Lydden Hill has rising demands of the growing event plans by about two years. Lydden. We enjoy a fantastic work- with event partners such as the BHP
helped put the event on the map and and customer expectations. “So in essence, it could be consid- ing relationship with the British Au- show who bring a fantastic ever pop-
grow it into a spectacle that attracted “However the application has ered that we are a victim of our own tomobile Racing Club (BARC) [which ular event to the circuit each year.
a record 15,000 spectators last year. dragged on and although I have nev- success.” organises the British Rallycross “I feel confident the circuit will
Circuit owner and former race er based the new development on The track in Wootton celebrates 50 Championship] who have worked thrive and we look forward to being
champion Pat Doran said: “I don’t keeping the world championship years of rallycross this summer, very hard to bring the sport forward able to offer fabulous new facilities
think that we can ignore part of the contract, I feel sure our inability to when the event rolls into town for the and we will continue to work with and an exciting events calendar to
initial contract discussions with IMG deliver the new facilities in a timely final time on May 27 and 28. them helping to grow the British Ral- our customers in the near future
included the delivery of a develop- manner may have slightly influenced However, Mr Doran insists the loss lycross championship as it goes from and, who knows, we may yet see the
ment plan at Lydden Hill. the promotor’s decision to move the of the event does not consign Lydden strength to strength. WRX World Rallycross event back at
“In 2015 the circuit applied to Do- WRX. Hill to a doomed future. “Other events the Lydden team are Lydden one day, as it will always be
ver District Council to build a new “Having said that we do recognise “The circuit, although sad to lose currently putting together will in- the home of rallycross.”
kentnews.co.uk kent-life.co.uk East Week ending January 15, 2017 9
IS ANYBODY
THERE?
Unless psychic Sandra’s on the payroll,
seeking out the right customers can
be hit and miss.
GoTarget from Archant is the intelligent digital Boosting your print campaign and increasing
marketing solution that takes your message to your return on investment.
the right audience, wherever they go online.
GoTarget Display:
People with an interest in your products and More focus. Less hocus-pocus.
services - and the intent to purchase.
Find out more at gotarget.co.uk
Call us today on 0345 225 0888
Better targeting means better business
10 Week ending January 15,2017 kent-life.co.uk www.kentnews.co.uk