FFRREEEE KKWEEKLY FeeREE NEWnnSPAPER OttF THE YooEAR nn SSLondon and Suuouth of Englandnn Media Awardsddaayy www.kentnews.co.uk January 31, 2016 East edition No 697 CRIME Cops wait on Milly killer confessions Did Levi Bellfield discuss controversial murders? FILM Fans braced for Dad’s Army return TRANSPORT Tunnel Film club devoted to platoon anxiously awaits reboot vision HEALTH Landmark NHS case collapses in court Delight and despair at multi-billion Hospital trust cleared of pound lower Thames crossing plan corporate manslaughter 2 Week ending January 31,2016 kent-life.co.uk www.kentnews.co.uk Kent on Sunday PAGE PAGE 11 » 12 » WEEKLY FREE NEWSPAPER OF THE YEAR London and South of England Media Awards Sister title of www.kentnews.co.uk Is building more roads simply a bridge too far? AS anyone who has the misfortune to would still cause that teeth gnashing. regularly use the Dartford Crossing But the bigger issue is just how knows only too well, it is rarely the long a new crossing will sustain the opportunity for the motorist to truly relentless growth in the use of our enjoy the delights of the open road. roads - both by cars and the judder- PAGE Well, not unless they get their ing freight which romps across the 14 » kicks by sitting side by side hundreds county to and from the ports. of other people in their cars gnashing Because the reality is that in their teeth and trying to work out another 10 years we may be already how late they’re going to be. looking at needing another. This week alone, we saw a queue And with every major development stretch back well in excess of 10 miles we lose a little of the green fields we after an oil spill caused rush hour chaos. treasure. What’s more, they will So however much we may flinch at never return as a consequence. the thought of yet more of our So while those who live east of fine countryside being paved Gravesend will need to come up over, there is really little with a remarkable reason, it PAGE PAGE debate when it comes to seems, to get the juggernaut 5 » 28 » whether there is a need for an stopped or reversed, we need additional crossing option. to guard against believing With the best will in the that more roads are the world to the good folk of answer to all our transport ills. Gravesend, it would have been a The cost to our surroundings is PAGE foolish mission to build simply too high a price to 19 » another in Dartford. pay. Read our full The town suffers report on the enough as it is - and plans inside on another oil spill Editor Chris Britcher pages 14-16. (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 Contents News 14 Battle over 26 Town unites HOW TO CONTACT US… PAGE Publisher: Simon Irwin 05 What did new tunnel 20 » for greatness EEmdiatiol rs:i mCohnr.iisr wBriintc@hearrc hant.co.uk Bellfield say? Gravesend to get Big and small alike Email [email protected] Address: Kent House, 81 Station Thames crossing? team up in west Kent Road, Ashford TN23 1PP Could notorious Kent Editorial: News: 01233 653475 19 From deep to The Arts Sport/Leisure: 01233 653479 case be involved? Email [email protected] 07 Dreamland the beach 33 Gareth Gates Advertising: Jobs/Notices: 01233 653461 report fury The whales washed up hits the stage Business: 01233 653461 Email [email protected] Council denies it kept along our coastline From Pop Idol to latest REemtaaiill/ sLaeliessu@rek/oMsomtoerds:i a0.1c2o3.u3k 653461 warning secret 20 Is boxing on tour of the UK Distribution: 01233 653470 11 Dad’s Army the slide? 40 Get ready for FOLLOW US ONLINE @ • kentnews.co.uk 2016 style Author questions the Valentine’s • kentnews.co.uk/mobile • jobsforkent.co.uk health of prestigious Classic comedy gets Ideas to get the pulse • homes24.co.uk heavyweight division • drive24.co.uk big screen reboot racing for love night • twitter@kosmedia 22 Rowing into 12 NHS trust Published in Kent and printed by Archant Print, history books Plus d(Civoi sRioeng oNf oA 1rc9h3a0n0t) C. Roemgmistuenreitdy MOfefidciea: LPirmositpeedc t case dropped House, Rouen Road, Norwich NR1 1RE Letters ..................... Broadstairs’ Meg Dyos Page 36 Dramatic end to Images of Kent ...... part of Pacific Ocean Page 37 landmark case boat team kentnews.co.uk kent-life.co.uk East Week ending January 31, 2016 3 Sparshatts of Kent 01795 479571 4 Week ending January 31,2016 kent-life.co.uk www.kentnews.co.uk s k Cops refuse to comment e e w y t s on Bellfield confessions a p e h a t g By Chris Murphy n i [email protected] r u d d POLICE have refused to comment if serial killer Levi Bellfield is to be k investigated over the brutal double u killings of Lin and Megan Russell in . a quiet Kent village 20 years ago. o Michael Stone, from Gillingham, c is serving three life sentences for . the crime, but doubts have long n s lingered over his guilt. He has w always claimed he was innocent. At sentencing he was told he must e serve at least 25 years behind bars. n Mrs Russell, 45, had been walking t back through fields near her home n on a July afternoon with her two e e children when they were attacked by KILLER: Levi Bellfield this week finally admitted responsibility for killing schoolgirl Milly Dowler k a man wielding a hammer. Both she and daughter Megan, 8, to the photo-fit issued by Kent criminal investigations. That Bellfield had always maintained @ were killed, along with the pet dog. Police at the time of the Russell information remains subject to his innocence and refused to give Her other daughter, Josie - just nine murders in Chillenden, near assessment and for that reason we evidence at his trial in the murder v s at the time of the attack - miracu- Canterbury. will not be discussing the matter in of the 13-year-old. e lously survived. Kent Police is referring all calls further detail at this time. But when police spoke to him Campaigners for Stone’s inno- on possible admissions by Bellfield “We are not prepared to discuss recently over claims he had a n cence have long suggested Bellfield to New Scotland Yard, which is at this time the number of investi- possible accomplice in the Milly li - who this week admitted responsi- handling the issue. gations or details of any case.” Dowler case, it is understood he d bility for the rape and muder of A Met Police spokesman told us: And when asked if Kent was one admitted to a string of crimes. a Surrey schoolgirl Milly Dowler in “We are liaising with a number of of those constabularies, the Bellfield has already been e e 2002 - may be responsible. other UK police forces in relation to spokesman said: “We are not convicted for the murders of two h He was known to attack with a information which has been passed prepared to discuss that whilst other young girls and attempted hammer and bears a resemblance onto us regarding a number of assessment remains ongoing.” murder of a third. e h t s e Our rail firms emerge Driver dies in fireball after d a m with lowest satisfaction horrific crash on the M20 h c scores in national study A FATAL crash on the M20 on junction four for West Malling and i h Thursday night forced the closure the exit for the M26 at junction three w of both lanes of the motorway and for Wrotham, at around 10.03pm. after one of the vehicles involved The van then caught fire. The SOUTHERN and Southeastern - the two said: “These latest results indicate burst into flame, emergency driver failed to escape and was s rail operators providing services across that our passengers value the resurfacing work too. declared dead at the scene. e Kent - have come bottom in the latest improvements we have been making On Friday, police were appeal- Police had not revealed the i r rail passenger satisfaction survey. across our network and it is encour- ing for witnesses to anyone who identity of the deceased by the o A survey of more than 28,000 aging to see satisfaction levels have saw a Fiat Ducato van collide with a time KoS went to press. t passengers by independent passenger increased on our mainline and high white DAF truck on the London- Anyone with information, should S watchdog Transport Focus, found a speed trains. bound carriageway between call 01622 798538. slight increase in overall satisfaction “This aside, we realise there is a to 83 per cent in autumn 2015 - up great deal more work to do to from 81 per cent year-on-year. improve our scores. We are currently Work on town centre cinema » Download your free But operators with the three part way through a £70m invest- lowest ratings were all in the south ment programme that has seen us Kent News iPhone east, where long-running improve- bring in more real time information to get under way in October and iPad App available ment work at London Bridge station for passengers, refurbish and deep has caused disruption to services. clean our trains and stations, and at the Apple App Store Thameslink had the lowest provide more employee assistance at proportion of satisfied passengers at stations. A CINEMA chain has joined a the new leisure quarter which will 73 per cent, followed by Southeast- “Our focus is on continuing to regeneration project designed to sit between the high street and ern (75 per cent) and Southern (78 make improvements that benefit all pump £57 million into transforming Sittingbourne train station. per cent). our passengers and working closely Sittingbourne town centre. It joins the Spirit of Sittingbourne » Follow us on But Southeastern insists it is on with Network Rail to improve the And that means work on an project - a partnership between the right track and points to punctuality of our trains.” eight-screen multiplex from The property regeneration company Twitter @kosmedia or year-on-year improvements. Southeastern’s franchise currently Light Cinemas could be under way U+I, developers Quinn Estates and Facebook KOS Media It says the 75 per cent is a one per runs until 2018. It is widely expected by the end of the year. Swale Borough Council. cent increase on the previous year, it will face stiff competition to cling The new 24,000 sq ft cinema is Current plans anticipate work on and a two-year high. on to the right to provide train planned alongside six new family the cinema will start in October Managing director David Statham services in the south east. restaurants as the centrepiece of with completion set for early 2018. kentnews.co.uk kent-life.co.uk East Week ending January 31, 2016 5 s k e e Sinkhole filled with concrete as A249 lane open w y st ONE lane of the Sheppey-bound A249 at Bobbing However, it says it is currently unsafe to reopen the a re-opened on Friday after a water leak and then a slip road and inside lane. Surveys have not confirmed p sinkhole caused chaos. the stability of the ground underneath the road and the Motorists have been left facing big queues at peak adjacent void in the ground is a potential risk to drivers. e times after the road had to be shut. The southbound A249 remains open. h But now Highways England say the outside lane on Highways chiefs have ordered for the sinkhole to be a the northbound A249 is back in business. filled with concrete. t g n i Barnes’ fury as Whitehall r HIT: Peter Andre as conductor u d Military band d k rejects bid to ease Stack baton picked u . o up by pop star c burden on Kent taxpayer . n s w STUDENTS from a military academy were in for a surprise when pop star e turned personality Peter Andre made a n surprise appearance to conduct the t By Chris Britcher to cover Stack and for those extra school band. n costs to be borne by the taxpayers in A band from the Duke of York’s Royal e [email protected] e Kent. Military School in Dover were perform- k “Even this week I saw hundreds of ing at The Sun Military Awards, “the POLICE and crime commissioner lorries parked up on the M20, thanks Millies”, at the Guildhall, London. @ Ann Barnes says she has been left to a difficulty in the tunnel and the As the school military band took “utterly surprised” and “disappoint- adverse weather conditions position by the red carpet to perform to v s ed” after home secretary Theresa “This misery has been going on people leaving the star-studded event, e May refused to foot the bill for addi- for years and will continue until we the singer took the baton and led the tional costs incurred by Kent Police get a long-term solution.” band for several minutes. n in dealing with Operation Stack last But responding to Mrs Barnes’ High-profile guests included Rod li summer. criticism, minister Mike Penning, Stewart, Penny Lancaster, Ian Wright, d A letter was sent in November by said: “Police forces should include Susanna Reid, Gaby Roslin and Joey a Mrs Barnes to the minister for polic- within their policing and budget Essex as well as defence secretary and e e ing, fire, criminal justice and vic- plans reasonable contingencies for Sevenoaks MP Michael Fallon and h tims, Mike Penning, requesting unexpected events in their areas. mayor of London Boris Johnson, many funding under the Home Office spe- “Special grant funding is usually of whom stopped to chat to the students e cial grant process to reimburse the only available when the additional on the way through to the dinner, h £576,925 it cost the local taxpayer. costs are more than one per cent of honouring the courage and fortitude of t But Theresa May has turned it down. the PCC’s budget, or where the addi- Britain’s Armed Forces. s e is aMcrksn Boawrlneedsg seadi da:s “ aO npeartaiotnioanl Sptraocbk- SNUB: Theresa May tniaonnacila cl ostsatsb ilmityig ohft t hthe rfeoarcteen. the fi- priCnhcripisa Rl,u ssasiedl:l ,“ tMhae nsych oof oolu’sr e pxuepcuilsti hvea ve d lem now, and yet policing services in “At March 31 2015, the Kent PCC parents serving in the Armed Forces so a Kent have been put under strain to how we can take things forward had £34.4m in resource reserves, the Milllies are always of great interest m deal with it. Local taxpayers should from here to make sure that Kent Po- which increased by more than ten to our school community. Many not have to pick up the bill for the in- lice is not left carrying the can in the per cent last year.” celebrities stopped to remark on the h ability of others to solve the problem. future. Additional costs for Stack repre- excellent performance of the band and “I need to discuss with the Home “It is simply not acceptable to have sented 0.2 per cent of the force’s an- some were even spotted recording the c Office, as a matter of urgency, about to routinely divert police resources nual budget, the Home Office said. music on their mobile phones.” i h w Hotel owner named Are CCTV cameras Hundreds of lorries s e i in Debrett’s 500 list still cutting crime? moved on by cops r o t S OWNER of Ramsgate’s Albion House Hotel, Gay A CONSULTATION has been launched into CCTV A MAJOR crack down on illegally and unsafe parked Haines, has been named in the latest Debrett’s cameras in Swale - in a bid to ensure they are lorries have seen nearly 450 moved on in the last two 500 list - a rundown of the most influential people positioned in the correct places to crack down on weeks alone. in Britain. crime and antisocial behaviour (ASB). Between January 8 and 21, police officers and » Download your free She is the co-founder of executive search firm There are currently 84 CCTV cameras in operation Highways England officials moved on a total of 447 Grace Blue which specialises in placing the top across Sittingbourne, Faversham, Sheppey and lorries found to be parked inappropriately. Kent News iPhone creative talent into the top advertising companies surrounding villages, and the local council has a legal Locations where HGVs were moved on include and iPad App available with offices around the world. duty to make sure they are effective. junctions eight, 11 and 13 of the M20, the A20 at Capel-le Her inclusion in the list sees her make a little Explains Ken Pugh, cabinet member for commu- Ferne, the A2 near Canterbury, and Farthing Corner on at the Apple App Store history too. She is the first headhunter in the nity safety at the council: “Whilst the vast majority are the M2. Fixed penalty notices were issued to 37 vehicles. advertising, marketing and PR category to be effective, a significant number may no longer be It is the latest enforcement by Kent Police and included. performing a useful role. Highways England and forms part of a wider She bought the Albion Hotel in 2014 and put it “This could be because crime overall has fallen in the multi-agency approach to dealing with the broader into the hands of husband and wife management borough, or the issue they were put up to address no issue of unsafe, illegal and antisocial HGV parking. » Follow us on team Ben and Emma Irvine who opened it for longer exists. In order to justify the legal need to keep Superintendent Ian Hall, from Kent Police said: business at the end of 2015. these cameras, we are consulting with local people, “Parking on the hard shoulder and slip roads of busy Twitter @kosmedia or It appeared on an episode of Channel 5’s Hotel businesses, parish councils and other groups to ask carriageways for a rest is unsafe and illegal and it puts Facebook KOS Media Inspector, and has since become one of Thanet’s their views on the effectiveness of particular cameras.” drivers and other road users in danger. most popular hotels. The consultation will be open until March 31 and “Kent Police and its partners are taking a zero- Debretts said of her entry: “Haines is the most the questionnaire for response is available at www. tolerance approach to this kind of behaviour by lorry important connection for the most connected.” surveymonkeyco.uk/r/swalecctv. drivers.” 6 Week ending January 31, 2016 East kent-life.co.uk kentnews.co.uk Council denies it suppressed Eatery is No 1 in Top 50 Gastropubs list damning Dreamland report THE Sportsman in Seasalter has once again been named number one in the Top 50 Gastropubs of the year list. The 2016 edition, compiled by trade title The By Chris Britcher Publican’s Morning Advertiser, put the Whitstable eatery at the top and one of only two Kent entries [email protected] to make the prestigious countdown. The other was Bidborough’s the Kentish Hare THANET District Council has hit back at which came in at number 33. claims it deliberately sat on a report which warned of the financial risks associated with Warning over bogus re-opening Dreamland. It comes after a former councillor revealed details of a report by commercial property blue badge websites advisors GVA, in February 2015, over the awarding of the contract to run the re-imag- ined theme park on the seafront. TRADING Standards chiefs are warning of In the report, it describes the project as websites offering bogus blue badges. having a “substantial risk profile”, that the It says it has received reports of websites “risk outweighs the benefits” and said “there charging £49 for a badge - and asking for a host of is considerable risk associated with the via- personal information. bility of a scheme of this nature particularly They should only cost £10 and are only available in a secondary/ tertiary coastal location”. ROW: Firm running Dreamland park found itself running up debts of £2.9m by contacting Kent County Council. It prompted former Labour and Green Par- ty councillor Ian Driver, who lost his seat at developers warning of the high risk of the council as it is a commercially sensitive the local elections last May, to accuse the Dreamland project failing. Instead of acting document. The extract released, which Dickens house boost council of burying the report. on the warnings and working to develop con- confirms the complexities and risks of a It follows news at the end of last year that tingency plans to secure the project, the re- unique project of this scale, is something the firm operating Dreamland, Sands Herit- port was kept secret from councillors. “ that has been acknowledged by the council MEDWAY Council says work to restore Roches- age Ltd, had run up debts of £2.9m and had But the council insists it has done nothing and its partners throughout. ter’s famous Charles Dickens museum will to strike a compulsory voluntary arrange- wrong. In a statement, it said: “We quite “The council is perfectly satisfied in fol- resume this spring. ment (CVA) with creditors. rightly sought independent opinion on the lowing its due process and adopted the rec- Eastgate House featured in Dickens’ written Mr Driver said: “What has happened here is selection process for the operator of the ommendations of the report. Extracting works The Pickwick Papers and The Mystery of utterly astounding. Top council bosses were Dreamland amusement park. This is a stand- comments from a report and taking them Edwin Drood. in possession of, or knew about, a report from ard process for the council. out of context is inappropriate and mis- It is expected works on the 16th century a large reputable firm of commercial property “The report was not published by the leading.” townhouse will be complete this year. kentnews.co.uk kent-life.co.uk East Week ending January 31, 2016 7 Kentnews.co.uk... Kentnews.co.uk... Kentnews.co.uk... Kentnews.co.uk... Partner of EastEnders star Resignation at G4S centre after high-level pressure says he’ll not fight extradition THE director of a G4S-run inmates aged 12 to 17. facility for young inmates Inspectors have “significant THE boyfriend of ex-EastEnders which is at the centre of abuse concerns” about the facility actress Sian Blake has agreed to and mistreatment allegations is following allegations of abuse return to the UK where he is stepping down following and mistreatment of youngsters suspected of killing her and their criticism of its management. aired on the BBC’s Panorama two children. Ralph Marchant is standing programme this month. Arthur Simpson-Kent, 48, down with immediate effect at An undercover reporter appeared at court in Accra, Ghana, Medway Secure Training captured footage showing staff on Tuesday and said he would not Centre in Rochester, but will mistreating and abusing fight extradition back to Britain. remain employed by the private inmates, and boasting about The hairdresser left the UK days security firm. using inappropriate techniques after Ms Blake and their two sons It is understood there are no to restrain youngsters. Zachary, eight, and four-year-old allegations relating to the Other allegations included Amon were reported missing. conduct of Mr Marchant, who is claims that staff tried to hide They were last seen on December being replaced on an interim their actions by ensuring they 13, and were found buried in the basis by Ben Saunders - the were beneath CCTV cameras or back garden of the family’s home in director of the immigration in areas not covered by them. Erith on January 5. arrested on January 9. Blake and her sons. removal centres at Gatwick. Justice secretary Michael Gove Police had spoken to Simpson- Scotland Yard is under investiga- Ms Blake, pictured above. played The development came after announced the appointment of an Kent at the house on December 16, tion by the police watchdog for the Frankie Pierre in 56 episodes of chief inspector of prisons, Nick independent improvement board and returned two days later to find way it handled the missing persons EastEnders between 1996 and Hardwick, said managerial to provide “increased oversight” the property empty. He arrived in inquiry, and why it took more than 1997. She was suffering from motor oversight had failed to protect at Medway and for G4S to put in Ghana the following day, and was three weeks to find the bodies of Ms neurone disease before she died. young people at the centre for place an improvement plan. Kent Foundation chair Bake Off judge cashes in Stack consultation ends Watch out for bogus BT JULIAN Kirkness has been appointed GREAT British Bake Off judge Paul Holly- A CONSULTATION into plans to solve the FRAUDSTERS claiming to work for BT are chairman of county charity the Kent wood is set to see his salary as a judge on problems of Operation Stack ended on scamming people in the county out of Foundation. the hit TV show rise to £600,000. Tuesday night after highways chiefs were hundreds of pounds, Trading Standards has The software developer has been a The Wingham baker has been an integral forced to extend the deadline by 24 hours. warned. supporter of the organisation since 2013 and of the show’s success. Last year’s final was It follows a problem with the software used The bogus caller asks for up upfront fee of became vice chairman last year. He the highest rated show of the year. The BBC online to gather responses. £300 to provide an opt-out service for spam replaces Allan Mowatt after 20 years. refused to comment on the reports. Plans include a lorry park at Stanford. calls. 8 Week ending January 31, 2016 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... Top Three Stories Top Three Blogs 1. Lottery winnings 1. Burglaries down 21% What would you do if you won the jackpot? West Kent figures down since October 2. I love Don’t Tell the Bride 2. LED street light contract FEATURED PHOTO GALLERY: See the recently-refurbished Assembly Hall Theatre in Tun- Confessions of a guilty pleasure Changes will save us £5.2m a year bridge Wells, which this week hosted the launch of a town centre management scheme. 3. Lorry lane needed 3. Skills shortage fears Worrying construction industry figures Missed last week’s...? WwKwWwE.kEeKnELthYDne eUFwCRAEs.TEco INoO.EuNnWk S PJaAinPuaErsRyt O24F, 2T0H t1E6o YoEARpn SLondon anud South of Englannd Media AwaErddasst editiona No 696yFFRREEEE ReWshyu HlGtVss c aousfe ntihghetm aKre coomSm utes The Essential Guide: .wD..YOwONwU’T. kc awenno rrtenryae dwi ft shy.eoc upo .ausptkerur gognllein e vbiaac oku thr reo-uEgdhit itoinm aet with an ar- MsFocuehldolf wolel asaty gi niuhn Kes tieadenbet l ae nsc dfo rl ass? 25K,0enf0otr 0B iit gsFu 1WTR0pOethUEe Rf kaIoEeSnMnrn tdi vgi iecsrr kbsaaaebcrtykss Online Poll to pick up a copy of Kent on chive which stretches back Should the UK remain SsoiuuvYnre o dwauaer ybcc,h saoiintrve me ak, cieoscnsneteslndisne aweo ,cus o.trcph oyer..xoutukeg.n h- yidteo’sAan r’nats d.lflo trhfgreee teb, ewtsote opaf rciotc vaeisldls,e. iasP tflhuualsl,t rGrPideeeott routenha rodounyr Tlf soRerorA aNsadS ebPsOuaRmsTpoyn YcoaLIFnurOo vCesriUpn Sesggce uiCaraliv rdreei epc2o0 etr1to6s: part of the EU? 1 You can read the full paper, news service throughout the Yes - 14% download articles you partic- week, to supplement your 2 ...to the proposed crossing ularly enjoy, and take a walk weekend read. No - 84% 3 Undecided - 1% Everything you need to know about the new follow us on Twitter @kosmedia and on Facebook.com/KentonSunday 4 crossing, including public exhibition dates Don’t care - 1% kentnews.co.uk kent-life.co.uk East Week ending January 31, 2016 9 10 Week ending January 31,2016 kent-life.co.uk www.kentnews.co.uk