Kent on Sunday (North & West), January 18, 2009

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LEGAL THREAT
OVER AIRPORT
By STEVE KNIGHT
Mayor Boris still
LONDON Mayor Boris Johnson
may support a legal challenge wants an island
against Heathrow’s expansion
because of his preference for a new
airport instead
airport off the Kent coast.
Transport Secretary Geoff Hoon announced
on Thursday the Government had approved
controversial plans for a third runway despite of approved third
widespread opposition from residents, envi-
ronmentalists and MPs.
Mr Johnson has been a vocal opponent of the Heathrow runway
scheme and feels the option of a new airport
off the Isle of Sheppey has not yet been fully
explored.
At a transport question and answer session
just hours before the Heathrow announce-
ment was made,he told MPs the environmen- Sittingbourne and Sheppey Labour MP at Heathrow could be to place more reliance on “However,we do not want a Thames Estuary
tal impact on the Thames Estuary would not Derek Wyatt and Kent County Council leader Kent International Airport at Manston. airport.I do support making the best use of
be as bad as that created by a new runway Paul Carter are two of many who have con- The comments were welcomed by Cllr our existing airports in the South East,such
at Heathrow. demned Mr Johnson’s plans. Carter who became mired in controversy last as Luton and Stansted, and welcome the
He said:“I want to make it clear to every- The RSPB also voiced its disapproval of the November when he announced at a business opportunity of Kent International being
body that there might be other solutions and it idea when it was suggested last September, meeting that Mr Johnson had agreed to drop turned into a significant regional hub.
would be remiss of us to ignore them. saying it would be “the single biggest piece of his support for a Thames Estuary airport. “When high-speed domestic rail services
“Wherever, they will be considerably less environmental vandalism” ever perpetrated The mayor later claimed he had agreed no between Ramsgate and London start at the
damaging than expanding London’s major in the UK. such thing. end of the year it will dramatically reduce
international airport in the west of London. However,there was a glimmer of hope that Cllr Carter said on Friday:“I have had very travel times to and from the capital,making
That is not the way to go. Mr Johnson could change his mind about the constructive discussions with Boris Johnson the airport an attractive option.”
“Any solution,including the Thames Estuary proposals when he indicated on Thursday that and his officers and I quite understand he does Regardless of whether or not Mr Johnson
airport,has got to be better than that.” another possible alternative to a third runway not want another runway at Heathrow. CONTINUED ON PAGE TWO
22I newsWEEKENDINGJANUARY18, 2009 www.kentnews.co.uk for all the news and sport ADVERTISING(cid:2)01303 817000
dover- france
Fosterers have not
ferries for less
c£ar+4 eac1h wa9y from
*
been ‘shortchanged’
book online or call
0844 847 5010
Passing of draft budget will see rise in pay
* Includes all surcharges and taxes. See website for details and full terms and conditions.
Kent today CedO UthNe CaILm oleuandte rosf hsauvpep odretf enthde- Picture: P iwnoCgr lkiltris nR ghi dufionnrdg rsKe sCdasCi do ffso ofrom s4te5e f roy scetaaerrreser rsas. nhda dw boeuelnd
authority gives its foster carers, OS not have stayed that long if they had not
E
writes Jenna Pudelek. D B been paid a “reasonable amount”.
Kent County Council was criticised by fos- Y M A spokesman for KCC added:“We’ve been
terers and a Labour MP in last week’s Kent OD told by foster carers that money is not the
21 on Sunday for failing to pay out recom- EL main motive. They want to provide the
mended levels of child maintenance money. child with what they need,and as skilled
Cllr Leyland Ridings, the authority’s professionals they are entitled to be paid for
cabinet member for children,said:“Foster their work, which tends to be above and
carers are really important to us,critical. beyond most family life.
“There are 700 in the county at this time “We realise that training and support is
22 and we do have to pay them well. key to the success of foster care in the county.
“If we start sending them [children] out to Initial and on-going training is provided,as is
independent fostering agencies they are the opportunity to study for a recognised
significantly more expensive.We have a lot professional qualification.
cTlOeaDrAtoY:leAawveinidtydrdyawyitohnacefemwosreu.nAnnyyinetearrvlyarlsaiqnuwiteillpos- better control over our own people – we HELPING: 130 new foster carers needed “Local fostering groups, fostering social
sible.Astrongwesterlywinds.Maxtemp6-9C(43-48F). support them and train them well.” workers and an out-of-hours advice service
TONIGHT:Afewclearspellsbuttherewillalsobe The article showed how KCC and plus we will be paying £192.71 and the DCSF are just some of the examples of the sup-
showers.Strengtheningsoutherlywinds.Mintemp Medway Council had been giving foster recommends £179 so it is in excess of that.” port available to carers,whether they are
3-6C(37-43F). carers the lowest maintenance allowance He said the increase will go-ahead if the new to the profession or have upwards of 40
for children in the South East and falling full council passes the draft budget,which years’ service like some carers.”
AroundBritain
short of Government recommendations. it is expected to do. A recent Ofsted inspection of services for
°C °F °C°F While Medway had sharply increased its Rubbish children and young people rated KCC ‘out-
Aberdeen fair 5 41 London fair 7 45 payments,in 2008-09 KCC is still paying out standing’ and ‘good’.
Belfast fair 8 46 Liverpool fair 7 45 slightly less money for the day-to-day care of “We are now looking for 130 carers and if Information sessions for prospective fos-
Birminghamshowers5 41 Manchester fair 6 43 fostered children than the Department for they think we are paying them rubbish ter carers are being held in Whitstable at
B’mouth fair 6 43 Newcastle fair 6 43 Children,Schools and Families suggests. that will not help,” Cllr Ridings said. the Community College on Monday, in
Bristol hail 8 46 Norwich fair 7 45 KCC says the DCSF allowed councils “Combined with the professional fee we will Dartford on February 24 and in Sandwich
Cardiff hail 7 45 Oxford fair 7 45 three years to phase it and by 2009-10,the pay more than £387.43 [for an older child].” on March 19.They run from 7-8.30pm.
Cork fair 6 43 Southsea fair 7 45 deadline,it will be meeting the minimum. The authority did not accept that it • For full details on KCC fostering visit
Edinburgh sleet 6 43 S’hampton fair 7 45
Cllr Ridings said:“For children aged 16- had,up until this year,been shortchang- www.kent.gov.uk/fostering.
Glasgow showers6 43 Southport sun – –
IsleofMan showers7 45 Swansea cloudy 7 45
Leeds snow 5 41 Torquay hail 7 45
Sun&moon ‘We must persuade government to change its policy,
Sunrise 7.52am Sunset 4.20pm Lightinguptimes:
Moonrise1.01am Moonset 10.23am 4.20pmto7.51am or we will be fighting them on our doorsteps soon’
HighTides
today tomorrow CONTINUED FROM FRONT PAGE ing runway here at Kent Meanwhile, homeowners in Ruby warned people living in
ht(m) ht(m) ht(m) ht(m) lends his support to Manston, International has a significant Dartford were handed a reprieve Cliffe the Heathrow approval did
Dover 03.48 6.2 16.205.7 04.43 5.8 17.225.4 higher-ups at the airport say the role to play in alleviating the when the Government announced not mean they were safe from
Margate 04.43 4.5 17.244.1 05.34 4.2 18.163.9 approval of Heathrow’s third well-documented capacity prob- it was ditching plans for ‘mixed the possibility of a new airport
StMary’s 09.43 4.8 22.134.5 10.39 4.4 23.204.3 runway will not affect their own lems in the South East,especial- mode’ operations that would being built in their backyards.
Weekahead future expansion plans. ly with the work at Heathrow not have meant all-day take-offs and He said:“The airport lobbyists
A KIA spokesman said: “The set to begin until 2015.” landings at Heathrow. have tasted blood and will be
decision recognises the impor- Kent International owner Had the proposals gone ahead, back for more.We must persuade
monday thursday
tance of aviation to the UK econ- Infratil wants to build a new ter- flight paths would have been the Government to change its
Rainatfirst Dull.Rain
omy and will ensure Heathrow’s minal at the airport and extend moved eight miles further from policy,which caters to a predicted
max8Cmin2C max8Cmin3C
position as a leading airport is its existing runway,with hopes of the airport and therefore over ever-increasing demand, or we
maintained. seeing two million passengers the town. will be fighting them on our
tuesday friday “However,we believe the exist- per year using it by 2011. But Medway councillor Geoff doorsteps very soon.”
Scatteredshowers Dull.Rain
max6Cmin0C max8Cmin5C
wednesday saturday
Sunnyspells Dull.Rain
max6Cmin3C max9Cmin4C
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EDITORIAL(cid:2)01303 817100 www.kentnews.co.uk for all the news and sport • WEEKENDINGJANUARY18, 2009news I 3
County council threatened with strike Lose pounds for
pounds in NHS
UNION members at Kent Buss said workers would be offi- “We are the poor relations of cials at KCC earn in excess of
County Council could go on cially balloted following approval many other public sector workers £100,000 per year and have
strike after rejecting a proposed from Unison’s industrial action and our salary levels start about asked the council to reconsider weight loss plan
one per cent pay award. committee, which will meet by £1,000 lower than those in the its offer.
When announcing KCC’s draft January 27 at the latest. NHS and police. However, Cllr Carter told the
budget last week, leader Paul He added: “We had another “There’s also the fact that school BBC that the one per cent offer HEALTH bosses are calling for volunteers to
Carter said he believed staff would meeting on Thursday with KCC, support staff have only been was “full and final”. take part in a trial that pays obese people to
be satisfied with the offer,given but they’re not prepared to offered one per cent and are work- He added: “We will go on lose weight,writes Jenna Pudelek.
the current economic climate. increase their offer. ing with teachers who have been negotiating with the unions and NHS Eastern and Coastal Kent said hun-
However,the reality turned out “There are a number of reasons offered 2.5 per cent,so that’s obvi- hopefully we can get them to see dreds of people stand to earn rewards from £70
to be quite different when about why we are not happy with the ously led to a lot of resentment reason.” up to £425 for meeting their personal weight
1,900 Unison members consulted pay award.Firstly,our pay has and ill feeling. It’s not that we Any industrial action could loss targets.
by the union over Christmas said fallen significantly compared to want to rush ahead of the pack.” begin in March,with disruption Claire Martin, public health specialist for
they would back industrial action. other government workers,so we Unison members are also upset to many services expected if the primary care trust (PCT),said:“Achieving
Service conditions officer David have some catching up to do. that several high-ranking offi- strikes and supported. a healthier weight and encouraging people
to choose a healthier lifestyle are major issues
for the health service.
Lumley angry over “We hope this trial will help establish
whether financial incentives can motivate peo-
ple to shed the pounds – and keep them off.This
is their chance to be one of the first and make
the east Kent wide programme a success.”
The PCT said it needed 300 volunteers and
the amount of cash grows as targets become
MoD scaremongers more challenging.This is the first public trial
by the NHS of a weight loss incentive scheme.
To see this clip search ‘puppy’
@ yourkenttv.co.uk
ACTRESS Joanna Lumley has to the heart of this issue and allows the
declared war on the Ministry of Gurkhas to come.”
An MoD spokeswoman dismissed specu-
Defence for “exaggerating” the
lation it planned to disband the Gurkhas.
cost of allowing retired Gurkhas She said:“Between 1948 and 1997,some
to settle in the UK, writes Steve 30,100 Nepalese men joined the Brigade of
Gurkhas.There is no data readily available
Knight.
to give a reliable estimate of the number of
Last September,High Court judges ruled dependants for this group of Gurkha veter-
the current system of allowing only those ans. There are no plans to disband the
soldiers who retired after 1997 to remain in Gurkhas,who have served this country with
the UK was unlawful and ordered the distinction and honour over many decades.
Home Office to come up with new rules. “The Government continues to recognise
Former Absolutely Fabulous star Lumley FIGHT: Joanna Lumley battles for Gurkhas the courage and commitment of these sol-
is backing a national campaign to secure diers,particularly now in Afghanistan.
equal rights for the Nepalese fighters, “Let’s face it – even if the MoD’s figure “We are working closely with the Home Get some top tips for the best
many of whom are based in Kent. was correct,all these retired Gurkhas have Office as it develops revised immigration ways to train your pet puppy with
Shorncliffe Barracks in Folkestone is earned the right to settle here by serving rules for the Gurkhas.” canine expert Pippa Ducat
home to the 2nd Battalion The Royal and fighting in our army.
Gurkha Rifles who are currently serving in “The idea that they will be a ‘drain’ on the
Afghanistan,while nearly half the soldiers NHS is offensive because these people were
from the Maidstone-based 36 Engineers prepared to fight and die for it.
Regiment are Queen’s Gurkha Engineers. “Many of them had money deducted from
Responding to fears Gurkhas will become their pay to help pay for it.They have as
too expensive as a result of the court ruling much right as any British citizen to use it.”
and be dropped from the Army as a result, Gurkha Justice Campaign organiser
Lumley said the numbers entering the Peter Carroll, who is also a Shepway
country would be small compared to other councillor and the Lib Dems’ Parliamentary
immigrant figures. candidate for Maidstone and the Weald,
She said:“These stories that say letting echoed the celebrity’s sentiments.
retired Gurkhas live in the UK will cost bil- He said:“The British people continue to
lions of pounds and be a drain on services like make it clear in petition after petition,
the NHS are simply MoD scaremongering. demonstration after demonstration that
“The MoD is making wildly exaggerated they want the Gurkhas to have the right to
claims that as many as 50,000 may come. live here.
“The Home Affairs Select Committee took “The MoD says the Gurkhas will be a cost
evidence on this matter last year,and the when,in reality,many will work here and
figure is more likely to be between 3,000 contribute to the economy.
and 5,000. “I hope the Prime Minister sees through
Drug farm find Car crash leaves
at business unit five men injured
A CANNABIS factory with around 1,400 ONE man suffered life-threatening injuries
plants worth £1,000 each has been raided and another four needed hospital treat-
by Kent Police. ment after their car swerved off the road
Officers were alerted after a member of and hit a hedge.
the public reported ‘suspicious activity’ Police have appealed for witnesses to the
around a business unit at a Tonbridge accident in Littlebourne Road,Canterbury,
industrial estate on Wednesday. at around 10pm on Thursday.
Malling District Chief Inspector Dave Police are still attempting to confirm the
Pate said:“A cannabis factory like this isn’t identity of those involved.It is thought the
unique,but is very unusual in west Kent. occupants of the red Nissan Almera were all
“What we have dismantled was clearly a males aged between 16-21.A 21-year-old who
very organised operation and we have made suffered the worst injuries is being treated
a significant dent in their supply chain.” at Margate’s QEQM hospital.
Police said there were four growing rooms Officers from the Serious Collision
at the site,which used hydroponics to culti- Investigation Unit have launched an investi-
vate the class C substance,and part of the gation and are keen to speak with the driv-
premises had been adapted for the ‘garden- er of a car that was travelling towards
ers’ to live in. Canterbury and may have seen the Nissan.
4I newsWEEKENDINGJANUARY18, 2009 www.kentnews.co.uk for all the news and sport • ADVERTISING(cid:2)01303 817000
EDITORIAL(cid:2)01303 817100 www.kentnews.co.uk for all the news and sport WEEKENDINGJANUARY18, 2009news I 5
Thousands of dead crabs washed up along Thanet beaches Poisoning payout
A COURT has ordered Kent-based
Coastline of carnage
Superglazing Ltd to pay £9,000 after putting
a family at risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.
It has been reported the company built a
conservatory at a home in Maidstone,which
obstructed the external flue of the gas boiler.
This led to a build of carbon monoxide and
MYSTERIOUS circumstances sur- resulted in a 12-year-old boy being hospitalised.
Superglazing Ltd pleaded guilty at
round the beaching of thousands Maidstone Magistrates’ Court.It was fined
upon thousands of crabs on the £4,500,and ordered to pay £4,500 costs.
Thanet coastline,writes Tom Betts. House fire death
This week the bodies of velvet swimming
crabs were washed up on shores all around the
isle coast,but no definitive reason has yet been AN elderly man has died following a house
found for the deaths. fire in Sheerness on the Isle of Sheppey.
Some think the sudden death of the velvet Firefighters were called at 1.36pm on
swimming crabs could be due to the cold Tuesday to reports that a blaze had broken
weather. out on the ground floor of a two-storey prop-
Tony Child,of the Thanet Coast Project,said: erty in James Street.But despite attempts
“It does seem to be linked to the weather,as it’s by paramedics to resuscitate him he was pro-
been particularly cold. nounced dead at the scene.
“It is something which happened three or The cause will now be investigated by police
four years ago.It’s very strange.” but it is not being treated as suspicious.
However, he added that some crabs have The victim has not yet been named.
been taken away to test for disease and “it was
odd that no other species had been affected”by
Big walk for charity. Search ‘Dover’
the cold.
Crab numbers had just started to recover @ yourkenttv.co.uk
from the last wave of deaths.
Mr Child said:“Last time it had a big effect
on the population. During our seashore
safari outings last summer we had just noticed
that numbers were climbing again after not
recording many for two or three years, but
unfortunately we’ve been hit again which is
sad really.”
Dwellers
The deaths seem to have been more preva-
lent in Westbrook and Botany Bay.
The velvet swimming crab,also known as
the devil crab,is the largest swimming crab
found in British coastal waters,with a shell
width of up to 100mm.
The body is coated with short hairs,giving
the animal a velvety texture,hence the com-
mon name.
The mystery deaths were warmly welcomed
by one set of island dwellers,however.
The bird population had a field day feeding
on the washed up crustaceans.
Mr Child said:“When I went to Margate all
I saw was crab legs and shells scattered every-
where with webbed feet patterns in the sand. WASHED UP: Some of
“It was clear the birds had been having a the dead crabs have been
feast of a time.Their Christmas had come late taken for examination
this year.”
Picture: THANET COAST PROJECT
The Environment Agency is investigating
and is due to release its findings this week.
New drugs strategy set to
cause job losses at Pfizer
MORE than 200 jobs could be cut at the not make these decisions lightly.”
Sandwich site of drug giant Pfizer. Many of the staff at the Sandwich site are
The company is slashing between five and in temporary posts.
eight per cent of its research staff across the The spokesman said:“Not all the staff work
world,meaning there will be job losses at the in the research site and not all are perma-
Kent site, which employs between 3,000- nent,so I can’t give an exact figure as to how
3,500 workers. many will go – this would be inaccurate.”
The move reflects a new strategy that Thanet South Labour MP Dr Steve
focuses research on six high-priority areas: Ladyman said:“We can ill-afford to lose any
oncology,Alzheimer’s disease,schizophrenia, quality jobs and I am saddened that a site
pain,inflammation and diabetes. that has made such a huge contribution to
These have the highest possibility of suc- Pfizer’s fortunes is again going to see job
cess for Pfizer.They also address an unmet cuts.One job lost is one too many and each
medical need and have high market growth and every lost job will be a tragedy for the
potential. person and family affected.
Other areas of research,including cardio- “The only positive thing to come out of this
vascular disease,are being dropped. announcement is that all the areas of
A spokesman for the company said:“Over research carried out at Sandwich have been
the next several months we will reduce our identified as going forward and the site has
Pfizer global research by five to eight per been identified as an important player in
cent to better align our colleague base with Pfizer’s overall strategy and is safe going into
our refocused research efforts.These reduc- the future.”
tions will affect research sites globally. Dr Ladyman said he had been in touch
“We are aware this decision will affect a with the site leader to stress the need to keep
number of people – colleagues,their families as many of the job losses as possible volun-
and the community. tary or through ‘natural wastage’.
“We are committed to supporting our col- A 90-day consultation with staff affected by
leagues through this transition.Pfizer does the job cuts has started.
66I newsWEEKENDINGJANUARY18, 2009 www.kentnews.co.uk for all the news and sport ADVERTISING(cid:2)01303 817000
Jordan’s singing
SOS for orphans
By STEVE KNIGHT Pic
tu
[email protected] re
:A
N
D
R
TALENTED teenager Jordan EW
Parkinson will sing for the BE
N
supper of orphans around the GE
world as an ambassador for
SOS Children’s Villages.
Jordan, 15, from Cliffe Woods, near
Rochester,hopes to raise awareness of
the charity by performing the official
song for World Orphan Week – a cover
of the Stevie Wonder hit For Once in
My Life – at schools throughout Kent.
Through his association with the
60-year-old group, the youngster
joins an elite list of supporters that
includes Nelson Mandela, the
Dalai Lama and Sarah Ferguson,
the Duchess of York.
Jordan said: “My dad was in
care when he was younger and
told me he had a hard time of it,
so I decided to get involved with
the charity because I didn’t
want anybody else to have to
go through that.
“I used to be with a model-
ling agency, Urban Angels,
and they were approached YOUNGSUPORTER:Jordan Parkinson joins the likes of Nelson Mandela, the
by SOS because they wanted Dalai Lama and Sarah Ferguson as an ambassador for SOSChildren’s Villages
some children to do a shoot
for their campaign and I was arest. He said: “We took lots of sports as child labour,HIV and Aids,and child
picked for that. They found equipment to the children, and I was rights.
out I could sing and I came up really impressed with how well they are SOS spokesman Elizabeth Rodgers
with the idea of releasing a all looked after. said:“We were keen to invite Jordan to be
charity single to raise aware- “The houses they live in are really big, an ambassador to complement our exist-
ness of the charity.” they go to school every day and each fam- ing celebrity supporters.We believe it’s
A singer since he was nine, ily has its own ‘mother’ to care for them. important to identify ambassadors who
Jordan came third in the I was expecting the conditions to be quite can directly relate to their peers.
national Live and Unsigned bad,but they were actually really good.” “Jordan may not be a recognised artist
AMBASSADOR: competition in June and World Orphan Week runs from yet,but we’re hugely excited to have him
hopes to sign with a record February 9-15, with schools urged to on board and hundreds of children have
Jordan Parkinson
company later this year. allow their pupils to dress up for one day already been inspired to join the cam-
has covered the One of his first roles as an in exchange for a charitable donation.For paign because of him.”
Stevie Wonder SOS ambassador was to visit schools taking part, teachers can com- • For more information on World
smash hit For one of the charity’s projects in bine the day with specially-designed les- Orphan Week, see www.soschild
Once in My Life the Romanian capital of Buch- son plans that focus on global topics such ren.org.uk/wow.
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EDITORIAL(cid:2)01303 817100 • www.kentnews.co.uk for all the news and sport WEEKENDINGJANUARY18, 2009news I 7
Vicious attacker is jailed
A MORTGAGE rescue Homeowners
scheme already available
A 34-YEAR-OLD man has been a “serious risk to the public”.
for struggling homeowners
jailed for three-and-a-half years Detective Inspector Susan
in five Kent regions has for slashing a homeless man Harper of Maidstone Area Crime
been extended across the struggling to across the face with a knife. Unit said: “It is only thanks to
Lee Harper, who also went by the skill and quick reactions of
county,writes Steve Knight.
the name of Chamberlain,lashed the paramedics and then
People having trouble keeping up out at his victim on a riverside hospital surgical teams at
with their repayments will now pathway in Maidstone in May. Maidstone and East Grinstead
be able to take a loan from or sell The 42-year-old homeless man who treated the victim that saved
their homes to housing associations, pay mortgage suffered a deep 15cm cut across the victim’s life.
who will then lease the property his face, causing massive blood “I would like to thank the inves-
back to them. loss. His life was only saved by tigation team whose exceptional
The £200 million National urgent medical treatment. work on this difficult and complex
Housing Federation scheme began Passing sentence at Maidstone case brought about the guilty plea
in the middle of December, with Crown Court Judge Philip of Mr Harper and this result,
residents in Tunbridge Wells, given lifeline Statman said Harper,previously which will place this dangerous
Maidstone,Dartford,Tonbridge and of Bligh Way, Rochester, was man behind bars.”
Malling and Shepway among the
first to benefit.
Chief executive David Orr said:
“The mortgage rescue scheme will
save thousands of vulnerable families
from the nightmare of having their deemed ‘vulnerable’ in another way. scheme on Friday,housing minister
homes repossessed and give them the A Moat spokesman said:“People in Margaret Beckett said: “For the
long-term stability they need. Kent who are interested in the mort- most vulnerable households, the
“This scheme will also serve to gage rescue programme need to go mortgage rescue scheme will be
undermine those shadowy compa- to their local authority, who will available across England to ensure
nies currently making money out of assess each case and then refer them they can remain in their homes.
people’s misfortune by buying their back to us if they think they are suit- “This is part of a range of meas-
properties at substantially less able.We will then be the provider of ures the Government is putting in
than the going rate – and then only the scheme and that is what we are place to help households at risk of
letting them stay on a short-term gearing up for at the moment.” repossession in the current climate.
tenancy basis.” Vulnerable “As well as expanding free debt
The Government-funded scheme is and legal advice,we have increased
being rolled out across the UK by the Despite five Kent councils having the support available for people who
affordable housing group HomeBuy. been signed up to the scheme since lose their jobs,and are introducing
One of HomeBuy’s two agents is December,the length of time it takes the option for homeowners to defer
the Dartford-based firm Moat, to process each application means part of the loan to give them the time
which owns and manages almost Moat has not yet purchased any they need to get back on their feet.” Come and chat to us at the events we
19,000 homes throughout Kent, properties or provided any loans. • See p12-13 for our comprehensive go to in Kent and Medway – check our
Sussex, Essex, Hertfordshire and According to the Communities round-up of the Kent property market.
south London. and Local Government department, website for dates www.kmscp.org
The scheme is targeted at families each case is expected to take News and sport updated daily online
with small children,households with about three months.
a disabled person,pensioners or those Announcing the extension of the www.kentnews.co.uk KENT & MEDWAY
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88I newsWEEKENDINGJANUARY18, 2009 www.kentnews.co.uk for all the news and sport ADVERTISING(cid:2)01303 817000
Riverside revamp Warning over abuse directed at criminals wearing ‘Community Payback’ vests
sign of recovery,
‘Let them pay back for
says council chief
A NEW planning application for a major river-
their crimes in peace’
side development of flats,a restaurant and a
retail store for Clifton Wharf in Gravesend,is
a sign the town’s regeneration potential is set
to beat the downturn, claims council leader
Cllr Mike Snelling.
The planning application from Down River
Properties Limited is currently in the consul- By JENNA PUDELEK the criminal justice system was visibly
tation phase and will probably be considered working.
by the planning committee next month. [email protected] He said although crime has been reduced
Cllr Snelling said:“The fact that companies by 35 per cent since Labour came to power in
are still proposing significant projects at this A JUSTICE minister has issued a 1997,people’s fear of crime was still signifi-
time shows confidence is still high and cantly high and the Government was taking
demand continues for major regeneration stark warning to those abusing steps to address that.
schemes in our town.” offenders on community punish- “The anecdotal feedback we have had says
ments wearing the controversial that the public is very much on our side and
believes it is important for people to payback
RACE INTO 2009 high-visibility vests. to society and that people should be able to
Shahid Malik, who was visiting a Kent see that happening,”he said.
Probation project this week,said incidents in Kent Probation’s chief officer, Sarah
as an owner with GG Racing
Medway of petty criminals being threatened Billiald,said:“Kent Probation enforces the
Buy a share in a with violence were “completely unacceptable”. wearing of vests at all of its community pay-
colt or filly The MP for Dewsbury said:“It is a disgrace back sites because it is important that jus-
yearling to race and it is not what our society allows and not UNACCEPTABLE: Shahid Malik (inset) says tice is seen to be done.
in 2009 the values we promote. criminals wearing high-visibility Community “High-visibility vests were temporarily
“It is a completely unacceptable act and withdrawn at two Medway sites following
Payback vests must not be abused
Watch it train,join those people might find they are the ones threats of violence towards members of staff
in with naming wearing these high-visibility vests with com- Association of Probation Officers (Napo) and offenders.”
and be there for munity payback on them themselves.” reported that there had been incidences In Kent,only offenders working in charity
the 1st race Mr Malik oversaw offenders removing rub- across the country of offenders wearing the shops do not have to wear the vests after the
Share prices from £182.50 bRioschh easntde rd Cebemrise tferroym o nth Teu aelsldeaywy aayftse rnneoxotn t.o vinegs tms ibsesiinlegs atbhuroswedn, jaete trhedem a.t and even hav- Mwainrnisitnrgy offr oJmus ttihcee reAlsasxoecdia rtuiolnes ofof lloCwhianrgit ay
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website:www.ggracing.biz ibility vests from two community payback as:“So what… Maybe then the offenders rehabilitation”.
projects in Medway before Christmas will feel real shame and guilt at the action Mr Malik added:“Some offenders feel it is
38 Dunnock Rd,Kennington,Ashford,Kent TN25 4QJ
because offenders were threatened violence which brought them to be on the receiving humiliating to wear them,but to be blunt
from members of the public. end of it.” the objective is not to humiliate but maybe
Since the Government introduced the But Mr Malik argued that the vests had they will think twice before committing a
vests on December 1, the National been a success in showing the public that criminal act.”
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EDITORIAL(cid:2)01303 817100 www.kentnews.co.uk for all the news and sport WEEKENDINGJANUARY18, 2009news I 9
Renowned poet
County celebrating its
dies, aged just 52
MICK Imlah,one of the outstanding poets of
his generation,who lived in Kent during his
best exam results ever young formative years,has died aged just 52.
Although born in Aberdeen and brought up
near Glasgow,he moved with his family to
Beckenham when he was 10.
After Dulwich College he went to
Magdalen College,Oxford,where he took a
first in English in 1979.In the mid-80s he
STUDENTS in Kent and By JENNA PUDELEK “Our schools have a strong record of was a junior lecturer in English.
Medway have been praised after improvement and I am confident that we will It was during this period that he was one of
[email protected] reach the government target.” the founding editors of the revived Oxford
scoring the best GCSE exam Meanwhile, nationally grammar school Poetry,going on to become poetry editor of
results ever. However,more than half of pupils in Kent pupils achieved 73 per cent more A-level The Times Literary Supplement.
oacefc Knrpoteus nhpsti ia glCslh loh esurau ndtbth jyaea ccnCht soiie nuivn n2e c2d0i0 0lf 07siv8a.e,id wA th*hi tcaoht Cw67 ag spr ae2dr.5 ec spe neinrt aGwnChIdniSc hEMK shee idanndwtc, laiumy4d 9pif.nar7ogi lv epEededn r tg1 ol.c i2sea hnpc htea irne mcvdeee nM t ftia tvfthrehoe smA .t* a2 r0tgo0 e7Ct., pwtmaofohfi iodniprcdtdhalse rcs teocchnhluaatolsndsos lme tfashea soetk sosee .tq htbuheeee ismnrtgie oe cnpve erswinsvih amoetnteo hlryeef or ae rttdchtuerescay ac ttcteiahvdnee, wJMaiIHentniheun tahhmriaseyro da1tsotu2u,r.tar uvnnmidevn uet drhoo efni br2ey 0t w0dh7iosi, sedh aaespu eawg.rhatHtnse eerd rs,i.adgiMendao rseoennd
Medway Council revealed that 66 per cent It comes after the county was bottom in
of its pupils had met the target,compared to the country for meeting the Government’s
64 per cent the previous year. latest exam target with 33 schools failing
Students across the county had surpassed to meet a benchmark of 30 per cent of
the national average. pupils achieving at least five good GCSEs
The results,published by the Department including English and maths. dover calais
for Children, Schools and Families on Attractive
Thursday, also included A-level scores and
showed that grammar schools had outper- Ed Balls, the Schools Secretary,
formed private schools. launched the National Challenge strategy
Kent and Medway are among the few local last year pledging £400 million towards
authorities to retain a selective education helping schools and local authorities meet
system and have 39 grammar schools. the target by 2011.
Welcoming the GCSE performance, Cllr KCC said that nine of the schools had
Leyland Ridings,KCC’s cabinet member for met the target in 2008 and it would con-
children, said: “These are the best results tinue to support the other schools to reach
Kent has seen – something all those students the benchmark within the timeframe.
who sat their exams last year,the teachers In Medway 48 per cent of schools met
who taught them and us as the local educa- the target.The council said seven schools this is one
tion authority can be rightly proud of. had to meet the National Challenge target
“We are seeing year-on-year improvement and five of these had now improved the
and continue to exceed the national average.” 2008 results show.
Medway’s portfolio holder for children’s serv- Rose Collinson,director of children and
ices Cllr Les Wicks said:“We have seen some adult services,said:“We are working hard
great day out
exceptional results and I would like to congrat- with the Government’s National Challenge
ulate all the young people and teaching staff team to ensure that all our schools secure
who have worked so hard and done so well.” the best possible outcomes for their pupils.
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1100I newsWEEKENDINGJANUARY18, 2009 www.kentnews.co.uk for all the news and sport • ADVERTISING(cid:2)01303 817000
Carter takes Sir Alan to task
over apprenticeships scheme
By STEVE KNIGHT local authorities were better placed
Training plan to deliver apprenticeship provision
[email protected] than a national body such as the
NAS.He said KCC’s drive to pro-
SIR Alan Sugar has been mote work-based learning had led
is ‘doomed to to an 11 per cent reduction of
told to expect a warning unemployed youngsters in Kent,
letter from Kent County compared with a rise of 0.8 per cent
Council leader Paul Carter failure’ claims naCtilolrn Calalyr.ter said:“This proves the
over the Government’s new success of our approach in Kent.
apprenticeship scheme. We believe this is the way forward
The star of BBC One hit The leader of KCC nationally for post-16 education
Apprentice is the face of a new and skills,which is why we have
campaign promoting work-based brought our case for change to the
training to employers,which Tory heart of Westminster.
councillor Carter says is “doomed Sir Alan Sugar Cllr Paul Carter “We will not break the culture of
to failure”. welfare dependency in this country
He believes the scheme – which On Tuesday, Cllr Carter visited workers as part of a scheme run by incentive to engage in the current and deliver a skills agenda fit for
aims to have 20 per cent of post-16 the House of Commons to give a the newly formed National proposals. the 21st century until young people
learners in modern apprentice- talk on the subject at a seminar Apprenticeship Service (NAS). “This agenda is not just about 16- are enabled and encouraged to
ships within 10 years – is too com- entitled Unlocking the Next Ministers see the upgrading of year-old school leavers.Too many reach their full potential and
plicated and not attractive enough Generation’s Talent. skills as vital if the UK is to stay graduates leave university without achieve their ambitions.”
for businesses. Also in attendance were competitive and in helping to cre- work-relevant degrees.As (former Sir Alan Sugar will not be the
Cllr Carter told Kent on Sunday: Chatham and Aylesford Labour ate jobs in the economic downturn. Home Secretary) Charles Clarke first celebrity Cllr Carter has made
“The Government has put Alan MP Jonathan Shaw – in his role as Cllr Carter said that while he questioned, how many medieval contact with about a local or
Sugar in charge of promoting this minister for the South East – and welcomed the extra funding he felt historians do we need? national issue.
campaign and I shall be writing to shadow secretary of state for inno- the Government was tackling the “Universities need to deliver Last November he invited motor-
him to tell him it needs a reality vation, universities and skills issue the wrong way. more work-based and sandwich ing guru Jeremy Clarkson to
check.He doesn’t believe in failure David Willetts. He said:“The guidance is compli- degree courses linking higher edu- Ashford after the Top Gear presen-
and neither do I, so hopefully he Last week Prime Minister cated. Parents and young people cation establishments with the ter blasted the town’s controversial
will agree with me that changes Gordon Brown announced £140 don’t know how to access appren- needs of the local economy.” shared space scheme for vehicles
need to be made.” million funding for 35,000 trainee ticeships and businesses have little Cllr Carter said he also believed and pedestrians.
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