Your Dover, Issue 121, January 20, 2010

22.2 MB·English

by  KOS Media

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midw s p a p er
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Issue No 121
Available from Wednesday,
THE NEWSPAPER FOR DOVER AND THE SURROUNDING VILLAGES January 20, 2010
MONEY MATTERS PROPERTY…
Competition rises
Our pull-out guide on ways to
for best mortgage
make your money go further
PAGES 47-54
A STITCH IN CRIME
PAYS OFF AT CASTLE
WHAT’S ON & WATCH EXCLUSIVE
yourkenttv.co.uk (cid:2)BY NICK AMES
ORNATE embroidered cushions
which soften the royal thrones in
the revamped Dover Castle are the
work of 48 prisoners convicted in
the main of violent crimes.
The inmates received training in the art of
Medieval stitching to create the furnishings
which add comfort and colour to the displays of
the re-created court of King Henry II which
have proved a huge hit with visitors.
A Time Team TV special hosted by
THAT’S HANDY:Check out the great new KOS Blackadder star Tony Robinson on the most
ambitious redecoration of an English castle in
Media iPhone application. Search ‘iPhone’
a century was Channel 4’s most watched show
ALSO INSIDE of the recent holiday period.
Experts from the Royal School of
COMPETITION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . PAGE 12 Needlework completed the drapes,carpenters
built thrones and craft- workers ground gold
LETTERS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . PAGE 14-15 leaf and semi-precious stones into paint.
LEISURE. . . . . . . . . . . PAGES 16-23 and41-43 But the final touch was added by inmates in
MOTORS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . PAGES 55-57 jails across the UK who were trained in
embroidery and given three months to finish
SPORT. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . PAGES 62-63 their work.
English Heritage commissioned the prisoners
via a charity that seeks to rehabilitate offenders
using needlework.
Fine Cell Work said the contract was a recog-
nition of its efforts – and the chance for cross-
stitchers behind bars to be seen as among the
JAILBIRDS: A cushion embroidered by inmates at the new court of Henry II at Dover Castle. The
best in the country.
executive director of the group doing the work said visitors had been impressed and prisoners’ efforts had Katy Emck is executive director of the group.
changed perceptions. ‘People are moved,’ she said. ‘They say ‘the person who created this can’t be all bad’. She said:“This was obviously a challenge for
CONTINUED ON PAGE 3
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WHAT’S ON & WATCH
yourkenttv.co.uk
NEWS IN BRIEF
TOP TV CLIPS Surveillance camera
teams in demand
CCTV operators had a busy year in
2009 with a total of 3,978 calls being
dealt with in the Dover, Deal and
DRUGBOAT: This boat had £10 million of cocaine on board, inset gang member Douglas Wood
Sandwich areas.
Cocaine smuggler This compares with 1,933 in 2008
and 1,932 in 2007.
However,over the last nine months
the range of calls being dealt with
by the operators has increased as
appeals to find missing persons and
Douglas Wood, 59,
traffic advice to radio stations has
been added to the workload.
December saw 278 calls, 212 in
Dover,56 in Deal and 10 in Sandwich.
During the month 17 vulnerable
jailed for 23 years people were assisted and the
investigations prompted by operators
led to 21 arrests.
A behind the scenes look at the county's plans for a £10 Coffee morning raises
1
million library and archive centre. Search ‘archive’ (cid:2)BY CHRISMURPHY from Grenada,falsely telling customs
they were heading to Brazil.Instead tidy sum for charities
they headed for Bartica in Guyana to
AMANfrom Sandwich has pick up 91.3 kilos of high quality CHARITY fund-raisers Deal and
cocaine straight from the South District Lionesses have been able to
been jailed for 23 years for American jungle. hand over another £750 to good caus-
his par in a £10 million Coxon and Wood were sailing back es recently.
to the UK,heading for Portsmouth. At a coffee morning at St George's
cocaine smuggling ring. Officers called in the assistance of the Hall Lioness president Lesley Smith
Douglas Wood, 59, of Waldershare UK Borders Agency and the Royal presented a cheque for £500 to Barbara
Avenue,Sandwich Bay,Sandwich was Navy to stop their boat 15 miles off the Williams, chairperson for the local
one of the last three members of the Devon and Cornwall coast at around MacMillan Cancer Support Group and
gang jailed for a total of 76 years at 5am on September 12.Searches of the another for £250 for Paula Brown from
Woolwich Crown Court yesterday. yacht found the cocaine with a current Headway, a charity that works to
Met police stated watching the street value of £10 million. improve life after brain injury.
crime team in November 2007 when it Jailed for 21 years was Patrick The group is set to continue its
became apparent that two of them, Walsh, 48, from Blairhead Drive, fundraising activities in the coming
Patrick Walsh and John Dunlop,were Watford,Herts,after he admitted con- months.
carrying out reconnaissance over sev- spiracy to import 91.3 kilos of cocaine.
eral months into cash-in-transit deliv- He also admitted possession of a Health centre is just
eries routes in the Hertfordshire area. handgun and ammunition with intent
Then during January 2008 the net- to commit robbery.
work’s main organiser Walsh,upped John Dunlop,52,of St Leonards On what doctor ordered
his crime plans with a second tier of Sea,East Sussex was convicted of pos-
2 Julie Maddocks takes the Kent chef tour and visits the illegal activity as he began to plot a session of two firearms and 213 rounds THEnew £4 million Aylesham
best of the county’s local food producers. Search ‘food’ conspiracy to import cocaine from the of ammunition,and got eight years. Health Centre will be opened today.
Caribbean into the UK. William Cannon, 49, of Rainham, MP Gwyn Prosser – an enthusiastic
Walsh made repeated trips to Essex pleaded guilty to possession of supporter of the project since its incep-
Trinidad, Tobago, Barbados and three firearms and 271 rounds of tion – wll unveil a plaque and dedicate
Grenada using the false name of ammunition and was given five years. the building to Helen Bartolo,Dover
Michael Sheridan.On these occasions Joseph Gorgin, 28, also of St District councillor and chairwoman of
he sometimes travelled with David Leonards-on-Sea, admitted firearms Aylesham Parish Council.
Coxon and were often joined by Wood. offences and was given five years. The centre is a collaboration between
The gang was even watched as they David Coxon, 54, from Newcastle, NHS Eastern and Coastal Kent and
planned the crimes at a burger stall in pleaded guilty to conspiracy to import healthcare provider Assura.
Lakeside,Thurrock,at a garden cen- the drugs and was handed a sentence There is a GP’s practice, other
tre in Goffs Oak,Waltham Forrest and of 15 years. services include podiatry,speech and
at the Doncaster services on the M1. And finally, Douglas Wood, was language therapy,dentistry and a res-
The cocaine plan progressed and on found guilty of conspiracy to import piratory clinic.There is also a pharma-
July 20 2008 Coxon and Wood,set sail the drugs and was jailed for 23 years. cy on-site.
Gills boss Mark Stimson talks about the weekend games
3
ahead and catching up after the snow.Search ‘Gills’
SEE OUR SISTER PAPERS KENT ON SUNDAYAND THE SATURDAY
EDITIONFOR ALL THE WEEKEND’S COUNTY NEWS AND SPORT
GROUP EDITOR: Gary Wright 01303 817032
EDITOR:Dave Mairs 01303 817022
WEBSITE: www.yourdover.co.uk
TELEPHONE ADVERTISING: 01303 817110
FAX: (Advertising) 01303 817002
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Telephone editorial: 01303 817200 Email [email protected] yourdover.co.uk 3
Lifeboat crew
Duo’s ‘year of pain’
for air ambulance
TWO engineers are hoping to raise
‘triathlon’ bid £10,000 for the county’s air ambulance
with a ‘year of pain’ as they take on 12
challenges including a Channel swim
from Dover.
Steve Breslin, 25, from Clapham in
south London,and Chris Hicks,31,from
Tongham, Surrey, work together in
Leatherhead,and plan an event a month.
at SOS event They will take part in the inaugural
Brighton Marathon in April and an Iron
Man challenge in August.
Mr Breslin said:“The next 12 months
are going to prove very tough.There are
some real fitness tests coming up and
we're going to use the next few weeks to
get ourselves as ready as we can be.”
Mr Hicks said the pair were deter-
(cid:2)BY NICK AMES “The virtual route will see us pass close to mined to raise as much money for the air
twelve Cinque Ports and eight lifeboat sta- ambulance as possible.
tions.It is also apt that the Chairman of “This fund-raising for the air ambu-
THE volunteer crew of Dover the RNLI,Admiral the Lord Boyce is,of lance is a little like paying for car insur-
course,Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports ance – you really never know if you’ll
lifeboat is set to attempt the and that the Mayor of Dover is the current need it but it’s the right thing to do.”
equivalent of a 68-mile triathlon Speaker of the Confederation.
“I was proud of my crew last year for the
in Biggin Street as part of
effort they put in but even more proud of VIEWTHIS CLIP ON
the RNLI’s annual SOS fund- the people of the district for all the sup-
raising campaign on Saturday, port they gave to us during the event.”
Senior RNLI area fund-raising manag- yourkenttv.co.uk
January 30. er Jenny Green said:“I am delighted that
Last year, aided by BBC Southeast the Dover crew are,once more,undertak-
LOCAL
weather presenter Nazaneen Ghaffar,the ing a challenge in aid of the RNLI’s SOS
crew raised more than £2,000 from their Day.I wish them well and thank all who
rowing machine challenge when they support them.”
rowed a distance equivalent to three cross- The RNLI’s biggest fund-raising day will
ings from Dover to Boulogne. be held on the Friday before the challenge.
This year the challenge is to travel the “It is the one day when the RNLI sends
equivalent distance of Margate to Hastings its own mayday, SOS, call for the public
using a rowing machine,running machine help and support,”said Ms Green.
and exercise bike. “It’s a great way for everyone to have
The event is part of the yearly RNLI some fun,whilst raising funds to help the
fundraising drive which also sees an event RNLI’s volunteer lifeboat crews and life-
in Walmer. guards save lives at sea.
Dover Coxswain Stuart Richardson “To support SOS Day you can make a
explained the choice of route:“Margate and donation directly to Dover lifeboat station, Jason Conners was told to lose
Hastings were chosen as they are respec- by undertaking your own fund-raising weight or die within five years – he
tively the easternmost and westernmost activities,or by taking part in the Welly SOS DAY: Dover lifeboat crew will take part in virtual triathlon to was savedby expert surgery. Search ‘weight’
towns of the Confederation of Cinque Ports. Walk in Walmer on January 31.” raise funds on the RNLI’s annual SOS fund-raising day
Rapid testing scheme
could pinpoint as yet
DETAILED: Seat embroidered by convict
undetected HIV cases
‘I found a refuge
where my cares
become shadows’ A TRIAL of rapid HIV testing is to Some 300 people in eastern and
be piloted in the Dover area by the coastal Kent are living with HIV
Eastern and Coastal Kent NHS and about 80,000 people are living
CONTINUED FROM FRONT Trust to target hard-to-reach indi- with the virus in the UK – a quarter
us,but the results are there for all to viduals. of whom do not know they are
see.” She said visitors had been About 200 people across the east of infected.
impressed by the artwork and it had the county are to take part in the six- Sexual health promotion coordina-
changed some perceptions. week pilot which involves a simple tor Fiona Thomson said: “Stigma
“People are moved,” she said. finger-prick test. and discrimination around HIV
“They say ‘the person who created The rapid test devices analyse the remains a barrier to people getting
this can’t be all bad’.The work takes blood sample to detect the presence tested.
incredible dedication and skill.” of an HIV antigen or the presence of “The misconception remains that
One prisoner who worked on a an HIV antibody and can give a it is something just gay people get.It
particularly ambitious design – gold result in 20 minutes. is not.It can happen to anyone and
centaurs and stags within red The test allows healthcare profes- wearing a condom is still the best
squares edged by snowflakes – had sionals to give the result and complete way to protect yourself against con-
eight weeks to complete the work HIV counselling in a single visit. tracting the virus.
and laboured for 10 hours each day It is hoped this may reduce the “Thanks to advances in medicine
to meet the deadline. problem of patients failing to collect the majority of people can live a near
Each snowflake had 1,500 stitches, their positive results. normal life expectancy with HIV and
the centaurs 800 and the stags 600. The pilot is being led by HIV consult- the quicker people are diagnosed the
In a letter to the charity he wrote: ant physician Dr Mun-Yee Tung. more effective treatment is and the
“I found a refuge where my cares Dr Tung said:“Our aim is to eval- easier it is to stop the spread of this
became mere shadows for a while.I uate the benefits of a new rapid disease.
would feel relaxed enough to slip technology for HIV testing to help “The best way we can do this is by
into an easy sleep.” expand the availability of testing encouraging safe sex and making
• For a tour of the castle and a look at the outside of sexual health clinics sure people who think they have
cushions and other embroidered work go to which can sometimes be a barrier to put themselves at risk get tested
www.yourkenttv.co.uk. people going for the tests.” regularly.”
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Police reap results in Fast-acting pupils’ funds to aid
drugs raid at house
POLICE have raided an address in
Stockdale Gardens,Deal,after receiving
a warrant to search for drugs
homeless in Haitian earthquake
During the search,officers recovered a
significant quantity of a substance
believed to be heroin and associated
drugs paraphernalia.
A 39-year-old woman and a 36-year-old
man were arrested on suspicion of posses-
sion with intend to supply controlled drugs.
The woman has been bailed pending fur- (cid:2)BY NICK AMES swift reaction to the disaster demonstrates how
ther investigations until February and the effective ShelterBox is as a quick-response
man has been released without charge. organisation and the continuing need for
Sergeant Rob Marsh said: “This has SCHOOLCHILDREN from Dover Rotarians and others in the district to keep
been a significant result in the ongoing have raised funds for emergency supporting our work.
battle to combat the suppliers of class-A shelters for the homeless which are “Each box supplies an extended family of up
drugs operating in the community and to 10 people with a tent and lifesaving
sends out a strong message that this type being despatched to Haiti in the equipment to use while they are displaced or
of criminality will not be tolerated.” wake of the earthquake disaster homeless.
“The contents are tailored depending on the
Hunt for teen thugs which hit the impoverished island. nature and location of the disaster,with great
The pupils of St Martin’s Primary School care taken sourcing every item to ensure that it DEVASTATION: Primary school is raising money to pay for
collected money to finance ShelterBoxes,which is robust enough to be of lasting value. ShelterBoxes for Haitians left homeless by the earthquake
who snatched bag are unpacked to provide basic accommodation “The cost of a box is £490,including delivery
for those left homeless. direct to those who need it.Each box bears its contacts on the ground there to make sure we
The work was undertaken in cooperation own unique number,so donors can track their get aid to the people who need it most during
POLICE are hunting a gang of youths
with Dover Rotary Club, which financially box all the way to its recipient country via the the current crisis.Our thoughts go out to the
after an attempted bag-snatch which
supports international disaster-relief charity website people who have been affected by this disaster.”
took place in Deal.
Shelterbox. “Highly-trained ShelterBox response teams The earthquake measured 7.0 on the Richter
It is believed three teenage boys tried to
Fund-raising for the project was undertaken distribute boxes on the ground, working Scale, which makes it 35 times more deadly
steal a bag from a 38-year-old man who
by Rotary Club member Chris Scoble and the closely with local organisations,international than the atomic bomb which devastated
was walking along the Tar Path alleyway
first relief teams arrived with the boxes just aid agencies and Rotary clubs worldwide. Hiroshima in 1945.
which is off The Grove.
48 hours after the tremors struck the area to “Since its inception in 2000,ShelterBox has An exact estimate of the number of dead has
The incident took place on Monday,
the south-west of the country’s capital Port-au- firmly established itself at the forefront of yet to be determined,but experts fear it could
December 7,at about 6.30pm.
Prince,home to two million people. international disaster relief, providing emer- measure up to 200,000.
One of the boys is described as black,
Among the buildings destroyed were the gency shelter for the people who need it most. A group of six specialist rescue fire-fighters
5ft 9in tall,with a very light moustache.
United Nations headquarters,the Presidential “We were in Haiti 18 months ago,delivering from Kent have also been sent to the disaster
He was wearing a brown-cord Parka-
Palace and many schools and hospitals. aid after a series of hurricanes left thousands zone as part of the UK’s response to the
style jacket with fur around the hood.
A spokesman for the relief agency said:“This homeless.We’ll now be working closely with our humanitarian crisis.
Another is described as white,5ft 7in
tall, with short blonde hair and was
wearing a pale-blue lightweight jacket PCSO = PEACE OF MIND FOR TRADERS
with white stripes and blue jeans.
There is no description for the third
person believed to have been involved.
Having a regular police presence on the streets of “We still have the odd problem with graffiti,
Dover is helping to cut down on vandalism and but our neighbourhood officer comes along and
VIEWTHIS CLIP ON public-order offences, say local traders. takes a photograph for evidence and then it is
Staff at the Paint and Décor shop in London Road painted over, but these incidents are getting less
say there has been a “dramatic” fall in crime as a and less and the other problems have virtually
yourkenttv.co.uk
result of officers being out on the beat and also disappeared.”
because residents and businesspeople know who to Shop staff praised the neighbourhood policing
LOCAL
contact if there is a problem. team who look after the area and in particular
Shop-owners say in the past the area suffered Police Community Support Officer Tracy
from vandalism, criminal damage, drunks and even Brittenden, who has been regularly on the beat.
arson attacks on cars. PCSO Brittenden (pictured with a shop-owner)
But they add that the situation has now improved said: “It is about building good relationships and
for shoppers, traders and residents alike, following speaking to local people. They get to know us and
the police patrols which have worked alongside report things, which helps us do our job.
locals in preventing offences. “We increase patrols if there are problems and
A spokeswoman for the Paint and Décor shop seeing police officers out and about acts as a
said: “There were broken street-lamps, there deterrent to criminals.”
was litter, there were problems as people came “We now have a group of police officers we Staff at the shop also praised the regular ward
out of the pubs and it was quite bleak, but it is regularly see on patrol and they come into the shop newsletters which are sent out by Kent Police,
A county councillor’s views on a completely different place now. There has to see if we have had any problems. We know their saying it made it very clear who to contact and how
Dover’s future. Search ‘Collor’ been a dramatic change. names and how to get in touch. to do so if there were any problems.
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Telephone editorial: 01303 817200 Email the editor, [email protected] 5
Company’s tools stolen
A LARGE quantity of tools and other machin-
NEWS IN BRIEF ery has been stolen from a business in Dover.
The specialist equipment used to repair
large vehicles was taken during a break-in at
Coombe Valley Transport in Primrose Road
Funding for arts project on the night of Thursday,November 26.
Police say they would like to hear from any-
one,particularly those in the road-haulage
DOVER Arts Development has received
industry,who have been offered second-hand
additional funding from The Heritage
tools and equipment.
Lottery Fund for its Watermark project
Anyone with any information is asked to
which will document a part of the town’s
phone DC Lee Gerken on 01304 240055 or
least-known heritage.
Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.
The award of £47,300,together with fund-
ing already received,will cover production of US tourists’ literary jaunt
a new documentary film inspired by footage
of the last Conqueror paper run at Buckland
Mill,as well as an education programme,and A COLLEGE in the US is offering a literary
the setting up of an online archive. tour of England with a stop-off in Dover
The organisers of the film project say Dover along the way.
is well known for its port and castle and less The Land of Literary Giants trip takes
BEFORE AND AFTER: Big daddy Jason Conners (above)and (below), after losing 12 stone during life-changing treatment well known for its industries and this idea place in June and is staged by Peninsula
will provide a means of collecting and pre- College in Sequim,Washington State.
Dad beats bulge serving an aspect of Dover’s industrial her- Academic Dr Fred Thompson will lead the
itage and more widely that of Kent. party,which has as its specialist topic The
DAD director Clare Smith said: “We are Literature of Southern England.
very pleased to have received this award as it The cost including airfare, accommodation
means we now have enough money to ensure and travel in a van is about £2,000 per person.
delivery of all aspects of this exciting project. A college spokesman said: “Participants
after being given “To get in touch, please email info@ will discover the English countryside from
dadonline.eu or phone [phone].” London to Kent,Cornwall and beyond.”
five years to live
(cid:2)BY NICK AMES Despite playing football regularly for a
Deal Sunday league team and working out
in the gym,his weight ballooned to a stagger-
JASON Conners used to be so ing 27-and-a-half stone and he was told he
self-conscious of his size that even only had five years to live.
It was then that Jason realised he didn’t
in the height of summer he would want to die young and miss seeing his fami-
wear a coat. ly grow up, so he decided to have a
gastric bypass with weightloss specialist
Streamline Surgical and has since lost an
amazing 12 stone and 18 inches off his waist.
Jason had been big for as long as he could
remember due to a metabolism which was so
slow no fat could be burnt off his body.
He hated the stares and comments people
would make and believes he was treated dif-
ferently because of his weight. He tried
everything,but nothing would shift it.
“Diets and pills just did not work for me,”
he said.
“I needed a more permanent solution. I
have three beautiful granddaughters and I
wanted to see them grow up.So I went to my
GP and was referred to Streamline Surgical’s
Shaw Somers,who has since given me my
life back.I can now fully appreciate and live
my life.
Treatment
“I cannot say what it feels to be how I am
now – I owe Shaw so much.I cannot express
the esteem I hold him in.
“I had trouble getting the treatment sorted
even though my GP had approved it and
finally I was referred to a hospital in
Chichester where he works.I knew then I
had the number one in the field.
“I even saw him on TV show The Fat
Doctor on the Discovery Channel,so I knew
I was in good hands.
“When you have been large from an early
age,the stares and remarks become just a
part of life.But it was so nice to be able to
walk through my home town of Deal without
attracting a second glance.
“The procedure itself was amazing and sur-
gically my stomach was shrunk to the size of
a chicken’s egg.All I could eat was slop – but
it filled me up and I didn’t feel hungry.
“I knew I had a choice – drastic surgery or
very little chance of a proper life,in fact an
imminent death.
“I made the right choice.”
For an interview with Jason, go to
www.yourkenttv.co.uk.
6 Telephone advertising: 01303 817110 Email [email protected]
yTelephoone edituorial: 01r303 8w17200 Emeail the editoar, [email protected] r 7
RSPB cries out for the
SPONSOREDBY environment ahead of
[email protected]
the election campaign
TODAY’S FORECAST WEEKEND
AS preparation for the election ramps up and
the economy remains high on the political
HIGH TIDES agenda,a new report from the RSPB is urging
politicians not to sideline the environment.
The report, Challenge 2010, highlights
Chatham Saturday 5:38pm 5.1m money being wasted on environmentally-
Sunday 6:35pm 4.9m damaging policies and outlines how the
Government could spend public money protect-
Dover Saturday 3:42pm 5.6m ing nature and building a low-carbon economy.
111000 Sunday 4:45pm 5.4m In recent years, north Kent has benefited
from Government investment in the Thames
Dungeness Saturday 3:53pm 6.5m estuary through Parklands funding.
Sunday 4:58pm 6.2m Damaging
888 Ramsgate Saturday 4:12pm 4.3m The RSPB is calling on politicians to contin-
Sunday 5:15pm 4.1m ue with such schemes and avoid investing in
damaging developments.
Sheerness Saturday 5:27pm 5.0m The charity would also like to see more
S7.5U0NaRmISE 4S.U2N3pSmET Sunday 6:23pm 4.8m isnchveesmtmese nfotr ifna rmEenrvsi rtoon msuepnptoarlt Sthteemwa rtadkshinipg
MOONRISE MOONSET Whitstable Saturday 5:15pm 4.7m measures to benefit wildlife on their land.
9.19am 10.20pm Sunday 6:12pm 4.5m With the recent passing of the Marine and
Coastal Access Act,money should be spent sim-
FIVE-DAY KENT FORECAST
ilarly wisely on safeguarding our marine envi-
AROUNDTHE
ronment,says the society.
Thur Fri Sat Sun Mon Thur Fri Sat Sun Mon WORLDYESTERDAY Serious investment will pay dividends,with
Ashford 7°C 4°C 6°C 9°C 7°C Gravesend 7°C 5°C 6°C 9°C 7°C improved management of the marine environ-
ment nationally netting £8.6 billion to £19.6
Canterbury 7°C 4°C 5°C 8°C 5°C Maidstone 7°C 5°C 6°C 10°C 7°C Amsterdam 3°C Madrid 12°C billion over 20 years – a return of between five
Chatham 7°C 5°C 6°C 9°C 7°C Ramsgate 7°C 4°C 5°C 8°C 5°C ABathrceenlsona 1111°°CC PNaerwisYork 43°°CC anCdh 2ri6s tCimorersig garne,aotfe trh teh RaSnP tBh,es caoidst:s“.In Kent we
Dartford 7°C 5°C 6°C 9°C 7°C Rochester 7°C 5°C 6°C 9°C 7°C Beijing -1°C Rome 9°C have some special landscapes – these often
underpin local economies and are key reasons
Dover 6°C 4°C 5°C 8°C 5°C Sevenoaks 6°C 3°C 4°C 8°C 5°C Bombay 30°C Sydney 24°C people choose to live in,work in and visit the area.
Faversham 7°C 5°C 6°C 9°C 7°C Sittingbourne 7°C 5°C 6°C 9°C 7°C CCaarpdeifTfown 294°°CC TTeonkeyroife 287°°CC th“eT rhuisn -ruepp otrot iasn a e rlaelcltyiionng acnryd faotr ap otliimticei awnhs einn
Folkestone 6°C 4°C 5°C 8°C 5°C Tonbridge 7°C 3°C 6°C 9°C 6°C Gibraltar 16°C Vancouver 10°C they are struggling to reform our economy.
HongKong 20°C Warsaw -2°C “The environment must not be sidelined – it
Gillingham 7°C 5°C 6°C 9°C 7°C TunWells 7°C 3°C 6°C 9°C 6°C LasPalmas 23°C Wellington 16°C should be at the heart of sustainable recovery.”
yourshepway.co.uk
8 Telephone advertising: 01303 817110 Email [email protected]
yourlocalinterview
QCan you tell us something about yourself? QWhat can be done to help tackle the recession? hours in and commit,because if you don’t,cus-
QUESTION & ANSWER tomers will find someone who will.Another
AI have two children,aged 29 and 28,two AIt is not difficult to realise that the better tip,as a mum of two young children when I
grandchildren,both aged two,and another we all pull together,the stronger Hythe, started my business,is to treat your children
JOANNA due in July.Business-wise,after 15 years of particularly as a visitor destination,becomes. like your very best customers.
running an international coach-tour business, Retailers need to help themselves more by
I am developing new interests as well being coming together and by joining the chamber. QWhat do you hope to achieve with the chamber?
chairman of the Hythe Chamber of Commerce
AMES and Tourism. I am vice-chairman of the QDo you think the Government, county, district and town AMore awareness of what the chamber does
Channel Chamber of Commerce. councils are doing enough to help local businesses? and our plans and to gain more support
AAt the end of the day,never rely on anyone from retailers. I intend the committee to
QHow did you first become involved in the Hythe else.If your business fails,it’s probably as achieve everything we set out to do.Our plans
Chamber of Commerce and Tourism? much down to you as external circumstances. will be constructive and targets achievable.
AIt’s so long ago,it’s hard to remember,but I was never successful with grants. If you
when I owned En Route, in Red Lion needed cash or support,it was never available QHow can people find out more about the chamber?
Square,Hythe,I was invited to join the com- for all sorts of reasons.I hate quangos anyway.
mittee.I was already actively involved with AEmail me at [email protected],phone
tourism,nationally and locally. QTell us about the coach-tourism industry and the role it 01303 211341, click on the website
plays in our local economy. www.hytheguide.co.uk/, or alternatively see
QWhat are the aims of the chamber? ACoaches can,and do,support Hythe shops vice-chairman Kevin Howell at Threshers in
and attractions in a big way.When a coach the high street.
ASupporting businesses and shops in Hythe stops in town,up to 50 people spend money
by focusing on special projects that make they otherwise wouldn’t have.I was a board QWhat do you like to do in your spare time?
the town that little bit different to anywhere member for four years on the Coach Tourism
else.Promoting Hythe in tourism and increas- Council.Coaching is big business in tourism. AI visit Menorca when I can,sitting in the
ing visitors’ footfall. sun,ideally with a G&T. Other than that,
Many retailers still think much of what we QYou have twice been named Kent Businesswoman of the spending time with my family.
do is actually done by the council.Things such Year. What advice would you give to those wanting to
as the Hythe Guide, putting up Christmas start their own enterprise? QTell us something people don’t know about you
trees outside shops,arranging the late-night AProbably my first thought would be:why?
shopping and summer entertainment in the But there are people who want to and will. ALast year I qualified as a health and safety
high street is all done by the the chamber. So my real advice is:be prepared to put the consultant and adviser.
&
The new chairman of Hythe Chamber of Commerce and Tourism spoke to James Alexandreabout
forming her own business, winning awards, the importance of coaching and how to beat the recession
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Telephone editorial: 01303 817200 Email the editor, [email protected] 9
A hole load of expensive trouble for KCC after heavy snow
COUNTY Hall is bracing itself another hazard for road-users and Walker, said: “This case The severity of the pothole
for a torrent of compensation already long fed up with the illustrates the difficulties in problem became clear on
claims linked to the hundreds of earlier snow and ice. obtaining compensation from Tuesday when at least eight
potholes forming on Kent’s roads. Last week KCC was forced to highway authorities. drivers had to pull over on the
Motorists forced to pay out for pay out £6,250 to Welling resi- “They rarely admit liability M20 after suffering punctures
puncture and suspension dam- dent Kenneth Atkinson, who for accidents involving road to their tyres as a result of a
age repairs are expected to flood suffered a badly-dislocated defects and it is usually neces- particularly deep one.
the council’s mailbags with shoulder after falling from his sary to issue court proceedings. To make a claim, visit the
demands that the authority bicycle in May 2007. “The claim was delayed due to roads and transport section of
should foot the bill,at a poten- The 76-year-old has since arguments between KCC and its www.kent.gov.uk and click on
tial cost to the taxpayer of tens been forced to give up his hobby third-party contractors [Scotia ‘fault reporting’ followed by
of thousands of pounds. following the pothole encounter, Gas Networks].“The pothole in ‘claims for damage’. JOBINTERVIEW:Mike Fuller was questioned by MPs
The lengthy cold snap has left for which the council initially question had been repaired pre- • Would we all be better off
many of the county’s major denied liability. viously,but at the time of Mr driving 4x4s in the county? Fuller puts himself
routes in a state of disrepair, Mr Atkinson’s lawyer Paul Atkinson’s accident it was five See this week’s Yourblogger
with the potholes creating yet Kitson,partner at Russell Jones feet long and four inches deep.” on page 14.
forward as head of
Police admit illegal
Prosecution Service
KENT’S Chief Constable Michael Fuller has
told MPs why he believes he should be
appointed the next head of the Crown
stop and searching Prosecution Service.
Mr Fuller – who is Britain’s first black police
chief – has been selected by Attorney General
Baroness Scotland as the preferred candidate
to replace current Chief Inspector Stephen
Wooler,whose contract at the CPS expires at
the end of March.
An announcement regarding Mr Fuller’s
Picture: KNP future is due to be made tomorrow (Thursday).
(cid:2)BY STEVE KNIGHT appeal against it. Last week he told members of the House of
The environmental rally at Kingsnorth in Commons justice committee why he thought
summer 2008 was over E.ON’s plans to build he was a more suitable choice for the role than
KENT Police have admitted using a new coal-fired power station, which the a former judge or lawyer.
stop-and-search powers illegally company put on hold for up to three years Experience
last October.
in what could prove a landmark Politicians, protestors and academics He said:“While I don’t have knowledge of the
case for Kingsnorth Climate involved in the demonstration have always day-to-day work of a crown prosecutor,I still
claimed the police response was dispropor- bring a lot of knowledge of the system and
Camp protestors. tionate to the threat posed by the activists. experience of being a stockholder of the CPS.
Lawyers representing Chief Constable Officers were also accused of being heavy- “I have experience of running organisations
Mike Fuller told the High Court the force handed with the campaigners,seizing hun- and police departments successfully.”
accepted that its officers wrongfully searched dreds of personal items including soap and Mr Fuller told the committee that adjusting
at least three demonstrators – including board games. to policy changes and providing value for
11-year-old twins – who attended the sum- POLICE UNDERFIRE: Demonstrators at Kingsnorth They also took a clown’s wig,crayons and money represented two of the biggest chal-
mer 2008 rally. highlighter pens belonging to the twin lenges for the Chief Inspector of the CPS but
have always claimed the police response to the protest
They also admitted that an unspecified children involved in last week’s High Court that he was fully prepared to cope with both.
number of other protestors could have been was disproportionate to the threat posed by activists hearing. He also refuted a suggestion by Sleaford and
unlawfully stopped,potentially opening the The judges heard how one of the youngsters North Hykeham MP Douglas Hogg that the
door for further legal action to be brought Section 1 of the Police and Criminal – who cannot be named for legal reasons – police and CPS had an “incestuous”relation-
against the police. Evidence Act 1984 states that officers must was left “crying and shaking”after a female ship and were too closely linked for one to be
Hundreds of similar cases are already going have “reasonable suspicion”that an individ- officer said he had to be searched. scrutinised by the other.
through the system,with one lawyer describ- ual is carrying prohibited weapons or articles He feared he would “go to prison”because Mr Fuller said:“Decision-making has always
ing the cost to the taxpayer as potentially that could be used for criminal damage before he had stickers in his bag which other people been independent and I think the public would
“staggering”. they are stopped and searched. had had confiscated. see me as someone who would bring objectivi-
However, Mr Fuller’s representative Mr Perks added that while guidance given Long-standing environmental campaigner ty and scrutiny where it’s needed.
Richard Perks told the two High Court judges to individual officers was correct and accurate, David Morris,from north London,was also at “You need a certain degree of knowledge of
it was not accepted that the police had secret- “on occasions it was misapplied in practice”. the court and said he was forcibly searched the CPS and how it works,and more impor-
ly applied a blanket unlawful stop-and- The announcement came just hours after against his will. tantly of the rubbing points.I’ve seen them
search policy at the camp. the European Court of Human Rights ruled All three are seeking judicial review into first-hand and can therefore make recommen-
He said there had been a “clear and lawful” it illegal for police to use terror laws to stop police powers and potential damages. dations that are credible.”
policy and that the huge majority of those and search people without grounds for suspi- The case has been adjourned while further Mr Fuller joined Kent Police as Chief
stopped had not been done so illegally but cion. evidence is considered before a settlement is Constable in January 2004,having previously
accepted there had been “a misapplication of Home Secretary Alan Johnson said he was reached or a full court hearing called for. been with the Met since starting as a cadet in
a clear policy by officers on the ground”. disappointed with the decision and would Kent Police declined to comment. 1975.
Ashford
Open Day
Dover
Thursday 21st January Folkestone
2.30pm - 7.00pm
For more information or to find out which campus to visit for your area of interest, go to www.southkent.ac.ukor call0845 207 8220
10 Telephone advertising: 01303 817110 Email [email protected]
yourblogger
Gary Wright urges all motorists to report potholes and claim for any resulting damage to their vehicles
Why weren’t our roads ready
GET IN TOUCH…
We want to hear your views
for the inevitable big freeze?
EMAIL: We want your letters,
comments and views. Send your
subbmissions to editor Dave Mairs
at [email protected]
IF ever there was an argument for negligent in its role as highway authority”. The council’s annual budget for potholes is
driving a huge 4x4, then Kent’s Well, I suggest KCC is always negligent £3 million,apparently,and a spokesman said: LET US KNOW…
through lack of proper care and preparation. “Kent Highway Services had already set
roads provide it. The council has promised it will blitz our aside an extra £576,000 to take account of an
The appalling state of maintenance in this roads and carry out repairs… in March. expected increased workload due to bad If there is a story in your area you think
county is highlighted every winter as freezing That is just not good enough.It means six weather – and the additional £1 million comes we should be covering, contact the editor,
conditions cause huge cracks to open up. weeks or so of swerving around the canyons on top of this.”
Potholes cost drivers a heap of cash,wreck- that have opened up in our streets. Surely It is not enough. Dave Mairs, on 01303 817022, or email
ing tyres,alloy wheels and suspension.Tyre- KCC should address the problem right now? Then Cllr Carter dressed it up by making it him on the details above. If you wantto be
Freezing weather is no surprise.The fact that look as though it was supporting local busi-
dealers doubtless rub their hands with glee, our poorly-maintained roads crack up at the ness by inviting them to help with the repairs. the next blogger, then all you have to do is
but for the rest of us it’s an annual nuisance.
first sign of frost is no surprise.So KCC should He said:“We are keen to use small and medium- submit an article to us (of about 550 words)
We should not put up with it.But if we have
be prepared,and if it isn’t,that’s negligent. sized engineering companies from across
to,then it’s time to consider a 4x4 instead of and email it to the editor.And don’t forget,
I watched KCC leader Paul Carter squirm as Kent.They will be encouraged to bid for ten-
the stylish,economical motors that our green Meridian TV interviewed him about the pot- ders to repair our roads as part of our Backing for all the latest news and video from your
chums would have us all drive. hole problem.Asked about compensation for Kent Business campaign.We hope this will town, log on to www.kentnews.co.uk.
Report every pothole you see to 08458 247 wrecked wheels and tyres,he mumbled some- provide a welcome boost for local business.”
800.That way the council has to do something thing about “looking after public money”, Hmm,I’m not so sure other small business-
and it has been informed. suggesting not every wrecked car would be es running cars and vans will feel quite so sup- Write to Editor Dave Mairs, KoS Media, Apple Barn, Hythe
We all know you can claim for the damage to paid for out of the public purse. ported after shelling out for vehicle repairs. Road, Smeeth, Ashford, Kent TN25 6SR.
your car,provided – as the council’s website Shame KCC wasn’t so careful with our cash If your car has been damaged, visit
makes clear – you can prove “clear evidence when £50 million was handed over to doomed www.kent.gov.uk/roads_and_transport and go •We cannot guarantee all articles will be published and all are at the editor’s discretion
that Kent County Council (KCC) has been Icelandic banks,really. to ‘fault reporting’.Happy motoring.
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