Your Shepway, Issue 121, January 20, 2010

27.6 MB·English

by  KOS Media

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Inquest told of
WHAT’S ON & WATCH
yourshepway
yourkenttv.co.uk
NEWS IN BRIEF
armed robber’s
Turn over a new leaf
TOP TV CLIPS
with reading at Cube
final moments WEEKLY book readings aimed at
promoting literature have been
launched by Kent Libraries and
Archives in Folkestone.
The Folkestone Reads project has
been inspired by Frank Cottrell
(cid:2)BY IAN READ spotted Haines wearing a balaclava Boyce’s book Framed.
with slits cut out of it.In one hand he Poetry inspired by the book was
GETAWAY driver Dean was carrying £105,000 in cash and in performed by literature group The
the other a sawn-off shotgun. Word and Googies Cafe providing a
Jenkins told yesterday Armed with a high-velocity venue for readings and themed dis-
(Tuesday) how robber machine-gun,Echo 19 was leading the plays inspired by the story.
team confronting the raiders. The weekly readings will run every
Robert Haines fired at He said:“I was running at a stoop.I Tuesday until the end of March,from
police before he was killed. felt vulnerable.As I looked up I saw a 4-5pm,at the Diva Cafe,The Cube,
An inquest in Folkestone has been shape coming towards me.I turned Tontine Street.
hearing details of the day gunman the torch on my gun on. Sallly Army’s helping
Haines was shot by police after an “He was a huge figure dressed in
armed security van raid. black.His face was covered in a bala-
Jenkins,40,told the inquest how he clava.I could see the white around his hand extends to Haiti
1 A behind the scenes look at the county's plans for a £10 parked a silver Mercedes ready to eyes.I thought,That’s a robber’.
million library and archive centre. Search ‘archive’ make a quick exit after the raid in “I shouted ‘armed police.’ I shouted HYTHE Salvation Army has been
New Romney in October 2006. as if my life depended on it.” contributing to the earthquake relief
Jenkins was jailed for 17 years for Haines ran into a car park where effort in Haiti via its Helping Hands
his part in four raids which netted the the getaway car was waiting.Echo 19 scheme.
gang £225,000. Jenkins said the first said:“With amazing speed he ran and Every Wednesday afternoon it
he knew of any ambush by pirouetted round and brought opens its doors for fellowship,jokes,
police was when he heard the gun down.He was facing trivia and tea,with those attending
shouts of “armed police”. me. Then he fired. I saw a make a voluntary offering.
He said:“I saw Mr Haines flash and heard a loud bang.I Captain Phil Layton said the club
come round the corner of the had no doubt he was trying to was open to all and the weekly contri-
building into the car park.He kill me.I raised my weapon bution, combined with others from
was holding the sawn-off and fired two shots.I aimed at across the UK,had enabled the Sally
[shotgun] pointed down to the the centre of his body. I Army to make a good response. It
floor.I heard the shotgun go thought he was wearing body runs a children’s home in Haiti where
off and saw the flash.There armour.I fired again.” 52 of the 53 children have been
was a spark like flame as I ROBERT HAINES Haines slumped to the floor accounted for. To make a donation,
saw im raise the barrel. He and the officer shouted at him visit www.salvationarmy.org.
was twisting when I heard three to show his hands.When he didn’t,he
cracking sounds.That’s when he was kicked him.The gunman was shot in Charities are quids in
shot. the side,the chest and back.
“My adrenaline was going.I saw his Colleague Echo 10 told how he saw
body recoil.I had no choice but to get Haines trying to crawl away.He fired after clearance work
down.I was asked if I wanted to be a taser but it didn’t penetrate the rob-
tasered – I declined.” ber’s clothing.When he realised the TWO Marsh charities have each
2 Julie Maddocks takes the Kent chef tour and visits the Haines was given first aid but died robber might be mortally wounded he received cheques of £50 after a project
best of the county’s local food producers. Search ‘food’ on the way to hospital.The previous gave first aid. team on Shepway council won an
day a firearms officer told the inquest Flying Squad and Metropolitan achievement award.
he had just three seconds to make a Police marksmen had been tracking Caring Altogether on Romney
decision to shoot the robber dead. Haines and his gang for months. Marsh and New Romney Sea Cadets
The officer – known only as Echo 19 They are known to have carried out shared the £100 prize after the team’s
– gunned down serial armed robber armed raids had struck across Kent work to remove contaminated land at
Haines after a raid on a security van and south east London and now the The Meadows in New Romney was
delivery to the Nationwide in New armed officers were lying in wait next recognised.
Romney High Street. Haines a 43- to the Nationwide. The project involved clearing gar-
year-old dad of two,lived in Challock, All police officers giving evidence dens after a housing estate was left
near Ashford. remained anonymous,being referred incomplete by developers.The team
As he made his escape Haines blast- to by their call signs and were secured more than £300,000 in
ed a police team with his shotgun.He screened from the public.The inquest Government funding for the clear-
was shot three times by Echo 19. hearing,which could last five weeks, ance,chose the contractor and over-
The officer told the inquest how he continues. saw all the work.
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
EDITOR:Dave Mairs 01303 817022
GROUP EDITOR: Gary Wright 01303 817032
WEBSITE: www.yourshepway.co.uk
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Telephone editorial: 01303 817200 Email [email protected] 3
Planners frozen out of Charity fears for
workers in Haiti
A FOLKESTONE-based charity operat-
ing in Haiti fears one of its workers has
sludge plant meeting
died and others are missing while it con-
tinues to deliver aid.
Mission Aviation Fellowship is flying
supplies across the Caribbean island in
the wake of Tuesday’s devastating earth-
quake, which it is believed has killed
some 50,000 people.
The quake,which measured 7.0 on the
(cid:2)BY JAMES ALEXANDRE Richter Scale and was followed by a
series of aftershocks,is thought to have
displaced up to three million people in
COUNCILLORS who will decide what is the nation’s worst natural disas-
whether a controversial sludge plant ter for 200 years.
is built in Sellindge failed to turn up Missing
to a meeting attended by scores of MAF spokesman Emma Stewart said
it had three aircraft based in Gonaives,
villagers.
on the west coast of Haiti:
Kent County Council said the snow was to “Our team of 21 staff has been affected
blame for the planning committee members’ no- by the incident.One local staff member is
show last Wednesday,as they would not be able feared dead and two are missing.
to assess the full impact of the plans when visit- “All international staff are safe.Non-
ing the site in person. essential staff and dependents are being
But the meeting went ahead as scheduled with withdrawn from Haiti. A team of key
an estimated 180 people packing Sellindge vil- staff members will remain to coordinate
lage hall in the evening,leaving standing room relief efforts.”
only at the back. She said disaster response was one of
The proposed anaerobic digestion plant on the FULL HOUSE: Villagers who packed Sellindge village hall were told the sludge plant decision was ‘finely balanced’ the charity’s areas of expertise and would
old Otterpool Quarry site will take food and gar- continue to coordinate logisitics and pro-
den waste and break it down into a sludge-like vide air transport for aid agencies.
look like:“What we have is an application which were unfounded and urged the audience to try to
liquid,which can then be used as fertiliser. These include government officials and
shows two entirely different and contradictory win over committee members when they came.
Organiser Ronald Lello said about the propos- relief workers to assess the damage from
als by developer Countrystyle:“It’s absolutely site access arrangements and no clarity as to She said:“As I understand it,this one is finely above and draw up a response plan.
insulting to planning officers,to members of the which is which. There are several instances balanced.I don’t know whether officers will be Four key areas they are concentrating
council and to us,because this application is so where that sort of contradiction occurs.There recommending approval or refusal. on include clean water,temporary shel-
inept,it’s quite unbelievable how careless it is.” are only 12 drawings of the buildings – they can’t “I know that whichever way they go there will ter,medical care and hygiene materials.
He said the owners of the Airport Cafe oppo- make any of them match.” be sufficient grounds for refusal in that report, In November last year the Christian
site the site estimated they serve about 50,000 Heating engineer Les Barrett said the plans that councillors will be able to say ‘no’ if they charity unveiled its new Kodiak 100 air-
meals a year and had plans to turn their scrap- showed the company wanted to dig too far down want to and it will be defensible.” craft at Lydd airport.
yard into art and craft studios. into the groundwater, possibly poisoning the Graham Forge, whose family owns MAF has more than 120 aircraft in
Mr Lello said: “A waste treatment plant is waterbeds which supply Folkestone. Westenhanger Castle said their business,which more than 35 countries in the developing
going to wreck a business that has been worked One member of the audience said there was a hosted 26 weddings last year,would be davastat- world and has had a base in Haiti since
at for 75 years and I think that’s disgusting.” feeling it was a “done deal” and the outcome ed by the smell emanating from the plant. 1986;its head office is in Sandgate Road,
Other concerns were highlighted by local would be in Countrystyle’s favour no matter An alternative date for the inspection has been Folkestone.
architect Bob Edden,who said the plans failed to what happened. agreed for February 8,with the final decision at To find out more and to make a dona-
adequately explain what the buildings would County councillor Susan Carey said such fears County Hall expected in mid-March. tion,you can go to www.maf-uk.org.
Council wary BHS closes store
over shared
in Bouverie Place
service plan
CONTINUED FROMFRONTPAGE
essential coun- THE BHS store in Bouverie Place is process with the relevant head office
cil services.We to close down in March and be hand- teams who will discuss their options
should look at ed over to cut price chain Primark. and work closely with Arcadia
every service in The shop was one of the flagship brands and other retailers in the
turn and ask if brands of the Folkestone centre local area to support individuals to
it’s currently as when it opened for business, amid find alternative employment.
effective as it much fanfare,by local MP Michael “Primark have indicated that they
could be, and Howard in November 2007. will be undertaking an extensive
look at every However the BHS retail outlet is refurbishment of the store premises,
option open to to be one of 10 across the UK to be and would expect to reopen at least
the council. sold off by BHS owner Sir Philip six months after the closure.”
The east Kent Green as he begins to shake up his Surprised
proposals sim- retail concerns.
ply ruled that Staff were notified on Friday and Local shoppers were surprised by
out. TIM PRATER their prospects of employment with the move which affects one of the
“There has the new owners are still unclear. town’s most popular shops which
been cross-party agreement in It is believed the Folkestone town also has a small café inside.
Shepway from the Liberal centre store employs some 30 people. John Barber,Folkestone town cen-
Democrats and Conservatives that The change over across the UK is tre manager said:“It’s a shame to
this is not right for Shepway. set to take place over the next 12 lose BHS because the store has actu-
“If other councils wish to proceed months,with the local store one of ally been doing quite well.
then that’s their choice:good luck the first to shut its doors. “But if Primark comes in at least
to them,and they’ll need it. A BHS spokesman said:“The BHS we will still have a store rather than
“If there are not fundamental store in Folkstone is one of 10 stores an empty building. “Primark is in
changes to the project,I hope and that are being closed during a phased fact a huge attraction in many towns
believe that when Shepway coun- programme in 2010 and the leases of and I can see it bringing in visitors to
cillors are asked to vote on whether all 10 are being sold on to Primark. Folkestone,so it is not all bad news.
to join,we will give a firm and unit- The proposed closure date for this “What I would have really liked to
ed ‘no’.” particular store is March 2010. see is Primark taking over the old
A report about shared services “The store staff were told of their Woolworths building. That really
will be considered by the council’s store closure on Friday last week, would have been a boost for the town
cabinet in February. and are now in a consultation and it very nearly happened.”
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Support Rotary as Report proves expansion will
they help Haitians
FOLKESTONE Rotary Club is appeal-
ing for donations to help them send sup- boost economy, says airport
plies to people left homeless by the dev-
astating earthquake in Haiti.
Vital items such as a Shelterbox,
which includes a ten-person tent and
survival equipment including thermal
blankets and insulated ground sheets,
will be sent,along with an Aquabox con-
taining water-filter kits, purification NEW research has been hailed by (cid:2)BY JAMES ALEXANDRE – there are not good road and rail links com-
tablets and survival bags. Lydd airport as proof that its con- pared with somewhere like Manston.
The Folkestone branch has already “It’s a generalised study which is not applica-
been able to supply a Shelterbox and five troversial multi-million-pound pro- to the surrounding area.A thriving airport acts ble to Lydd.”
Aquaboxes,but more are needed. posals will boost the local economy as a real driver for development and economic The long-running planning applications for
Any donations towards the coordinat- and create jobs. prosperity as it draws in a range of businesses the airport,also known as London Ashford,have
ed relief effort by Rotary Clubs would be keen to locate to a regional aviation hub. already been subjected to a series of delays.
greatly received. The independent study by Oxera Consulting “In recent years we have seen numerous Shepway council moved the original date in
A Shelterbox costs £490 and an said regional airports could have a positive examples where investment in developing January 2008 after it requested more informa-
Aquabox £80; to find out more, phone impact by reducing travel times and opening up regional airports has had a positive impact on tion;then weeks before the rearranged meeting
Michael Simmonds on 01303 244566 or new destinations,as well as attracting trade. the local economy and that is our vision.” on July 9 the airport’s lawyers intervened and
see www.folkestonerotaryclub.org. But Louise Barton,of anti-expansion group The report, commissioned by the Airport asked for more time when the council officers’
LAAG,said such research was too general and Operators Association, said that in 2007/08 report recommended refusal.
Witnesses sought did not apply to Lydd,which she claims strug- Britain’s aviation sector contributed £8.8 billion The September 23 date was then moved to
gles to attract existing business. of economic output and employed 141,000 people the following day to avoid clashing with the
over alleged attack The debate over the airport’s proposed 444- directly,with another 93,000 in the supply chain. national Liberal Democrat conference. This
metre runway extension and 500,000-passenger In response,Ms Barton said:“Lydd is an oper- was then delayed again after Mr Gordon,who
terminal is intensifying in the countdown to the ationally dysfunctional airport with a limited had just been appointed to the post,requested
POLICE are appealing for witnesses to Shepway council meeting on Wednesday, population in an area renowned throughout the more time to look through the paperwork.
come forward about an alleged assault in March 3,to determine the applications. world for its natural habitat. A final date has now been set for Wednesday,
the early hours of New Year’s Day. Lydd airport managing director Jonathan “The whole thing is ludicrous,they find it dif- March 3,at Civic Centre and Shepway chief
The man was allegedly attacked out- Gordon said:“The economic footprint of modern, ficult enough to attract operators.There is no executive Alistair Stewart said he was not pre-
side the Princes Gate flats in George successful regional airports is hugely beneficial natural reason for people to come to the airport pared to delay any further.
Lane, Folkestone, between 2am and
2.25am on Friday, January 1. Officers
would like to hear from anyone who was ALL ABOARD
in the area and saw what happened.
The investigating officer is PC Mick
Sedden and he can be contacted on 01303
850055. Alternatively, if you wish to FOR FOOTY
remain anonymous, call Crimestoppers
on 0800 555 111.
• A 22-year-old man has been arrested
and released on bail while officers make An iconic red double-decker bus will be taking two
further enquiries.
Littlestone football-crazy fans to the World Cup in
South Africa to raise money for the RNLI.
VIEWTHIS CLIP ON Dave Wimble, 43, and Danny Crawley, 36, from
Littlestone-on-Sea lifeboat station, are paying £3,000
each to fund their journey on a 1966 Routemaster bus,
yourkenttv.co.uk
leaving in April for the 10,500-mile trip to Cape Town.
They will be sleeping on the bus, handing out
LOCAL
football shirts from English clubs to children in other
countries and playing the occasional game as part of
the fun en route. It is hoped the trip will raise the
profile of both the RNLI, the charity which saves lives
at sea, and Great Ormond Street Hospital.
Dave, an Arsenal supporter who works in the
entertainment business, used to be a mechanic at
Tower lifeboat station on the River Thames and will
repair the bus if it breaks down.
Danny, a former Royal Marine, is a diesel fitter and
his expertise could also be required.
To join the team or help with fund-raising, email
Cracking down on ant-isocial [email protected] or phone 01797
behaviour. Search ‘crackdown’ 362000.
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KOS MEDIA
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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.”

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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