yourswaleTHE NEWSPAPER FOR SITTINGBOURNE, ISLE OF SHEPPEY, FAVERSHAM & DISTRICT

yourswale.co.ukSITTINGBOURNE/ISLE OF SHEPPEY EDITION

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Issue No 56Available from Wednesday,

October 1, 2008

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ALSO INSIDECOMPETITION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . PAGE 15LETTERS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . PAGES 16-17LEISURE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . PAGES 18-26PROPERTY. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . PAGES 27-31BUSINESS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . PAGES 45

BLOCKED drains, overhangingbushes, unfilled potholes and defacedroad signs are just some of the eye-sores in Swale highlighted by a dis-gruntled resident’s new website.

Paul Dunford, 40, says he launched the onlinesite Swale Is A Mess because he became “finallyfed up and absolutely disgusted” after seeing lit-tle or no improvement to the surrounding area –despite repeated calls to the authorities.

To date he has lodged about 200 complaintswith Swale council and Kent Highways, who areresponsible for maintaining the streets, includingproblems with 88 road signs.

He is now considering withholding his counciltax and calling a meeting of other residents inprotest at the lack of action.

Lorry driver Mr Dunford, who lives in DobbieClose, Milton Regis, told Yourswale he first askedthe council in June to deal with a tree in CrownRoad which was hanging across a footpath, forc-ing people to walk in the road to get past it.

Three months later the offending foliage wasfinally cut back but he has continued to commenton the state of the footpaths, roads and signswhich are still listed on the site.

Mr Dunford said: “I started up the website soother residents can see the mess Swale counciland Kent County Council have left us in.

“They are happy to take our money in counciltax but they do nothing with it unless we reportstuff to them, and then it takes them weeks to dosomething.”

His campaign has started to attract supporters,including Roger Harris, 66, of Peregrine Drive,Just a few of the many examples of Swale in disrepair featured on the Swale-Is-A-M ess wesbsite.

SILVER SCREEN: Take a preview of all thelatest cinema releases. Search ‘film’.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 3

� BY JAMES ALEXANDREEXCLUSIVE

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NEWS IN BRIEF

MP DEREK Wyatt hasoffered to fly to Finland tonegotiate a stay of execu-tion for Sittingbourne andKemsley Light Railwaywith its landowner.

The Labour MP for Sittingbourneand Sheppey said M-Real, whichowns Sittingbourne paper mill andthe land used by the railway, haddeclined to talk to the tourist attrac-tion’s trustees or Swale council offi-cials about finding a way of saving itfrom eviction and closure.

Mr Wyatt has “expressed conster-nation” at the paper manufactur-er’s attitude and requested anurgent meeting with the board,even offering to fly to their head-quarters in the Finnish capitalHelsinki if necessary.

In a letter to Juha Laine, vicepresident of M-Real, he said: “Iwould like to remind you about thetime when the ball was on the otherfoot. I helped your own senior exec-utives meet government officialsand I hosted a welcoming supper inthe House of Commons when youbought the company.

“I visited Helsinki to cement thisrelationship. When redundancieshappened at the mills I assistedlocal management officials, spoke tothe unions and generally gave yourcompany 100 per cent support atevery turn.

“I would welcome a meeting to bet-ter understand why you have takenthis position. Frankly, I am rathersurprised there has been no contactbetween us.”

A spokesman for M-Real said thecompany was “surprised” the MP feltthe need to write the letter, that itwas always prepared to talk andmeet with interested parties, andstressed any suggestion otherwisewas not true.

The Finnish company, which is selling off Sittingbourne paper millas part of a package with the landused by the railway, has since agreed

to meet the trustees of the railway in the middle of next week.

Tony James, general manager ofSittingbourne and Kemsley LightRailway, said: “We look forward tomeeting with M-Real and hope theywill be willing to discuss the wholescenario that faces the railway andwill not for any reason rule out anyitem we want to raise.

“It would appear to me that thereason they have agreed to meetwith us is combined pressure fromthe press, from our local MP andSwale council.

“However it is one thing talkingabout the hole in the fence to M-Realproperty which they always havebeen willing to discuss, it is a totallydifferent matter to discuss thefuture of the railway.”

The railway will be forced tovacate the land by January 28unless a compromise can be reached.

A special members-only day laterthis month and its pre-booked SantaSpecial services are the only times itwill operate before closing complete-ly on Boxing Day.

� BY JAMES ALEXANDRE

FLIGHT OF MERCY: Derek Wyatt has offeredto fly to Finland to talk to railway landowners

MP joins thefight to savelight railway

Charity auctionDEMELZA House will host a dinnerdance auction on October 24 to mark itstenth anniversary.

Prizes being auctioned at the event atAshford International Hotel include atrip with world sidecar champion TimReeves and a 30-minute aerobatic planeflight.

Whitstable-born X Factor finalist BenMills will perform and tickets cost £40,or £350 for a table of ten, for a threecourse meal.

For tickets call Demelza on 07939019046 or 07976 820553.

Green surveyGREEN spaces in Swale are the subjectof a new online survey set up by thecouncil to find out what can be done toimprove them.

The questionnaire invites people tocomment on how much of this publicspace is used and valued, if they areclose enough to get to and whether theygive enough of a distinctive identity.

The survey is available at Swale coun-cil’s website at www.swale.gov.uk untilOctober 31.

Puppy appeal POLICE are appealing for informa-tion after eight puppies and two dogsworth thousands of pounds werestolen from kennels in a village nearSittingbourne.

The animals, all cocker spaniels, weretaken from School Lane, Iwade,overnight on Monday last wee. Theyhave an estimated value of £6,000.

All the puppies are six weeks old.Anyone with information is asked

to contact PC Ben Redpath on 07870252237 or Kent Crimestoppers on 0800555 111.

Artist on show A SHEPPEY-born painter is return-ing to Swale to showcase his latestwork as part of the council’s culturalcelebrations.

James Allchin, who has just fin-ished studying at the Ruskin Schoolof Art in London, is featuring in anexhibition being held at The PolkaDot arts centre in Teynham fromFriday until October 26.

The work of the artist, who is winnerof the first Swale arts bursary award,will be in the Long Room.

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SHEPPEY speedster Shane ‘Shakey’ Byrne took the British SuperbikeChampionship at Silverstone at the weekend. The bike ace was crownedchampion after finishing third and second in the meet’s two races.

And the victory will allow him to have a crack at the World SuperbikeChampionship next year for the second time, after racing for the worldtitle in 2003.

Shane said: “My season with Airwaves Ducati and GSE Racing has beenincredible and I would like to extend my thanks to everyone involved whohas played a part in our championship winning year.”FULL STORY ON PAGE 46.

WORLD IN SHAKEY’S HAND

EASY access to drugs and a lack of prisoner activityare highlighted in a reporton conditions inside HMPSwaleside.

The category B training prison, themajority of whose inmates are serv-ing life sentences, was found to beworking hard to reduce both supplyand demand of drugs but there was“insufficient purposeful activity” tokeep prisoners occupied.

The report revealed about 40 percent of the population were locked upduring the day and only spent eighthours out of their cells, below the recommended ten.

It said race equality and relationswith foreign offenders was good, butfound that black and ethnic minorityprisoners were negative about theirtreatment compared to their whitecounterparts.

Healthcare provision was describedas “adequate”, although more needed

to be done to improve staff attitudeswhich “undermined clinical care” andaddress a reluctance among some tomodernise services.

The report stated that educationand skills also needed development,although the prison – one of three inthe Sheppey cluster – was found tobe very safe with relationshipsbetween staff and offenders being“extremely good”.

EducationThe assessment took place during

March and April this year and made a number of recommendationsto the cluster’s chief executive andSwaleside’s governor.

The report said: “There should besufficient activity places to occupythe population purposefully duringthe core working day.

“Prisoners should have greater andmore targeted access to educationand vocational training.

It also said that the prison “shoulddevelop a strategy to address thenegative perceptions” among blackand minority prisoners and “takespecific steps to address the negative

staff culture among healthcare staff”with inmates spending less time intheir cells.

Swaleside is near full to capacitywith a population of 770 prisoners,614 of whom are serving life sentences. Violence against the per-son and robbery are the most common convictions among the population, the majority of which are aged between 21 and 29. Five are70 or over.

Chief inspector of prisons, AnneOwers, said: “Swaleside has to man-age a challenging population of seri-ous offenders and it is therefore com-mendable that we found it to be avery safe prison. It was pleasing tofind that staff-prisoner relationshipsremained extremely good.

“The clustering of the threeSheppey prisons had led to someimprovements in resettlement, butcluster managers had failed toensure that there was sufficient pur-poseful activity and prisoners spenttoo long in their cells.

“This weakness needs to beaddressed if Swaleside is to become a first-rate prison.”

Bored inmatesare turning todrugs at prison� BY JAMES ALEXANDRE

Picture: AIRWAVES DUCATI

Report highlights need to reduce supply and demand

LABOUR’S David Sargent and theConservatives’ Andy Booth were thevictors in respective by-elections inSheerness East and Minster Cliffs.

Cllr Sargent, 49, gained 326 votesout of a total of only 847 votes cast, aturnout of 23.1 per cent on Thursday.

Cllr Booth gained almost half of the 1,144 votes polled in MinsterCliffs, a turnout of 19.8 per cent onthe same day.

The terms of office for the twonewly elected members are until2011 and give both of the main parties on Swale council one addi-tional member.

The political balance is nowConservatives 27 members, Labourten, Liberal Democrats five and fourIndependents.

Cllr Sargeant told Yourswale onFriday morning that he intends tomake “good and early inroads” in hisnew role and would focus on thethree priorities with which he foughthis campaign: litter, dumping inalleyways and anti-social behaviour.

A Labour party member since hewas 15 he has lived in Sheerness

since 1985 and previously represent-ed the ward as a borough councillorfor 14 years from 1988 to 2002.

Cllr Andy Booth is a presenter onlocal community radio station BRFMand also a Minster parish councillor.

A keen environmentalist, he haspromised to protect what remains ofthe area’s open spaces and preventany more large scale housing devel-opments in the area.

Both by-elections were triggered bythe resignations last month ofSheppey First councillors ChrisBoden and Gemma Wray, who stooddown due to work commitments andmoving out of the area respectively.

Labour and Toryduo voters’ pickat by-elections

CONTINUED FROM FRONTSittingbourne, who said council staffhired to monitor litter are not doingenough.

He said: “It is my opinion they onlyspot that which will not cost much torectify in case it should consequentlyjeopardise their jobs.

“The general public must be madeaware that the council will not doanything constructive to improvelapses of cleansing or general mainte-nance unless they receive complaints,so it is up to us all.”

Brian Planner, Swale council’s headof amenities, said the council hadbeen working hard to keep the streetstidy, including using offenders to cutback trees and bushes and clearingup public spaces.

He said: “Earlier this year we established street scene officers tomonitor and co-ordinate street cleaning activities and the first fourmonths of this year has seen a significant improvement.

“An independent survey has shownthat over this period we are amongthe top performing councils in thecountry in dealing with litter.

“The cleansing and environmentalresponse teams perform a demandingtask and we would very much welcome public help and support in keeping Swale clean and tidy.”• The website is http://www.swale-is-a-mess.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk.

‘We are among the top councils indealing with litter’

WINNERS: David Sargent (left) and Andy Booth

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NEWS IN BRIEF

YOUNGSTERS from across Medway willskip class tomorrow to take part in the firstSkip2bfit Challenge.

The Medway Healthy Schools fitnessface-off will see infant and junior schoolpupils compete for a range of cups includingthe individual, doubles and school trophies.There is also a medal for the top teacher.

All entrants will be treated to free water,blueberries and fruit smoothies, as well as acomplimentary skipping rope.

Children to keep fit witha hop, skip and a jump

CHATHAM Historic Dockyard has present-ed the winner of its open art competitionwith a £500 prize.

A piece titled No.3 Slip by Sheilagh Dyson,from Maidstone, won Best in Show award atthe biennial Art in the Dockyard OpenCompetition. Twenty-nine entrants tookpart in the competition, submitting a total of46 pieces of work.

The art can be seen at The HistoricDockyard until November 2, free of charge.

Artist slips her work intobest in show at dockyard

MAMMAL watching, pond-dipping andguided walks were on offer at Shorne Woodsthis weekend during the country park’sKent Goes Wild event.

The free two-day event introduced would-be nature lovers to wildlife recording in thehope they will help maintain vital biologicalrecords in the county.

Visitors also had the opportunity to talk toleading wildlife experts, who were on handto identify specimens, answer questions andoffer advice about how to encourage wildlifeinto gardens.

Nature lovers go wild onintroductory weekend

A RUSSIAN choir will return to Medwaynext week for their seventh-annual tour.

The choir Voskresenje will perform fourconcerts across the county including onenight at St Stephen’s Church in Chathamon Friday, October 10.

The Anglo-Russian friendship began in2002 when the vicar of St Stephen’s receiveda mysterious email saying simply “we wouldlike to perform in your church”.

The choir’s latest programme includesextracts from Rachmaninov’s Vespers andRussian folk songs.

To book tickets call 01634 841567.

Enjoy the tuneful returnof the Russians to church

COUNCIL bosses will urge theGovernment to change hazardouschemicals storage laws, it has beenrevealed.

Medway council is set to call on ministers toalter the current regulations, which allowbusinesses to store up to 1,000 tonnes of poten-tially-deadly chemicals anywhere in the UKwithout needing a licence or the permission ofthe local authority.

The council’s letter is expected to ask for atotal ban on toxic substances being kept nearresidential areas and also to urge for a com-pulsory period of consultation with councillorsand residents to be added to the existing haz-ardous materials legislation.

The authorities’ action comes just weeksafter chemical firm Arcelor Mittal Kent Wire’sapplication to store 2,500 tonnes of the explo-sive ammonium nitrate compound atChatham Docks was rejected.

The failed request highlighted the fact thecompany had already been legally storing upto 1,000 tonnes of the material at theirMedway base – near areas of dense housingand the new police HQ – for some time.

Rehman Chishti, the Tory parliamentarycandidate for Gill-ingham and Rainham, sub-mitted a motion to full council calling for theGovernment to reconsider the rules.

Speaking after the motion was carried, MrChishti said: “Residents’ safety will always beparamount for me and I thank my council col-leagues in supporting this motion.

“I now ask the Government to put residents’safety first and change this legislation.”

Gillingham and Rainham MP Paul Clarkalso announced he would ask senior ministersto amend the law.

Mr Clark said he was “delighted” the councilhad thrown out Arcelor Mittal’s proposal andpaid tribute to the residents who opposed theplans: “It’s all down to the hard work my con-stituents have put in, so congratulations andthank you for supporting me with this cam-paign.

“It has made a massive difference. I amworking hard and making representations to

ministers at the Home Office and theEnvironment Department to ask for this legis-lation to be reconsidered.”

Council planning chiefs said they issued arefusal notice to Arcelor Mittal on the recom-mendation of the Health and SafetyExecutive.

A council spokesman said: “Medway councilissued a refusal notice for the above applica-tion under delegated powers on the grounds itpotentially poses an unacceptable safety risk,it is within a flood risk area and the absence ofdetails of drainage or for the management ofpotentially polluting incidents.”

The decision received cross-party support,with Medway’s Liberal Democrat party alsobacking the council’s ruling.

Fears for residents compounds need for change

Chemical storagesets off reaction

STORAGE: Up to 1,000 tonnes of explosive ammonium nitrate compound are being stored at Chatham Docks

� BY SIMON ROBINSON

yourkenttv.co.ukVIEW THIS CLIP ON

LOCALORGANISERS were stagg-ered by the popularity of theOnly Fools and HorsesConvention on Sunday.

They had expected 1,500people to attend the event atMote Park Leisure Centre inMaidstone – but were stun-ned when more than 2,200fans flooded through itsdoors.

People travelled fromacross Kent to meet theactors who played Trigger,Denzil, Mickey Pearce, Sid of

the Nag’s Head, and Del-Boy’s son Damien.

Only Fools AppreciationSociety president Perry Agh-ajanoff, who organised theconvention, said: “It was bril-liant and has definitely beenthe biggest one so far.

“After 11 years of touringand seeing less and less peo-ple, Maidstone has taken usback to the hey-days.”

Enthusiasts spent the dayadmiring memorabilia fromthe treasured sitcom – inc-

luding the famous yellowthree-wheeler van and DelBoy’s eccentric outfits.

Fans could also sit in Del-Boy’s chair and contemplate‘get rich quick’ schemes in arecreation of the Trotters’flat, as well as buy rareitems from the show.

Mr Aghajanoff added: “Theday was staggering, I can’tbelieve how many peoplecame along, this is the firsttime we had been to Kentand it was sensational.”

Thousands flock to fools convention

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NEWS IN BRIEFTV STAR Loyd Grossman has been appoint-ed chairman of the University for theCreative Arts’ board of governors.

The former Through the Keyhole andMasterchef presenter said he was delighted totake on the role at UCA, formerly known asthe Kent Institute of Art and Design andUCCA.

He said: “Nurturing creativity brings hugebenefits to every part of our society and Ibelieve the university has a great deal to con-tribute to the economic success of the UK.”

UCA has five campuses across Kent andSurrey, including buildings in Rochester,Maidstone and Canterbury.

Creative arts universityputs celebrity in the chair

RETIRED health workers have been invitedto enter a Medway NHS Foundation Trust artcompetition.

Entries can be submitted in four categories;painting, sculpture, arts and crafts, and pho-tography. The winning artists will have theirwork displayed in the John Spence Gallery atMedway Maritime Hospital.

The contest has been organised by thetrust’s healing arts group, which aims to usethe arts to improve the hospital environment.

Entries can be brought to the hospitalbetween November 3 and 7, entry forms areavailable from www.medway.nhs.uk.

Competition takes healthyinterest in hospital art

And Lib Dem leader says scrap planLIBERAL Democrat leader Nick Clegg hascalled for the contentious Kingsnorth powerplant proposals to be scrapped by theGovernment.

The top MP said he wants to rule out a newgeneration of coal-fired power stations, like theone planned by E.ON for the Hoo peninsulastation, at his party’s conference inBournemouth.

He said: “Together we are going to have touse less energy.And much less dirty energy.It’sthe only way to stop the growing threat of dis-astrous climate change. There must be nothird runway at Heathrow, no expansion ofStansted. And for power stations – no

Kingsnorth, no more dirty coal.”Liberal Democrats in Medway have repeat-

edly opposed the new coal-fired power stationproposed at Kingsnorth on Hoo.

Medway councillor Andy Stamp said: “TheLabour Government is sleepwalking into cli-mate disaster if it gives the go-ahead toKingsnorth.”

Fellow Lib Dem, Cllr Geoff Juby added:“ThePrime Minister is expected to make a decisionon Kingsnorth soon. If it is given approval itwill open the floodgates for a further half dozencoal-fired power stations, locking us into a highcarbon energy policy which will cause cata-strophic climate change.”

A TOP burlesque performer is returning toher roots in Kent for a night of dancing,striptease, comedy and cabaret.

Ivy Paige,28, originally from Rainham,spentmost of her youth performing in Maidstonewith the Changeling Theatre Company fromthe age of 11 to 18, before going on to achieveinternational success as a showgirl.

The dancer, who now lives in the countytown, will be showcasing her new perf-ormance at Mu Mu bar in Week Street,Maidstone, on Friday.

Ms Paige said: “I spend a lot of my time per-forming in London or abroad and I felt it wastime I invested in my area.

“Mu Mu is a wonderful venue with its opu-lent interior but you also have the option toeat in the restaurant before the show.

“The show has some of London’s finest bur-lesque and cabaret stars, as well as someincredible talent from Maidstone.”

Tickets will be available on the door for £10or online at www.ivypaige.co.uk at a specialrate of two-for-one.

Life is a cabaret whenyou enjoy the show

TAXPAYERS are set to have topay nearly half the estimated £6million spent policing the Campfor Climate Change protest atKingsnorth power station.

The Home Office has confirmed it is willingto contribute £3.2m to the bill, which is like-ly to rise as other costs such as overtime arefactored in.

A spokesman for the government depart-ment said: “We have offered Kent police£3.2m and they have asked for more. We areconsidering that request.”

About 1,400 officers policed the event and1,000 activists attended the camp, accordingto official estimates at the time.

Officers made 100 arrests. Of those, 46were charged, mostly with public orderoffences or obstructing the police.

OvertimeKent police has revealed that policing the

nine-day eco-protest cost the force £5.9 mil-lion but added that this figure is likely to risewhen final costs such as police overtime andfurther invoices are added.

Taxpayers in Kent are facing at least £3million of the final bill, unless the appeal tothe government is successful.

A statement released by Kent police said:

“We are still in the process of negotiationswith the Home Office over their contributionto the total cost.

“We hope to have a final figure in the nextfew weeks and we will then make this avail-able to the public.”

Critics have dubbed the cost “an outra-geous waste of public money” and accusedpolice of a disproportionate response andheavy-handed tactics.

Eco-campaigner Janie Shiraz said:“This £6million wasn’t just spent on the day of actionagainst Kingsnorth.

“It was mostly spent over the course of theweek in stopping and searching every man,woman and child entering the site, it wasspent keeping residents awake with the hel-icopter all night, and it was spent on policerunning around on site with nothing to do aspeople sat in tents trying to talk about cli-mate change.

“Disproportionate response doesn’t evenbegin to cover it.”

Kingsnorth Climate Action Medwayspokesman Andy Rogers added: “I attendedthe camp and I feel the underhanded andincredibly intimidating use of political polic-ing at the camp was an out-and-out infringe-ment of my human rights, including my free-dom of speech and the right under law toattend a peaceful protest.

“Surely £6m of what is essentially tax pay-ers’ money would have been better spentintroducing a moratorium on coal-firedpower stations.”

We’ll be footingthe bill for policeat climate camp� BY SIMON ROBINSON

MASSIVE RESPONSE: The ‘heavy-handed’ action of excess policing has been criticised by campaigners

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To Demelza,love Damien

A RECORD-breaking donation has been givento Demelza House after artist Damien Hirst’spainting raised more than £750,000.

The piece, titled Beautiful Love Demelza, isthe biggest gift in the ten year history of thecharity and was sold to an anonymous buyerat Sotherby’s in London.

The heart-shaped painting features fragilebutterflies in striking colours, representing thelives of the children at the hospice.

The total amount raised was £769,250 afterthe winning bid of £650,000 with Sotherby’scontributing its buyer’s premium.

Sue Piper, of the Sittingbourne-based chari-ty, said: “This is an amazing amount of moneyand we are truly grateful to Damien andSotheby’s for their generosity.

“The money will go directly to the capitalappeal and be spent on building costs. Withthe work on the new hospice looking to be fin-ished at the October, this has come at just theright time.

“We need to raise more than £15,000 a daywhen the new hospice is open.”

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yourlocalinterviewQCan you tell us a little about yourself?

AI am 32, live in Swale and am passionateabout the area. Hobbies include squash,

running, travel and playing Saturday leaguefootball for my new team Sirtcom FC! I enjoymeeting new people and thrive on challenges.

QTell us more about your business, what does Sirtcomdo?

AWe are a mobile communications company.I formed Sirtcom, SImon Richard Turner

Communications, in 2001. We started supply-ing mobile packages to small businessesthroughout Kent. The company now providesboth mobile and fixed solutions to both SMEand blue chip clients worldwide. We also spe-cialise in Blackberry and mobile PDA devices,as well as vehicle hands-free solutions.

QWhat is your biggest achievement in business?

AWinning any new business contract intoday’s climate is a positive achievement.

However, for me, retaining and developingworking partnerships is the key for successand growth. The fact I continue to maintainmany original accounts after all these years isprobably my greatest achievement.

QWhat made you start the company?

AI had always aspired to be my own bossand whilst working for O2 corporate, I

decided to set-up by myself. I saw a gap in theSME sector and decided to make the leap offaith. Fortunately I haven’t looked back sinceand I’m delighted that lots of companies, andindividuals, are now choosing Sirtcom as theirnumber one communications provider.

QYou do a lot of charity work, tell us more?

AI have raised money for charitable causesfor as long as I can remember, because I

feel passionately that we should help peopleless fortunate than ourselves. Every charityplays a vital part within the community, mak-ing real differences to the lives of so many. Itis my privilege to be able to contribute whereI can. I am also a member of the Round Tablefor both Sheppey and Kent, which benefitsregional, national and local causes.

QYou recently decided to sponsor Ashford Town FootballClub. Why decide to do this?

AI’ve always been passionate about footballand being able to combine this with a com-

mercially beneficial sponsorship deal is excel-lent. The new Homelands Sports Village com-plex will benefit the football teams, business-es and public alike. We are naturally excitedto be involved in such a good project.

QYou also sponsor Gillingham Football Club. Is there noconflict of interest, sponsoring two clubs?

ANo, there is no conflict of interest. We havespecific deals with both clubs that are

mutually beneficial. Every football clubrequires commercial support from businessesand we will continue to work together withboth Gillingham and Ashford for as long as itis economically viable.

QWhat have you got planned for the future?

ASirtcom will continue to grow and I havemany exciting plans moving forward.

Our website www.sirtcom.com is constantlyupdated with a variety of special offers and Iam always interested in any new companiesthat we might be able to help with thoseoffers.

I want to continue building on our enviablereputation through service, ensuring weremain ahead of the competition.

QI know you have a special offer for Yourswale readers.What are you proposing?

AI would like to offer either a free in-car kitor three months free line rental for every

phone renewal. All you need to do is call theoffice on 08701 423010 and mentionYourswale to receive the special offer.

QFinally, anything you’d like to add?

AI would just like to remind readers what apleasant area Swale is.

We have plenty of green spaces, some goodbusinesses and the local community is reallythriving – long may it continue!

QUESTION & ANSWER

The managing director of mobile communications company Sirtcom, based in Queenborough, spoketo James Alexandre about his pride in living and working in Swale, and his passion for football.

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9yourswale.co.ukEditorial enquiriesEmail yourswale@kosmedia.co.uk

EDITOR’S CHOICE

Rocket man Yves Rossylands in Kent after crossingthe Channel in 10 minutes.Search ‘yves’

Uncle Albert lookalike joinscast members at Only Foolsand Horses convention inMaidstone. Search ‘fools’

What does designer WayneHemmingway know aboutdeveloping the ThamesGateway? Search ‘wayne’

Singer Kayley with the titletrack from her album‘Chasing Dreams’. Search‘dreams’

You can view all thesevideos and others fromaround the county withthe click of a mouse at...

yourkenttv.co.ukSeahorses are increasing innumbers in the EnglishChannel. To see more,search ‘seahorse’

LONDON Mayor Boris Johnsonneeds to learn a thing or two aboutKent’s landscape, says countycouncil leader and fellow Tory, PaulCarter.

Mr Johnson angered residents, environmen-talists and politicians alike this week when hesuggested a new airport on an artificial islandoff Sheppey could be the answer to overcrowd-ing at Heathrow.

Cllr Carter has criticised similar proposalsin the past and says there is “no hope” of sucha scheme being implemented.

He told KOS Media: “I think Mr Johnson’ssuggestion is a bridge too far.

“All the mist and fog in the autumn and thewind and potential flood problems in the win-ter would make Sheppey entirely unsuitablefor an airport.

“A much better solution would be to expandManston airport and bring much-needed prosperity to the east of the county.

“We are making our views known to MrJohnson’s office, but the sooner we get togeth-er the better.

“I don’t think he even knows where Manstonis, so clearly needs educating about it. I find itvery frustrating when he says things like thisand we obviously need to have a chat.”

Cllr Carter said he did not expect to be ableto speak to Mr Johnson at the Tory party con-ference this week, but he added he would atone of two meetings the pair will be attendingnext month.

Mr Johnson’s comments also angered mem-bers of KCC’s Labour group, who say themayor is trying to placate west London votersopposed to the growth of Heathrow.

Shadow cabinet spokesman Cllr RogerTruelove described it as “another barmy Toryproposal”.

He added: “Mr Johnson is clearly puttingLondon first and is showing a complacent dis-regard for Kent.

“The notion an airport could be built in theThames estuary and then linked somehow tothe high-speed domestic train service fromSittingbourne is schoolboy thinking.

“The investment overheads at a time of costpressures on the whole air passenger industryare truly prohibitive. Kent has insufficientcommercial and passenger hinterland to justi-fy a London airport.All logic suggests the obvi-ous location for growth, if it is really necessary,is to the west of London.

“What strikes me as truly disturbing is thatthe Mayor of London can make these sorts ofremarks with, presumably, no consultationwith his colleagues in Kent.”

The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds

highlights the fact that the Thames estuaryhas one of the biggest groups of special protec-tion areas in Europe and is used by some300,000 migratory birds.

South East director Chris Corrigan said thatto build an airport in it would potentially be“the single biggest piece of environmental van-dalism” ever perpetrated in the UK.

He added: “Mr Johnson doesn’t seem to havegrasped UK law that before you destroy a pro-tected habitat you have to recreate it some-where else first.

“How do you recreate massive areas of theThames estuary? And even then he wouldhave to prove there is no alternative site forthe expansion anywhere else. It’s just ludi-crous. We have been here before and the factsremain the same – the idea of an airport in theThames estuary is a total non-starter.”

KENT’S Nepalese community is set to cele-brate its most renowned festival, Dashera.

The celebration represents the victory ofgood over evil and symbolises reunion withfamily and friends.

Guests at the event in Maidstone canexpect traditional Nepalese dancing anddelicious food.

Hundreds of serving and former Gurk-has, who are recruited from Nepal, live inKent with their families.

Limbu Ratna, chairman of the countytown’s Nepalese community organisation,said: “We want to share this special festivalwith our friends in Maidstone and look for-ward to welcoming them.”

The 15-day national festival traditionallytakes place after the rice harvest. The Kentcelebration will be at Maidstone LeisureCentre from 7.30-10pm on Friday.

For more information, phone 07828 129099 or email dkhadka024@yahoo.co.uk.

KENT County Council has received goodgrades in an inspection report from Ofstedon its fostering service.

There are more than 700 foster carersaround the county supporting KCC’s workin protecting and looking after children.Inspectors spoke to young people, their car-ers and support staff as part of the review.

The category rated as outstanding was for“helping children make a positive contribu-tion” which covered contact with family andfriends, sensitivity to the needs of biologicalparents and the involvement by children inthe planning and delivery of services.

Ofsted inspector Lucy Ansell said in herreport: “This is a strong service that deliv-ers good outcomes, with elements of out-standing practice within the specialist serv-ices and for positive contribution overall.”

KCC’s Leyland Ridings said: “I am verypleased with this inspection report, particu-larly the ‘outstanding’ rating for a key areaof our fostering service. I pay tribute to ourfoster carers and staff for their work.

“We will continue to work with childrenand carers to make further improvementsand action the recommendations made bythe inspection team.”

NO HOPE: Boris Johnson’s comments about an airport near Sheppey have angered KCC leader Paul Carter

Good report forfoster service

Join the Gurkhasfor a celebration

� BY STEVE KNIGHT

Boris is blasted over‘barmy’ airport plan

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yourswaleschools 4x3= 12

SWALE’s secondary schools are toopen their doors to prospectivepupils and parents from today(Wednesday) in the search fornext year’s intake.

No sooner has the new term started thanthe process begins afresh, with year six stu-dents wondering where they will embark onthe latest stage of their education nextSeptember.

The Abbey School in Faversham has itsopen evening tonight, with guided tours andpresentations at 6pm and 7.30pm.

The school, which achieved business andenterprise status in 2006, is also open tomor-row morning at 10.30am and again onTuesday, October 7, for visitors to see a nor-mal working day.

Westlands School in Sittingbourne is host-ing its open evening on Thursday, October 16,from 6.30-8.30pm, with headteacher JonWhitcombe giving talks at 6.45pm and againat 8pm.

A specialist maths and computing founda-tion school, priority places are allocated totalented pupils and an aptitude test will takeplace on Saturday, October 18, from 9am.

The mixed school also has a grammarstream, with places allocated to pupils whohave passed the 11 plus or who perform at ahigh level in assessments during the autumnterm.

There is also the possibility for other ablepupils to move into an Alpha Set at thebeginning of year eight and a gifted and tal-ented programme allowing them to takeexams early.

Borden Grammar in Sittingbourne opensits doors on Tuesday, October 14, at 6-7.30pm.The specialist sport and modern lan-

guages school also has an open morning onFriday, October 17, beginning at 10am.

Highsted Grammar, the specialist scienceschool which topped Swale’s performanceleague tables last year, has its open eveningon Wednesday, October 15, from 4.30-8.30pm.

Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar, another ofthe borough’s high achievers, has its openmorning on Wednesday, October 22, from9am, and an open evening on MondayNovember 3 from 5.30pm to 8pm.

On the Isle of Sheppey current your fourpupils are to stay on at their primary schoolas part of changes to admission and entrancearrangements for the new academy.

Due to open in September 2009, the £54million academy will be located on the exist-ing sites of Cheyne Middle School andMinster College, and recently held an openevening at Sheppey College.

BREAK TIME

� BY JAMES ALEXANDRE

EVERY primary school pupil whofalls behind in the three Rs will beentitled to one-to-one tuition from2011.

In a scheme costing £315 million,children aged seven to 11 who are fail-ing to make adequate progress willhave a guaranteed right to personaltuition.

The Department for Children,Schools and Families said the fundinghad already been announced, and thiscash will be handed to local authori-ties who will be responsible for identi-fying and employing tutors who wouldwork in schools on a one-to-one basis.

Parents would also have a right toappeal to Kent County Council if theyfelt their children should be eligiblefor the scheme but had not been iden-tified as such.

A department spokesman said thescheme would be based on ‘makinggood progress’ pilots, which offer one-to-one support for children in the lastyears of primary school and earlyyears of secondary school.

These have worked as short, sharpbursts of intensive one-to-one tuitionon top of normal lessons and could beheld either in or out of normal schoolhours.

CLOSE LOOK: Swale’s secondary schools will be invit-ing prospective pupils and their parents to see whatthey can offer next September’s year seven intake

One-to-one tuition under £315m scheme from 2011

Search for thenext generationabout to begin

SEND your schools news and pictures to yourswale@kosmedia.co.uk. You can alsoupload your own video clips of schools events on to www.yourkenttv.co.uk

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13yourswale.co.ukEditorial enquiriesEmail editorial@kosmedia.co.uk

yourswalebloggerEach week we get a mystery writer to air their views on living in Swale…

GET IN TOUCH…We want to hear your views

• We cannot guarantee all articles will be published and all are at the editor’s discretion

EMAIL: Letters, comments,views (along with your name) to: yourmedway@kosmedia.co.uk

TEXT: SWALE then yourmessage to: 81800 (pleaseremember to include you name)

LET US KNOW…If there is a story in your area you think

we should be covering contact the newseditor, Jon Coates, on 01303 817048 or

email him on the details above. If you wantto be the next Swale blogger then all youhave to do is submit an article to us (ofaround 550 words) and email it to thenews editor. And don’t forget, for all thelatest news and video from your town

log-on to www.yourswale.co.uk.Write to The Editor, Yourswale, KoS Media, Apple Barn,

Hythe Road, Smeeth, Ashford, Kent TN25 6SR.

Your boneheaded bossis just about managingSURVEYS have long since beenused to promote then decry prettymuch everything and anything.

Seemingly every foodstuff has its day in thesun as a ‘health booster’ before someone popsup and highlights its carcinogenic aspects andwe’re left scratching our heads as to whetherit will save us or kill us.

Every survey has an agenda, so you takethem with a pinch of salt. Unless, of course, it’sanother one saying not to eat too much salt.

But last week there was a particularly daftone which consumed the column inches.

Emanating from the US, it claimed men inmanagement with a sexist attitude consistent-ly earned more than those with a more equal-ity-minded attitude.

It didn’t suggest that ‘goosing’ colleagues asyou stroll to the canteen might be good foryour career prospects, but if you just skimmedthe headlines you’d think society was takingsomething of a backward step.

It was also presented in a way which sug-gested that a man’s worth and status is only

determined by the size of his salary. And, ifthere is one thing us men do know as a pure,solid fact, it is that size is most definitely noteverything.

The headlines proclaimed that ‘It pays mento be sexist’ and ‘There is hope for chauvinisticmen after all’.

And, perhaps most irritatingly, it gave thoseannoying blokes in the office with a chip ontheir shoulder and a viewpoint straight fromthat Harry Enfield sketch (‘Women – knowyour limits’) some sort of justification for sit-ting together during their coffee break draw-ing up lists based on the ‘best breasts’ in thesales department.

Believe a woman’s place is in the home andthat men are better in the workplace and thatpay rise you’ve got your eye on will be yours(unless, one assumes, your boss is a woman), itwould suggest.

Because surely the findings suggest what somany of us already know: that those in posi-tions of power get there by stomping on otherpeople and are just as likely to be obnoxious towomen as they are men. Sexism is prevalent

in senior management positions. As JamesBrown so rightly crooned, it’s a man’s, man’sworld, and while that remains the case thereis likely to be little desire from blokes with sex-ist viewpoints to challenge the status quo.

The facts are simple. If you are a right-think-ing, equality-supporting man of the 21st cen-tury, the reality is you will want to spend yourtime serving the needs of your family as muchas you do climbing the greasy pole.

You’ll want evenings where you spend somequality time with your kids, weekends whereyou do things together as a family, and don’tsee time outside the nine-to-five as an oppor-tunity purely for networking or business.

Crucially, you probably won’t want to jointhe sexist idiots who do occupy so many seniormanagement positions.

And, despite some whimpering the opposite,that work-life balance is achievable – you justhave to work equally as hard at both.• EDITOR’S NOTE: All bloggers are supplied with full nameand address of the authors. They do not reflect the view ofthe newspaper but are designed to give our readers thechance to air their views.

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Challenge the professionals…WASH YOUR HANDS! It is everyone’s responsibility to stay clean.

Development isbasically vandalism‘Boris Island’, as London MayorBoris Johnson’s idea for anairport next to the Isle ofSheppey has been dubbed, hasbeen conclusively proven to be acomplete non-starter ecologically,environmentally andeconomically.

To revisit the issue is acomplete waste of everyone’stime and energy.

The estuary contains one ofEurope’s biggest arrays ofinternationally-protected wildlifehabitat – Special ProtectionAreas – in Europe and is used by300,000 migratory birds.

To build an airport here wouldpotentially be the single biggestpiece of environmentalvandalism ever perpetrated inthe UK.

What’s more, the idea of anairport in the Thames Estuarywas exhaustively investigated bythe Government between 2002and 2005, and conclusively ruledout as a viable option.

The investigation found anestuary airport did not makesense economically, would notmeet the requirements of theaviation industry and presenteda significantly higher risk of ‘birdstrike’ than at any other major

airport in the UK. The campaignagainst the airport alsogenerated the biggest response toa Government consultation, withthe RSPB and local communitiescollecting 150,000 letters ofprotest.

Mr Johnson doesn’t seem tohave grasped UK law that beforeyou destroy a protected habitatyou have to recreate itsomewhere else first.

How do you recreate massiveareas of the Thames Estuary?!

And even then he would have toprove there is no alternative sitefor the expansion anywhere else.It’s just ludicrous.

Put simply, we have been herebefore, we have dotted every ‘i’and crossed every ‘t’, and then asnow the facts remain the same –the idea of an airport in theThames Estuary is a total non-starter.

Chris Corrigan, director of RSPB South East, by email.

Daft idea to buildon a virtual bombWhat a stupid idea to build anairport in the sea off Sheppey –has no one heard of the USSRichard Montgomery?

This warship with its cargo ofmunitions is slowly rotting onthe seabed. It is considered fartoo dangerous to move as itscargo is so unstable.

So the perfect place to put abusy airport then – on top of avirtual bomb.

If it went off I’m sure evenBoris Johnson would hear thebang from his London offices.

Paula Stoddart, from Sheerness, by email.

Build us a dykewhile they’re at itHadn’t realised that Boris isMayor of Swale!

However, if such major worksare going to happen, could theynot also incorporate a dikerunning from the mainland eastof Sheppey across to Essex, witha new tidal barrier in theshipping lanes and a high-levelbridge for road traffic to thenorthern two-thirds of theBritish Isles, avoiding London?

That might protect the

YOUR LETTERSTALK TIME

MARTINCLARKEThe owner of Swale Martial Arts Club inSittingbourne, who hascompeted internationally injudo, jiu jitsu and sombo,talks about how martialtraining can help youngsterslearn discipline and respect.

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?I am 58, I hold an eighth dan grade in judo, sixth dan injiu jitsu, am a grandmaster in sombo, and am thefounder of the combat sombo system.I was a reserve for the 1980 Olympics judo squad, aworld silver medallist in jiu jitsu and sombo wrestlingworld masters judo champion.I first competed for Great Britain in 1967 aged 17 andfinished at 51 due to injury, and I’ve been waiting fiveyears for a new knee and hip.

What first interested you in judo?I first started judo at five years old. My parents startedthe judo club for my brother and I in 1957.

What do you hope you and your club can achieve inthe future?We have been the most successful judo and grapplingclub in the South East. This will continue but we hope tohave our members competing in the international beltwrestling event as well.The club teaches self discipline, self control, respect forothers, honesty, integrity, and respect for this countryand its laws.In the words of judo founder Jigaro Kano: “Judo inreality is not a mere sport or game. I regard it as aprinciple of life, art, science. In fact it is a means forpersonal cultural attainment.”

Where can people find out more about taking part?Go to www.youngjudoclub, email youngjudoclub@yahoo.co.uk, or call 01795 437124.

NOT only can you use email and letters to respond to our stories, don’tforget you can comment via our website too.

Beneath most stories on the www.yourswale.co.uk website there is thefacility to leave your comments on whatever YOU thought of the onlinearticle.

To leave your remarks, simply click on the ‘Add your comments’ link andtell us what you think. And remember, www.yourswale.co.uk is updateddaily, bringing you the latest, breaking news from across Faversham,Sittingbourne, Sheerness and all the villages in Swale.

We will include the best on these pages too – ensuring your commentsreach the widest possible audience. In addition, if you find yournewsagent, supermarket or petrol station runs out of Yourswale beforeyou’ve picked up your copy, you never need to miss out.

On www.yourswale.co.uk you can access, for free, the full newspaper inour highly-acclaimed e-editions.

COMMENT ONLINE TOO

EMAIL: Email your letters to us at yourswale@kosmedia.co.uk

yourlettersLETTERS: Please send your letters in to us at Yourswale, Apple Barn, Smeeth, Ashford, Kent TN25 6SR

TEXT: Why not text your view/letter/comment for Yourswale to 81800 text SWALE followedby a space your name and your view/letter/comment. Messages cost 25p plus standard networkcharges. Service provided by g8wave London N7.

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floodplains of the Thames Gatewayrather better than currentLondocentric proposals.

Chris Willott, from Sheerness, commentposted on web story at www.yourswale.co.uk.

It’s about time policewere seen to workKent police say policing the protestat Kingsnorth power station cost £6million.

They have revealed £400,000 wenton overtime and £600,000 onaccommodation, but that's only £1million.

The other £5 million would havebeen spent on normal wages andpetrol anyway for them to sit intheir offices and cars, becausenormally you cannot find a policeofficer on foot patrol and very fewcars patrol in this area.

They are all out on main roadsand the motorway, fining drivers forthe county council.

All they have become these daysare overqualified and overpaidtraffic wardens with very little useto the general public and are out oftouch with the people.

You may want to hold my nameand address, as the last time Icriticised traffic wardens my car wasbooked within a couple days with adisabled badge on, with them tryingto be clever.

Name and address withheld at request of correspondent.

Unofficial war isdeclared on driversYet again the speed cameras are tobe used to further the war thatseems to be declared on motorists.

It’s not about safetyat all – it is aboutraising money from agroup of people whohave taken theseassaults too quietly.

This governmentseems to have it infor drivers – newregulations come intoforce constantly and taxes alongwith hikes in petrol prices.

Vehicles keep this county going –yet those in power seem determinedto wring every last pound from theunfortunate motorist.

Mark AshworthBy email

We need to considerlow points in energyI am delighted Dr Dawe writes withknowledge ofenergy and legalliabilities, and Iwill accord herwords due respect.I hope she willreciprocateappropriately.

Having spent aworking lifeensuring electricity supplyreliability, what do I see today?

Since September 12, the AzoresHigh has engulfed the UK, theBaltic, Europe, Russia, the Caspian

Sea, the Balkans, the Mediterrean,with typical anticyclonic light winds.

Combining Met Office wind speedswith turbine makers’ performancedata, I calculate a UK-wideinstallation of wind farms would beaveraging 5 MW per 100 MWinstalled, sometimes under 0.5 MW.

Anticyclones come five or six timesa year, winter and summer. Yet theGreenpeace spokesman,commenting on the EDF/BritishEnergy deal, said on TV that we cansupply all our electricity needs withrenewables.

Germany is lauded as the mostsuccessful nation with renewableenergy, generously subsidised.Today’s anticyclone has hit them too– on September 19 their lowestpoint was 17 MW at 8 am, from aninstallation of 22,880 MW. See foryourself on Reisi Wind.

Dozens of other nations arebuilding or planning nuclear toavoid blackouts, as traditionalgeneration is retired. Wind powercan collapse, solar power is zeroafter dark, wave power is linked towind and world prices for fossil fuelsescalate, and there’s CO2.

We buy two million nuclear KWfrom France near continuously –cheaper than generating with gas.

France is embarking on a fleet ofthird generation reactors to increasetheir exports. Shall we buy? Ormake it here, burning nuclear wastefrom the 50s? Today, nuclear is theonly way we know to generatereliable electricity, CO2-free.

Lastly, my home is heated by off-peak electricity, mostly generated byBritish plus French nuclear. CO2free, it costs me 4.79p/KWH. Morecheap nuclear could replacedomestic gas.

Bill Hyde, DFH, C. Eng, FIET, from Offham, by email

17yourswale.co.ukEditorial enquiriesEmail yourswale@kosmedia.co.uk

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For informationand advice ontravelling in Kentand for all ourtraffic regulationorders, please seethe SaturdayObserver or theKent on Sunday orvisit our website atwww.kent.gov.uk/highways

KOS MEDIA READER OFFER

Prolong the lifeof your tyres

Tyre failure is one of the biggest reasons for car breakdown and inaddition under-inflated tyres can increase your average fuel consumption.• Simply screw the Pressure Guards onto correctly inflated

tyres in place of existing dust caps

• Red and green indicators rise up andstop perfectly level. If tyres lose morethan 2psi,the green indicators withdraw,revealingthe red indicator

• Precision engineered to precisetolerances.

• Accurate and reliable

• Fit any tyre operating between 20 and42psi, covering every carand motorbike

• Highly regarded GermanTUV certification

The pressure guards are available from only £11.99 forone pack of four or £19.98 for two packs.

1598 Pressure guard x 1 pack of 4 £11.991598A Pressure guard x 2 packs of 4 £19.98

To order this product visitwww.yourkenttv.co.uk/readeroffers/12836

or call 0845 165 1004Quote KOS

KOS MEDIA READER OFFER

Luxury FeatherMattress ToppersExperience the natural comfort, warmth andluxury of a traditional feather mattress withthese innovative Mattress Toppers.

Deep filled to threeinches with super-softduck feathers, they fitover your mattress to

give you extra comfortwithout reducingessential support.

1617 Single 99x190cm £39.99 (RRP £89.99)

1618 Double 135x190cm £49.99 (RRP £109.99)

1619 Kingsize 150x200cm £59.99 (RRP £129.99)

To order this product visitwww.yourkenttv.co.uk/readeroffers/12846

or call 0845 165 1004Quote KOS