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    </image><item><title>Court bans power station protest </title><pubDate>Wed, 23 Jul 2008 14:</pubDate> <description><![CDATA[An energy company has been granted an extended injunction to keep environmental campaigners away from a power station during a planned protest. 

E.On UK, the owners of the Kingsnorth station in Kent, made the request at the High Court to restrict the Climate Camp's planned direct action in August. 

The injunction was extended to the jetty where coal is delivered to prevent rafts accessing the site. 

Organisers said it would not stop them protesting about plans for a new plant. 

E.On UK has said it will demolish the existing power station and replace it with a coal-fired unit that is 20% cleaner. 

]]></description><link>http://www.kentfind.co.uk/news/view_story.php?article_id=190</link><author>dan@kentfind.co.uk</author>
      <category>Kent</category>
    </item><item><title>Pc samurai sword attacker jailed </title><pubDate>Fri, 11 Jul 2008 15:</pubDate> <description><![CDATA[ man who attacked a police officer with a samurai sword has been given an indeterminate jail sentence, to protect the public. 

Richard Skeates was sentenced at Maidstone Crown Court for wounding with intent to commit grievous bodily harm. 

The 45-year-old, of St Hilda's Way, Gravesend, was found guilty after video footage of the aftermath taken on a helmet camera was shown to a jury. 

Pc John Clarke was slashed across his forehead by Skeates on 20 October 2007. 

Skeates was told he would serve at least five and a half years before he could be considered for parole. 

Kent Police said it was the first time video filmed from their officers' head or body cameras at the scene had been used as evidence in court. 

The video was filmed by another officer as Pc Clarke, 27, was treated by paramedics. 

The officers had gone to Skeates' home to arrest him for breaching an Anti-Social Behaviour Order (ASsbo) served on 24 May 2007 banning him from being violent or abusive, or possessing weapons in a public place. 

Pc Clark was attacked when they forced entry into the house following about 30 minutes of attempted negotiation. Several martial arts weapons were also found in Skates' home. 

]]></description><link>http://www.kentfind.co.uk/news/view_story.php?article_id=189</link><author>dan@kentfind.co.uk</author>
      <category>Kent</category>
    </item><item><title>Thousands expected at county show </title><pubDate>Fri, 11 Jul 2008 15:</pubDate> <description><![CDATA[Thousands of people are expected to attend this year's Kent County Show which is taking place over the next three days. 

Organisers want to focus attention on local farming and produce and have created an interactive area that shows people how food gets to their plates. 

Pursuits such as fly-fishing, ferret racing and working with dogs will be on display in the show's countryside area. 

The roads surrounding the showground are expected to be very congested. 

The Highways Agency has urged road users to plan their journeys and said road signs have been put up to alert drivers. 

Visitors to the show will also see the latest machinery, displays of growing crops, and cookery and baking demonstrations. 

They will also be treated to the Band of the Corps of Royal Engineers who will perform in the main arena over the three days and the Dancing Diggers JCB display. 

]]></description><link>http://www.kentfind.co.uk/news/view_story.php?article_id=188</link><author>dan@kentfind.co.uk</author>
      <category>Kent</category>
    </item><item><title>Dartford Crossing plan to cost KCC £1m a year </title><pubDate>Tue, 17 Jun 2008 09:</pubDate> <description><![CDATA[County Hall is to lose £1 million a year the Government gave it from tolls collected at the Dartford Crossing.

The cash was put towards integrated transport schemes in Dartford and Gravesend, but is now being phased out.

The move comes as the Department for Transport is proposing a discount scheme for drivers in Dartford who will be able to pay a £10 registration fee in return for 50 free crossings a year.

This is due to be introduced in the autumn.

But Kent County Council’s cabinet member for highways, Cllr Keith Ferrin, said the crossing charging system needed a “radical overhaul” for Kent to benefit.

Cllr Ferrin said: “The Dartford Crossing tolls don’t reduce congestion, they add to it. Motorists are repeatedly held up in lengthy queues on both sides and residents suffer from noise pollution.

“While Kent has been receiving £1million a year in loan sanctions, ie we have been allowed to borrow the money, in future we will not even get that.”

“The Government is going to divert the cash away from Kent into national transport projects, while we continue to suffer.

“There must be better ways of doing this which are of benefit to more people in Kent. The charging system needs a radical overhaul to make it fairer for all. 

“As it stands, residents in Gravesend won’t get the benefit from the proposed discount even though they live four kilometres closer to the crossing than some people living on the Essex side who qualify.

“We believe in putting the people of Kent first. These proposals seem to do the opposite.”

And Gravesham’s Tory MP, Adam Holloway, said: “"This is bribe by Labour to local residents; does not take into consideration all local residents who are affected by and use the Crossing; short changes those of Gravesham and surrounding areas; deprives Kent and Essex County councils of £1.75m which is ring-fenced for particular improvements in local roads' infrastructure so our wider community loses out.

"The Government has not listened to the public who responded to their consultation nor the MPs whose constituents are affected in the wider Kent community.”]]></description><link>http://www.kentfind.co.uk/news/view_story.php?article_id=187</link><author>dan@kentfind.co.uk</author>
      <category>Kent</category>
    </item><item><title>Hitch holds up wind farm assembly </title><pubDate>Tue, 17 Jun 2008 09:</pubDate> <description><![CDATA[A technical hitch has delayed the start of work to assemble the first of 26 wind turbines on marshland on the Kent-Sussex border. 

A problem with the giant crane which will lift the components into place on Romney Marsh meant work was delayed for 24 hours until Tuesday morning. 

Over the last fortnight, 78 lorries have carried the propeller blades across Kent from Chatham Dockyard. 

The wind farm, at Walland Marsh, is being built by Npower Renewables. 

Permission for the £60m wind farm, at Little Cheyne Court, was given by the government in 2005 following a public inquiry. 

The proposal had met widespread opposition from residents and councils in Kent and East Sussex. 

Once operational early next year, they will generate enough electricity to power 33,000 homes. ]]></description><link>http://www.kentfind.co.uk/news/view_story.php?article_id=186</link><author>dan@kentfind.co.uk</author>
      <category>Kent</category>
    </item><item><title>More M20 Traffic Chaos</title><pubDate>Thu, 22 May 2008 11:</pubDate> <description><![CDATA[Motorists in Kent are facing a second day of disruption because of a strike by public transport workers in France. 

Operation Stack on the M20, where lorries park during cross-Channel delays at Dover, remains in place. 

Ferry operators PandO and SeaFrance said they were running a revised service to Calais, while Norfolkline said its Dunkirk service was running to time. 

On Wednesday, French fishermen blockaded the ports of Calais, Dunkirk and Boulogne in a separate dispute. 

Kent Police have warned phase two of Operation Stack, between junctions eight and nine of the coastbound part of the M20, could be in place for the whole of Thursday. 

Other traffic is being diverted from junction eight onto the A20. 

It said together with increased traffic because of the bank holiday weekend, the pressure on Kent's roads to and from the Dover area, would be significantly increased. 

Motorists are being urged to plan their journeys, and to carry water and food in case of queues. 

They are also advised to check with cross-channel ferry operators before setting off for scheduled sailings. 

The Folkestone-to-Calais Eurotunnel shuttle service that carries freight and cars is running normally.
]]></description><link>http://www.kentfind.co.uk/news/view_story.php?article_id=185</link><author>dan@kentfind.co.uk</author>
      <category>Kent</category>
    </item><item><title>Man gets 10 years for drug and firearm offences</title><pubDate>Mon, 19 May 2008 08:</pubDate> <description><![CDATA[Joseph Benjamin Ryan, 21, of Canberra Road, Bexleyheath, appeared before Maidstone Crown court on Thursday 15 May and pleaded guilty to drugs and firearms offences. Ryan has been sentenced to 10 years imprisonment.

Ryan was arrested on suspicion of supplying a controlled drug in 2007. His vehicle was searched and he was found with a large amount of herbal cannabis and cocaine. Officers from Kent Police's Serious and Organised Crime Unit carried out further investigation to establish the extent of Ryan's criminality.  

A flat known to Ryan in Thamesmead was searched and a further eight bags of herbal cannabis and three kilos of cocaine was recovered. Officers also found a combination safe which was found to contain a loaded revolver, a loaded semi-automatic Glock handgun, 136 rounds of ammunition and five cans of CS spray. The safe also contained two plastic containers of ecstasy tablets.

Ryan's home in Bexleyheath was also searched and officers found a further amount of herbal cannabis along with over a substantial amount of cash.

The total amount of drugs seized was four and half kilos of cocaine, 15 kilos of skunk cannabis and 76 ecstasy tablets. The estimated street value of the drugs seized is believed to be around £769,929. Forensic officers discovered that some of the cocaine seized was of 95% purity. 

Senior investigating officer Detective Inspector Tom Richards said: 'Ryan has pleaded guilty to the possession of cocaine with an unusually high purity value and was found with two dangerous weapons with a large amount of ammunition.  

'This thorough investigation by officers has not only resulted in the removal of a large quantity of drugs from Kent's streets, but also removed a dangerous man from our community.  

'Guns, drug use and supply have a destructive impact on everyone. This sentence sends a clear message to anyone involved in this type of criminality.'

Ryan pleaded guilty to:

possession of 4.5 kilos cocaine with intent to supply 
possession of 76 ecstasy tablets with intent to supply 
possession of 15 kilos of skunk cannabis with intent to supply 
possession of 5 canisters CS spray 
possession of a 9mm Glock self loading pistol and ammunition 
possession of a .356 magnum hand gun and ammunition.

Commenting on the sentencing the presiding Judge Carey said that Ryan knowingly became an integral part of the chain of supply of controlled drugs which leads to the destruction of the lives of the user and their families. He went on to describe Ryan as the 'custodian' of the firearms and commented on their obvious lethal potential.
]]></description><link>http://www.kentfind.co.uk/news/view_story.php?article_id=184</link><author>dan@kentfind.co.uk</author>
      <category>Kent</category>
    </item><item><title>Kent crush Essex to go top of group</title><pubDate>Mon, 19 May 2008 08:</pubDate> <description><![CDATA[Kent beat Essex by 106 runs – Friends Provident Trophy

A SUPERB spell from Yasir Arafat helped Kent Spitfires comfortably beat Essex Eagles at Chelmsford on Friday for their fourth successive win in the Friends Provident Trophy.

The Pakistan all-rounder took 4-29 to rip through the hosts’ top order. Essex, who set a club record 391-5 in their previous game against Surrey, never recovered and stumbled to 124 all out in the 26th over.

Earlier Justin Kemp continued his good form with a half century. Kent batted patiently on a difficult wicket to reach 230-7 from their allocation.

The 106-run victory, their fifth successive triumph in all competitions, sent Graham Ford’s men top of the South/East group.

Kent got away to good start after winning the toss as opening pair Joe Denly and Rob Key put on 62 for the first wicket.

Graham Napier removed Denly and Martin van Jaarsveld in successive balls to dent the visitors’ progress, but Kemp provided the backbone with a measured innings.

The big-hitting South African struck just three boundaries in his knock of 51.

Darren Stevens (17), Geraint Jones (23) and Azhar Mahmood (15) all made contributions before James Tredwell and Arafat combined for a quick partnership of in the closing overs.

In reply the Eagles stuttered almost immediately as Arafat dismissed the dangerous Mark Pettini, who smashed 144 at The Oval five days earlier, for just one run.

Ravi Bopara then fell first ball to Arafat as Essex were reduced to 9-2.

After a flurry of boundaries from Jason Gallian the Spitfires struck the decisive blow. Five wickets fell for 26 runs to leave the Eagles in deep trouble on 61-7.

Some resistance followed but it fell well short of the miracle Essex needed to pull off an unlikely win. 
]]></description><link>http://www.kentfind.co.uk/news/view_story.php?article_id=183</link><author>dan@kentfind.co.uk</author>
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