100 march against post closures

More than 100 campaigners took to the streets in protest at plans to close Royal Mail sorting offices in Herne Bay and Whitstable. They marched through Herne Bay on Saturday and along the seafront, led by Bay sound engineer David Shepherd, 39, with a loud hailer.

Joining him was Whitstable campaigner and postman Chris Stone. Royal Mail Wants to close depots in Eddington Lane, Herne Bay, and Cromwell Road, Whitstable, as part of a huge shake-up within the next two years. Operations would be concentrated at the Canterbury depot in Military Road. The march was featured by both BBC and ITV.

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Pollution at car park is "unlikely to pose a risk"

A key redevelopment site in the town is contaminated, but the pollution is unlikely to pose a "significant" threat to human health. That's according to council officers who have overseen a series of environmental tests under the Kings Road car park since the beginning of the year.

The area, formerly a gasworks, has been earmarked for a new supermarket as part of the town's regeneration programme. Residents were concerned about possible contamination under the car park, so contractors drilled nine boreholes to test the soil.

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Park View landlady wins licence battle

The landlady at the centre of a fierce licensing row has spoken of her relief at being allowed to play live music and serve drinks without food. Judy Wattiez, 53, of the Park View Restaurant had faced strident opposition from 28 residents of neighbouring Margaret Court, who feared it would lead to noise and nuisance.

The listed pub, in Park Road, Herne Bay, was formally the Royal Oak which had a reputation for rowdy behaviour. When the premises were reopened in February as the Park View Restaurant, new manager Miss Wattiez was only allowed to serve drinks with food.

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Vehicle ploughs through stone bollards

They all drive like that in Whitstable...

A car ended up teetering on a sea wall after speeding off of the road and crashing through stone bollards. Stunned witnesses said the green Peugeot smashed through the bollards in Hampton after careering along Swalecliffe Avenue, ending up balanced on the sea wall on Sunday night. Phil Hopkins, whose house overlooks the road, said three youths walked away from the wreckage unhurt.

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Toad works ahead

Reptiles ready to move in

A giant cane toad is among Terry Matthews' friends moving to a new home in Sea Street, Herne Bay, on 1st July. His Penfolds reptile and amphibian centre will be stocking exotic pets from boa constrictor snakes to tortoises. Terry, the son of former city councillor Roger Matthews, said:

"My dad had a tropical fish shop when I was young and I loved it. But I was always more into newts and lizards. I’ve been breeding pythons for years. Getting my own place seemed the next logical step."

HB Times 30th Jun 2011

Jun 2011: most read

1. Yet another job forecast
2. KCC's empty begging bowl
3. BBC: Biased Broadcast Coverage?
4. Manston's job forecasts
5. In Manston, no one can hear you scream...
6. A closer look at that bid
7. Complain
8. Where do Manston's job forecasts come from?
9. URGENT: Beach hut threat
10. Air Anon at Manston

Carnival Queen abdicates

Mystery surrounds the sudden resignation of teenage carnival queen Kerry Ann Middleton. Miss Herne Bay Kerry Ann, 17, was abruptly replaced at the weekend.  Carnival organisers would only say there were "personal reasons" behind her resignation.

Kerry Ann, who goes to Canterbury College, refused to comment

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Be part of the Herne Bay Carnival

It's time to start thinking about this year's carnival. Organisers want to hear from businesses, groups, clubs, associations or just people who like to dress up and join in the fun.

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"Grotesquely selfish" arsonist gets 2 years

An arsonist who torched his flat in a fit of rage showed a "grotesque disregard" for the lives of young children and an elderly deaf pensioner, a court heard. Samuel Dudley, 22, was jailed for four years at Canterbury Crown Court after the judge heard he deliberately disabled a fire alarm before using a lighter to set fire to his sofa, duvet and clothes.

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Bay Art Gallery 10th Anniversary

Happy birthday: Ron Woodward, Mandy Troughton, Paul Mitchell, Karen Simpson and Dai Griffiths at the galleryArtists are celebrating a decade of providing affordable gallery space in the town. The Bay Art Gallery was originally opened by sculptor Patrick Crouch in June 2001 and he returned for the 10th anniversary earlier this month.

Mr Crouch was joined by more than 60 artists who had previously exhibited there, as well as founder Ron Woodward. Mr Woodward said the gallery's ethos of providing space for students and upcoming artists, had not changed over the years.

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