Latest news with #Greenhithe
BBC News
02-07-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Kent woman said she felt 'trapped by rising flat service charges'
A flat owner who helped change her building's management company and halve her service charge is urging others to consider doing the Amber Needham first moved into her home in Unicorn Walk in Greenhithe, Kent, three-and-a-half years ago and said she was hit with "unjustified" hikes by property management company struggling to sell her flat due to the service charge, Ms Needham and other owners used the right to manage legal mechanism to take control of the management of the said comparing charges was not straightforward and fees collected contributed to "long-term maintenance reserves" to reduce the risk of unexpected charges later. Ms Needham said when she first moved in her service charge was £1,800 a year, but after six months she was told it would be increasing to about £2,500, reported the Local Democracy Reporting said she was also told she owed an additional £600 for two Section 20 notices, which are issued when there are major works which leaseholders are required to contribute when such notices are for an amount greater than £250 landlords are supposed to inform their leaseholders and ask whether they want the work to be Needham said: "It was just scary and you feel trapped as well, because you can't sell the flat and get out of the situation, but then you can't afford to pay the charges." 'Don't be afraid' She then looked at how to replace the managing agent and set up a residence management company (RMC) which took responsibility for choosing new contractors to manage the repairs and process of setting it up and finding an alternative took about six Needham said although it might sound overwhelming, she would urge others to do the same if they had added: "Just look into your legal rights, don't be afraid to look at right to manage, don't be afraid to look at your lease and find out if there's a RMC." FirstPort said comparing charges like-for-like was not always easy and it did its best to advise customers.A spokesperson for the management firm added: "It's disappointing to part ways with a development, but we do everything we can to make this process as smooth as possible."
BBC News
27-06-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Greenhithe care home rated inadequate after service deteriorates
A care home in Kent has been placed into special measures after the Care Quality Commission (CQC) had found the service had deteriorated since its last Care Home Ltd in Greenhithe, run by a provider with the same name, has been rated as inadequate after a January inspection uncovered a number of serious issues. Inspectors found an example of staff did not always treat people with dignity and had failed to seek medical advice for a resident who had been constipated for seven days, as well as inaccurate temperature records, blank risk assessments, and various pieces of damaged equipment. The provider has been contacted for comment. Immediately after the inspection the CQC said it suspended the service's rating on its website, ensuring anyone looking for information would see an up-to-date reflection on the care being provided. Staff left 'directionless' Serena Coleman, the CQC's deputy director of operations in the south, said it was "disappointing". "Poor leadership had left staff directionless and unable to provide safe, effective, person-centred support," she said."It was extremely worrying that without consistent leadership, staff weren't able to protect people from the risk of harm, as they didn't have good guidance to refer to when supporting residents. This was particularly concerning due to the seriousness of some of those risks." Alongside the facility's overall rating declining from requires improvement, inspectors found the service to be in breach of five regulations. Some were unchanged from the previous inspection - including in relation to safe care and how the service was being managed - but the CQC found additional issues around staffing, safeguarding and person-centred Coleman added that, at the time of inspection, a newly-employed manager had been trying to make improvements but it was too early to assess their impact. While staff didn't always treat people with dignity, inspectors did find examples of effective techniques being used to comfort people when they were anxious and CQC has also begun the process of taking further regulatory action which the provider has the right to appeal.
Daily Mail
07-06-2025
- Daily Mail
Calls for catapult ban as slingshot-wielding youths target angry mother and her children when she challenges them over attacks on animals
A campaigner is calling for a catapult ban after a group of boys turned their catapults on a mother after she challenged them for targeting animals. Holly Collins was caught up in the shocking encounter in broad daylight on Sunday at St Clements Lake in Greenhithe, Kent, where she says catapults and ball bearings have become the weapons of choice for attacking ducks, swans, and even people. She said: 'I pulled up outside their house, and there were teenagers aiming at ducks in the lake. 'I shouted at them, "You better not be hurting those ducks, because I'll call the police,' and they all started swearing at me." Ms Collins estimated the boys to be around 12 or 13 years old and what started as an animal attack quickly escalated into a direct threat. 'I got back in the car and we drove off, but my son's friend had forgotten his phone, so we came back—and that's when they were all aiming the catapults at me,' she said. 'I had the window down with the kids in the car, and they hit it. Luckily, it missed me. Then they ran off.' Ms Collins and her children were left 'shaken up' and 'out of sorts' by the encounter, just the latest in a growing pattern of catapult-related violence in the area. The incident has now led to another resident and wildlife campaigner Carly Ahlen who says the yobs come to hurt the animals every weekend and has started a petition for a ban on the sale of catapults. 'After they tried to take a shot at Holly, I ran across to check in case they had managed to kill any ducks,' the 45-year-old said. 'They had run off, but we did circulate all around the lakes. I was very worried they had gone to Bluewater, because there are waterbirds there, and I was worried they were going to target them next. 'They had disappeared, but they could have gone into the shops by then, causing trouble and mischief. 'It's a weekly occurrence with no end in sight.' Ms Ahlen, founder of the ornithology organisation Gabo Wildlife, also believes that the regularity of attacks has resulted in a decrease in the bird population at the lakes. Last year, the mum-of-one was alerted to the killing of eight geese which had been deliberately hit in nearby Dartford. And just a few months ago, a moorhen and a goose were shot and killed with ball bearings on the St Clements Lakes development. Concerned neighbours have now set up a WhatsApp group to report incidents, which has around 300 members. Locals say it's not just the ducks under attacks, it's the entire community, with frustrated residents saying it's a 'weekly occurrence' both at St Clements Lakes and the lakes at Bluewater Shopping Centre, with 'no end in sight' A spokesperson for Kent Police said they were aware of the incident and details have been passed to local officers. It's also understood that some of the boys' schools have been informed of the incident. Locals say it's not just the ducks under attacks, it's the entire community, with frustrated residents saying it's a 'weekly occurrence' both at St Clements Lakes and the lakes at Bluewater Shopping Centre, with 'no end in sight'. Anum Abid, who has lived by St Clements Lakes for seven years, says she's witnessed several attacks on wildlife in the area and has had enough. 'It's just ridiculous how bad it's getting,' she said. 'Everyone is just so fed up and frustrated. 'You'll see an average kid here wanting to throw stones at a bird for absolutely no reason whatsoever and the thing is they seem to have no fear of anything. 'They're very vile individuals, but it's not just one group of kids, though.. I feel like it's not even one age group.' Ms Abid complained that residents felt they were responsible for policing the catapult-wielding youths. 'I don't understand why we are having to do this?' she said. 'We're not a law enforcement agency. They are breaking the law. 'We feel like we are just left to our own devices and there's only so much that we can do to try and protect the environment that we live in.' The frustrated resident says despite provided lots of information, including photo and video evidence no serious action has been taken. 'I'm really sick and tired of nothing being done by anybody,' she continued. 'Law enforcement has done nothing. 'We, as local residents, are the ones who have to come in and intervene and stop these vile, horrendous kids. 'They have no fear of anything. They think this is entertainment because they tape it and put it on things like Snapchat. 'And not only do they have no repercussions, [no one is] banning these catapults.' Ms Ahlen has now set up a petition calling for a ban on the sale of catapults. 'There's absolutely no reason children should be running around with them - it's madness,' Ms Ahlen said. 'If we can't ban the sale of catapults, we should definitely put an age restriction on them, so at least we can give police the power to make arrests or confiscate them. 'It's a daily occurrence now across Kent and London now - it's out of control. 'It's very awful to live in this small community where people are afraid to come out and stand up to them [the teenagers]. 'The police don't come. Because these kids are not found or prosecuted, others think, 'We can get away with it'. 'It's an epidemic - swans all over Kent, London, are being targeted by kids posting this on social media. 'It's not going to stop until they are held accountable for these terrible things.' Ms Abid added that the fact youths are now targeting local residents makes her feel 'unsafe'. 'They are now aiming and threatening people with it,' she said. 'I feel very unsafe here, to be honest. 'We keep raising this to the police and absolutely nothing happens - I don't understand like how much more noise needs to be created. 'If they are underage that's not an excuse. You are only grooming criminals for the future. 'And for people who don't care about animals, you have to understand that this behaviour is only going to progress to humans later. 'You might think you are safe, but you are not.' A spokesperson for Kent Police said: 'Police are aware of concerns raised on June 1, concerning the behaviour of a group of people at a lake next to Castleridge Drive, Greenhithe. 'It is reported a catapult was aimed at wildlife and was also used to fire an object towards a car, which was not damaged. 'The group had left the scene when the catapult incidents were reported, and details have been passed to local officers. 'Enhanced patrols are operating in the area over the summer months and residents are encouraged to report anti-social behaviour to their local beat officer, PC Calum Andrews.'
Telegraph
05-06-2025
- General
- Telegraph
Catapult-wielding children targeting wildlife terrorise Kent village
A Kent village is being terrorised by a group of catapult-wielding children who are targeting wildlife. Residents in Greenhithe said the 'vile' youngsters were attacking swans and other birds on a weekly basis. Some animals have even been found dead after being shot with ball bearings, leaving some locals to fear for their own safety. Holly Collins said she was targeted at St Clements Lake in Greenhithe on Sunday after challenging the group. The incident happened while her children were in the back of her car. Ms Collins, 37, said: 'I pulled up outside their house, and there were teenagers aiming at ducks in the lake. I shouted at them, 'You better not be hurting those ducks, because I'll call the police', and they all started swearing at me.' Ms Collins estimated that there were around a dozen boys aged between 12 and 13. She added: 'I got back in the car and we drove off, but my son's friend had forgotten his phone, so we came back and then they were all aiming at me. 'I had the window open with the kids in the car, and they hit it but luckily it missed me. Then they all ran off.' 'Very vile individuals' Residents said the attacks were happening at both St Clements Lakes and the lakes at Bluewater Shopping Centre, with 'no end in sight'. Anum Abid, who has lived by St Clements Lakes for seven years, said: 'It's just ridiculous how bad it's getting. Everyone is just so fed up and frustrated. She added: 'You'll see an average kid here wanting to throw stones at a bird for absolutely no reason whatsoever and the thing is they seem to have no fear of anything. They're very vile individuals.' Carly Ahlen, another resident and a wildlife campaigner, claimed the regularity of attacks had resulted in a decrease in the bird population at the lakes. Last year, she was alerted to the killing of eight geese which had been deliberately hit in nearby Dartford. A few months ago, a moorhen and a goose were shot and killed with ball bearings on the St Clements Lakes development.
BBC News
14-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Plans for renewable battery energy storage site in Dartford
Plans have been unveiled to house more than 100 batteries in storage containers on farmland near a Kent Renewables has applied to Dartford Borough Council for planning permission for the energy storage facility in submitted to the authority on 29 April said the renewables firm wants to build a battery energy storage system (BESS) off Bean Lane in is not yet known when the planning committee will decide on the bid although a target deadline of 29 July has been set, while the public can comment on the plans until 30 May, reports the Local Democracy Reporting Service. "The site comprises a 3.7 hectare [9 acre] parcel of land that is currently in agricultural use," the company insists that as the proposal is "fully reversible", any land would not be "permanently or irreversibly lost," and only about half the farmland will be built systems are intended to store energy, largely from renewable sources, so that it can be deployed into the grid when there is demand to avoid wasting energy."The 104 megawatts of storage of the site can meet the average electricity needs of 215,000 homes for two hours," planning documents saidThe batteries themselves will be stored in metal containers "similar in appearance to a ubiquitous profiled steel shipping container."The site is set to have 24/7 CCTV coverage and fences all Renewables also say there will be a "biodiversity net gain" as part of their plans through a "broadleaved planting area" forming "an extension to Darenth Wood".They also propose that the development will only be temporary, and after 40 years the facility will be decommissioned and removed, and the land returned to agricultural use.
