County show - why we're backing it this year
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Organisers of the Kent County Show have listened to comments
that our premier event of the year had become a little too
'commercial' and have promised to bring it 'back to basics' in
2010.
As you walked past the business stands that lined the
central aisle of recent shows you could have been forgiven for
thinking you were at a trade exhibition and not an
agricultural show designed to celebrate the special place farming
has in the life of Kent.
Sure enough, there were the usual displays, competitions and
livestock but many felt that the show had lost a little of its
spirit and roots. Visitor numbers reflected that fact.
You will remember the bother the show got into when it banned
sheep shearing. It was claimed that was as a result of lobbying by
animal rights groups when it fact it was down to the exorbitant
cost of running it. Either way, the publicity didn't help.
This year, however, we are told that farming will be once again
the heart of the event and so will the country life of Kent. New
features include a village green, with cricket.
Farming is under threat from all quarters, which is ironic
considering it's never been more important. The threat to our
countryside, the increasing demand for quality home-grown produce
and the threat of climate change all mean we need a vibrant and
effective agricultural industry like never before.
The Kent County Show is an opportunity to celebrate its
importance over three days with a family day out that promises to
be fun and informative. Tickets go on sale today, Friday April 16.
Visit www.kentshow.co.uk
THE KM has a special report today about what we are calling the
'double whammy' for drivers - escalating fuel prices and
increasingly high bills for car repairs following damage caused by
potholes.
We've found local garages selling unleaded petrol at nudging
£1.30 a litre. We'll also tell you where you can get the cheapest
around here but I warn you, don't get too excited, it's expensive
everywhere.
Garages are reporting more and more repairs to vehicles and it
isn't just the normal wheel and suspension damage. The word
'pothole' doesn't go anywhere near to accurately describing some of
the 'craters' in our roads. Mechanics are telling us they are
causing havoc to the electrics in some cars.
We've had an interesting letter from one reader this week
describing his experiences when trying to get compensation from the
KCC Highways Authority. The KCC's legal department has clearly been
involved in drafting a carefully worded response to these kind of
complaints which basically tells people to politely 'go away'. The
letter states: "The fact that a dangerous defect exists on the
highway does not in itself constitute negligence."
Friday, April 16 2010
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