Stop those behind A2 bridge attacks

There’s often a degree of hyperbole when somebody exclaims: “It’s lucky no one was killed!”.

But for Jackie Barrett and her husband Jon that was quite literally the case when a brick was thrown at their car from a bridge as they drove along the A2. Smashing through their windscreen, the missile gave the couple the fright of their lives and badly cut Jon’s hand, but incredibly he was able to steer the Citroen to the safety of a nearby garage.

That this incident ended in just a nasty hand injury is miraculous, and testament to Jon’s steady nerves at the wheel.

But had the brick landed just a foot either way the outcome could have been tragically different.

Not only could it have struck the head of either the driver or passenger, it could have forced their car to crash, potentially into another.

On the same evening it was reported five other cars were targeted at the same spot, with one vehicle struck by a plank of wood. And who is to blame for such reckless and mindless acts? Well, if witness accounts are accurate, a group of children. Yes, teenagers, loitering on an A2 bridge playing with the lives of motorists just going about their day on the carriageways below.

This isn’t a case of kids will be kids, nor a reason to decry - as many often will - “there’s nothing for them to do”.

This was quite simply an act of extreme violence and one that should be met with a punishment that befits the potentially tragic consequences that were so miraculously avoided.

The police should be using all resources available to them to identify those responsible, because if these brainless thugs strike again the outcome could be much different.

n If you know anyone involved do the right thing and call police on 01795 419119, quoting reference number 46/36574/19.

The Kentish Gazette is to be congratulated for highlighting the issue of personal information being sold on by councils in Kent in last week’s paper.

While there is clearly a need for personal information to be shared with certain public agencies, the case for the sale of personal information by councils to ‘credit reference agencies’, ‘political parties’ and ‘other businesses’ is open to question. Of particular concern is that residents are given scant information of what personal information is held by councils and whom it is sold to.

On Canterbury City Council’s website it is stated that all residents have ‘the right to be informed of what information is held about you, what it is used for and who it may be shared with’.

In the 34 years I have lived in Canterbury I can never recall being provided with this detailed information.

There is also no information on the Canterbury City Council website on those credit agencies, political parties or local businesses sold this information. In the name of transparency and public accountability all councils should surely make these details explicit.