International squash stars come to boost Kent Open
SCOTLAND squash stars Alan Clyne and Harry Leitch delighted a packed gallery at The Mote Squash Club. Clyne, the current Kent Open champion,
aims to be back to defend his title when the world-ranking tournament is staged between May 24 and 29. Winning the title in June last year was one of the highlights of a successful spell
in which he and Leitch also reached the semi-finals of the Commonwealth Games doubles competition in Delhi. Clyne and Leitch took to the Maidstone
courts initially to offer some valuable tips to Mote’s outstanding juniors, British Under-15 champion James Evans and his Kent county colleague Ryan Duke. They then took on several of Kent’s
finest doubles pairs including 15-year-old Duke and 55-year-old Kent veteran Phill Crane, and performed in a mixed doubles and singles exhibition. After more than three hours of play on
court, the duo took part in a squash forum in the club lounge during which several pledges of sponsorship were made to boost the fund for the Kent Open.
It’s Mote Park’s view of the future
WORK has finally got under way on a major conservation and improvement scheme at Mote Park.
About 140 trees will be planted in February,
while areas of scrubland and some poor quality trees will be removed to recreate historic views that have been lost over the years. An example is the vista between the historic
Volunteers Pavilion and Mote House. The rein- statement of such views has been carefully co- ordinated with Kent Wildlife Trust to ensure that the park’s ecology is protected. No sub- stantial trees will be removed. The new trees will include alder, birch, horn-
beam, sweet chestnut, Indian bean tree, eastern walnut, beech, tulip tree, oak, redwood and lime.
Maidstone Borough Council was awarded a
£1.8m Heritage Lottery grant towards the £2.5m revamp. It is the biggest investment in the park since the council purchased it from Lord Bearsted in 1929 for £50,000. Cabinet member for leisure and culture, Cllr Richard Ash, said: “Mote Park is one of Kent’s biggest and best parklands and it has a special place in our lives.We have consulted park users and others. “These improvements will conserve the natu-
ral habitats of the park, restore many of the fea- tures lost over time, and add better facilities for families and disabled people.” Meanwhile, the council is offering volunteers
the chance to get involved. “Maidstone people really care about Mote Park. This is a chance to be part of the next chapter in its history, recre-
MAIDSTONE Council has agreed to contribute about one-fifth of the £2.5m costs of regenerat- ing Mote Park. Cabinet members endorsed a recommenda-
Arrows indicate the historic views which will be opened up by the clearance work
ating the historic parkland of a bygone age and adding the facilities for more people to enjoy it,” said Cllr Ash. To volunteer, call Alan Frith, Mote Park audi-
ence development officer, on 01622 602119 or email
alanfrith@maidstone.gov.uk
£1/2m backing for revampis ‘absolute sense’ Cllr Richard Ash (leisure and culture portfo-
lio) said the scheme would improve "what is a very faded jewel in the crown". Council leader Chris Garland said it would be
tion to release £524,802 from the capital pro- gramme. Last September, the Heritage Lottery Fund granted £1.8m towards the revamp.
Sweet charity night TEST your knowledge and enjoy a slice of apple pie and cream at a quiz night held by Maidstone Mencap on Satur- day, February 19. The annual Apple Pie Quiz
will be held at Cobtree Hall, School Lane, (off Willington Street), Mote Park, with doors open at 7pm. Teams consist of six to eight people and tickets cost £5 each. Contact Cath Handley on 07956 332975.
Flats renewal BRACHERS Solicitors has been given permission to renew its plan to create 13 flats at 81 Lon- don Road, Maidstone. Its design and access state-
ment said the proposal was, “in order to keep options open for the future in the light of the changing economic climate.”
18 Town
a "huge boost" and that, as £524k represented 21% of the total cost, it made "absolute sense" to proceed with it..
Four years’ jail for heroin dealer
A MAIDSTONE man has been sentenced to four years in prison by Maidstone Crown Court for sup- plying heroin. Shane Dawkins (49),
of Longshaw Road, Park Wood, was handed the sentence at Maidstone Crown Court after pleading guilty to supplying the class A drug. The net closed around Dawkins (pictured) after police raided his home last July, seiz- ing £600 worth of heroin and
drug dealing paraphernalia. He tried to avoid prosecution by throwing a wrap of heroin out of the kitchen. However, this was spotted by a police officer and Dawkins later admitted dealing heroin. Det Sgt Nigel Douglas
said: “The case has come about as a result of good information
from the local community, and we encourage members of the public to continue to contact us about drug dealing."
£800 compensation for window damage JASMINE Grant (19), of Bellwood Court, Sutton Road, Park Wood, had to pay £800 compensation for damaging a 14ft by 7ft glass window belonging to the Carpet & Rug outlet store. The sum was to be recovered through benefit deductions.
To contact Downs Mail just phone 01622 630330
The list of works includes: New landscaping and tree plant- ing, focusing on reinstating the parkland landscape. Improved pedestrian access, with new fully accessible footpaths com- prising an inner (around the lake) and outer circuit, enabling safe wheelchair and pushchair access throughout. Works to manage the outflow of the lake to reduce lake edge flood- ing. Repair of the lake crossing cause- way with a natural reed bed treat- ment to prevent erosion. New bridge to provide a pedes- trian route across the lake. Refurbishment of Mote Avenue and School Lane car parks. New parking facilities via Will- ington Street entrance. Electronically controlled gates to prevent unauthorised vehicular ac- cess. Reconstruction of the historic wa- terfall. Boathouse promenade and reloca- tion of the model boat club plat- form. Restoration of the historic pavil- ion. Interpretation points at the en- trances and way-finding signage throughout. New park furniture, including lit- ter bins, seating and cycle stands. Security improvements including extra CCTV cameras at key loca- tions. Two local park centres with play/disability equipment. Full kiosk refurbishment - new disabled and baby change facilities.
Swinging Sixties! FASHION from the 1900s to the 1960s is the subject of a fund- raising event at St Nicholas’ Church, Otham, organised by the Soroptimists of Maidstone. Sixty Glorious Years Of Fash-
ion will be presented, with ex- amples, by Janet Godfrey, of The Kent Costume Trust, on March 12 at 7pm. Tickets £10 in advance. Con- tact Brenda on 01732 822032.
Holistic proposal THE Beauty Tree Holistic and Beauty Clinic has applied to set up a shop above the Macmillan Cancer Support office at 20 Tonbridge Road, Maidstone. The enterprise would provide
therapy rooms for massage, fa- cials, manicures, pedicures, spray tanning and waxing over the top two floors of the three- storey building.
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