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Grant helps nursery give children better facilities


A £125,000 Early Years and Childcare grant fromKCC has enabled owner Philip Hull to renovate and equip the Linden Lea Day Nursery in WeaveringStreet. Mayor of Maidstone Cllr Eric Hotson performed the


official openingof the new facilities at the house which was once Mr Hull’s family home. At the end of the garden, his late dad Alec’s veg-


etable patch has been converted into a plantingarea where the youngsters can grow their own produce. It also includes bird boxes, a wormery and a hedgehog house as well as a covered pond for science and na- ture lessons. Other work included a fire escape and new internal


doors. Pictured with some of the youngsters are the mayor


and Mr Hull, flanked by assistants by Linda Turner and Laura Garrott.


U-turn over Mote Park car charges


MAIDSTONE’S ruling Tories have ditched plans to introduce parking charges at Mote Park. Just 48 hours after it was revealed at a scrutiny meeting that charges would raise £15,000, council leader Chris Garland phoned the Downs Mail to say the idea had been dropped. It was on a list of more than 50 areas for saving a total of £1.9m in the coming finan- cial year. But Cllr Garland said: “We are not going to be charging for parking at Mote Park. That will remain free.” The savings would be “quite easily” found elsewhere, he added. At the meeting, opposition councillors


had complained about a lack of trans- parency over details behind budget head- ings for proposed savings. One line under


the heading Recreation & Sport said: “Mote Park – parking £15,000.” Proposals also included saving £33,000 by removing dog bins and £30,000 by cutting grants to community groups. But afterwards Cllr Garland said the council should be fo- cusing on the “big stuff” such as staff re- structuring and sharing services with neighbouring councils. Lib Dem and Independent councillors


had "called in" the 2011-12 budget strategy for further scrutiny. At the scrutiny meet- ing, Cllr Garland said members had had plenty of opportunities to ask questions at previous meetings or by speaking to offi- cers. He added: "I don't want to be rude, but I think you are searching for the best head- lines for the Lib Dem newsletter."


But chairman Tony Harwood retorted:


"We already have that – the High Street!" in a reference to a row over the phased ap- proach to the £4m regeneration. Cllr Colin Parr said Mote Park parking charges was an example of detail that was not apparent from the two-page appendix of savings proposals. Street cleaning (£93,000) was another example. He thought residents would be asking: "Am I going to see dirtier streets or not?" Head of finance Paul Riley said major changes (under the new government) had made budget planning a big problem. The council did not even know the amount it had to save until February, he added. “Horror” over Mote Park tree-felling:


page 17.


6 East


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