Wave of enthusiasm for artful idea


BUSINESSMAN James Bailey has a vision of Maidstone’s riverside being trans- formed into a “platform for local artists”. He wants to bring a European feel to the walkway between the Archbishops Palace and the Medway, where his restaurant, The Barge, is moored. Later this year he also aims to reintroduce rowing boat hire after an absence of many years. He is doing the same further up the river at Tonbridge, from April. Mr Bailey’s initiatives are being supported by Cllr Malcolm Greer, Maid- stone Council’s cabinet member for regen- eration, who remembers, as a boy, having to get down to the river early to ensure being able to hire a rowing boat as it was so busy. Cllr Greer backs Mr Bailey’s arts fair plan,


too, as he sees it as a way of renewing in- terest in the river and linking it with a re- vival in the High Street’s fortunes. Celebrated local artist Graham Clark is


also “100%” behind the scheme. Mr Bailey enjoys living and working by


the Medway and talks passionately about stimulating an arts area there, giving the riverside a “bohemian feel”. He explained: “Through the arts, areas in London like Brick Lane and Camden – once seen to be poor – have become high-


James Bailey and part- ner Lisa moved 13 years ago to their river- side home in College Avenue with their two boys. It means work, at The Barge, is within walking distance, a pleasant change for Mr Bailey who, for many years, was putting in long hours away from home on his construc- tion business in the London area.


Stacey Bailey, who created the image on page one , be- lieves an arts fair could transform the riverside walkway.


end locations and raised the profile of those areas. People have become prosperous and they are nice places to live. Look at Brighton, too.” Mr Bailey bought the 1914-built Norwe-


gian fjord barge from an ex-naval officer in Perpignon, in the south of France, and steered it 1,800km back to England. It in- volved passing through 384 locks and two 5-mile tunnels. The whole process of converting the ves-


sel and getting the restaurant up and run- ning took four years.


OFFICERS who live and work in Maidstone were among those who went out to Japan to help the rescue effort in the aftermath of the earthquake and tsunami. Three technicians based in Sutton Road and a further firefighter, who lives in the county town, were part of a team of 59 UKfire service search


Skate your way


to the top A ROLLER dance club with a reputation for turning out British champions and interna- tional skaters is looking for new members. Kent Artistic Roller Dance


Club runs a session for begin- ners at Maidstone YMCA cen- tre in Melrose Close, Loose, on Fridays, from 6pm to 7pm, fol- lowed by a two-hour session for more advanced skaters. Details fromJackie Terenzi on 01622 688001.


Attempted burglary KELVIN Ashley Still (20), of Bicknor Road, Parkwood, pleaded guilty to going equip- ped for burglary and attempted burglary with intent to steal. In February, equipped with screwdrivers and a pipe cutter, he attempted to enter a dis- abled toilet in Fairmeadow, Maidstone. Still was sentenced to 100 hours unpaid work, to be completed within 12 months.


Now Mr Bailey wants to “put something


back into the community” and is focusing on ventures that will raise the town’s pro- file. He is keen to hear from anyone – indi- viduals, groups or schools – who may want to get involved in the riverside arts fair (email art@the-barge.co.uk). “I’m looking to create a non profit-mak-


ing platform for local artists, a makers’mar- ket. I will manage it. It’s an ideal location and is part of the Netsafe scheme, with se- curity cameras on either side, at the Mil- lennium and Town bridges.”


Maidstone fire officers help in earthquake effort


and rescue specialists, two rescue dogs and a medical support team who flew out to help. The deployment to Japan was funded by De- partment for International Development (DFID) and did not impact on Kent Fire and Rescue’s Urban Search and Rescue capability or availabil- ity to respond to other incidents as required.


MP flags up the future


MAIDSTONE MP Helen Grant is backing the town’s bid to achieve “purple flag” status for its night-time economy. Just as a blue flag is an indicator of a good beach


and a green flag a good park, the purple flag is a sign of where to go for a good night out. The application will be judged by an independent team of as- sessors, who will tour the town overnight and inspect every as- pect of entertainment and hospitality as well as safety, parking and public transport. Mrs Grant said: “It would be a terrific boost to our economy, and would have a positive effect upon the whole community.”


Safety first for schoolchildren


THE dangers of electricity were demonstrated to schoolchildren in a series of hard-hitting safety workshops organised by energy sup- plier UKPower Networks. Pupils at The Cedars, in Bower Mount Road, Maidstone, and Palace Wood Primary School in Talbot Road, Allington, learnt about the hazards of playing near substations and overhead power lines when education advisers from UKPower Networks visited. They also learnt how high voltage electricity can jump gaps and be conducted through anything, including fishing rods and kites, with tragic consequences. Heather Fulford, the company’s education adviser, said: “Elec-


tricity is a vital part of our everyday lives and these workshops en- sure that the children understand the potential consequences of fooling with electricity.


A RE-STOCKING service station for ambu- lances serving Maidstone and other parts ofWest Kent is about to be set up. Plans by South East Coast Ambulance Service to create its first centralised ‘Make Ready’ depot have moved a step closer. A lease for an industrial unit in Paddock


Wood has been signed, setting the wheels in motion for contractors to move in. The Make Ready initiative will minimise the risk of cross-infection and free up front-


22 Town


Blue-light depot is given the go-ahead


line staff, who currently clean and re-stock ambulances, to spend more time treating patients and keep vehicles on the road for longer. It also ensures that specially trained op- eratives regularly deep-clean, re-stock and check vehicles for mechanical faults.


Day trip tourism


boost for borough ABOUT 3.3m day trips were made to Maidstone borough in 2009, up 9% compared to 2006 when the previous survey was done. Expenditure by day-trip- pers rose by 10% to more than £110m. It is also estimated that £62m


was spent by 417,000 overnight visitors, up by 6% on 2006, ac- cording to the Tourism South East research unit.


Coffee for Laura


Ashley, please COSTA Coffee has applied to replace Laura Ashley at 8-10 King Street,Maidstone. The lat- ter is due to vacate the unit in early 2012.


From clinic to home KENT & Medway NHS has been given permission to con- vert the Cornerstone day clinic, in Marsham Street, Maidstone, into a single dwelling.


Police assault THERESA Cash (37), of Oriel Grove, Sutton Woods, Maid- stone, was fined £50 for as- saulting a police officer. The incident occurred in December last year. Cash was ordered to pay £80 costs and a £15 victim surcharge.


Staff in Maidstone and elsewhere will


begin and end their shifts at the new depot. However, during their shifts, staff will re- spond from ambulance community re- sponse posts (ACRPs). In north Maidstone, an ACRP has been located in the grounds of Springfield House and has been in use for some time. In south Maidstone, an ACRP post is planned in part of the current ambulance station in Loose Road.


Have you got news for us? Phone our News Desk on 01622 734735


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