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 up the river at Ton- bridge,


from


April. Mr Bailey’s ini- tiatives are being supported by Cllr Malcolm Greer, Maidstone Council’s cabinet member for re- generation, 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 inter- est in the river and linking it with a revival


Stacey Bailey, who ia waitress at The Barge restaurant, created the image (right) of an arts fair, which could trans- form the riverside walk- way.


James Bailey and partner Lisa moved 13 years ago to their riverside home in College Av- enue 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 put- ting in long hours away from home on his construction busi- ness in the London area.


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- 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-


OFFICERS who live andwork in Maidstonewere 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 UK fire service search


TWO Shepway men have been charged in connectionwith five arson attacks to the south and east of Maidstone. MarcWilliam Hitchcock (19),


of Oxford Road, and Neil Patrick Clark (34), of Surrey Road, were remanded in cus- tody. A further 22-year-old man arrested for conspiracy to com- mit arson was bailed pending further inquiries.


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. 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 maywant 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, amakers’ 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 the 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.


Two charged over series of arson attacks The alleged arson attacks took


place at Lenham Ironmongers, High Street, Lenham (Oct 28); Murco Petrol Station, Heath Road, Boughton Monchelsea (Dec 29); Bathroom and Kitchen Limited, Warmlake Business Estate, Sutton Valence (Jan 28); Oldfield’s Newsagent, High Street, Headcorn (Jan 30) and Wents Service Station,Ulcombe Hill, Ulcombe (Jan 30).


Gold star for hospital’s care and service


PATIENTS attending the Somerfield Hospital in London Road, Maidstone, have awarded it an overall satisfaction score of 99% for delivering excellent medical care and customer service. In an independent survey from January 1 to December 31, 2010,


the hospital received 785 completed questionnaires from patients. Of those, 98.9% rated their overall quality of care as good, very good or excellent.


Warren byelaws NEWbyelaws to protect Boxley Warren nature reserve have been endorsed by Maidstone Council. These will tackle acts of anti-social behaviour such as fly-tipping and trail-bike riding.


Four homes plan FOUR five-bedroom detached homes could be built at The Lodge, Sittingbourne Road, Maidstone. The application also seeks to demolish the ex- isting house and outbuildings.


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-


14 East


Garage turned down ROGER Lee’s application to erect a three-bay garage at Mountview House, Greenway Forstal, Harrietsham, has been refused.


Maidstone Council felt the proposed building’s excessive size and un-articulated design would have a detrimental effect on the open countryside. In August 2009, the council blocked a scheme on the same site for a four-bay garage and workshop with annexe accom- modation in the roof space.


Tree fell request AN application has been sub- mitted to fell a protected beech tree at 12 Violet Close, Lordswood. Applicant Ian Vagg says it is necessary because the “tree is looking increasingly precarious during inclement weather. “It sways and creaks in strong winds. This is quite a worrying sight.”


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.


Pre-school’s


food honour A GROVE Green pre-school gained five stars in the Food Agency’s Scores on the Doors scheme. Staff and pupils at Fledgelings Nursery, Grove- wood Drive North, celebrated getting the highest possible rat- ing, which means it has very high standards of food safety management and is fully com- pliant with food safety legisla- tion. The pre-school is holding


an Easter fun day on Wednes- day April 6, which will see children design and parade their own bonnets. They will also undertake


other activities such as Easter egg hunts.


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.


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.


You can e-mail the Downs Mail — info@downsmail.co.uk


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