‘CCTV switch may be a good thing’
MAIDSTONE could actually benefit if mon- itoring of its CCTV system is moved toMed- way.
That is the view of Ch Supt Matthew Nix
- and is in sharp contrast to most businesses in the town who believe switching control away from the Town Hall would impair its effectiveness. Ch Supt Nix, area commander for Kent's
west division, said hismain priority has al- ways been to maintain 24/7 CCTV coverage
which, he stressed, is wider than just the town centre. He said it is crucial that rural parts of the community are covered, too. He said, as a second priority, it “would be
great to keep it local” but added: “Being pragmatic, the police certainly haven’t got any money to put into it." Ch Supt Nix said 24/7 CCTV does work in partnerships. “My other district, Swale, has migrated to Medway and that has worked really well.
Prisoners help the blind
meeting,” said Anita, “and they all loved it and were astounded at the low cost.We know of sev- eral service users who will find these incredibly useful as it will make reading with ade- quate light on the page so much easier.”
Maidstone prisoners have al-
Andy Hudson (right) presents a stand to KAB’s Anita Hinch- liff, alongside prison recycling manager Ian Brightman.
INMATES from Maidstone Prison have been working on wooden reading stands to help people with visual impairment. Andy Hudson, governor of HMPS Maidstone, presented the stands to Anita Hinchcliff, team leader at College Road- based Kent Association for the Blind. “I took the prototype reading stand to a team leaders’
ready made several stands, with orders for more in the pipeline. They have also adapted a painting easel for use as a reading stand for some- body who is severely disabled and has a sight loss. Martin Dacey, community en- gagement manager for the prison, said: “This was at nil cost to the taxpayer as they were built from material that would have otherwise been scrapped. Even the nuts, bolts and screws are reclaimed from broken furniture.”
“There are people issues, of course, but in
terms of quality of service and public safety that element has been maintained, if not ac- tually increased." But he added: "That is a different district and a different environment."
Safer Maidstone prorities THE Safer Maidstone Partnership is to focus on four priorities - anti-social behaviour, do- mestic abuse, road safety and drug and sub- stance misuse.
Stones back to Sittingbourne MAIDSTONE United FC will next season go back to playing their home games at Sittingbourne, after the groundshare agreement at Ashford’s Homelands ground came to end. There were concerns over dwindling crowds and the state of the playing surface at Ashford, where the Stones had been for the past two years. So the club will return to Sittingbourne’s Bourne Park, where they last played in 2008/09. THE Stones are continuing their attempts to raise £1.2m to
build a new stadium in James Whatman Way, Maidstone. They have not played in the county town since 2001.
Boxley cannon theft AN ornamental cannon was stolen from the front garden of a house in Boxley. The black cast iron cannon,
worth about £500, was taken from the house in Westfield Sole Road. PC Jonathan Long- more said: “We believe the thieves cut through a fence from the field next door to steal the cannon. It is 3ft long and 2ft high and would have taken at least two people to carry it away. Info - 01795 419182.
Golden anniversary LENHAM Players is celebrating turning 50 with a reprise of an Alan Ayckbourn play. In spring 1990 the group pre- sented "Confusions" and has decided to do it again, at the community centre on April 15 and 16 (7.45pm). Info - David Abson on 01622 858561. The group began in December
1960 when the players pre- sented "Barnet's Folly" and has since produced an average of two plays per year.
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