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 this month. 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


Pony steps in for church donkey work


CHURCH leaders atWateringbury faced having no donkey to lead this year’s Palm Sunday parade after Jemima, who headed the event for five years, sadly died. Despite appeals, a replacement could not be found, and unless someone came forward at the last minute, organisers were set to accept the offer of a pony to head the procession on April 17. Churchwarden Eddie Scarlin said: “The parade


will still go ahead.Adonkey would be ideal but if we can’t find one then the pony will be fine.” The Vicar, the Rev Jim Brown said whoever took


over from Jemima would be treading in some fondly remembered footsteps. “She was a good donkey. Everyone was so sad to hear she had died.” He joked that the replacement must be “a born leader”, capable of heading the 60-strong proces- sion on the walk from Nettlestead along Tonbridge Road to St John the Baptist’s Church.


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


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


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-


THE spread of polytunnels could be a blow to Kent's tourism trade – and to families living nearby. These are among the reasons Water-


ingbury Parish Council highlighted in its objections to an application for 1,200 acres of polytunnels affecting several parishes. It listed the following potential nega-


tive effects: Excessive glare, noise from the plas-


tic flapping and rain beating down on the tunnels In high winds, the metal frames rat-


tle Fruit pickers generate noise fromra-


dios and tractors early in the morning. The council also wondered if tourism had been taken into account. The area's reputation as the Garden of


Prisoners help the blind


ing,” 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 standto 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 Maidstone-based Kent Association for the Blind. “I took the prototype reading stand to a team leaders’ meet-


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.”


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 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.”


Polytunnels ‘bad for tourism’


England refers to centuries-old, small- scale market gardening, not to large- scale "agri-business that ruins the beauty of the landscape". The council added: "Many foreign tourists visit the area. However, the numbers may reduce if the beauty of the area is reduced." Wateringbury is one of several parishes that have objected to the ap- plication by Hugh Lowe Farms, who supply strawberries for theWimbledon tennis fortnight. Other objectors include Barming,


Teston, Mereworth and East Peckham andWest Peckham parish councils. The application is still to be deter- mined by Tonbridge and Malling Coun- cil. It may eventually be called in to a public inquiry.


Blood cancers walk


THE Maidstone branch of Leukaemia andLymphoma Research has organiseda fundraising walk at Bedge- bury Pinetum on May 8.


The event is the secondFor-


get Me Not walk following the success of an event in Bedge- bury last October. Local MP Helen Grant will officially start the walk, at 10am. Info: lrmaidstone@btconnect.com.


Hospital plan A PLAN has been lodged to erect a conservatory for use as a family meeting room at the Trevor Gibbons Unit, Maid- stone Hospital.


Help to cut speed WATERINGBURYSpeedWatch, which has been operating for three years, needs more volun- teers. Contact Charles Stroud on 01622 815395.


To contact Downs Mail just phone 01622 630330


Skydive funds A CHARITY skydive is being held at Maidstone Airfield, West Malling, over the week- end of April 23-24 for the Breast Cancer Campaign. For more information, call 0207 749 4114.


RNLI appeal LARKFIELD village hall is the venue of the next fundraiser for the Maidstone branch of the RNLI on Friday, June 17. Volunteer collectors are needed – phone John Ash- bolton on 01622 725435.


Anyone for croquet? MEDWAY Croquet Club is look- ing for new members following the beginning of the season. The club is based at the Cob-


down Sports and Social Club, Ditton. Info: doug.tattlers@gmail.com


Malling 19


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