Scouts HQ is a hive of activities


KENTScouts are developing a busy activi- ties centre in their new headquarters at Lower Grange Farm, close to the Yew Tree pub and M20 at Sandling, Maidstone. Many organisations in the area are in-


creasingly hiring the four-acre site for activ- ities ranging from barn dances, discos and parties to power kiting, bat-and-trap and archery. The centre has also become a location for weddings and receptions, meetings, fitness clubs and camp sleepovers. Work starts soon on the climbing centre


and this should also include, by 2012, ice climbing, bouldering and abseiling.


Although developed by the Scouts, the


centre’s 400-capacity Kentish barn, indoor accommodation for 40-plus guests, large meeting room with lift, refreshment area and dining facility, is proving popular with many local organisations, including Guid- ing, schools and Duke of Edinburgh candi- dates Site centre manager Simon Corrigan said:


“Visitors enjoy the way we have preserved the Kent farm atmosphere and the many activities and facilities we have introduced. “It is an exciting development causing a


lot of interest.” For more information con- tact Simon on 01622 692436.


‘Second chance’ thief’s betrayal FORMER optometrist Sankt Singh Bansal, who was struck off the optometrists and dispensing opticians register for selling property belonging to his employer on eBay, has been sentenced to 200 hours community service for a similar offence at a Snodland practice. The 39-year-old was ordered by Sevenoaks magis-


Chief Scout Bear Grylls on a visit to the Lower Grange Farm Scout headquarters.


Hazlitt’s Shakespeare THE Shakespeare presentation by Ha- zlitt Arts Centre this summer will be ‘The Comedy of Errors.’ Itwill tour Kent from June 30 to August


7 and Maidstone shows will be at Sutton Valence Prep School (July 1), Dandelion Time (July 3), Amphitheatre (July 5), Aylesford Priory (July 8), Yalding Gar- dens (July 9), Boughton Monchelsea Place (July 15-17 and August 5-7) and Vale House, Loose (July 30).


trates to pay compensation of £451.05 to Buchanan Op- tometrists, in Malling Road, after admitting stealing computer equipment, vouchers and a bottle of cham- pagne and selling them on eBay. Company owner Alisdair Buchanan, who had known


Bansal for 15 years, said he took him on as a practice as- sistant three years ago because he trusted him. He knew about the previous offence because Bansal had told him.


Bansal, of Rochester, had been struck off by the Gen-


eral Optical Council after stealing equipment and sun- glasses worth £1,500 from Niall O’Kane Optometrists in Strood High Street. Bansal’s counsel had told the court dealing with the previous offence that he had an eBay addiction which he had addressed.


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Garages targeted A NUMBER of garages have been broken into in the Lark- field area. In Partridge Avenue, a num-


ber of tools were taken after a garage was broken into and in two separate incidents in King- fisher Road, items were taken from one garage and a moun- tain bike was stolen from an- other. The mountain bike was later retrieved after a youth was seen riding it in the vicinity.


Crop damage CROPS in a field off Church Road, Ryarsh, were damaged overnight by what appears to have been a 4x4 being driven in the field. In a similar incident, crops in


a field off London Road, Ryarsh, were also damaged.


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