Village hangs on to slim hopes for old school hall
ALL may not be lost in East Farleigh’s bid to ensure its old school hall remains avail- able for community use. The listed building’s church owners
are selling it, as they cannot afford the re- pair bills. But the village fears losing the hall as a community facility and locals have donated thousands of pounds to help a bid to buy it. Last month the church accepted an offer
from a third party – but the parish council has not yet given up hope. Chairman Glyn Charlton said all it needed
was for the church to say it was prepared to sell it to the parish council, and negotia- tions would resume. He said: “I have written to the parochial church council again and said, should the
buyer be found not to be suitable or fail to meet their expectations, we are very happy to sit down and talk with them again. “We would obviously like to retain the
hall for the village.We feel the most secure place for it to end up is with us as it would be retained for community use. Mr Charlton said contributions of more
than £30,000 from villagers mean the parish council has in excess of £120,000 at its dis- posal to buy the hall. He added: “All we want is for the church
to be willing to sell.With the village support there is, it is likely we could easily raise the money. But they have got to be prepared to sell it to us.” Mr Charlton said the parish council had been told it could still make an offer until
exchange of contracts but it did not want to get involved in open bidding. The buyer’s identity had not been made public as the Downs Mail went to press. A spokesman said the buyer intends to “con- tinue and extend the current community use of the building for the foreseeable fu- ture, while undertaking remedial works on the upper floor”. But Mr Charlton remained dubious about
the eventual outcome. “I can’t believe that somebody is going to invest in that hall and allow the community to still use it. There is no profit in it. The whole thing is odd,” he concluded. Meanwhile, users such as the pre-school
and the Brownies continue to worry they may have to find a new home in future.
Caring charity is at a crossroads
A MAIDSTONE-based charity called Crossroads that supports carers is heading for a major crossroad of its own.
Already, one critical choice of action has been taken –
to charge for one of its services. And with uncertainty over funding becoming an increasing concern, Cross- roads is hoping the communitywill respond generously. Peter Erlam investigated the merits of the charity.
IRENE Jeffrey, chief executive of Crossroads CareWest Kent, is a pas- sionate advocate of the role it plays in helping adult and young carers cope – and in giving them a well de- served break. In particular, she is con- cerned about young peo- ple, some of them at primary school, who care for a family member. Irene stresses it is vital that they still “have fun” and have time to enjoy their child- hood. The Young Carers' Proj-
About-to-retire Mayor of Maidstone, Cllr Eric Hotson, presents a £6,345 cheque to Irene Jeffrey, Crossroads' chief executive. Pictured left of the mayor is Jan Hall, who manages the charity's Young Carers project, and right, his wife Janet Hotson, next to Paul Alcock,the gen- eral manager of The Mall Shopping Centre, which raised £600 towards the total at an awards night last year.
Doubt over county council funding KENT County Council has, in the past, part-funded Cross- roads CareWest Kent with a five-figure sum. "We have al- ways been very grateful for what they have done," said chief execuive Irene Jeffrey. "They say they will continue to September but after that we don't know." Irene continued: "We have always managed to raise part
of our costs. People are so kind and generous. Small char- itable trusts have given us money as well. That is ongo- ing, but it is getting harder. There are many more calls on the trusts; they get inundated with requests." She added: "We hope we will get some grants, that peo-
ple will volunteer their time or that companies will make us their chosen charity."
Large housing plan for Wierton Place
A PROPOSAL has been submitted to site 24 homes on the grounds of Grade II listed Wierton Place in Boughton Monchelsea. The large scheme would involve: Converting an exclusive out-of-
town nightclub into one home and six apartments Conversion and extending a ballroom to form two dwellings Demolition of existing garage
block and erection of four terraced properties Conversion and extension of ex-
isting glasshouses to form six homes Five new detached houses According to a planning docu-
ment: “The main house at Wierton Place has in recent years operated as a polo and country club as well as an exclusive out-of-town nightclub. “It is currently still used as an evening venue for functions and shows. However, due to its location its popularity has recently fallen as a place of entertainment.” Maidstone Council will decide on the application.
ect works actively with 120 five to 18-year-olds in Maidstone and part of Malling. There are 40 others on the waiting list. “Youngsters we
work with have substantial caring roles, usually with parents or brothers or sis- ters,” said Irene at Crossroads’ HQ at Mereworth Business Centre. “Our project
being a carer, with no one to under- stand what they are experiencing. They mightnot want,orbeableto explain to their friends why they can't come out to play or go to their house. They have heavy responsibilities. “At the club they can
open up, and say they have had such a dreadful night, knowing there is someone there who will understand it. The friend- ship they find there is very important.” They have also had
ONE girl, who lives in Yalding, joined the project as an eight-year- old when it started 10 years ago. Now she is doing her A-levels. “She is the sole carer for her mother, who is in a wheelchair,” said Irene. “They have a lovely relationship butthatgirlhas beenasolecarer for a long time.” The travel costs for her to go to
the young carers’ club in Shepway, Maidstone, are paid by the Cross- roads project. “We can’t let it be an obstacle to letting carers attend”, said Irene (pictured).
aims to help them enjoy their childhood. They give such a lot to their families. It’s im- portant that we remember they are children, This could mean going on a day trip, taking part in a sports competition or meeting at a youth centre once a week. The Young Carers’ Club is held on Mondays at Shepway. Irene said: “They have the opportunity to meet other carers. It can be so isolating
talks on subjects such as autism, first aid and emo- tional resilience. But Irene adds it is important they have fun too, and they certainly had a big slice of that recentlywith their own ver- sions of TV’s Ready Steady Cook and Strictly Come Dancing. The project also
has an educa- tional role: “We are trying to help young carers into
employment. Their caring role does affect their education, in terms of missing school, not achieving their exam grades or not going to a university they may have expected to.”
Leeds Castle's chief executive, Vic-
toria Wallace, recently donated 100 tickets to the project after she met some of the young carers at a Chil- dren In Need event.
Shared parking saves £146,000 THE pain of receiving a parking fine may be eased slightly by the knowledge that Maidstone Council is making big savings in running the service from now on. It has teamed upwith Swale Council to operate a com-
bined contract, savingMaidstone about £146,000 a year. Council leader Chris Garland agreed that the partner-
ship was the best way forward. Negotiations with staff and trade unions were being held to coincidewith the in- troduction of the contract. A report to Cllr Garland said: “Under the new arrange-
ments therewill be one parking services manager for both Maidstone and Swale and one back officer manager for processing penalty charge notices, parking permits etc.”
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