Lights, camera, action for festival
‘AT The Movies’ is the theme of the annual Maidstone River Festival on Saturday, July 30. Boat owners are being urged
to turn their craft into cine- matic classics and organisers have promised film fun throughout the day. There will be activities on
and along the River Medway, stretching from the Lock- meadow Centre right up to Whatman Park, including favourites such as the raft race, illuminated boat parade and firework finale. Chairman Martin Cox said:
“We are planning a fantastic family fun day that will put Maidstone on the map and, best of all, so much of it is free. It’s the one time of the year that the river really comes alive and people from near and far come to enjoy all the town has to offer.” He added: “We are calling on
the town’s business community to back this year’s festival. This is our showpiece event and whatever businesses put into the day, they will get much more in return. “The event is also an oppor-
tunity for local charities and or- ganisations to come along and showcase their wares to thou-
sands of people.” Maidstone River Festival has
been an annual event since 1980. It is organised by a team of
volunteers and supported by Maidstone Borough Council.
Free fun day stalls HAS your club or charity signed up for a free stall at the family fun day in the Millennium Park at this year’s Maidstone River Fes- tival on July 30? For further details contact
Malcolm Luxton, ofMaid- stone Lions Club, on 01795 841439 or
m.w.luxton@btin-
ternet.com.
Hospital smokers get a shelter
MAIDSTONE Hospital has de- fended its decision to build a £10,000 shelter for smokers, not far from its main entrance. It follows claims that it was a “disgraceful waste of NHS money”. But the hospital said that after try- ing in vain to solve the prob- lem it had de- cided to keep smokers in a single area. Offham man
Robert Trim, who contacted Downs Mail about the iss- ue, said: “The shelter is only afew yards from shelters for those awaiting buses, and if pa- tients and those visiting the
‘Inspiring’ nursery’s good report A HEADCORN nursery has been praised by Ofsted as a safe, child-centred environment where children have a thoroughly en- joyable time playing with their friends. The Old School House, in Station Approach, was rated “good”
in all aspects in a recent inspection report. Ofsted said youngsters make good progress in all areas of their development as a result of the broad range of activities on offer. Care and attention was given to meeting their individual needs. The nursery, which is open for 51 weeks of the year, provides Montessori education sessions during term times. The outdoor area was considered “particularly inspiring”. Regular opportunities to develop their ICT skills help to pre- pare the youngsters for their transition to school.
hospital must smoke, surely they could go there. It seems very strange that a hospital should encourage smoking in this way.” But a hospital spokesman
said: “Encouraging them to use the bus shel- ters is not a viable option – it would be amajor nui- sance and a health haz- ard for others using them.” He added:
The controversial £10,000 smok- ers’ shelter near the main en- trance to Maidstone Hospital.
“We have tried to stop patients and visitors from
smoking outside the front of the hospital, without success. “We have installed a smoking
shelter to keep smokers to one place, and the mess of cigarette ends that litter the front of the hospital in a small, more man- ageable area away from the main hospital. “It’s not adecision we’ve
taken easily, but people have ig- nored every attempt we’ve made to stop it and something else had to be done.” The spokesman continued:
“We actively discourage smok- ing and will provide any smok- ers with the information and support they need to give up the habit.”
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