Youth centre closure Continued from page one


workers and offered free evenings as tasters just to get the young people in.” County Cllr Jenny Whittle


said there was a strong local community in Shepway. “Youth centres do not always have to be run in house. “Why not trust local people who are volunteers to do it. Another provider may be able to it do it more cheaply and provide a better service.” She said that it had been nec- essary to find significant sav- ings which would have had to be made elsewhere. KCC cabinet members were


asked to approve plans for a public consultation starting on August 1. If agreed, the over- haul would take effect from September 2012.


Riverside art fair launch


A NEW attraction at this Saturday's Maidstone River Festival will be an “Art & Makers Fair” on the towpath near Archbishops' Palace. It is the brainchild of


James Bailey, who stressed that it was not a traders' market but a "self-help platform for local people and their talent". The fair, which has the borough council's backing, will be open to individuals, art groups and societies, schools, colleges and char- ities. It will help artists and craftspeople to gain exposure and raise funds. Mr Bailey said their


late for a full licence to be in place. But it will be by August when the fair would be


held every Sunday, and every Saturday and Sun- day in September. It will run every weekend in De- cember.


Restaurateur Mr Bailey,


who is volunteering his time on the project, said this weekend's festival - with its expected 20,000 visitors - would be a per- fect springboard for the fair's future. It will occupy the river-


work would not be for sale on Saturday, only for exhi- bition, as the council's licensing committee was not sitting until two days before the festival – too


Festival attracts 1,500 MORE than 1,500 people enjoyed the delights of the annual Penenden Heath Festival, or- ganised by Bearsted FC. The long-standing event used to be run by Maidstone Council as part of the Maidstone Fortnight. When this finished 15 years ago, the club


took it over to raise much-needed funds. This year’s festival, opened by deputy mayor


Cllr Rodd Nelson-Gracie, included entertain- ment from a variety of dancing groups and a music performance by pop singers The Duo. Other attractions included juggling demon- strations, a five-a-side football tournament and several stalls.


An artist’s impression of the art fair


side path near The Barge, past the Millenniuum Bridge as far as The Am- phitheatre. Anyone wanting to ex-


hibit should book in advance by emailingMr Bai- ley at arts@thebarge.co.uk


Man hit as car stolen A DRIVER was hit by a man who made off with his car from a petrol station. The incident on June 17, around 9.45pm, happened as the vehicle owner went to pay at Shell Serv- ice Station, in Sandling Road. The suspect is described as a


white male, aged 23, 5ft 6in tall andofmediumbuild.Hehad short, straight dark brown hair and wore a dark top. The vehicle was later recovered damaged. Police were investigating.


Image Hair Prices from:


Cut & blow dry £29.50 Colours £23.50 + c/b/dry Half heads foils f38.50 + c/b/dry Full head foils £52.50 + c/b/dry Perms £25.00 + c/b/dry or s/set


Men's from £6.00 clipper or £9.50 cut Further prices on request please call in. Senacre Square,


Off Willington Street, Maidstone, ME15 8QF


Lenham Country Market 2nd Sunday Every Month Lenham Square 9-1


More than a farmers Market, Lenham offers an excellent selection of locally produced food and drink together with unusual guest stalls and an interesting selection of crafts.


Next Market: 14th August Enquiries: 01622 679709 lenhamcountrymarket@gmail.com


12 Town


Probe of catalytic parts thefts POLICE were investigating a spate of thefts in- volving catalytic converters. The catalytic converter and two metres of ex-


haust were stolen from a white Iveco Ford tip- per/flatbed parked at the junction of Hambleton Court and Tonbridge Road. Catalytic converters were also taken from two


white 09-reg Ford Iveco vehicles. One was an 09- reg van parked in Farleigh Lane, Barming, and the other was a pick-up parked overnight in Col- lege Road.


JCB and trailer recovered A JCB and trailer stolen from the top of Farleigh Hill, Tovil, was recovered.


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