Statue tribute to town armed forces


A BRONZE statue is being sculpted to honour Maidstone-based 36 Engi- neers Regiment. When complete, the life-size image, depicting an engineer in battle fa- tigues returning from a bomb-dis- posal task in Helmand Province in Afghanistan, will stand in Brenchley Gardens. An appeal to raise the £35,000 needed for the project got underway with a flag raising ceremony in the gardens. The flag, raised by local cadets, was then flown from Maid- stone Town Hall until last month’s Armed Forces Day. Speaking at the event, town mayor


Cllr Brian Mortimer said: “Armed Forces Day reminds us all of the great sacrifices made by our brave soldiers serving their country and gives a huge morale boost to them and their families.” Kent Deputy Lieutenant Bill Cock-


croft also gave a short address. County Cllr Dan Daley said: “Maid- stone people, having given the regi- ment the freedom of the borough, have expressed awish to make a per- manent memorial to all those serving men whose bravery we all salute.”


Tree unveiled for Sandy A BEECH tree paying tribute to for- mer KCC leader Lord Sandy Bruce- Lockhart has been officially unveiled in Parsonage Meadow, Headcorn.


Kent Deputy Lieutenant Bill Cock- croft and Mayor Cllr Brian Mor- timer at the flag raising ceremony.


The statue, which is being crafted


by sculptor Mary Cox, will be un- veiled in November and will be mounted on a ragstone plinth do- nated by the Gallagher Group. To donate to the project, forms can


be downloaded from Maidstone Councils’s website or picked up from Maidstone Gateway, Maidstone Mu- seum or the Hazlitt Theatre.


DHA conversion DHA PLANNING has applied to con- vert former office space at Southgate Barn, High Banks, Loose, into two three- bedroom homes.


Carers get funding reprieve


A MAIDSTONE-based charity that supports carers of all ages has been saved from a possible funding crisis. Crossroads Care West Kent, whose work was spot- lighted in DownsMail two months ago, has received two pieces of good news since then. The charity, based at Mereworth Business Centre, had


feared that Kent County Council might not continue its crucial funding after September. But chief executive Irene Jeffrey said: "We have been extended until end of March 2012 with KCC. That is a relief. Obviously thiswill only be a six-month respite but very welcome for all that. "We were also successful in securing some underpin-


ning funding from Children in Need for the young carers project. They have granted us a total of £86,470 spread over three years, which we are absolutely delighted with." Mrs Jeffrey added: "It takes many strands of funding to


make the project work so it is excellent news that we have some support from two major contributors. "So hopefullywith the continued generosity of the peo-


ple of Maidstone, the project can go from strength to strength." The charity also recently received £6,345 from the pre-


vious mayor, Cllr Eric Hotson's fund. The young carers project works actively with 120 five


to 12-year-olds in Maidstone and part of Malling, with 40 more on the waiting list. "These youngsters have sub- stantial caring roles, usually with parents or brothers or sisters," explained Mrs Jeffrey.


Mencap book sale MAIDSTONE Mencap has ex- pressed thanks to everyone who supported its annual plant and book sale, which raised a record £1,400. Special thanks went to East Malling Research and to those who grew plants for the sale this year.


Dance plan SCOTT Ramsay has applied to set up a dance academy and recruitment company headquarters above an ex furniture show- room at 3-5 Brewer Street, Maidstone.


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