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Iggy’s bolt from the past!


A DINOSAUR that roamed the Maidstone area 140 million years ago may resurface as a mascot to generate interest in the Olympic Torch's pro- cession through the County Town next summer. The iguanadon - popularly known as Iggy - has


been linked with Maidstone since remains were found here in 1834. It led to the first skeletal re- constructions of the creature. Cllr Martin Cox, chairman of the town's river festival, is on the committee looking at how to make July 19, the day the torch passes through


New offices would


be “unfeasible” APLANhas been lodged to turn empty offices at 76-78 College Road, Maidstone, into residen- tial use.


According to correspondence submitted by applicant Ron Haq: “During the period August 2007 to March 2011, the prop- erty was activelymarketed via a variety of tried and testedmeth- ods.


“There has been very little se-


rious interest. Themain reasons given by those that viewed were either that the large size and tra- ditional/inflexible layout of the property made it economically unfeasible to spend the money required to bring the premises up to standard as amodern use- able office property; or that the premises did not easily lend it- self to any other alternative commercial uses without con- siderable expenditure.”


Maidstone, a high-profile occasion. He said: "We need to come up with a brand for Maidstone, just for the torch,maybe something to do with the iguanadon. Iggy emerged as a charac- ter at the festival in the 1980s. We could revive Iggy and have him carrying the torch." Cllr Cox said a children's art competition might


be run, with tickets going to the winning school. But entrants should bear in mind that the 3-


tonne iguanadon was no Usain Bolt. It had pow- erful legs but they were not built for running.


Enjoying colourful Loose fete


Crime ‘moving to rural areas’


Continued from page one


the Town with three sergeants (two now) and 25 PCs (six now), plus an extra PCSO. More good news: Three out of every four bur- glaries are being detected (74.5%). "That rates us amongst the top in the country, not just the county. That's an astound- ing detection rate," said Ch Insp Griffiths. Vehicle crime - 49% detec-


tion rate, second in Kent. Theft - 130 fewer offences


in the town centre. Ch Insp Griffiths said this


year there had been 52 fewer crimes - a 21% drop - in Shep- way North and a similar suc- cess in Shepway South. He said diverting youth from


crime is “absolutely key” and cited the Isle of Sheppey, where he was previously based, as an example. Creating interests for young people in boxing, rowing and rugby clubs had resulted in a 17% crime reduction.


THE Loose village fete attracted hundreds of people to the King George V Recreation Ground. Attractions included a barbe-


cue, 25 community stalls and rides provided by Shaylers Fun- fair.


Loose History Group was


awarded the best-dressed stall, and a team from the Chequers pub was victorious in the tug-o- war. Youngsters (including those pictured above) enjoyed being face-painted by assistant parish council clerk Anne Rigby.


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Arthritis group THE Maidstone Rheumatoid Group has launched at Maid- stone Hospital, which will be a monthlymeeting point for peo- ple living with arthritis. The first meeting was at the hospi- tal’s Postgraduate Centre in Hermitage Lane.


Town 3


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