Mencap group in survival battle
AN appeal for volunteers has been made by Maidstone Men- cap to safeguard the future of its Saturday gateway club for dis- abled children. Claire Smith, who has worked
for the charity for the past two years, said: "It is mainly young people who give up their time for the club, but with this month's return to university the club is in danger of losing the
majority of its dedicated and ex- perienced volunteers. “This club makes such a dif- ference to the lives of the chil- dren, and their parents who receive a short respite every Sat- urday morning.” The children, aged from five
to 18, face a wide variety of dif- ficulties including autism, ADHD, physical disabilities, global development delay and
Charity triathlon would be first
A LOOSE man is attempting to make history by cycling, climbing and canoeing across three countries, three lakes and three moun- tains for charity. Colin Flack (right) has, along with Birmingham man Felix Schmid, invented a gruelling new triathlon which involves cycling from Lands End to John O’ Groats, via climbing the Three Peaks of Snowdon, Scafell Pike and Ben Nevis, and kayaking the lengths of Lake Bala,Windermere and Loch Ness on the way. It is hoped the exhausting challenge – never done before – will be achievedwithin threeweeks, starting onOctober 1, with the aim to raise £100,000 in sponsorship. It is part of a three-year plan by for- mer soldier Colin (52) and his wife Ruth tomeet and maintain the operational costs of the Railway Children charity for runaways.
Jail threat follows nose-break assault
A MAIDSTONE man received a suspended jail sentence for his part in a "vicious" assault on an- other man. Robert Crittenden and Matthew Geddis confronted Martin Cooper in Upper Fant Road, last November. Geddis (22), of Lesley Place, grabbed Mr Cooper by the throat and Crittenden (21), from Borough Green, then punched and kicked the victim, breaking his nose. Both men admitted assault causing actual bodily harm. The judge at Maidstone Crown
MAIDSTONE soldier Simon Hubbard hit the right note with local MP Helen Grantwhen she vis- ited Canada as a member of the Armed Forces Par- liamentary Scheme. The former Maplesden Noakes School student is in the brass section of the Band of the Corps of Royal Engineers, who were performing at the Army's premier training unit near Calgary, Alberta. The MP was there to
gain military experience at grass roots level and to learn about the lives of service personnel from their own lips rather than through military briefings or from senior officers. Mrs Grant had a long chat to Simon, who swapped his uni-
Court jailed Crittenden for eight months, saying he was more culpable than Geddis, whose 16-week sentence he suspended for two years. Geddis will also be under a tagged curfew from 7pm to 6am for six months. The incident arose after Mr Cooper had been to see Critten- den's ex-girlfriend Mia Johnson. Mr Cooper was forced to leave Maidstone following the as- sault. The judge said Mr Cooper’s
life had been changed by the “vicious” attack.
Helen has a rockin’ good time
chromosome disorders. Claire added: “Without new volunteers the club is in real danger of being forced to close and with parents fighting for places for their children to at- tend it would be a huge loss to the local community if this were to happen.” Claire can be contacted by emailing clairesmith-91@hot-
mail.co.uk
...but time is up for historic club
THE Maidstone Club is set to close to end an era that began in Earl Street in 1873. At its annual general meeting
last month, the club’s manage- ment committee supported a recommendation from trustees to end the business. A reduction in member num-
bers means the Maidstone Club is no longer viable and will be put on the market, though there is enough available money for it to continue until at least the end of the year. Secretary Roger Bettle said:
“The committee knew that it didn’t have any other option but to close it.” He added: “There was a very
small number who voted against, but if it hadn’t been carried I’m not sure what we would have done as I don’t know how it would continue in the current circumstances with such a small number of mem- bers.”
Parish backing for new-look homes development
TOVIL Parish councillors decided to support a revamped appli- cation for homes and shops on the corner of Church Street and Tovil Hill. Last September, the applicant withdrew his proposal for 11
new homes and a retail unit at 1 and 2 Church Street after his presentation led to complaints from councillors and members of the public. The new application for nine flats and two retail units, which would see the removal of two blocks of garages and two storage buildings currently sited at 1 Church Street, east of Tovil Hill, was given a warmer response. Members were particularly impressed with the provision of
nine parking spaces. Parish council planning committee chair- man Cllr Barry Beardwell said: “Going on some of the applica- tions we have been receiving, I don’t think this is that bad. “There are six one-bed flats and three two-bed flats and they
look reasonably sized. It is a good scheme as it would tidy up the area.” In former times the buildings were used as an abattoir and for sausage/pie production for the butcher’s shop on Church Street. “The site has since been lying dormant for over a decade with
the occasional letting of the warehouse and store to small busi- nesses for storage,” said the applicant’s planning statement. “As such the area has become barren looking and very untidy. “It is envisaged that, finance permitting, the clientwill develop
the site and rent out the flats. My client has a large portfolio of letting within the borough and consequently is aware that there is a very strong demand for one and two bedroom flats such as those proposed.” The retail units would be self-contained, giving the owners the option of living in the flat above or off-site. The parish council’s support has been sent to Maidstone Council, who will decide whether to grant planning permission.
form for civvies to perform in a rock band at a farewell barbecue before she returned to the Com- mons after the summer recess.
Golding gets ventilation approval GOLDING Homes has been given planning permission to install solar PV panels and replacement windows to improve ventilation and energy efficiency at three blocks of flats in Fant. Work will take place at Grange House in Fernhill Road and Cleve- land House and Kenilworth House in nearbyWoodford Road.
Ex-landlady is 105 ONE of Maidstone's oldest women, Winifred Savage, has celebrated her 105th birthday with friends and family. Winifred, who was a teetotal land-
lady at a Collier Street inn for more than 20 years, combined pub life with farmwork before retiring with husband Cecil to Gallants Lane, East Farleigh, in the 1970s. At a family get-together where
Winifred lives in Ashton Lodge, St Michael's Road, Maidstone, her daugh- ter-in-law Joan Savage described her as a "trooper".
Organ music A LUNCHTIME concert of organ music takes place at All Saint’s Church, Maidstone, on Thursday September 29. A collec- tionwill support the Can- terburyCathedral Appeal.
Charity clothes THE Samaritans has placed a clothes collec- tion point outside its headquarters in Grecian Street, Maidstone.
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