Stones get their ground moving


WORK has begun on building Maidstone United FC’s new home in James WhatmanWay. Over the next 10 months the former Army sports field, next to River Medway, will be trans- formed into a 3,000-capacity ground, complete with an all- seater main stand, covered ter- races, clubhouse, floodlights, changing rooms and parking. The £1.6m project, which is


being managed by Prime Build- ing Consultants of Maidstone, is expected to be completed by summer 2012, in time for a showpiece match against Peter- borough United during the first weekend in August.


SATURDAY afternoon and a few hundred people, many re- splendent in Maidstone United home shirts, walked the short route from the town centre to the club’s ground. Soon into the proceedings a


noisy horn sounds, the home support responded with chants of “United, United” and, even- tually, everyone went home happy. What sounds like the perfect


Co-owner Oliver Ash said: “It


is almost 12months since Terry and I, alongside Bill Williams, took over Maidstone United, and what better way to mark that first anniversary than see- ingwork start at WhatmanWay. “This is a really historic mo-


ment for the club and the town and in these current times will provide a major boost to the local community.”  People can show their sup- port by donating a seat for the main stand or buying a brick, which will feature in a ‘Wall of Fame’ at the ground. More in- formation at www.maidstoneu- nited.co.uk


Club owner Terry Casey (left) and BillWilliams (right) with Pat Gallagher, whose Aylesford-based construction company is one of the project’s contractors


Open day marks new era for club By Neil Nixon


site, and the £20,000 bill to re- house them in the nearby Vin- ters Park Nature Reserve is only one of the problems to beset the project. Sales of named bricks (£30)


day out at local football was, however, nothing of the sort. The occasion being celebrated was the start of work on the club’s new ground at James What- manWay. Formerly the home of the local garrison foot-


Supporters (left to right) Fred- erick Mcilveen, Richard Kerin and Corelle Bruce celebrate the historic open day


and seats (£50) were steady on the day, but club secretary Dar- ren Lovell’smain joy came from the presence of so many unfa- miliar faces. With average gates of 311 last season, the club need a massive increase in support to bring their financial plans on track. The


ball team and also once the site of a row of anti- aircraft guns protecting Maidstone’s factories, JamesWhatmanWay faces a race for completion in time for Football League inspection in April and pre-season friendlies in July. The discovery of protected slow worms on


Get crafty about


festive shopping QUALITY items and the chance to indulge yourself will be on offer at Kings Hill Christ- mas Craft Fair on Saturday, No- vember 26. On sale at the Community Centre, will be handmade jew- ellery, baby gifts, homeware, personalised digital art, hand- made cards and stocking fillers. Children can enjoy face painting, glitter tattoos and hair braiding and adults can treat themselves to nail painting or a foot treatment. The event is from 1pm to 4.30pm and proceedswill go to- wards a new stage at the centre.


POLICE officers will come down hard on those found drunk and incapable in Maid- stone town centre. As young adults enjoy their opening weeks at university and the Christmas party season approaches, officers are prom- ising to report for summons anyone found drunk and inca- pable in the town centre. Inspector Dave Coleman said: “Previously we have been will- ing to let those who are ex-


8 Malling


open day, held in record-breaking temperatures for October, brought out crowds of the curious; many vowed to become paying supporters next season. “There are people here who’ve supported the


club all their lives and some of them thought they’d never see this,” Darren said. “If you look at what Dartford have achieved, and think about the potential of a town the size of Maidstone, there’s a lot to strive for.”


Rail ticket office threat is eased


APOSSIBLE closure threat hanging over some rail station ticket offices has been lifted following a meeting chaired by Maidstone MP Helen Grant. It had been suggested by a rail staff association that stations, includ-


ing Barming, Lenham and Marden, might get the chop as a result of a report by transport industry expert Sir Roy McNulty. Mrs Grant questioned Southeastern. She said: “I was delighted to


learn that they have no plans, at any of their stations, to close ticket of- fices.” The meeting also gave Southeastern and Network Rail a chance to update MPs on their preparations for adverse weather this winter. Mrs Grant said: “They have both clearly worked hard to try to avoid


a repetition of the shambleswe all endured last winter. “There are more trains preparing the tracks for frost, many more me-


tres of rail heating.” The companies now have eight anti-icing trains (compared to six


in 2010); two snow and ice treatment trains; 20 passenger trains fit- ted with anti-icing tanks; and three new 4x4 vehicles to assist Southeastern engineers to respond more quickly to trains experi- encing difficulties.


Police get tough on town centre drunks


tremely drunk receive care from the ambulance service but we will now be looking to re- port for summons anyone found drunk and incapable. “A criminal conviction can


harm job prospects and that should be a sobering thought and a strong deterrent. In the past we have come across peo- ple drunk and alone because they have been refused entry to


bars and clubs and been aban- doned by their friends. “We don’t want a small num-


ber of people to tarnish Maid- stone’s good name, so the message is clear – if you cause alcohol-related disorder in Maidstone we will look to put you before the courts.” Kent Police is also using the section 27 “direction to leave” to reduce disorder in the town,


To contact Downs Mail just phone 01622 630330


Award-winning art TRACEY Emin. Cornelia Parker, Strange Cargo and Adam Chodzko were among artists whose work was nominated for a major art award due to be announced at a ceremony at Kings Hill Golf Club on October 19. Now in its 17th year, the Liberty Kent Public Art Award is funded by Kings Hill developer Liberty Prop- erty Trust UK Ltd and KCC and carries a total prize of £15,000. This year’s judges were headed by design guru Wayne Hemingway. The award is for artwork created between April 2009 and September 2011, which has been sited in a public space and creates a positive legacy.


Design a sign RESIDENTS and school- children are being invited to put forward ideas for a vil- lage sign for Kings Hill. The parish council has


asked for suggestions which reflect the community and its environment, such as landmarks, local flora or references to local heritage. The final design will be ei-


ther one of the ideas submit- ted or a compilation from a number of them, and will be selected at the parish coun- cil meeting on November 16. Ideas, including contact details, should be submitted on paper to the parish clerk by Friday, November 4. The parish website has details.


giving officers the power to order someone to leave an area if it is believed they could cause alcohol-related crime and disorder. It is a pre-emptive measure to


avoid crime and disorder tak- ing place. They can be required to leave a specified area for up to 48 hours and failure to com- ply with the order is an ar- restable offence. In the last year over 400 orders have been is- sued across the town centre.


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