Cash firm plans


The new museum, left, and below, MP Helen Grant cuts the ribbon with mayor Brian


Mortimer Opening day for museum


THE new-look Maidstone Mu- seum has officially re-opened, following an extensive multi- million pound makeover and the addition of a new east wing. Housing a collection of more


than 60,000 artefacts and speci- mens, the museum is now one of the largest in the South East. Clad with “gold” shingles which hint at the museum’s col- lection of treasures, the exten- sion offers 40% more display space and includes lifts, a new café and a Japanese gallery. Two easily accessible education rooms have also been created. The first, for visiting school parties, is fully equipped with the latest audio-visual equip- ment. The second, a beautiful Victorian library, has been re- furbished to provide a meeting room for life-long learners and a


Have your say on outdoor gym


baby changing facilities. Maidstone and theWeald MP


gallery space for the museum’s fascinating art collection There is also a new-look re- ception area, occupied by Maid- stone’s Visitor Information Centre and the museum shop. Improvements also include a new café, cloakroom, toilets and


LEYBOURNE residents are being asked if they would like to have an outdoor gym in- stalled on open space between Willowmead and Little Oxley. The parish council has ob- tained funding from Sport For England and has asked for com- ments on its proposals. It said that following the suc-


cess of themulti-use games area by the school, the toddlers’ play area on Castle Way and the Bomb Hole play area on Oxley Shaw Lane, older members of the community should be given a leisure space to enjoy. The AdiZone would be de- signed for various ages and abilities and would include a treadmill and exercise bike. It would be available for local or- ganisations such as the cricket and football clubs and uni- formed groups. Consultation continues until


April 30.


Compost bargains TONBRIDGE and Malling Council has teamed up with evengreener.com to offer resi- dents home composting bins at bargain prices from £15 (plus £5.49 delivery per order). If you buy one, you can get a second one half price. Visitwww.getcomposting.com


or telephone 0844 571 4444 for more details.


4 Malling


A MAN has been jailed for a frenzied attack in a nightclub, which left his victim with life- long scars. Kevin Eastwood, 29, previ-


ously of Branbridges Road, East Peckham, admitted inflicting grievous bodily harm on a 40- year-old man during a night out at a club in High Street, Tun- bridgeWells, last December. The victim needed more than


40 stitches to his face and head following the unprovoked at- tack.


Eastwood smashed a bottle


on the bar and thrust it in the victim’s face and then repeat-


STUDENTS writing for a town’s teen magazine dropped into the Downs Mail offices to check out life on a local newspaper. The students, from Oakwood


ParkGrammarSchoolandMaples- den Noakes, who write for Maid- stone’s magazine The Vibe, toured thepaper’s Bearsted offices tosee the editorial department, where they enjoyed a Q & A session with editor Stephen Eighteen. TheyalsometsalesmanagerBill


Brett, who gave them an insight into a career in advertising. Maplesden Noakes teacher Chris- tine Jones said: “Pupils thoroughly enjoyed their trip to the Downs Mail. Itwas informative to seehow a newspaper is brought together.”


The Vibe is nowin its fourth year


and is the only free magazine writ- ten and produced by young people living inMaidstone. Issue 10 is about to hit the streets and can also be viewed on-


line. Anyone interested in joining The Vibe team, which meets each month at the Switch Youth Café in Maidstone, can email them at vibe@mitchellmediauk.com or call 0796 1051654.


You can e-mail the Downs Mail — info@downsmail.co.uk


Helen Grant, who cut the offi- cial tape with Mayor of Maid- stone Cllr Brian Mortimer, said: “Our museum has always been a fantastic way to spend a day in our county town, but with new space for school groups, formal meetings, lunch and much else besides, there is now more reason than ever to come to MaidstoneMuseum. “I am proud to have such an inspiring institution in the midst ofMaidstone.” She congratulated manager Simon Lace and his team, as well as Maidstone Council, on theirwork to bring the project to fruition. Costing £4.2 million, the scheme received £2 million Heritage Lottery cash as well as private and public funding.


edly punched him until he fell unconscious. Maidstone Crown Court


heard that officers identified Eastwood from CCTV footage obtained from the nightclub and he was subsequently ar- rested. He was sentenced to six and a half years in prison. Det Insp Chris Benson said:


“This was a horrific and unpro- voked attack on aman who was simply enjoying a night out with friends. He sustained nu- merous deep and lengthy cuts to his face, but I don’t doubt the mental scars he must have suf- fered are just as damaging.”


security boost A CASH-handling company says attacks on its premises in Aylesford have been increasing. G4S Cash Solutions (formally Securicor) has applied to install anti-ram fortification, fencing and gate and wall protection at its site in OldMill Lane. The supporting document


said: “As part of a review of the applicant’s ongoing operations and to afford more protection to their staff from potential harm from criminal elements (as at- tacks on their premises have been on the increase in recent months), it has been recognised that greater security is required to the frontage of the building to help prevent ram attacks. “The application proposes


the inclusion of a new length of 2.4m high steel anti-ram barri- ers located immediately behind the existing 3m high steel pal- isade fence located in front of part of the building, and to in- clude a turnstile access gate and hinged personnel gate within the existing fence specifically for disabled, med- ical and fire personnel. “For additional protection to


the staff, a 2.4m high section of wall protection is to be in- cluded on part of the existing building face.” Maidstone Council will de- cide on the application.


Man jailed after nightclub attack Evening boot fair


LEYBOURNE Grange Centre for the Disabled is holding an equestrian boot fair on Satur- day, April 28, to raise money for the riding school. Sellers should arrive from 5.30pm with their own table. A pitch costs £10. The fair opens at 6pm and entry is 50p. Call 01732 872844.


Security firm jobs A FIRE and security company’s move to new premises at Kings Hill is set to create more jobs. Longcross Security has moved from Sidcup to Kings HillAvenue. It employs 14 peo- ple, but plans to recruit more.


Press gang gets the ‘Vibe’ of Downs Mail


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