Vocational centre plans Bard on tour
KCC WANTS to establish a vo- cational training centre for the hospitality industry at Oak- wood House, Oakwood Park, Tonbridge Road,Maidstone. A planning statement said:
“The vocational training would complement the existing use and particularly support the weddings and public events at theweekend while allowing for training at other times. “Thiswould give trainees real
life experience in a work envi- ronment. The range of catering from hospitality, buffets and
breakfast through to silver serv- ice dinners and weddings will provide opportunities that are not readily available at any other vocational centre. “Kent County Council will
work with the new service provider – yet to be appointed and contingent upon planning consent – to ensure that training activities complement the busi- ness and match or exceed the service that is provided to Oak- wood House customers. “This programme will enable business development and in-
come generation to run in par- allel with a day-release, full- time or residential apprentice- ship training programme and will allow young people to gain accredited qualification in a real and demanding workplace environment.” The centre will link with
other vocational centres, such as MidKent College. “Training facilities of this na-
ture will be the first of its kind in the country,” added the sup- porting statement. KCC will de- cide on the application
Library complex opens to public
BOOKWORMS have been wel- comed to Maidstone’s multi-mil- lion pound library and archive centre, which opened, on April 23 – St George’s Day and William Shakespeare’s birthday. The building, in James What-
manWay, replaces the Centre for Kentish Studies and East Kent Archive Centre, as well as Maid- stone Library and the Spring- field Library. It houses more than eight miles of documents and over 40,000 books. Members of staff gave short readings from Shakespeare dur-
ing the day. Displays included a University for the Creative Arts student project on the move to the new centre and a timeline of Kent history. Local crime writer Elizabeth Haynes talked about her work and signed her books. The new library was built by Bouygues UK andWarings and, alongside the centre, new flats have been built on behalf of Housing 21 and West Kent Housing. A new addition to the library is the restaurant, built as part of the Housing 21 residen- tial block.
Speed inquiry goes slow RESIDENTS trying to slow traffic in Sheephurst Lane and Green Lane, Collier Street, have been hindered – because there haven’t been enough accidents. Some 68 residents in Sheephurst Lane and seven
in rural Green Lane have signed petitions to Kent Highway Services to get the de-restricted limit low- ered to 30mph. However, theMaidstone Joint Trans- portation Board heard the police did not support the 30mph request, although they might support lower- ing the speed limit. There have been no reported personal injury crashes
over the past three years as a result of speeding so funding for the scheme would not be available from KCC’s casualty reduction programme. However, Cllr Paulina Stockell has said she would be prepared to fund the works through hermember highway fund. Kent Highway Services is to investigate both cases.
Pupils speak up in contest SPEAKERS from Sutton Valence School have made a name for themselves in the regional round of “Youth Speaks”, the annual public speaking contest organised by Rotary International. The senior team, comprising Henry Farmer, So-
phieMcGannan and Anton Evans, who spoke about the relevance of “Chivalry Today” made it through to the Southern Counties’ heat in Chessington on March 25. The junior team spoke amusingly on “Sports which are not in the Olympics, but should be”. The team comprised Ella Capaldi, Jessica Grindlay and William Grabowski – and William even managed a few jumps on a pogo stick at the start of his speech – to see them voted runners-up in their category.
No security for horses A PLAN for stables on landwest ofMaidstone Road, Yalding, has been refused on security grounds. Aiden Love, who lives near Paddock Wood, pro-
posed a stable and haystore, but Maidstone Coun- cil’s decision notice said: “Granting permission for this use in the absence of security is likely to lead to pressure for accommodation on the site.”
THIS summer’s Shakespeare presentation by the Hazlitt Arts Centre and Changeling, “As You Like It”, opens at Boughton Monchelsea Place on Friday, June 22. There will be three more per- formances that weekend before moving to Mote Park on Tues- day, June 26. The show tours Kent and has
a second run at Boughton Monchelsea Place on July 6-8. It comes to The Friars in Ayles- ford on July 13 and Loose vil- lage on July 14, concluding at Dandelion Time, East Farleigh, on Saturday, July 21.
Bridge petition BARMING and Fant areas are likely to join East Farleigh with petitions to keep heavy vehi- cles off narrow East Farleigh Bridge over the Medway. A petition to Maidstone Joint
Transportation Board is already being signed by East Farleigh residents.
KCC cabinet member Cllr Mike Hill cuts the ribbon, with KCC officer Amanda Honey and KCC chairman Cllr Paulina Stockell, right.
Praise for prison EAST Sutton Park Prison has been declared safe, decent and effective by prisons inspectors. Chief inspector of Prisons Nick Hardwick
said: “East Sutton Park provides a safe and de- cent environment. It works hard to ensure ef- fective resettlement and reduce the risk of re-offending. It has features that could usefully be replicated in other women’s prisons.” Inspectors who visited the prison in Novem-
ber found that staff-prisoner relationships were strong. There was little bullying, virtually no illicit use of drugs and no incidents of self- harm for some time. However, they found living conditions were
poor, with small dormitories, which led to ten- sion among inmates.
MAIDSTONE and the WealdMPHelenGrant met with local farmers and sampled their wares when she vis- ited thefarmers’mar- ket in the Royal Star Shopping Arcade, Maidstone. At the invitation of
the Royal Star Arcade, local farmers pro- moted the first farm- ers’ market to be held in the shopping centre formany years. Stalls throughout
the centrewere selling local fresh fruit and vegetables, preserves, cheeses, bread, plants and much more. The Royal Star Arcade Farmers’ Market will operate every month from10.30am to2pm,with
the next event planned for Friday, April 20. Mrs Grant said: “I have a
great loveandhugerespect for our beautiful country- side and it was really great
Charlton opening MAIDSTONE United’s new sta- dium will be opened in a friendly against Charlton Ath- letic on July 14. As Downs Mail went to press, about half of the tickets had been sold for the clash, which will be the first at the Stones’ 2,400-capacity sta- dium at James WhatmanWay.
Disabled parking A PARKING fee has been intro- duced for blue badge holders at the special bays at Maidstone Hospital to match charges at Pembury Hospital. The trust says charges are based on the ability to pay.
Farm welfare plan PLANNING permission was granted for the erection of a welfare building in Great Cheveney Farm, Goudhurst Road, Marden. It will be used by the farm’s seasonal labour force.
MP shows support for farmers’ market
to see agricul- ture and retail working to- gether in the town centre. “Itisthis
type of initia- tive and posi- tive action that is crucial for our eco- nomic recov- ery, andIam thrilled to see Maidstone taking a lead on this.” Mrs Grant is pictured with
Royal Star Arcade centre managerLynneBoyd; Maid- stoneTownCentremanager Bill Moss; and Claire Ed- wards of Witherden Farm, Headcorn.
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