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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 state-of-the-art building,


in JamesWhatmanWay, replaces the Centre for Kentish Studies and East Kent Archive Centre, as well as Maidstone Library and the Springfield Library. It houses more than eight miles of docu- ments and over 40,000 books. Members of staff, dressed in Elizabethan costumes, 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. In the evening, local crime writer Elizabeth Haynes talked about her work and signed copies of her books. The new library was built by Bouygues UK and Warings and,


Music morning


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helps charity MORE than 100 people at- tended a music and arts morn- ing hosted by Bourne Musicians Beccy Stroud and Sally Stuart in aid of Emilia’s Little Heart Foundation. The charity was founded by Darren and Claire Webb, of Ham Lane, Lenham, after their three-year-old daughter died of a rare heart condition. It aims to help other young people who have to spend time in hospital. The event, at Hollingbourne


Village Hall, raised £385. Claire said: “Emilia attended Bourne Musicians from the age of one. Many children in hospi- tal will now receive art and craft activities in hospital.” For details go to www.emil- iaslittleheart.org.uk.


PLANS to increase the fre- quency of Bearsted Farmers’ Market have been temporarily scuppered by Maidstone Coun- cil’s charging policy. MBC wants to raise the an-


nual cost of the licence fee per stallholder if Bearsted increases the number of markets from 12 to 23 per year. At 2012/13 rates, this would mean an increase from £30 a year per stallholder to £185. If they went to 24 or more – twice a month or up to once a week – the fee would be £370 per stall. Bearsted CllrTrevor Smith said


this could cost the parish several thousand pounds for a licence for 30 stalls –with no guarantee of a return. He claimed the borough had discretion to waive the charge –


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KCC cabinet member Cllr Mike Hill cuts the ribbon, watched by KCC officer Amanda Honey and KCC chairman Cllr Paulina Stock- ell, right.


alongside the centre, new flats have been built on behalf of Housing 21 andWest Kent Hous- ing. A new addition to the li- brary is the restaurant, built as part of the Housing 21 residen- tial block. The centre includes improved library and IT services,Wi-Fi in- ternet access as well as the use of meeting rooms.


Door blocked APROPOSAL to replace a front door in Bearsted has been blocked by Maidstone Council. The planning department felt


Ann Chambers’ scheme to re- place the wooden porch door at 34 Plantation Lane with one made from oak “would fail to preserve the special interest of the Grade II listed building, as the loss of the existing door would result in the loss of an important historical feature.


Charity food drive MEMBERS at Curves in Senacre Square donated more than 1,700 pounds of food in its annual food drive in March. The food was divided be-


tween Maidstone Day Centre, Mind, Restoring Hands and the household store at Beacon Church in Shepway.


Fees policy hits farmers’ market


and said they had done so with other local farmers’ markets. However, a spokesman for Maidstone Council said: “Offi- cers do not have the right to waive charges. However, if Bearsted Parish Council feels the charge is excessive, they should write to the licensing committee, saying why the fee should be reduced.” One way to avoid the annual licence fee to the council was to make a nominal admission charge to customers, but this would only be possible if a tem- porary fence was erected, the council was told. Anotherway would be to take


the market back into one of the village halls, in which case a street trading licence would not be required.


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