Drivers fined in College vision for future


spot checks MORE than 120 vehicles were stop-checked during a bank holiday operation by Kent Po- lice Special Constabulary at London Road, Allington. The volunteer officers were


joined by the force’smotorcycle unit, The UK Border Agency and the Vehicle and Operator Standards Agency (VOSA) on Saturday,May 5. Automatic number plate recog-


nition cameras (ANPR) were used to identify vehicles being used without tax, insurance or MOT, or which were believed to have been used in crime. Out of the 127 vehicles stopped, 27 fines were issued and 12 owners were told not to drive until defects had been rec- tified. One vehicle was seized, while two motorists arranged in- surance at the roadside. PC Ian Packer said: “Using a mobile phone whilst driving or not wearing a seatbelt could cost someone their life, which is why we will continue to run similar operations to keep the roads as safe as possible. “Using the Special Constabu-


lary in this way has allowed us to stage an operation with a sig- nificant policing presence, whilst maintaining our pres- ence in all other areas.”


Smelly Twits


come to town! TWO nasty, ugly and smelly characters, in the form of Roald Dahl’s The Twits, are coming to Maidstone. The Twits, by Illyria Theatre Group, is Kent Life’s first open- air theatre production. It takes place on the village green on June 3. Kent Life’s Sarah Hirsch said:


“We are so excited to have this fantastically timeless children’s story brought to life in a one-off performance.” Guests are invited to bring


rugs and folding chairs – and should dress for the weather. The show starts at 7.30pm,


with guests welcome from 6.15pm. Tickets are only avail- able in advance and cost £12 for adults, £11 for concessions and £10 for children, with under 3s free. Call 01622 621249 or email events@kentlife.org.uk.


Flats permission A SCHEME for three flats in 20 Calder Road, Ringlestone,Maid- stone, has been approved. Maidstone Council accepted


the proposal for a first-floor ex- tension and conversion of the first floor into flats on condition that the west facing bathroom window is obscured


Calder Road plan A PROPOSAL has been submit- ted to create a one-bedroom flat on the first floor over the access to 16 Calder Road, Ringlestone, Maidstone.


32 Town


MIDKENT College has unveiled a scheme to refurbish its Maid- stone campus inOakwood Park, Tonbridge Road. The college is planning to re-


locate some of its departments to the neighbouring University for the Creative Arts campus, which has freed up more space to improve its own site. The refurbishment includes infilling, glazed links and cladding to boost the faculties of well-being; profession and


academic studies; and construc- tion and engineering. One of the features is a central


car park, which opens up the possibility of accessing both campuses from a pedestrian spine link. This, in turn, could release the current staff and stu- dent car park land for alterna- tive, possibly residential, use similar to the adjacent plot once owned by Hadlow College that last year received outline plan- ning approval.


Shepherd Neame account manager Dougie Dick (far left) and head of free- trade Giles Hilton (centre, right) with Stones co- owner Terry Casey (centre, left) and club chief executive BillWilliams.


Sheps’ welcome for Stones KENT brewer ShepherdNeameis teaming up withMaidstone United to mark the football club’s homecoming. The sponsorship deal will see the clubhouse at The Gallagher Sta-


dium re-named TheSpitfire Lounge, afteroneof the family-ownedbrew- ery’s most famous brands. It will open on Saturday, July 14, when the Stones entertain Championship club Brighton and Hove Albion. To celebrate Maidstone United’s return to Kent’s county town, the


Faversham-based brewer will launch an ale named after the club. Club chief executive Bill Williams said: “Shepherd Neame has sup-


ported Maidstone United for many years, so it is great that the brewer will be part of our homecoming.” The Gallagher Stadium, on James Whatman Way, is the first in the


country tobebuilt witha3Gpitch. The synthetic surface will enable the facility to be used by the club’s Ryman League team, their 30+ com- munity teams, as well as other local clubs, businesses, community groups and schools.


Pupils tackle university exam OAKWOOD Park Grammar has become the first state school in Maidstone to adopt the Cambridge Pre-U, which aims to prepare students for university. Oakwood is one of seven state schools across Kent to offer the qualification, which was introduced in 2008. Louise Trumper, who teaches philosophy and theology at the school, said: “Since the Pre-U in Philosophy and Ethics was intro- duced at Oakwood, I’ve never looked back. The structure of the course gives us so muchmore freedom to explore the subject with- out the exams constantly looming. They can challenge, they can question – they can embark upon the sort of work that will carry them through at university level.”


PLANS for a new community centre to replace the Children’s Hut in Barfreston Close, Tovil, moved a step closer this week when Maidstone Borough Council granted planning per- mission for the development. The project is a joint initia-


tive by Maidstone YMCA, which owns the land and man- ages the activities at the Chil- dren’s Hut, and Golding Homes housing association, which has completed a £34m regeneration project nearby and is commit- ted to improving the commu-


A planning application, which will be determined by Maidstone Council, says the scheme will improve the visual impact and “brand legibility” of the campus; create a heart to the college within the courtyard area; enhance the visibility of the entrance reception area and locate possible retail outlets ac- cessible to the public; as well as locate a discrete service yard next to the estate road for ease of access.


Plan to convert


offices to flats VACANT offices in Tonbridge Road,Maidstone, could be con- verted into eight flats. A pension plan company has submitted the project for No 20. The supporting statement said: “The building’s top floor offices have been vacant for over a year now, and the ground floor offices are being vacated by The Macmillan Trust by the end of December. “The rear part of the site is a


Tarmac area used for parking. The front part of the site is paved. The best use for the site will be for residential, as the building is in a residential area; and vacant office space is avail- able in central Maidstone.” Last December, planning per- mission was granted to convert the adjoining London House, a former borough council office building, into a 100-bedroom Whitbread Premier Inn hotel. The statement continued: “Almost all of the existing fea- tures/character of the building externally are to be retained, with minimal alterations. The refurbishment work will mod- ernise the accommodation.” Maidstone Council will de- cide on the application.


Scheme withdrawn MAIDSTONE Council has withdrawn its outline applica- tions for a residential care home and 23 homes on the va- cant site of former offices at 13 Tonbridge Road,Maidstone. Last October, planning con-


sent was granted for a new medical centre on the site.


YMCA community centre plan wins approval


nity facilities. Lynda Dale, chief executive


of Maidstone YMCA, said: “The building will be a re- source for the community, de- veloping a range of fun, social and educational activities for all ages. Securing formal agree-


ments, raising capital and rev- enue funding to complete the project, will be our next chal- lenge.” Keith Mandy, Golding Homes’ development manager, added: “This is great news for local people, who deserve modern, energy efficient com- munity facilities where they can learn new skills make new friends and have fun.” Golding Homes will be ten- dering for the project and hopes to begin work in the au- tumn.


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