Roller shutter
stalls shop bid A VISUALLY intrusive roller shutter was one of the reasons for Maidstone council refusing an application to re-open a mini market in part of the Maidstone Snooker Club build- ing in Buckland Hill, Maid- stone. The council claimed the “proposed roller shutter and shutter box would detract from the overall character and ap- pearance of the building and appear intrusive in the street scene”. Timu Albay had applied to re-establish the shop, three years after it was forced to close due to being in breach of plan- ning permission. The decision notice also stated: “The development fails to provide any off-street park- ing or servicing provision and would lead to an increase in unsafe, illegal parking on the highway. “This would be detrimental
to conditions of highway and pedestrian safety.”
Awards hope THREE Invicta Grammar School pupils are celebrating after making it on to the long list of the Academy Excellence Awards 2012 Megan Dolman, Jessica Mc- Cafferty and Emma Carter’s es- says were selected to represent the school, in Huntsman Lane, Maidstone, in the music, biol- ogy and design and technology categories of the 2012 awards. The Academy Excellence
Awards, now in their second year, celebrate academic achievement by students at academies, who were asked to answer an essay question set by experts at The University of Nottingham. Therewillbeanaward for the best group project.
Multiple occupancy CONSENT was granted to con- vert a domestic dwelling at 64 Tonbridge Road, Maidstone, into a house of multiple occu- pancy. Alexander Farrell plans to establish up to eight bed- rooms, with parking provision increased from three to six.
THEMaidstone DistrictCricket Partnership held the final of its Inter Club Six-a-Side Indoor Cricket Competition at the YMCA, Loose. Linton Park B were winners,
with32points, followedclosely by LintonParkAwith30points. The winners’ trophy, spon-
soredby competition secretary Cyril Davey, was presented by Mrs Valerie Davey. Thewinningteamis pictured
with Mrs Davey, chief scorer Paul Budd (right) and Cyril Davey (left).
8 Town To contact Downs Mail just phone 01622 630330
Celebrating town’s heroes by Dennis Fowle
NOT often do we sit back and count blessings, especially in these harsh economic times. But Maidstone proudly did
just that for a few hours at the Mercure Hotel, Hollingbourne, when about 170 town leaders were invited to a Celebrate Maidstone gala evening. A national survey has shown Maidstone is considered the eighth best place in the UK to live, and members of the local Jubilee Church found sponsors to stage a glittering event to prove the point. Andwhat an uplifting evening
it was. With help of well-tar- geted videos, a school choir, vo- calists with specially-written Maidstone numbers, dancers and an enthusiastic chairman in Neil Pattison, Jubilee members proved Maidstone has a lot going for it. Downs Mail was the media partner and encouraged a mass of nominations for ‘star’ awards to Maidstone’s unsung heroes. As stories unfolded, the 11 win- ners were given rousing recep- tions. The winners were: Volunteer: Margaret Ashworth for her contribution to the resi- dents, school and church of rural Collier Street. Resident: June Wilkins for her contribution to Bearsted (Tiny Tots) and chairman of Bearsted carnival and fair. A lovely lady
Back row: John Kingdon, JuneWilkins, David King, James Bailey, and Susan and Lawrence Martin. Front row:Winnie Morrow, Suki Manak (with her daughter), Margaret Ashworth,Mary Edwards, Annabelle Gheur on behalf of Fef Griffin and Dawn Riach-Brown
with her heart in the commu- nity. Arts: John Kingdon, for his tire- less work with the Harmony Group theatre company atMan- gravet. Business: James Bailey, owner of The Barge Restaurant and other river enterprises – for his work to improve the visitor offer. NHS/care: Winnie Morrow, manager of Therapy Services for Children on two Maidstone sites (23 years). She “always puts needs of children and families first”.
Shopkeeper: Suki Manak has brought together residents of Hartnup Street, Maidstone and organised a Jubilee party. Council: Dawn Riach-Brown is a support community warden, previously covering the Bearsted
Hockey club’s Olympics coup MAIDSTONE Hockey Club is in the UK’s top 11 clubs selected as a “hockey house”, to support the GB hockey team during the Olympic Games. The club, in Armstrong Road, will screen all the mens’ and ladies’ hockey matches live in the clubhouse, as well as organ- ising a raft of on-pitch activities. With the possibility of three former players being selected to
play in the games, including Nat Seymour for team GB and Lau- ren Penny for South Africa, the club is already excited about the forthcoming games. But the selection as a ‘Hockey House’ is the icing on the cake, according to club chairman Roger Daniels. He said: “The club is already buoyant but this is a great op- portunity and we could see a huge increase in membership.” Maidstone has been selected alongside some of the UK’s top
clubs, including East Grinstead and Surbiton, to give the sport an extra boost during the games. The club is already working on an action-packed programme of events and hopes to haveOlympic-themed beer mats and bunting, and possibly signed shirts from some of the England players.
Cricket team celebrating six-a-side victory
area, who “often goes beyond her job to ensure safety andwel- fare of elderly and vulnerable”. Schools: Lollipop lady Mary Ed- wards – always there with a smile on a busy road at Boughton Monchelsea – kind, caring, safe. Investor in the next generation: Fef Griffin, founder of Pegasus Gymnastics Club, Bearsted, in 1987 and now has international recognition (received by daugh- ter Annabelle). Retail endurance: The Golden Boot (owner Lawrence Martin), founded in 1790 and now seven generations in same family – the oldest shoe shop in UK. Lifetime achievement: Dave King, who has run the commu- nity charity Kings Reach from Shepway for about 30 years.
Detectives raid
cannabis farm TWO people were arrested on suspicion of cultivating cannabis when detectives raided an address in Vinters Park. Officers seized about 300
plants growing at the property in Lombardy Drive. A 46-year-old woman and a 56-year-old man, both from Maidstone, were arrested. The factory was shut down
by police on May 10, within 24 hours of a similar raid in Well Road,Maidstone. Det Sgt Andrew Nicoll, from
the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate, said: “This is another important discovery and it means another 300 cannabis plants will be destroyed. “Anyone who sets up a cannabis farm is taking a big risk, aswe have a good record of closing the farms down, destroy- ing the crops and putting those involved before the courts.”
Vision for garden MAIDSTONE Council will de- cide whether to allow the con- version of amenity land into a residential garden at 8 Thyme Walk, Maidstone. The support- ing statement said: “The scheme will enclose amanhole and exposed electricity cable. The changes will stop the area becoming a rubbish dump.”
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