Gymnastics club may go to town


THE Olympic-standard Pegasus Gymnastics Club is planning to move from its Bearsted head- quarters to the Farleigh Hill Trading Estate in Tovil. The club has been based at Crismill Lane, to the west of Junc- tion 8 of the M20, since 1995, but has nowapplied tomove toUnits 2, 3 and 4 in the Farleigh Hill Trading Estate. Jennie Trandaburu, head


coach of the club’s kinder gym, said: “At themomentwe are im- ploding because we have not got enough space. “We have kids on the waiting


list who we can’t put anywhere because we haven’t got the space. The new premises would be four times the size of what we have at the moment.” Founded in 1987, Pegasus


was initially based at Invicta Grammar School, but has grown to employ five full-time and 10 part-time staff, running 23 classes for 500 gymnasts. Its current location is in a


Knitters urged


to get clicking KENT community wardens in the Maidstone area are urging folk to pick up their knitting needles and get clicking. The wardens, who work in Bearsted, Chart Sutton, Boughton Monchelsea, Cox- heath, Harrietsham, Headcorn, Lenham, Loose, Marden and Staplehurst, are running a proj- ect to provide blankets to the elderly and vulnerable and want the neighbourhoods’ knit- ters to contribute. Martin Sherwood, community warden for Lenham and Harriet- sham, said: “People in various communities can knit squares which can then be sewn together to make blankets.” A pattern is available so that everyone uses the same needle size, ply of wool and type of stitch, which means squares knitted by different people can still be sewn together – al- though groups of friends might want to make a whole blanket. Donations of wool are also needed, as well as ideas of where the blankets can be used. Martin said: “During the last


two winters, the incidence of deaths attributed to cold weather in the Maidstone Bor- ough Council area increased and a number of organisations working to reduce this.” Call 07977 981993 or email martin.sherwood@kent.gov.uk


Apartments plan BALBIR Deo has applied to convert a terraced home into two apartments in 17 Bower Lane, Fant. The apartments would be aimed at young peo- ple and students. Maidstone Council will de- termine the application.


22 Town


rural area away from the town centre. It is also close to where Maidstone Council has ear- marked warehousing in its draft Core Strategy. Jennie said: “There is better accessibility at Tovil, given that there is more public transport and it is closer to the town cen- tre. At the moment people can only reach us by car. Moving to the other side of townmeanswe will be looking at covering a larger area.”


PEGASUS excels at na- tional level and trains this year’s European Youth Olympic Festival all-round trophy winner, Courtney Tulloch(17).He will join Wateringbury resident James Hall (17) in the provisional squad for the 2016 Olympics in Rio. They have also been shortlisted for the Youth Olympics in Australia in January.


Should Maidstone Council


grant planning permission for the new site’s change of use from warehousing, Jennie said the club could be occupying it by early next year. A supporting statement added: “There are no locations that can provide this extent of floorspace in a single place that are closer to the town centre than this site. “The development will facili- tate the continued growth of a


Michael Papa Adam, Mario


Michaelas, Donda


Michaelas, DonnaWells, Claire Funnell, Stuart Bell, Lee Radford and Ryan Croucher


Footballers boost hospice funds SOCCERElite, in partnership with local fish restaurants and venue spon- sors Marino’s (Bearsted), Papa’s (Ditton) and Chequers (Lenham), has raised more than £2,000 for Demelza Hospice in their thirdmajor char- ity event. Soccer Elite coaches pitted their skills against 10 local sides, which


each made a donation to the charity for the privilege of playing against – and trying to beat – the current and ex-professional and semi-profes- sional players from the academy. Donna Wells, corporate fundraising partner from Demelza, said: “It


wasagreatoccasionandthecommitmentofeveryonefrom Soccer Elite FAwas immense. “We thank them for their continued support of Demelza.” In addition to the funds raised on the day, Marino’s, Papa’s and Che-


quers raised£500fromtheir customers along withadonation fromHolt- wood FC, which is keen to support local charities.


Plan to fell willow THE Stonham Housing Associ- ation has applied for conserva- tion area consent to fell a willow tree in Link House, Fairmeadow,Maidstone. A supporting statement said


the tree roots could damage nearby buildings. Maidstone Council will determine the planning application.


Classrooms scheme THE Valley Invicta Trust has been given permission for two new classroom blocks to serve both its schools at Huntsman Lane, Vinters Park. Consent has already been granted for a sports hall and changing rooms on the site.


Trustee night MAIDSTONE Community Support Centre, home to 25 charitable organisations, is hosting an evening for trustees of voluntary organi- sations looking to develop their understanding of good governance. The event on Monday, No- vember 12, is a chance for trustees to discuss shared is- sues andwilllookathow voluntary organisations can create induction programmes appropriate to their needs. For further information call


01622 230711 or see the ad- vert on page 7.


highly-successful local sports club, and the creation of a cen- tre of excellence for gymnastics. It will provide a location for competitions at county level, which will enhance the role of Maidstone as county town.” Competitions would be lim-


ited to 12 per year, and would always be held on Saturdays or Sundays. Numbers taking part would increase to about 100, but, according to the statement, “this would be staggered throughout the day, as competi- tions are divided into sections based on age and ability. “Most parents bringing chil-


dren to competitions would re- main on site while their child competes, thus minimising the amount of traffic entering and leaving the site. “All activities at the site will


be undertaken between the hours of 9am and 9pm, ensuring that no vehicle movements or associated activity will take place at unsociable hours.”


Town centre


traffic changes TRAFFIC is once again moving through the centre of Maid- stone, following the re-opening of Knightrider Street, two weeks earlier than originally planned. This has also meant re-open-


ing the access from Mote Road and the removal of all diver- sions around Sheals Crescent, Postley Road, Hayle Road and College Road. However, work on the gas


main replacement is ongoing and now the right hand lane of Upper Stone Street, between Knightrider Street and Sheals Crescent, will be closed in sec- tions, starting with the section from Knightrider Street to the slip on from Mote Road. Romney Place has re-opened,


but the bus stop is out of action. Kent Highways and Intelli-


gent Traffic Controls continue to monitor the traffic flows and adapt traffic light phasing where necessary.


Security alert PEOPLE have been warned about giving away personal de- tails to alleged salesmen. David Graham, vice-chairman


of the trustees of Maidstone Samaritans, raised concerns after a man claiming to be sell- ing security goods called him from a withheld number. He said: “If a number is with-


held and someone is asking about house security, they could catch people unawares. “If the caller has your phone number, the chances are that they may also have your ad- dress, and by telling them about your house alarms etc you may be making yourself an easy tar- get for burglars.”


Have you got news for us? Phone our News Desk on 01622 734735


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