School told to improve
A NEW academy has been told it needs to improve following its first Ofsted inspection. St Augustine Academy, in Oakwood Road, was given a grade 2 (good) rating in relation to the behaviour and safety of pupils and its leadership and management, but was told it re- quires improvement (grade 3) in terms of pupils’ achievements and quality of teaching. Weak teaching, a lack of op- portunity for independent learning and younger pupils being prevented from studying
amodern foreign language were criticised by inspectors. However, the academy, which opened in September 2011, was recognised as having awelcom- ing and respectful atmosphere where leaders knew when their actions were helping students achieve more. In order to improve before its
next inspection, Ofsted recom- mended the school encourage pupils to think for themselves, make sixth form more challeng- ing and allow all students to learn a language.
Council stays out of dispute COUNCILLORS refused to be drawn into a neighbour dispute and gave planning consent for the erection of a front porch at a shop in Union Street, Maidstone. A planning application for the extension at the Bodylink Pierc- ing Studio atNo 36was metwith objections, due to the harm it would cause to the Fashion Ex- change Boutique next door. Cllr Fran Wilson said: “The frontage will make it impossible for the neighbours to manage their own extension. The nar- rowness of the porchwillmean the sides can’t be reached very well and will lead to the rapid deterioration of the neighbouring prop- erty. The best solutionwould be for the two neighbours towork to- gether to find a solution.” Members of the planning committee found no grounds to refuse
the scheme and granted planning permission. Committee member, Cllr Dennis Collins said: “A maintenance issue is not a planning issue. It is up to the neighbours to have dialogue on this matter.”
Assault charge CICERO John (37), ofWoodford Road, Fant, has appeared at Mid Kent Magistrates’ Court, where he pleaded guilty to as- saulting a woman in Tonbridge Road,Maidstone. Magistrates ordered him to
carry out 240 hours of unpaid work within the next 12 months and pay £200 costs. A restraining order was made
on conviction, prohibiting John from contacting his victim. The order runs until December 2, 2014.
Reverend to retire THE Rever Canon Christopher Morgan-Jones has confirmed he will retire as vicar ofAll Saints’ Church in December. He is also chairman of Tovil Parish Coun- cil but has not yet announced whether he will continue in this role.
JOHN Iandolo has been denied longer opening hours at a car wash in 10 Buckland Road, Maidstone. In November 2011 he was
given 12-month consent to set up the business on condition that trading hours were re- stricted to 8am-5pm weekdays, 8am-1pm Saturdays and not at any time on Sundays, bank or public holidays. But Maidstone Council has refused an application request- ing continued use of the land
Store allowed THE opening of a supermarket in Staplehurst could relieve the pressure on those in Maidstone, it has been claimed. Sainsbury’s has been given permission to build on land bounded by Station Approach and Lodge Road. Case officer Chris Hawkins said: “There is no indication that there would be closures of local shops. It would have an impact in su- permarkets in Maidstone, some of which are over-trading.”
Coffee shop plan AFTAB Rana has applied to set upacoffeeshopat188 High Street, Maidstone. His supporting statement
said: “We believe a coffee shop will fill the needs of the local community.” Maidstone Council will de- termine the application.
Car wash hours ‘un-neighbourly’
until November 30, 2014, and an extension of opening hours to 6pm Mondays to Saturdays and 9am-5pm on Sundays and bank holidays. A decision notice said: “The
use is considered to represent an un-neighbourly use in that its combined outward impacts through noise, disturbance, water spray, and odours are considered to result in unac- ceptable harmful impacts upon the living conditions of nearby residential properties.”
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