Restaurant plan for bookshop


BOOK retailer Waterstones is to close its Earl Street store and make way for aWaga- mama restaurant. The book chain will instead be “consoli- dating” the operation from its other branch in Fremlin Walk. A planning application has been submitted to convert the store, which sits on the junction of Rose Yard, into a Wagamama restaurant, specialising in Japanese food. A supporting statement said the Earl


Street branch of Waterstones has “low to medium footfall”. It added: “A unit of this size in this location does not favour multi- nationals, and that has been borne out by Waterstones’ decision to consolidate trad- ing to their Fremlin’s Walk branch within the primary retail core. “The unit is too large for this sub-prime location, making it unsuitable for any ob- vious or known multinational or inde- pendent retailer who would more commonly favour a smaller unit. “It should also be noted that of the recent high-profile retail casualties, most operated


Junior school


shows progress OFSTED inspectors returned to North Borough Junior School following the school’s previous inspection which decided re- quired improvement. The monitoring visit found


that the planned improvements were appropriate, but itwas not clear how they were going to be carried out or monitored. However, the head’s termly evaluations showed that progress was being measured against expectations. Cases of inadequate teaching


had been successfully ad- dressed and the focus on im- proving achievement in reading and writing had intensified. Training had improved the quality of teaching, monitoring and the work of teaching assis- tants. The curriculum had been amended to provide more in- teresting opportunities for writ- ing, and an improvement had been noted as a result. A substantive chair and vice


chair were now in place on the board of governors, and com- mittees had been restructured to better meet the needs of the school.


Inspectors recommended that


the school improvement plan’s success criteria are improved, and governors should play a bigger role in shaping the school’s progress. It was also suggested that the school should work with the local authority and other schools to provide appropriate training for governors.


Thief comes clean SHANE Dawkins, 51, of Beau- fort Walk, Park Wood was sen- tenced to seven days in prison for stealing a vacuum cleaner. Dawkins admitted shoplifting after taking the £129.99 appli- ance from a shop in Pad’s Hill.


32 Town


medium to large store formats such asWool- worths, Clintons, Blacks/Millets, La Senza, Peacocks and JJB Sports. This has created a surfeit of good-sized units generally within the established retail cores of centres; which again is to the detriment of more secondary locations such as 19 Earl Street.” Wagamama would create 32 full-time equivalent jobs, which “exceeds the cur- rent employment at Waterstones”, accord- ing to the statement. “Wagamama are highly selective in loca-


tions they choose to operate and therefore have a degree of exclusivity, which adds to their attraction. Their restaurants are des- tinations in their own right and therefore serve to attract people into the centre, which is to the benefit of other businesses and general vibrancy. “The proposed restaurant markets itself


at both day time diners (shoppers, workers and visitors) and evening customers. Trade is therefore continuous and footfall high, which sets the use apart from many other A3 [retail] uses and users.


“Assuming an average of 50% occupancy across the trading day, the footfall gener- ated by Wagamama would be 120 move- ments (arriving and departing) per hour. A footfall of this level is considered to sup- port retail vitality and viability and is far in excess of many A1 retail uses, including the existing bookshop use.” Should Maidstone Council grant plan-


ning permission, the restaurantwould seat up to 90 diners and trade between 11.30am and 11pm Mondays to Saturdays and 11.30am to 10pm Sundays. Maidstone would become the fourth


town in Kent to have aWagamama, which has branches in Ashford, Canterbury and TunbridgeWells. The Wagamama application states that


the “Waterstones vacation of the unit is a binding commitment, which is not prompted by this planning application and will occur irrespective of its outcome”. A Waterstones spokesman refused to comment on the store closure or howmany jobs stood to be lost.


Good work of


Rotarians mark birthday with MP MEMBERS of the Rotary Club of Maidstone took a tour around the Houses of Parliament, guided byMPHelen Grant. The MP for Maidstone and the Weald invited her visitors to take re- freshments inWestminsterHallaspartof celebrations tomark the club’s 90th birthday. They are pictured above. MrsGrant said: “Itwas a real pleasure to have a coffee and a catch up


with the people who make such a difference to the local community.“ Brian Moss of the Rotary Club of Maidstone said: “Maidstone Rotary members thoroughlyenjoyed their interesting and informativevisit tothe Houses ofParliament andwere pleased to meet HelenGrant. Thiswas a super visitwith everyone very complimentary about the reception.” Rotariansbelong toaworldwide network of peoplewhouse their skills to benefit communities at home and abroad.


Learn to capture wildlife on film


BEGINNERS can learn about wildlife digital photography at KentWildlife Trust. The study day, for those wish-


ing to learn more about the type of wildlife they can capture with basic equipment, is led by Ian Andrews, professional pho-


MIDKENT College has ap- pointed a female principal for the first time in its more than 100-year history. Sue McLeod,


who joined the college as a travel


and


tourism lecturer in 1993 before climbing the ranks to deputy principal, will start her new job on September 1. The Scottish-born Medway resident said she was proud to make history as the first woman to reach the top job. She said: “I hope it demon- strates to all our students that


tographer and photographic journalist and involves class- room studies and practical demonstration. Booking is essential for the


event, from 10.30am to 4pm on Saturday, June 1, at KWT’s base in Tyland Barn, Sandling.


gender is no barrier to them achieving their goals in life. I’m a great believer that further ed- ucation drives social mobility and that’s something I’m very keen to promote.” Before joining the college, Ms McLeod worked across the Caribbean, United States and Europe during her time in the travel industry, including a stint aboard cruise liners. She achieved a degree in busi-


ness studies at the Dorset Insti- tute of Higher Education – now Bournemouth University – where she returned to study travel and tourism before em- barking on her teaching career with MidKent College. The 51-year-old mother-of-


foster agency THE privately-owned Home- finding and Fostering Agency was judged by Ofsted inspec- tors to be providing a good service, with outstanding outcomes for children. Experienced staff were


found to support committed foster carers, ensuring that children’s needs were identi- fied and met. A key strength of the agency was the long- term nature of many place- ments. Siblings were placed together where possible. Foster carers were carefully selected and prepared. Chil- dren confirmed that they felt safe and could trust those caring for them, and saw themselves as being part of a family.


However, monitoring


processes lacked clarity and the children’s guide did not include all the necessary in- formation, inspectors re- ported.


Sue is first female head of college


one says her priorities as prin- cipal will include improving the employment prospects of students, and strengthening the college’s position at the heart of the community. Ms McLeod added: “I also


want to continue the improve- ments made in teaching and learning over the last few years.” Ms McLeod takes over as principal from Stephen Grix, who will continue as chief ex- ecutive on a part-time basis until 2015. Chairman of governors, Sheila Potipher, said: “Sue was by far and away the best candidate and we are confident she will do a fantastic job as principal.”


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