Firm steps in to save kids’ parties


A FAIRY godmother has stepped in after the collapse of Maidstone children’s entertain- ment firm, Once Upon A Party. Kate Edwards, boss of Kent


Kids Party Time, has been in ne- gotiations with the failed busi- ness owners to honour the parties already booked so that parents are not let down. She has also waved a magic


wand to cancel £50 deposits lodged with the failed firm, by reducing bills by the same amount. Mrs Edwards said: “I know


how important parties are and can only imagine what it must feel like when things go wrong.” The Bearsted business owner,


who launched her firm at the start of the year, added: “It is costing me a fortune, but I don’t want to see the kids let down.” Mrs Edwards said she had


taken a call from one mum who was weeping down the phone and so distraught that she was difficult to understand. “All I could hear was her saying ‘there’s no party, they’ve taken the money.’” Once upon A Party (pictured), owned by Elisha Byrne-Gold, was based in the Royal Star Ar- cade. The firm had parties booked up to December 2013, andMrs Edwards has been inun- dated with requests for help, tak- ing 12 bookings on one day alone. Comments have been left on the Once Upon a Party web-


Childcare praise CHILDMINDER Jacqueline Murray, of Juniper Close, Allington, was said by Ofsted inspectors to form strong rela- tionships with the children in her care. Mrs Murray, her husband


and son, care for eight children at their home. Children were said to feel safe in her care, and parents are kept well informed. Toys were placed throughout the home so that children had different areas to explore. Activities and questioning encouraged communication and learning skills. Provision was rated as good,


but to improve it to outstand- ing, there should be robust monitoring of dietary require- ments and individual needs. Role play resources should be made more accessible.


site, by distressed mums, many ofwhomare also angry about the lack of contact from the firm. Marie Searle posted: “I have


paid in full for my daughter’s eighth birthday onMay 28, only to find yesterday that you have shut down. No money back, no party and only three weeks to arrange something else. They are children you are hurting – there should be criminal charges.” The guestbook has now been closed and an announcement on the website informs parents that they will be contacted and offered alternative arrange- ments. In the apologetic mes- sage, the owner says: “It is with a heavy heart that I have to an- nounce we have now ceased trading as a company,” adding: “we are greatly saddened to have let some of you down.”


Convenience store A NEW convenience store is proposed for the former Army and Navy store at 69-77 Week Street, Maidstone. A planning application re- quests the sub-division of the vacant retail unit. In January a licensing appli- cation was submitted to the borough council by Morrisons to sell alcohol from the build- ing. The supermarket chain has not confirmed itwants to set up one of its local stores there.


Extension refused ADAM Green’s application to extend a home at 28 Church Road, Tovil, has been refused. Maidstone Council’s decision


notice said: “The proposed ex- tensions ... would result in an overbearing impact upon ... both adjoining properties.”


Bystander injured in bar brawl A 23-YEAR-OLD woman had two broken teeth and needed five stitches in her lip after being hit in the face by a flying bottle in a fracas at aMaidstone nightclub. Police stressed the victim was a bystander and not involved in


any way with the fight which broke out between a group of women in the Beluga Bar in Bank Street. The disturbance happened at about 2.15am on April 7. Any-


one with any information is asked to contact PC Dee Fox at Kent Police by calling 101, quoting crime reference YY/6608/13.


14 Town You can e-mail the Downs Mail — info@downsmail.co.uk


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