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- datedwith requests for help, tak- ing 12 bookings on one day alone. Comments have been left on the Once Upon a Party web-
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 on May 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.”
Thief’s car is confiscated
ASHEPWAYwomanhas had her car confiscated after stealing three televisions, clothes and a variety of homeware and trying to take a wedding veil worth £320. LisaAnnWallace (40), ofOwletts Close, denied the attempted theft
from a shop in North Street, Headcorn, and shoplifting from another at Hempstead Valley Shopping Centre, Gillingham. But magistrates found her guilty, and confiscated her Vauxhall
Astra.Apolice spokesman said a vehicle could be taken if the own- ers were unable to prove they bought it legally or if it was likely to be used by the owner to commit a crime. In addition to depriving her of her car, Magistrates sentencedWal-
lace to 180 days in prison, suspended for twoyears, and ordered her to carry out 250 hours of unpaid work within the next 12 months. She must also pay £250 costs.
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.
Convenience store on former A&N site A NEW convenience store is proposed for the former Army and Navy store at 69-77Week Street,Maidstone.Aplanning application requests the sub-division of the vacant retail unit. In January a licensing application was submitted to the borough council by Morrisons to sell alcohol from the building. The super- market chain has not confirmed it wants to set up one of its local stores there.
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