Stones’ pitch ‘among best’


RIGOROUS testing has con- firmed that the Gallagher Sta- dium in James Whatman Way, Maidstone, has one of the best pitches in world football. The state-of-the-art artificial


turf pitch has maintained its FIFA two star rating – the high- est possible grade. The testers use natural grass in top condi- tion as the benchmark, and check durability, weather re- sistance and how the ball plays. Maidstone United co-owner Oliver Ash, said: “This is fan- tastic news and shows that with the right maintenance these high quality pitches can do 50-plus hours a week while maintaining impeccable stan- dards. “Our 3G business model is


now being copied by several clubs around the country and I hope our experience will gal- vanise others to follow our ex- ample and take a major step to securing their club’s financial position.” Maidstone United was the


first football club in Britain to develop a purpose built sta- dium using a 3G pitch. “The surface is used by the


club’s first team, their many community teams, as well as other local clubs, businesses, community groups and schools. Around 1,000 people per week play on the pitch.


Stadium clash POLICE were called to the ground of Maidstone United during the first full game of the Stones’ new season. Cans of beer were thrown


onto the pitch as supporters of Wealdstone, North London, clashed with Maidstone United fans during and after the 1-1 draw. The club has vowed to in-


crease security and is checking CCTV footage to try to identify the culprits. They are also look- ing at increasing the police presence at home games. More than 2,000 fans were in


the Gallagher stadium at the time of the trouble. Police dis- persed several groups of fight- ers, but no arrests were made.


Glasshouse plan AVICTORIAN-style glasshouse could be built at Boughton Monchelsea Place. A planning application, which will be determined by Maidstone Council, says it would replace a similar glasshouse that once stood in the kitchen gardens to the north of the main house in Church Hill, Boughton Monchelsea. According to a supporting statement, only the apex of the 14m long by 4.34m wide struc- ture would be “visible from the public road”.


18 South


Pre-school’s play area unveiled


CHILDRENatCoxheath Pre-School are jumping for joy now that they have a newoutside play area. The play area, at the village hall,


was paid for from a KCC commu- nity grant donated by Cllr Paulina Stockell, county member for Maid- stone Rural South. The Village Hall committee gave permission for the play area to be built on the land attached to the hall, where the pre-school meets every morning, and Coxheath Parish Councilmadeacontribution of £2,000 towards fencing. Cllr Stockell visited the pre-


school group to officially open the play area, handingover her cheque for£2,000at thesametime,along with representatives from the parish councilandvillagehall com- mittee to see the children enjoying the summer sunshine. Pre-school supervisor Barbara Appleton said: “Children do benefit from the opportunity to run around


MAIDSTONE Council says the soundproofing at a record- ing/rehearsal studio in Boughton Monchelsea may not be good enough. In June last year, the borough council granted retrospective planning permission for Doreen Simmonds to convert a builder’s yard in Heath Road into a studio, on condition of adequate soundproofing. But it has now refused Mrs Simmonds’ application to dis- charge this condition due to “insufficient information … to demonstrate that the noise lev-


and let off steam, but also to ex- plore nature and the sights and sounds of our environment. “This play area will make a huge


difference to the children of the pre-school and will also help us to meet the Ofsted requirement that we must provide access to an out- side play area.” Cllr Stockell said: “This addi-


els do not adversely impact on residential amenity”. Mrs Simmonds had claimed


the three studios were insu- lated by CLS Studwork and Soundbloc plasterboard. With 105decibels of music playing inside each studio, she recorded the following sounds levels two metres from each door: studio one, 59db; studio two, 60db; studio three, 67db. However, the council advised


her to arrange an independent noise assessment and to submit to them the results for ap- proval.


Getting older ‘is all in the mind’ OVER-65s in Kent are refusing to get old, researchers say.AYouGov poll found that just six per cent of those aged 65-85 think of them- selves as elderly, while 61% refuse to define themselves as “old”, saying the term is simply a “mindset”. Almost half (44%) said they were happier – and more tolerant –


now than at any other time in their life, although “old-fashioned” ideas still held their generation back. The poll, commissioned by Kent personal alarm provider Invicta


Telecare, found two out of three (66%) OAPs haven’t given their future care a second thought. Over-65s account for a sixth of the population in Kent. The num- ber of over-65s is set to rise from 10 to 19 million over 40 years.


Coffee mornings boost charities A DONATION to Christian Aid of more than £1,440 has been handed over by charity supporters in Headcorn, Sutton Valence, East Sutton and Chart Sutton following church collections and two coffee mornings. The Friends of Headcorn Parish Church also thanked those who


gave cakes and prizes for the church stalls, which raised £780 at the May Fair. Over at Headcorn Primary School, £140 was raised for the local church at a Colours Evening attended by 50 ladies.


Students given a chance to shine SCHOOLS and colleges in Maidstone are invited to contact their local Rotary club to enter students into the Rotary Youth Compe- titionswith the winners going forward to the Rotary District, Re- gional and National finals. Rotary organises a group of youth competitions for young peo-


ple, includingYoung Musician,Young Chef,Youth Speaks,Young Photographer, Young Writer and Technology Tournaments. For details, email steveelms@btinternet.com


To contact Downs Mail just phone 01622 630330


tional outsideplayareahasmadea huge difference to the Coxheath pre-school, enabling water play, a sandpit, riding scooters and tricy- cles and not least the sun and fresh air. I am delighted to have been able to put some grant fund- ing toward this project at this pop- ular and highly-respected pre-school.”


Studio ‘must prove noise level’ NHS parking


scheme agreed KENT and Medway NHS has been given permission to in- crease parking at the hub for children’s services in Coxheath. In March, the authority with-


drew a plan to create 38 addi- tional spaces on two separate garden areas to the rear ofHeath- side House in Heath Road. A similar scheme has now


been accepted by Maidstone Council, on condition that park- ing is available only to staff be- tween an hour before and an hour after the facility’s opening hours.


Heathside House is a one-stop location for services such as children’s therapy, community paediatricians and child and adolescent mental health.


Plan change A MAN who worked for a civil engineering contractor says he has been living in his East Far- leigh home for 23 years oblivi- ous to the fact that its residence was restricted to an agricultural employee. Edward Rabbitt, says neither


he nor his wife, who died in 2008, worked in agriculture de- spite this being a condition of planning permission when the house at Valley Farm, Dean Street, was granted in 1961. He has applied to Maidstone Council for a certificate of law- fulness for his continued occu- pancy of the property.


Flower power IF you fancy turning your hand to some festive flower-arrang- ing, there will be a demonstra- tion at St Michael’s Church, Chart Sutton. The demonstration, by Jane McCarthy, takes place at 10.30am on Wednesday, Octo- ber 30, when there will also be a bring-and-buy sale and raffle.


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