Awards scheme’s search for star volunteer Place your vote
CELEBRATE Maidstone – the town’s search for a star competition – will be looking to honour the area’s unsung heroes from the Voluntary Sector this year. The awards – now in their third year – include
two new categories, honouring the next genera- tion of good Samaritans (young volunteers under 16) and those keeping Maidstone’s countryside and wildlife safe. Neil Pattison (left), chair of Cele-
brate Maidstone 2014, said: “It is not possible to place a monetary value on the amount of work vol- untary organisations and individ- ual volunteers carry out for the Maidstone community, but we are confident that this year’s focus on
the voluntary sector will uncover hundreds of stories of good deeds.” The winner of the Celebrate Maidstone Life-
time Achievement award will be announced in December, but the public are invited to vote for the stars of the other categories, which include:
THE owners of the closed Har- row Inn in Ulcombe insist the only way the pub can reopen is if they build a home next to it. Philippe and Karen Debax-La- tour have made a number of at- tempts to gain some kind of residential element at the pub, in The Street, since 2005. However, interventions from Maidstone Council’s planning department and a government inspector have ensured that
Some of the Jubilee Training Centre students who will be helping out at the ceremony
Star Business – job creation or training; Star Sports – coaching, training, inspiration; Star Performing Arts – music, dance, drama, media; Star Clubs and Charities – training, classes, community support; Star Education – volunteers supporting schools, colleges and further education. All the competition categories and the nomi- nation form can be found at www.cele-
bratemaidstone.org.uk
there should be no change of use of the pub.
THIS is your chance to thank your own ‘little gem’ from the vol- untary sector who has helped you or someone you know. Give your reasons for nomi-
nating your particular favourite for a Star of Maidstone Award at
www.celebratemaidstone.org.uk. The closing date for nomina-
tions is February 14, 2014. It is free to nominate and you
could win a pair of tickets to the Celebrate Maidstone gala event on Friday, March 14, 2014, ex- pected to be at the Clive Emson Conference Centre at the Kent Showground, Detling.
Home plan ‘only way to save pub’ House scheme ‘a rural exception’ COMBE Bank Homes has applied to build 22 “mostly affordable” homes on greenfield land close to Staplehurst. The developer has submitted an outline application for16 houses and six flats on land at George Street, near where Tesco wanted to put a car park as part of a supermarket proposal that was refused by Maidstone Council.
Now the applicants have asked that the pub is retained with an extension for staff ac- commodation and a dwelling. A statement says the pub is not viable without an incentive to attract a purchaser. “A change of use to provide a sin- gle dwelling and a public house with staff accommodation will achieve that,” it added.
At a public meeting in November, there were fears that it could open the door to future developments in the countryside. The de- veloper claims the scheme is being promoted as a rural exception site to meet local needs for affordable housing not currently being met. “In future, the same justification would not apply,” it added. The council will decide on the outline scheme prior to the sub- mission of a full planning application.
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