Theatre company takes over at Hazlitt


A NATIONWIDE theatre company has taken over management ofMaidstone’s pop- ular Hazlitt Theatre and Arts Centre. Parkwood Theatres began a 15-year con-


tract to operate the 350-seat theatre and Ex- change Studio, in Earl Street, on behalf of Maidstone Council, on October 1. As well as upgrading facilities, Parkwood


will be introducing new shows and acts, whilst continuing to support many of the existing ones. The company will focus on community


use of the theatre and also provide the out- reach community activities such as the Maidstone MELA and Proms in the Park. Parkwood Theatres is part of Parkwood Leisure, one of the UK’s leading leisure management companies, which operates 84 facilities on behalf of 25 local authority clients and employs more than 4,500 peo- ple.


Grammar school is outstanding


STAFF at Maidstone Grammar School are jubilant after a sec- ond consecutive mark of “out- standing” from Ofsted. A team of five inspectors


spent two days at the boys’ school in Barton Road at the end of September, observing lessons and speaking to stu- dents, staff and governors in a bid to understand and judge the school’s culture and ethos. A total of 55 lessonswere ob- served, with 95% being judged good or better and just under 50% being judged outstanding. Headmaster Mark Tomkins


said he was extremely proud of the final judgement and praised the school community for the way it pulled together during the inspection. He said: “It was a humbling experience listening to the in- spection team give feedback at the end of the two days”. Chair of governors Lindsey


Evans said she was delighted that the school had achieved a second consecutive outstand- ing judgement from Ofsted. “This was a testament to all


the hard work carried out by the students, staff and gover- nors at Maidstone Grammar School. The Ofsted judgement confirms that MGS continues to provide a first class educa- tion for all its students.”


The company’s portfolio includes the


Winter Gardens Pavilion and the 664-seat Playhouse Theatre in Weston-super-Mare and The Hawth in Crawley,which seats 855 in the main auditorium and 146 in a sepa- rate studio space. Gary Roden, managing director of Park-


wood Theatres, said: “We are delighted to have been selected to operate the Hazlitt Arts Centre and look forward to bringing the local community a wide range of entertain- ment events, diverse cultural programmes, and a calendar of special events that will draw in new audiences and engage fully with the community at large.” Maidstone Council’s cabinet member for economic and commercial development, Malcolm Greer, said: “Parkwood’s business plan was the best for theatre goers and the taxpayer. I am confident that Parkwood will deliver a noticeable improvement to service


levels at the Hazlitt Arts Centre and reduce the bottom line cost for Maidstone Council Tax payers. This will be achieved through driving participation and attendance and re- ducing costs through enhanced buying power that Parkwood is able to offer. “Our existing theatre staff are first class


and patrons need not worry; they will still see many of the familiar faces currently working at the theatre.” Staff wishing to transfer their employ-


ment to Parkwood were assured of the same terms and conditions of employment as they had before, he said. In the first year, Parkwood intends to


spend £45,290 replacing IT equipment and hardware, technical equipment and the box office system. Ongoing investment over the course of the contract will see the replace- ment of additional equipment while main- taining the venue.


Work finished to improve lock


THEEnvironmentAgency has com- pleted restoration work on Teston Lock, transforming the site for vis- itors and boosting local wildlife. The construction has been built


within the existing lock and im- proves the safetyandconvenience for the boats using it. Features in- clude improved mooring, new ac- cess steps, and rubbing timbers and fendering to reduce the risk of damage to visiting vessels. Wildlifewill also benefit from the


works. A new“fish pass” has been installed, whichprovidesclimbable slopes for fishwanting totravel up- stream, so fish such as barbel, roach, perch, dace, chub and pike can pass through the site freely. Work began on the £2.4 million


construction project in November last yearandwas completedat the end ofAugust, although landscap- ing of the site continued for sev- eralweeks.


ThefishpassatTestonalsodou-


bles as a canoe pass, and is the first inthecountry tobebuilt to ac- curately measure theflowofwater cascading down it. Phil Munslow, Environment


Agencywaterwaysmanager, said: “The new lock at Teston will now be functional for at least the next 70 years, and should be a great asset to visitors to the area


Village stocks are handed over THE keys toWateringbury’s village stocks have been handed over to the chairman of the parish council, Michael Cayzer, by Terry Bird, chairman ofWateringbury Local History Society. The stocks are a replica of thosewhich stood on the same site (by


the village car park and next to the village lock-up, a Grade II listed building) until the mid-19th century. The site is now owned by Tonbridge andMalling Council. The stocks were made by Mounts Hill Woodcraft, of Cranbrook,


and installed by local craftsman Chris Chaplin. Finance came from Wateringbury Local History Society and ROSTRUM village maga- zine. The project was co-ordinated by Ted Bates. After the handover, local Scout leaders, Joanna Fyson and Tudor


Price were sentenced to sit in the stocks for the crime of torturing the youth of the village.


Store workers’ close shave for charity


EMMABurtwell and Martyn Couldridge, who work at Sainsbury’s Larkfield Store in Mills Road, Quarry Wood, Aylesford, had their heads shaved for charity and raised more than £1000 in donations from customers and colleagues. Their chosen charity is the Mid-Kent


Breast Cancer Research Appeal, based at Maidstone Hospital andrunbyasmall band of volunteers co-ordinated by Car- ole Nunn. Carole was so delighted with Emma andMartyn’s efforts, she bought themboth pink beaney hats tokeeptheir headswarm.


14 Malling


throughout that time. Teston Lock is the eighth of 10


locks along the 31km stretch of non-tidal River Medway, and was originally built in 1913. Two new decorative timber bridges have been installed over the entrance and exit of the pass, with improvements made to foot- paths between the bridges and along the river.


Crime chief Ann


talks to forum ANN Barnes, police and crime commissioner for Kent, addressed more than 100 older people at the Maidstone Older Persons’ Forum this month. The forum, run by Volun-


tary Action Maidstone, also heard from Barbara Hagan, manager of the Maidstone and Malling carers project, on the support, information and advice available to car- ers, and from Sarah Robson at the borough council who consulted the group on the council’s initiatives with older people. Peter Spearink’s term as chairman of the forum ends in January. Anyone who is over 55 and interested in is- sues affecting older people can apply for the role. Call Voluntary Action Maidstone on 01622 677337 or email of- fice@vam-online.org.uk.


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


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48