No cash for community centre
WITHOUT a donation of £500,000, the dream of turning this building in Foley Street, Maidstone, into a community centre is over. The former builders’ yard was bought by St Luke’s Church three years ago, with the inten- tion of refurbishing it. But, after extensive work inside and out, the church has been forced to pull the plug on the community centre project after it faced a further £160,000 bill to finish it. A private consultant has now
been brought in to consider the future of the building. Rev Arthur Houston,minister
at St Luke’s, said: “There are limited options for the building, unless someone kindly gives us £500,000. We will just have to see what the consultants say.” The vicar said it had become
clear over the last year that, in spite of the generosity of church
Candle cause
of flat blaze A MAN was treated for smoke inhalation after trying to tackle a fire in his neighbour’s flat in Tar- ragon Road, Maidstone. The blaze is believed to have started after the homeowners left a candle burning unattended in a first-floor living room. It fell off the table, setting fire to other items in the room. Two fire engines were sent to
the three-storey property and firefighters put out the fire and cleared smoke. Maidstone Watch Manager,
Chris Puxted, said: “It is be- lieved the candle had been lit for religious purposes, but then the homeowner had gone on the school run, leaving her teenage daughter in the property. When the smoke alarm sounded, the girl alerted her neighbour, who went into the house and threw water over the fire, but breathed in smoke in the process.” The man was given oxygen by firefighters before being taken to hospital by ambulance. The property suffered fire damage and minor smoke damage.
Homes proposed EIGHT new homes could be built to replace one at 44 Sit- tingbourne Road, Maidstone. Brookworth Homes has ap-
plied to demolish the building and erect eight three-bedroom terrace houses in rows of four. The applicant says the pro-
posal is submitted as an exten- sion of the development at Frigenti Place,which contains a block of nine flats and a terrace of five houses. There would be two parking spaces per home and a parking area for visitors. Maidstone Council will deter-
mine the outline application. Should consent be granted, the applicant would then have to submit a detailed application.
JOHN
MUNSON SHOW TIME
Youngsters put
on great show Our House by Hazlitt Youth Theatre
members, it would not have the money to complete the project. He added: “Like many chari-
ties, we too have felt the effects of the economic recession. This is too much to expect an urban community to raise, which has less affinity with the building or its uses than perhaps a village might have.” He said the PCC had made the
clear decision towithdraw from the plans after a consultation period in church and lots of dis-
cussion about how the centre might be used. “This is the kind of decision
that is reached with much sad- ness and regret. “We are sorry that we have not been able to complete this project.” He said the church was work-
ing with the local community and believes it can make better use of the church, which is op- posite the building, to further strengthen itswork and services to the community.
New stairs for ‘angel lady’
AMAIDSTONEartisthas been commissioned to paint his veryown“stair- way to heaven”. Steve Dryden, from Brewer Street, let
his imagination run riot on a staircase in Salisbury Road, belonging to “Angel Lady” Erica Longdon. Erica, who gives angel card readings
at the Fortify Cafe in Maidstone High Street, wanted to add the unique ele- ment to her home – and the pathway to her upstairs therapy room. A former neighbour of Steve's when
they both lived in Bearsted, Erica had no doubt that hewas the man for the job. The staircase, with its colourful stars
and the words “Star way to Heaven”, took three days to paint and varnish, afterweeks of hardwork by Erica, scrub- bing and sanding the oldwoodwork. Steve said: “I have known Erica for a
long time and might have guessed she wouldwant something different, but it’s the first time I’ve been asked to personalise a staircase and then be invited along to ‘open’ it!”
WITH youth theatre you can guarantee enthusiasm, commit- ment and acting skills. Add to this the directorial experience of Martin Cleverley and you will see a terrific production. Our House was a great choice
for this group. A cast of 34 sang and danced their way through this story of true young love, based on the music of Madness. Craig Barden looked and sounded just right as Joe. Laura Fawcett has a beautiful voice and was lovely as Sarah, and PhoebeWoollett brought a sense of maturity to Kath, Joe’s mother. The brooding presence of Oliver Elliot-Rye as dad, as he watched his son fall then rise again, added strength to the story. Chloe and Bethany led the high-energy of the dynamic dance. Freddie and Finlay, sometimes effectively drunken, were the lads. Nathaniel Weller cleverly switched between Pressman and Callum. The next 24 names on the programme all deserve cam- paign medals for this very enter- taining show, as do the production team and the band. This was a great Hazlitt show.
Playroom refused A PROPOSAL to erect a de- tached playroom in a rear garden at 25 Marion Crescent, Shepway has been refused. Maidstone Council felt the building could harm two pro- tected silver birch trees at the boundary of Brockenhurst Av- enue.
Award for town’s information service
MAIDSTONE Visitor Information Service has been selected as a finalist in the tourism infor- mation service category at the 2013 Beautiful South Tourism Awards. The awards ceremony was due to take place
on November 27, when Maidstone will be awarded a gold, silver or highly commended award. The judging took account of the entry form
along with web searches, reviews, emails, tele- phone calls and visits, plus additional evi- dence.
Maidstone Council’s cabinet member for eco- nomic and commercial services, Cllr Malcolm Greer, said: “This is a very significant achieve- ment and I’d like to congratulate everyone in- volved in providing such a fantastic visitor information service in the borough.” In May 2011, the Visitor Information Service moved toMaidstone Museum and at the end of March 2012 a new combined museum and vis- itor information reception and shop opened, providing an improved service for visitors both to the museum and the borough.
Shoplifter faces community work
A SHOPLIFTER who twice stole DVDs from stores in Maidstone must carry out 100 hours of unpaid community work. Christopher Blaber (30) admitted three counts of shoplifting and possessing drugs. He stole DVDs, costing £288, in Maidstone on October 18 and 24 andBluRay discs from aMedway supermarket. MedwayMagistrates sentenced Blaber, from Pier Road, Gilling-
ham, to 120 days in prison, suspended for 24 months, and ordered him to carry out 100 hours community work. He was also placed on a curfew from 7pm to 7am until January 22. Blaber must also pay £50 compensation, £85 costs and an £80 victim surcharge.
Carol concert THE Maidstone Singers’ Christmas Carols concert is at St Martin’s Church, Northumberland Road, Shepway, on December 17 and 18. Tickets for the concert, which
starts at 7.30pm, cost £10, and in- clude refreshments. A collection will be taken for Demelza House children’s hospice. To book, email
tickets@themaidstonesingers.org.uk or call 01622 630016.
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