News Community
centre dinner LENHAM Community Centre is celebrating its 10th anniversary with a dinner dance cabaret evening on March 8.
The centre, which celebrates its birthday on February 14, offers fa- cilities to at least 15 regular user groups, as well as conference facil- ities for training events.
The plans for the Lenham Family
Festival at the community centre on June 7 are progressing well, with several local groups helping to host the event. Volunteers are needed to help run the day and old crockery is needed for the crockery-smash- ing stall.
All parishioners are invited to the next public meeting at the commu- nity centre at 7.15pm on Thursday, February 27.
Fruitful move
A FRUIT and vegetable farm in Harrietsham has earned its “sus- tainability stripes” as a restaurant supplier from a national associa- tion.
Family-owned Chegworth Val-
ley, whose organic farm is in Water Lane, has been approved by the Sustainable Restaurant Associa- tion.
Chegworth Valley, which runs a seasonal farm shop in the village and has two outlets in London, uses minimal packaging and oper- ates a next-day delivery service to restaurants, meaning fruit and veg- etables are picked to order. The farm’s fruit juices were also approved – the first English juice to gain SRA approval.
Homes agreed PLANNING permission has been
granted to replace a dwelling at 44 Sittingbourne Road, Maidstone with eight new homes. Maidstone Council gave Brook-
worth Homes the provisional go- ahead to demolish the building and erect the three-bedroom terrace houses in two rows of four. The lay- out will follow the building line es- tablished by a newly-completed development at Frigenti Place. The outline consent will be fol-
lowed by a detailed application that would provide information on scale, appearance and landscaping.
Drugs case LEE Hartigan (33), of Durham
Close, Shepway, was handed a community service order by Mid Kent magistrates after he admitted producing cannabis and possessing it with intent to supply. He was ordered to carry out 250 hours of unpaid work within the next 12 months and pay £85 costs. The class B drug and other items will be destroyed.
20 Maidstone East February 2014
downsmail.co.uk
Theatre to get £120,000 faceli to boost trade
WORK has begun on a £120,000 facelift to make the Hazlitt in Maidstone more appealing to theatregoers, performers and production companies.
The investment comes from Park-
wood Theatres, a branch of Park- wood Leisure, which took over the running of the 1950s building from the Maidstone Council in October. Gary Roden, general manager of
Parkwood Theatres, said: “We de- cided we wanted to make a signifi- cant investment at the front end of our 15-year contract to fully engage in building a bright future for the theatre from the start.” The Hazlitt joins the group’s port- folio of four. Mr Roden added: “I am passionate about developing the theatre’s successes, like its youth theatre, and extending its ap- peal with a popular programme that allows us also to take risks for
carpet through to the foyer. The bar is also to be re-carpeted and deco- rated and a stage added for smaller acts.
Mr Roden said: “We hope the bar will be finished by the end of Feb- ruary with no interruption to schedules.”
those committed to the arts. “In this way, we will ensure the Hazlitt is well used, admissions rise and it remains a theatre for all.” All 353 seats in the main audito- rium are being replaced, as is the
There is also a plan to move the box office to the front of house, in Earl Street. The current box office is, unusually, tucked away at the back of the building, only switch- ing to front of house for perform- ances.
Further money will be spent re- branding the front of the theatre, noticeboards and marketing mate- rials.
Pub charity puts residents in the picture
THE White Horse Charity has pre- sented residents of Elmwood Resi- dential Home in Loose Road, Maidstone with a gift from the top of their wish list.
The charity, which meets at the
White Horse pub in Otham, pre- sented a laptop, mouse and printer to help adults with learning difficul- ties stay in touch with their families and print off their photos. The money was raised by a meat
raffle at the pub and fun days last year. The charity has given more than £44,000 to 87 local charities and individuals since being formed in 2004.
Treasurer Lynda Bonner said: “We
keep scrapbooks of all the donations we make at the pub for anyone to look at.”
Hospital extension allowed
MAIDSTONE Council has granted planning permission for the ex- tension of Alexandra Hospital in Impton Lane, Walderslade. The first floor will be extended above the single-storey east wing to form an enlarged and improved endoscopy department. The scheme will provide one additional treatment room, four new consulting rooms, four examination rooms, a reception and waiting area, lift access, disabled toilet and utility room.
The endoscopy department is to be relocated from the ground floor
level, where it currently occupies four former bedrooms which will be returned to their former use. Additionally, at the ground floor di- rectly below the extension other internal alterations will enable a re- modelled lobby. The development requires the removal of six protected trees and the pruning of eight others.
Road closed for work on gas mains
SPOT Lane in Bearsted will remain closed between Royston Road and Yeo- man Way until March. The alternative route is via Royston Road, Madginford Road, Willington
Street, Deringwood Drive and Mallards Way. The closure is to enable Southern Gas Networks to replace gas mains and BT Openreach to replace covers.
Elmwood residents are pictured
with carer Kim, White Horse landlady Cath and committee members Pete, Kath, Sheryl and Julie
Sports plans
for school AFLOODLIT 3G sports pitch and six hard-surfaced tennis courts have been given the go-ahead at Valley Park Community School. Planning permission was granted, subject to a community use agreement, to build the new facilities and refurbish existing tennis courts. The Valley Invicta AcademyTrust has also submitted a planning application for a 12- court sports hall with other sports activity areas. Consent was also given for an extension for six classrooms, a kitchen and canteen at the school. Invicta Grammar School, which is affiliated to Valley Park and is located on the same site at Hunts- man Lane, has applied to erect a building containing two science classrooms and one for general purpose.
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