This page contains a Flash digital edition of a book.
News


Waging war on obesity in


children BOROUGH councils in Maidstone and Tonbridge and Malling are in the same fight against childhood obesity as many of their national counterparts. Figures compiled for the Depart-


ment of Health show that in Eng- land 33.3% of Year 6 pupils (aged 10 and 11) and 22.2% of reception pupils (aged four and five) were rated overweight or obese. In Maidstone this number was


30.1% (of which 16%were obese) at Year 6 and 24.4% (8.8% obese) in re- ception. In Tonbridge and Malling the figureswere 31.3% (17.5%) and 20.9% (8.7%) respectively. Both councils say they are taking


the obesity problem seriously. Little Stirrers’ healthy cooking programme targets school children in both areas.A“Sporty Kidz” pro- gramme to encourage exercise among children up to the age of five is also to start in Maidstone. Tonbridge and Malling Council’s


free after-school club LEAP will also help parents and children learn about their food, eat more healthily and be more active. The programme is running at St


James the GreatAcademy School in East Malling, with more to be launched this year. The council’s “Go For it” programme also targets youngsters.


Town’s TV role THE success of Maidstone’s night- time economy could be featured in an hour-long documentary on C5. Researchers want to feature a


town with the purple flag for night time entertainment, security and policing – and have been talking to management at the county town. Maidstone has already been cap-


tured on camera for a Cutting Edge programme for C4, following po- lice and crime commissioner Ann Barnes.


downsmail.co.uk


Efforts rewarded in school Ofsted report


HARD work has paid off at Aylesford School Sports College, which has


upgraded its Ofsted rating to good in all areas. The 943-pupil school in Teapot


Lanewas told it required improve- ment after its last inspection in March 2013. But after four inspec- tors paid a two-day visit from Jan- uary 13 this year, they reported that all studentswere making good progress, even from low starting points. The proportion of students achieving five or more GCSEs at grades A* to C or the equivalent had also risen significantly and was now in line with the national average.


Headteacher Doug Lawson, who expressed delight at the report, was praised for overseeing im-


provements in teaching and in stu- dents’ achievement and progress. He was sup- ported by “an able and determined team of sen- ior and mid- dle leaders”, said Ofsted. The report


Head Doug Lawson


noted the good behav- iour and safety of stu-


dents, saying: “They are respectful and polite both in lessons and as they move around the school.


Students are proud of their


school and trust in the staff to help and support them.” The sixth form was described as


good with students working hard and their achievements in voca- tional subjects was particularly strong. The majority of teaching was classed as good “because teachers plan lessons thoroughly and use their specialist subject knowledge to motivate and engage students”. The board of governors was also praised for having a clear under- standing of what still needed to be improved because they knew the school well.


Policing concerns discussed


ABOUT 60members of the public voiced their con- cerns on policing issues at a “Meet the Commis- sioner and Chief Constable” event in Aylesford. Issues raised with commissioner Ann Barnes and


Ch Con Alan Pughsley included police community support officers, mobile police stations, live exports and road safety. The public meeting was held at the Royal British


Legion Industries on Hall Road. The RBLI chief ex- ecutive, Steve Sherry, gave an overview of the work of the charity in treating, supporting and training personnel from the Armed Forces.


Satellite dish must come down Solicitors’


DEVELOPERS have been refused permission for a satellite dish on a converted oast house in Mill Street conservation area, East Malling. East Malling Conservation


Group objected because of the im- pact on the character of the area. The group said other dishes on


the development at Darcy Court were mainly out of sight, and


urged Tonbridge and Malling Council to refuse the retrospective application for the one at No 14. Developers said the chimney


stack blocked the signal so the dish was placed on the gable end. A borough planning offical said


the siting caused “visual harm to the setting of the nearby Grade II listed buildings”.


Duke to open town’s new hospital


HRH Prince Richard, the Duke of Gloucester, is to officially open KIMS – the new hospi- tal in Maid- stone.


The Queen’s cousin (left) will visit the Kent Insti- tute of Med- icine and Surgery on


Wednesday, April 2 to perform the official opening as a representa-


22 Malling March 2014


tive of Her Majesty. The £85m hospital near junction


7 of the M20 has been six years in the planning and almost two years in construction. The independently-owned pri-


vate tertiary hospital will offer some services to the NHS by agreement with hospital trusts and NHS commissioning bodies. Covering seven acres, KIMS will


serve a catchment area of 1.7 mil- lion patients and employ more than 350 clinicians. Work is to start on the adjacent Maidstone Medical Campus,


which will offer a medical training centre with graduate and post graduate teaching facilities for doctors and nurses, plus student accommodation, in conjunction with lead universities, research and development facilities, aswell as a neurological rehabilitation and care centre, a paediatrics unit and awomen’s health unit. Details of the duke’s itinerary


have not yet been announced, but he is expected to be shown around the hospital by the Dickmann fam- ily, who have been the instigators of the scheme


WWI tribute GULLANDS Solicitors is looking for copies of photographs, stories and information for a new web- site,


www.gullands-


heritage.co.uk. The website will celebrate the heritage of Gullands, the history of Maidstone and the 100th an- niversary of the outbreak ofWorld War I.


Practice manager Paul Manner-


ing said: “We would like to offer peoplewhomight have interesting stories or photographs the oppor- tunity for them to be published on the website. “In a tribute to all the youngmen


of Maidstone who fought in the First World War, we would like people to send us a photograph of them, along with their details.” Anybody wishing to send copies


of pictures and information should contact Paul Mannering, Gullands Solicitors, 16 Mill Street, Maid- stone Kent ME15 6XT or email p.mannering@gullands.com. Unfortunately. Gullands is un- able to return any details sent.


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