downsmail.co.uk
News Civic role ‘is source of pride’
THE mayor for 2015/16 will be Daniel Moriarty, who has lived in Maidstone his whole life. Cllr Moriarty (70) is an Inde- pendent ward member for Park Wood, where he has lived for 25 years. Born in Pembury Hospital, he
spent his early years in Florence Road and Gatland Road, both in Fant, before moving to Worcester Road, on the new Shepway estate, when hewas nine. Cllr Moriarty worked at What-
man paper mill but retired early on medical grounds after a triple heart bypass. He became involved in politics in
his 20s after meeting Labour’s Ernie Flood, who was a plumber at the
paper mill and served as mayor in 1980-81. Cllr Moriarty said: “Iwas not po- litically minded but I started doing work in the community.” Hewas first elected in ParkWood
HQ sale boosts Tory coffers Church appeal for toilets Cllr Daniel Moriarty
as a Labour councillor in 2001 after retiring from his job. He said: “I didn’t like whatwas going on in the area; therewas a great deal of anti- social behaviour in places like Bell Road and at the time it looked as if the council was going to transfer properties to Maidstone Housing Trust so I pushed for Bell Road to be regenerated and it progressed from there.” Cllr Moriarty later joined the Lib
Dems, from whom he parted com- pany after being voted out in 2010.
Two years later he returned to the council as an Independent. “I was not happy that the Lib Dems had joined a coalition with the Conserva- tives na- tionally. I had always been my own per- son. “I would
not regard myself as a town hall councillor, but one who works in the commu- nity, which is where I prefer to be. I
THE former headquarters of Maidstone and the Weald Con- servatives – a house in Albion Place – has now been sold. Association chairman Cllr
John Wilson has reported that this will bring financial security in time for borough council and European elections on May 22 and the General Election, which
will take place next year. The association has joined
with four otherWest Kent Con- servative associations (Chatham and Aylesford, Tonbridge and Malling, Faversham and Mid Kent and Tunbridge Wells) to set up a centralised campaign- ing and administrative office in PaddockWood.
AN APPEAL has been launched to make Sutton Valence church more inclusive to the wider community. The vicar and churchwardens of
St Mary’s hope to raise enough to fit a kitchen, toilets and baby changing facilities. The church’s Gladys Spedding
said: “Being fitted with a toilet, which is an absolute must when pre-school and schoolchildren
am heavily involved with Golding Homes during the Park Wood re- generation project.” Cllr Moriarty will become deputy mayor from the summer, succeeding Cllr Richard Thick when his mayoral term ends in June 2015. His first mayoral duty will be at- tending a classical concert in Maid- stone Leisure Centre on June 29. He says wife Lana and daughter
Kelly have given him plenty of sup- port: “The family is proud for me and it is a strange feeling. I really hope the residents of Park Wood are happy that they will have a mayor from 2015. At the moment mythoughts are on helping and as- sisting as deputy mayor.”
come to church, and having a dis- abled toilet and the other facilities will make our church more accessi- ble and inclusive for all, including to older and disabled people.” Parishioners currently have to
use the facilities at the King’s Head pub down the road. For details call Sue Wight on
01622 844946 or email
swight1919@hotmail.co.uk.
Excel Yachting In association with Royal Cinque Ports Yacht Club Dover
Bring sailing and theory courses to Kent
based in Bearsted and Dover
Why not visit us on our Marina Open Day in Dover on
Saturday 17th May
Come and try sailing courses available
Mileage building sailing trip Ramsgate - Calais return
10th/11th May £200 per person
e:
excelyachting2@aol.com www.excel-yachting.co.uk www.excel-yachting.co.uk/dates_booking
Other courses available t: 07710 647966
Maidstone South April 2014 7
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 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56