News
Former school set to become
a nursery PART of a former town centre school and playground is to get a new lease of life, educating the under-fives. Archbishop Courtenay Primary School moved to Eccleston Road, Tovil, two years ago from its site at the junction of College Road and Knightrider Street. The empty playground will once
more hear the laughter of tiny chil- dren when the Townsend Montes- sori Nursery opens there in June. TMN already operates several nurseries in Broadstairs, Ramsgate, Margate, Whitstable and Faver- sham, but this is its first foray into Maidstone. The nursery will have about 86
places for children aged from three months to five years, offering the Montessori system of learning. This is based on small groups, one-to- one learning and self-motivation, in a peaceful and harmonious atmos- phere.
Children are taught in different rooms, according to their age and stage of development, and class- rooms are designed to create an en- vironment where children can be supported to reach their full poten- tial.
About 15 qualified staff have al-
ready been recruited in readiness for the opening on June 9, but more will be required as the nursery ex- pands. There will be an open day for prospective parents from 10.30am to 2pm on Saturday, May 31.
Pupils reach
debate finals A GROUP of sixth-form students from Invicta Grammar School are through to the national final of the National Debating Matters compe- tition, after a close-fought contest at London inner regional round. Debaters Kate, Suzanna, Munira
and Charlotte and questioners Iris and Katiewere joined by Mrs Lloyd and Mrs Shepherd-Miller. They had a lovely day at the Tal-
low Chandlers Hall, where they competed against two other schools in the first round. The Invicta team won both of these debates, which put them into the final. Here they met Queens School, fromWatford, and after some close verbal combat, Invicta was pleased to be awarded the debate and a place in the na- tional final. This will take place at the British Library in June. The school haswon £500 for educational resources from Hodder and Stoughton and the team will be rewarded with a tour of St Paul’s Cathedral and tea at the Grange St Paul’s Hotel.
34 Maidstone Town May 2014
downsmail.co.uk
Plan for flats deferred over viability concerns
APROPOSAL dating back to 2007 to build 76 flats in Hart Street, Maid- stone, remains on hold over developer contributions.
A planning application was lodged in October 2007 to demolish existing buildings at the Laguna Motorcycles site and replace them with a five-storey block of 52 stu- dios and 24 one-bedroom flats, with 60 parking spaces. The delay has been due to the ap- plicant’s concerns about the finan- cial return possible for the site. The scheme has again been put on ice after it emerged that officers had agreed to Bloor Homes’ offer to forego affordable housing and in- stead pay just £100,000 for off-site affordable housing. This figure was established through a residual valuation in September 2009, and the planning committee agreed to defer the pro- posal for an updated viability re- port.
Disquiet was also voiced about
the developer being unable to meet code level four of the sustainable
homes marker. Cllr Ian Chittenden, a member of
the committee, said: “£100,000 is equivalent to half a house. I find it hard to believe that this is all they can afford for affordable housing.” Further concerns were raised
about flooding, which occurred on the land in Christmas 2013. Cllr Tony Harwood, a committee mem- ber, works for KCC as an emer-
Minister visits Blue Bus
MAIDSTONE’S award-winning Urban Blue Bus has felt the long arm of the law.
Justice minister Simon Hughes
visited Maidstone to hop on board the community bus, which was in- strumental in the town attaining the coveted purple flag for the quality of its night-time economy. Mr Hughes, who is deputy leader
of the Lib Dems, congratulated vol- unteers on the bus for their sterling work and declared it a model for other towns to follow. He said: “This is an excellent serv-
ice and the people of Maidstone should be appreciative of the work of so many dedicated volunteers.” The bus parks in Jubilee Square
between 8pm and 4am at week- ends, offering help, refuge and support to people in need. On a typical night, it can deal with 150 clubbers and savesmore than 30 visits to A&E each week, relieving pressure on the hard-pressed emergency services. Jasper Gerard, LibDemParliamentary candidate for the area, invited Mr Hughes to Maidstone to show how the successful scheme could be rolled out in other towns. “It is a huge tribute to this town that so many people are prepared to give up their time to help out,” Mr Gerard said.
Lib Dem candidate Jasper Gerard with justice minister Simon Hughes
Lighting proposal for tennis court
FLOODLIGHTING could be installed on the fourth court at Maid- stone Lawn Tennis Club in Poplar Grove, Allington. Lighting already exists on courts one to three, and the scheme
would see the erection of two additional lighting columns. Maidstone Council is the landlord of the site and Jason Taylor,
from its parks and open spaces department, submitted a letter back- ing the club’s planning application, saying non-members and local residents had access to the court. Maidstone Council will determine the proposal.
gency planner and emphasised the safety risks involved for those who seek to save residents from flood- water – as well as for residents themselves. All 12 committee members voted
to defer the proposal for an up- dated viability report to be pro- duced at a future meeting, where sustainability and landscaping is- sues will be examined.
Man jailed for
sexual assaults AMANwho targeted and then sex- ually abused young women in Maidstone between 2006 and 2012 has been jailed. David Rayner (59) appeared be-
fore Maidstone Crown Court where he was sentenced to 18 months in prison. Formerly of Manns Hill, Canterbury, Rayner had previously denied two charges of sexual assault but was found guilty by a jury. He was said to have made lewd comments to a teenage girl in Gabriel’s Hill. He made suggestions about her skirt, lured her into a room and assaulted her. Following his arrest an investiga-
tion by Kent Police, Rayner was charged with a further assault in Gabriel’s Hill, which had taken place in November 2006. In this in- cident he put his arms around a 20- year-old woman and told her he wanted sex. The victim refused. Despite this Rayner assaulted her, before pleading with the victim: “Don’t tell anyone about this, just keep it between us”. Police Sergeant Nicola Mullins
said: “David Rayner targeted young and vulnerable women and abused them. He has refused to ac- cept any responsibilities for his ac- tions, which has meant more distress for his victims.” Rayner was also ordered to sign
the sex offenders’ register for 10 years.
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