News Governor tells
of suspension Continued from page one Mrs Sharpe said shewas chairing
a meeting when her suspension was proposed and she discovered that a vote of no confidence had been taken without her knowledge. The decision was formalised in July, meaning that she was not al- lowed on school property. She said: “This is a school I love, I have done nothing wrong. This issue is bigger than just me. It is about theway the local authority is handling under- performing schools.” She added: “It is the pupils and
the future of the school I am con- cerned about most.” Interim head Joyce Rhodes is in charge of the school and the local education authority has begun the recruitment process for a perma- nent head teacher.
Day to remember
THERE will be an opportunity at the Church of St John the Baptist, Wateringbury, on Saturday, June 21, to dedicate a favourite flower in memory of a loved one or to mark a special occasion. Dedication cards and vases will
be provided. The event runs from 2-5pm and there will be home made cakes and clotted cream teas.
downsmail.co.uk
Bale to save bingo hall from demolition
CAMPAIGNERS fighting to save Maidstone’s historic Granada cin- ema are furious that the plan to re- develop The Mall shopping centre includes its demolition. The proposal by Mall owner Capital and Regional includes re- placing the cinema – now occupied by Gala Bingo – with a department store, which has been described as “sacrilege”. Jason Martin, chairman of the
Hart Centre Project, the initiative to refurbish and regenerate life in the building, said hewas “shocked” by the idea. He said: “This proposal is to
knock down amuch-loved cultural icon of the town and replace it with more shopping. When asked about proposals for enhancing cultural and creative opportunities within the proposed development, the an- swerwas vague. “At the Hart Centrewe are devel-
oping a proposal which uses arts, creative industries and a celebra- tion of our town's heritage to pro- vide a much-needed economic
The Granada Theatre opened in January 1934 but closed in Sep- tember 1968 due to floods. In 1971 bingo began, with a two- screen cinema upstairs till 1999.
boost to this part of the town. “We are proposing to achieve the
same goal as The Mall's owners (employment, opportunities and inward investment), but while cele- brating our past and meeting our current and future needs. Hart Centre supporter Dawn
Dunleavy said: “I am horrified that they would want to knock down the Granada and, it seems, Granada House. There’s no consid- eration whatsoever for the history of the town.” The group is urging its members
and other supporters to write to Maidstone Council's conservation officer at mikeparkinson@maid-
stone.gov.uk and the county's her- itage conservation team at KCC:
heritageconservation@kent.gov.uk to object to the proposal. The group is now working on a detailed proposal for possible fu- ture uses of the cinema and was due to meet with Maidstone Coun- cil aswewent to press. Mark Bourgeois, executive direc-
tor for Capital and Regional, said: “The initial proposals are being de- veloped further, in line with the comments we received at our re- cent public exhibition. “We will keep all of the valuable feedback we have received, both good and bad, in mind as we progress our plans.”
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