News Education unit


‘outstanding’ STAFF and pupils of Oakfields Ed- ucation Unit in Cranbrook Road, Staplehurst are celebrating after an Ofsted report rated it as outstanding in all areas. The unit, which caters for 24 stu-


dents at the Kent andMedwayAdo- lescent Unit at Woodlands House, was previously rated as good. On the latest inspection, students


were found to make outstanding progress in a range of subjects and to develop a wide range of skills. Teachers and teaching assistants


had high expectations of all stu- dents, helping them to develop their confidence and enjoy learning.Work was set at the right level and in part- nership with the students’ main- stream schools. Students who found learning dif-


ficult were helped to regain focus and behaviourwas outstanding. Safety was a very high priority at


the unit and staff worked hard to make sure all students felt secure. Sixth form provision was out- standing and therewas an excellent range of activities and subjects, per- sonalised to students’ needs. Re-in- tegration into mainstream schools was very successful.


Ofsted praise


for pre-school A STAPLEHURST pre-school has been declared outstanding by a Gov- ernment inspector. The Chapel Lane Pre-School,


which meets in Margaret Howard Hall, has been running since 1971 and has provision for 30 children from the local community and neighbouring villages. The pre-school opens five days a


week, employing seven staff who have an excellent understanding of how children learn and develop, ac- cording to Ofsted. When inspector Nicola Jones vis-


ited in January, she found children demonstrated high levels of self-es- teem and independence and were prepared extremely well for their move to primary school. Her report states: “Children make extremely good progress in their learning and development ... staff positively support and enhance chil- dren’s personal, social and emo- tional development.”


Charity quiz


HARRIETSHAM in Bloom and Macmillan Cancer Support are hold- ing a fund-raising quiz evening on Saturday, April 25. The event in the village hall starts


at 7.30pm and the cost is £8 per per- son for tables of up to eight, includ- ing a ploughman’s supper. Email hpoursain@macmillan.org.uk, call Ray on 01622 850619, or Helene on 07764 503484.


8 Maidstone South March 2015


downsmail.co.uk


Aerodrome looking to bring in more tourists


PLANS are afoot to turn Headcorn Aerodrome into a money-spinning tourist attraction.


Maidstone Council has been in contact with the owner of the aero- drome and the businesses based there aboutways in which it can be improved and developed to pull in more visitors – and up to £250,000 a year. The aerodrome is one of the few remaining grass strip airfields in Kent and a popular location for parachute drops, balloon launches and pleasure flights. It is also home to severalwartime Spitfires and the Lashenden Air Warfare Museum, which has been based there since 1970. The mu- seum is now a registered charity and the only non-national museum in the country to display two gen-


uine WorldWar II German aircraft, aswell as memorabilia from World War I, the Vietnam War, Falklands Conflict and both GulfWars. Plane spotters and aviation en- thusiasts from throughout the world visit the museum, but the council believes numbers can be boostedwell beyond the 25,000 vis- itors recorded since 2011. At the moment, the museum is


only open to the public in the sum- mer months atweekends and some bank holidays. In March and April and from October to December, it is only open on Sundays. Cllr Malcolm Greer has been working with Headcorn Cllr Martin Round on ways in which the air-


VIP guest for charity


THE High Sheriff of Kent, Hugo Fenwick, visited Dandelion Time, the chil- dren’s charity based inWest Farleigh. He and his wife Kate had an opportunity to view and participate in activ-


ities that Dandelion Time uses as therapeutic tools in its work with vulnera- ble children and their families. Dandelion Time supports children who have been subject to neglect or


traumatised by domestic violence or sexual abuse. The High Sheriff said: “On the day ofmy visit, the childrenwere clearly en-


joying themselves making clay pots and handing around some delicious cheese straws they had just made, hot from the oven. “No wonder that the Dandelion Time has been instrumental in so many


children overcoming their difficulties since the project began 10 years ago.” He is pictured with volunteer Rosemary in the pottery studio.


Urban sprawl ‘is unacceptable’


Continued from page one Maidstone has little or no capacity to accept additional flows…this repre- sents issues for future develop- ment.” Ms Cooper writes: “KCC has, to


date, not seen any technical solu- tions to address the sewerage capac- ity issues and the cost of delivering the required improvements. “In the absence of this informa-


tion, the county council reiterates its strong objection to the proposed al- locations to the urban periphery of Maidstone on the basis that the sites are not deliverable, notwithstanding their unsuitable location and contri- bution to urban sprawl.” Anobjection byKCC– key to pro-


viding infrastructure – could scup- per the local plan when it comes before an inspector at its final stage. Amey also says journey times in


Maidstone would increase by 42% by 2031 if the only infrastructure im- provements were the Maidstone bridge gyratory project next year. Even if a wider package of high-


way improvements, as agreed by the JTB in September 2014, took place, journey times would still increase by almost a third. Again, this informa- tionwas not put before the commit- tee when it met in January. Ms Cooper says KCC has no money to improve infrastructure be- yond funds received from develop- ers in Section 106 or community infrastructure levy receipts, and con- cludes: “KCC contends that further urban sprawl of Maidstone is neither viable nor deliverable.” The letter from KCC was not the


only thing missing when key deci- sionswere taken. Other critical information relating


to receptor sites for endangered specieswas not presented to the cab- inet, which thenwent on to overturn some of the scrutiny committee’s de- cisions.


Consequently, the scrutiny com-


mittee was reconvened to examine the cabinet decisions, after a cross- party “call-in” by Lib Dem leader Fran Wilson, UKIP member Eddie Powell and Independent Gordon Newton, where members heard there were “major inconsistencies” in the cabinet’s decision-making, which CllrWilson described as “a bit of a pig’s ear”. At the end of the four-hour called-


in meeting, members agreed to refer matters back to the cabinet for a re- think, particularly in relation to building sites in Langley and Otham, Park Wood, Harrietsham and Lenham.


For more local news see our website at www.downsmail.co.uk


field and its attractions can be ex- panded and marketed for the bene- fit of the owners and the borough. Cllr Greer said: “The airfield is a fascinating place and just one of the many attractions which are under- sold in the Weald. At the moment, it’s free to visit and, more often than not, visitors can see flypasts and displays by the vintage aircraft.” The on-site café, bar and restau-


rant – a facility shared by both visi- tors and pilots – house other items of memorabilia, and businesses based at the airfield offer every- thing from balloon and helicopter flights to the chance to take to the skies in a Tiger Moth, Harvard or Spitfire.


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