downsmail.co.uk
News Museum hours to be reduced
Maintaining the building and keeping tabs on the 600,000 exhibits means the museum needs to close on at least one day aweek. After the summer season, it is
MAIDSTONE Museum has become a victim of its own success, forcing it to close on Mondays. The new opening hourswere ap-
closed on Sundays in 2016, al- though Maidstone Council leader Cllr FranWilson is vehemently op- posed to this. The museum is currently open
likely the museum and art gallery in St Faith’s Street, Maidstone will not be open to the public on Mon- days – although it will still be avail- able for school groups and children’s parties, as before. This will also mean the visitor in- formation centre being closed, al- though the service will still be available by phone and email. Low Sunday visitor numbers could also see the doors being
Council tax
scam warning RESIDENTS are being warned about scam council tax calls. The warning comes after Ton-
bridge and Malling council re- ceived several more reports from homeowners who took a bogus call from a man posing as a council of- ficer, claiming to work in the coun- cil tax section. The caller tells residents that their property is in the wrong council tax band and that they are entitled to a refund. He then asks for confirma- tion of their bank account details so that a refund can be made. Cllr Martin Coffin, the borough ouncil’s cabinet member for fi- nance, said: “Our officers never ask residents to confirm their bank de- tails over the phone and we are urging residents to bewary of these unscrupulous individuals.” Residents can have their council
tax band checked free by calling 0300 0501 501 or visiting
www.gov.uk/council-tax- appeals/challenge-your-band.
from noon to 4pm on Sundays from Easter to the end of Septem- ber, and it will remain open seven days aweek this summer. Monday closing would result in
small financial savings as no front of house staff would be required, but the main benefit would be be- hind the scenes, according to Dawn Hudd, the council’s director of re- generation and communities. She said: “Running a complex
operation which combines an Eliz- abethan manor house with a con- temporary extension, a collection of over 600,000 objects and 70,000 vis- itors per year, requires dedicated downtime to change over exhibi- tions, maintain fixed exhibits, carry out audits, conduct maintenance and repairs to the building and other essential works.” She said that failure to close the museum to the general public on Mondays would seriously affect the council’s ability to maintain the building and collection – and this could put its accreditation with Arts Council England in jeopardy.
proved by former cabinet member Cllr Malcolm Greer. However, the council’s culture and leisure de- partment has taken the decision not to introduce the new hours until later in the year. In the meantime, research is to be carried out with current and poten- tial users to see what the impact of Sunday closing could be. CllrWilson said that while itwas important for staff to keep on top of preparation work, hence the need for a Monday closure, she was not happy at the suggestion the facility be closed on Sundays.
Pupils’ recipes help hospice
DOZENS of budding young chefs from Maidstone and the surround- ing area have had their recipes in- cluded in a charity cook book. Entries chosen for The Children’s
Choice Cook Book include recipes from primary school pupils from 41 Kent schools, including Loose, St John’s at Grove Green, Staplehurst, Allington and Barming. Recipes including Barnaby Williams’ Healthy Nachos were on show to classmates when the book was launched at Loose Primary School. The Contract Dining Company,
which caters for schools and ran the competition, has had 5,000 copies of the book printed. These will be on sale for £1, in a bid to raise £5,000 for Demelza Hospice Care for Chil- dren. Pupils whose recipeswere included
in the book, including Hayley Buckle, fromAllington Primary School, Emily Moreton fromSt John’s and Jasmine Ayres fromBarming school, received a certificate and a goody bag.
Pupils who had recipes published in the cook book received certificates Contract Dining Company opera-
tions director Tracey Spellman said: “It has taken about six months from beginning to end, but it was great fun. We are really pleased with the book – it’s stunning.” Demelza’s community fundraiser
Leila Ilkhan said: “We cannot say thank you enough to all the very tal- ented schoolchildren who put for- ward their delicious recipe ideas.
Friends’ gift of chair to hospital
A SPECIALIST chair to aid the re- covery of those in intensive care in Maidstone has been bought by the hospital’s League of Friends. The chair, which cost £3,740, will
allow those with severe weakness to sit up and get out of bed and oth- ers to enjoy time outside. The chair also works to strengthen patients’ posture and muscle activity and stimulates the respiratory muscles of those who have been on a ventilator. Claire Chalklin, clinical specialist respiratory physiotherapist, said: “We are extremely grateful to both Maidstone’s Intensive Care Unit (ICU) for working with physiother- apy to source this fantastic chair, and recognising the need, and to
League chairman Joyce Langton, ICU sister Alison Crayford, ICU nurse Ligia Ro- drigues, Claire Chalklin and the league’s Graham Neads check out the new chair
the League of Friends for their con- tinued support and generosity. “This chair will be of enormous benefit to some of our weakest pa- tients – it will allow them more freedom aswell as helping them to progress with their recovery.” Joyce Langton, chairman for the
Maidstone Hospital League of Friends, said: “The chair is fantas- tic and we can see first-hand how much of a help it will be to our in- tensive care patients and staff. “We are delighted to have joined
forces with the ICU to buy this piece of equipment.”
“The book looks absolutely bril-
liant and we’re so grateful to every- one who worked so hard to make this happen – we can’t wait to start trying all the meals. The money this book will raise will make a real dif- ference to our children and families.” Anyone who would like to buy a
copy of the book should contact Emma Grove at the hospice on 01795 845270.
Thief in court
A THIEF who stole catalytic con- verters from cars, including one from a vehicle in Larkfield, has been ordered to do 150 hours com- munity service. Jimmy Docherty pleaded guilty
to taking the converter, worth £3,500, from a car in New Hythe Lane in February and from an- other in Ipswich. The 27-year-old, from Hemel Hempstead, was ordered at West Kent Magistrates’ Court to carry out the unpaid work in the next 12 months. He must also pay £3,900 compensation, £85 costs and a £60 victim surcharge.
Formore local news
www.downsmail.co.uk Malling July 2015
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