News
downsmail.co.uk Traffic fears as park and ride axed
FEARS of a traffic influx on to Maidstone’s already-overstretched roads have been expressed follow- ing news the town is to lose one of its park and ride facilities.
Maidstone’s planning and trans- portation committee agreed it had no choice but to close the Sitting- bourne Road park and ride car park in February next year, as a re- sult of rising costs and poor uptake. But the closure could force more
than 300 vehicles a day on to nearby roads, as drivers seek alter- native places to park. Landowner Gallagher Properties
Ltd wants to increase the lease fee of the site at Eclipse Park, off M20 Junction 7, to reflect the location of the site and its proximity to the mo- torway.
Care home
must improve ACAREhome for those with learn- ing difficulties in Walderslade has been told it needs to improve its service in several areas. An unannounced visit to MCCH Society Ltd’s nursing home in Lower Robin Hood Lane by the in- spectors from the Care Quality Commission found there was not always sufficient staff deployed at busy times to meet the needs of its five residents, especially at meal times. The inspector noted that staff had learned to communicate effectively with people in non-verbal ways and to interpret their expressions and behaviour to gauge their mood and needs, but those with complex support needswere not actively en- gaged with making choices about meals. The inspector also said staffwere
not always considerate and re- spectful when speaking about peo- ple.
TheCQChas offered advice after
rating the home as requiring im- provement in terms of safety, lead- ership, caring and effectiveness. The report added that staff re- cruitment procedures followed rec- ommended good practice, residents felt safe and received medication safely and when needed, and its response to chang- ing needswas good.
Autumn concert
BEARSTED Choral Society will present Bizet’s Carmen at St John’s Primary School in ProvenderWay, Grove Green on November 14. The performance, directed by Andrew Lowen, will start at 7.30pm. Tickets are £10 (£5 for stu- dents) from 01634 666730 or email
tickets@bearstedchoral.org. They will also be available at the door on the night.
22 Maidstone East November 2015
But the council already sub- sidises the park and ride by more than £554,000 a year and the price hike would add to this burden, members heard. Cllr Ian Chittenden said he was
sad at the decision, but agreed it was the only option. He said: “Over the yearswe have
had the opportunity to look at and negotiate something in the area and we have missed that opportu- nity. There is no alternative but to support the closure – but I don’t like it. Where are all the vehicles going to go? Through town?
Through New Cut? Up London Road? I have serious concerns about this.” Committee chairman Cllr David Burton said current usage meant council tax payers were heavily subsidising each park and ride user. He said: “This has come about
not through want of trying. We have put on more modern buses but usage continues to decline.” Cllr Clive English said: “Park and
ride inMaidstone is broken. Unless we have significantly larger sites and an increased revenue stream,
the model is unviable.” The committee agreed to seek a three-month extension to the lease with Gallagher, from November to February 2016, which would give the council time to tell customers about the changes and providemo- torists with alternative travel and parking information. The council has already agreed to
look at providing additional bus services on the radial routes into town, particularly in the north (Newnham Court area) and from the south (Sutton Road and Loose Road).
Castle blooms during festival
LEEDS Castle was the setting for thousands of blooms at this year’s Festival of Flowers. An incredible 12,000 people at-
tended the six-day extravaganza, with displays from acclaimed arrangers such as Heidi Lawley, from West Malling Flowers, Caroline Miller, from Hadlow College and Headcorn’s Hazel Brickles featuring alongside the work of the castle’s own floristry team and Chelsea Flower Show award winners. The preview was opened by TV
gardener Diarmuid Gavin, who named Holland’s Dennis Kneepkens’ gold tipped lilies as the rose bowl winner. Next year’s event is on Sep- tember 17-25.
Rose bowl winner Dennis Kneepkens with TV gardener Diarmuid Gavin Pre-school’s
Guiders, helpers and Rainbows mark the unit’s 10th anniversary with a photocall
Rainbows celebrate birthday
YOUNGSTERS enjoyed a party to celebrate the 10th birthday of Vinters Rainbow unit. On arrival, the Rainbows made their own party hats and played
party games. They then tried to identify Guiders from the black and white photographs of them as children. The party ended with food and a birthday cake. Each Rainbow took home a celebration badge. 1st Vinters Rainbows has 23 Rainbows aged between five and
seven. The three Guiders are helped by two Guides and a senior section member, all of whom were Rainbows at the unit, and four other helpers. Three of the original Guiders are still there – unit leader Jacquie Beadle and assistant Guiders Donella McGill and Stella Simmons. Another founding leader of the unit, Margaret Brook, returned for the party.
care ‘good’ A PRE-SCHOOL at Harrietsham has been rated good by Ofsted. Staff at the pre-school in West
Street, which was previously rated outstanding, were said to have an excellent partnership with parents and exchanged information about the children’s learning and care. The environment was said to be friendly and well-resourced, and children had easy access to a wide range of toys that supported learn- ing and independence. Children settled quickly and had
secure emotional attachments to their key person. They were well supervised and supported. The inspector noted that staff
could make better use of occasions such as snack time and water play to strengthen children’s under- standing of mathematical concepts. The manager had a comprehen-
sive set of policies, but when mon- itoring staff practice could ensure that teaching was more focused.
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