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News Making the river work for town
DRAGON-boat racing, regattas and rowing could spearhead a push to put Maidstone’s stretch of the River Medway on the map.
The new destination manage-
ment plan for Maidstone aims to focus on strengthening visitor ac- tivities on or close to the river, par- ticularly near All Saints’ Church, at Lockmeadow and at Cobtree. Invicta Rowing Club and other
river users will be asked to get in- volved with Maidstone Council, the Medway Valley Partnership and business owners to create a programme of tourist-friendly river-based activities such as row- ing events, regattas, dragon-boat racing and a festival of lights. The plan is music to the ears of a number of local groups, including the Medway River Users’ Associa- tion (MRUA), which has been cam- paigning for greater use of the river for many years. MRUA chairman Mark Smurth-
waite said: “It is very encouraging to see so many people in support of improving Maidstone and more importantly the river. This is a very much under-used commodity that
clude signs to the entrance points to the river from the town centre, in- vestment in footpaths with signs indicating distances to key points, greater accessibility for cyclists, in- vestment in moorings and parking for river visitors. It alsowants to explore the possi-
bility of providing camping cabins or luxury camping huts to facilitate long-distance walking, canoeing and rowing. Tony Monk, from Coxheath, who
Maidstone Council and KCC seem to have very little interest in, de- spite using pictures of the river in much of their literature. “The river is such a beautiful
asset and it is dramatically under- used and under-resourced.” The MRUA is already working
with the Environment Agency and other official bodies to try to im- prove the condition of the river and surrounding areas and, with the support of MP Helen Grant, is in the process of identifying areas of
responsibility. A new River Medway Alliance
has been formed and Mr Smurth- waite said: “Following the alliance meeting later this month, we hope to be in a position to put forward some sort of action plan for im- provement, and will make public all the information regarding this.” In the meantime, the council is proposing a programme of en- hancements and improvements to make the river more accessible and appealing to visitors. This will in-
convened a meeting with Mrs Grant to discuss some of the con- cerns about the river, said: “If the works go ahead it will, after many years, be a positive and very excit- ing step forward for Maidstone. “Much of the riverside of Maid- stone’s stretch of the Medway has, in my opinion, been spoilt by de- velopment, but there are some beautiful stretches and the town has some superb architecture dat- ing back to the 13th century along with its varied and rich history.”
Pupils step out with new emotional skills
PUPILS from the Cornwallis Acad- emy in Maidstone have successfully completed a programme designed to explore confidence, self-aware- ness and motivation. The Stepping Out programme de-
veloped by CXK – a charity designed to help children, young people and adults maximise their potential – was delivered over six sessions to en- courage participants to reflect on their own emotional resilience and look at strategies for development or support. It was funded by KCC coun- cillor Gary Cooke's member grant. Cllr Cooke said “I felt a programme was needed that gave young people
the initial skills, which they could then develop, either in school or on another developmental programme such as the National Citizen Service. After conversations with Sean Kearns, the chief executive of CXK, Stepping Out was born.” This year, 30 pupils benefited from
the programme (with a further 25 benefiting in 2014). They were drawn from Cornwallis Academy, New Line Learning Academy and Swadelands School. Presenting the certificates, Cllr
Cooke said: “Just like a tradesman who, to do his job well, needs more than one tool in his toolbox, you will,
ABRICK wall at an unused site in Boughton Lane, Boughton Monchelseawas partly knocked down and the bricks removed. The brickswere found nearby in a small trailer. Scaffoldingwas taken from outside a prop-
erty in Lower Road,West Farleigh. A55-registered silver Renault Scenicwas
stolen from Green Lane, Boughton Monchelsea. Barbed wire fencingwas damaged in a field
at a property in Bishops Lane, Hunton. Amanwas seen behaving suspiciously at the
back door of a property in TheGreen,West Far-
leigh.No entrywas gained. Signswere damaged near a play area in
Kings Road, Headcorn. AStaffordshire/English Bull Terrier cross dog
wasstolenfromthe back garden ofahomein Charlton Lane,West Farleigh. Avehicle had its filler cap taken in Aspian
Drive, Coxheath. The door of a garagewas damaged during a
30 Maidstone South November 2015
break-in at a commercial premises inUlcombe Hill,
Ulcombe.An alarm sounded and the of- fender ran off. CCTV is being viewed. Several treeswere stolen from the driveway
of a home inGrigg Lane, Headcorn. Aladderwas stolen from the top of a Citroen
vanparkedinalay-byinThe Street, Ulcombe. The rear doorswere forced open but nothing wasmissing. The rear doors of a Ford Transit van parked
on a driveway inMoat Road, Headcorn were damaged. Awhite man tricked hisway into the home
of a vulnerable person in ValleyDrive, Loose. When he had gone a handbagwas found to be
missing. Hewas described as 5ft 10 ins, medium build, about 35 years old, with light blond hairwhichwas combed back. Hewas clean-shaven andwearing a fawn-coloured tweed jacket, with trousers and a tie.
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NeighbourhoodWatch Working to reduce crime. Call Crimestoppers 0800 555 111 or local police
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