News


School agreed, but pupil numbers cut


THEJubilee Primary School has been allowed to remain at Gatland House, Fant after MaidstoneCouncil said pupil numbers should be halved to 210.


The planning committee origi-


nally deferred an application for up to 420 pupils at the school, which has been operating since September 2014 with a temporary consent given to Government free schools. A meeting in March heard there


were 80 public objections and com- mittee members had concerns about parking and traffic, lack of amenities and the faith ethos. But councillors have now sup- ported the proposal after officers emphasised that the site, with its limited amenity space, could only cater for a one-form entry per year. The full capacity should be reached by September 2022. Cllr Dan Daley, a KCC member,


said: “The compromise offered is just and fair, both to the school and to a degree, to the residents – by the reduction in traffic associated with the lower numbers of pupils.” Cllr Paul Harper, one of two com-


mittee members to vote against the scheme, said that 61 of the school’s 90 pupilswere from the Maidstone area, with 22 of these from Fant, the ward he represents. “This is a very small number,” he said. “Even if this goes ahead we will still need another primary school in the Her- mitage Lane area.” Joe Mayatt, a local resident for 52


years, said: “Gatland House was previously a short-term home for vulnerable people who needed res- idential care and had only limited parking requirements. “This will cause parking disrup-


tion and pressure on spaces only solved by parking on nearby roads. The school must ensure on-site parking is provided for staff and residents.” KCC did not object on highways grounds, meaning the committee could not use this as a reason to vote against the scheme. Itwas granted due to the support of


Gill is top volunteer


A RETIRED teacher from Kingswood who has spent 12 years supporting people affected by brain injury has won a national award. Gill Leandro (65) beat off two


other finalists to win the brain injury association Headway’s Volunteer of the Year award. Maths teacher Gill first started working for Headway West Kent whenshewas asked to help a person rebuild their numeracy skills after a brain injury. After she retired in 2002, she became a volunteer. One of her key roles is delivering literacy and numeracy support to peoplewhoare struggling to relearn lost skills. One service user, whose brain injury cost him his job as an ac- countant,was helped by Gill to pass his GCSE mathematics exam. In 2013, Gill walked 25 miles around Leeds Castle and in Mote Park, raising £2,500 for Headway West Kent. She was also one of the first to signupto the charity'sBuddy service. Once a week, she and her husband Stephen Beavis (pictured)


seven members. Cllr Stephen Paine said the pro-


posal had caused a rift in the com- munity in Fant, which he represents. He said: “As a council- lor I now preside over a broken, split and sore community. I have parents writing to me worried their children will not have a school and I have dozens, dozens and dozens of parents writing tomesaying they do notwant the school. “It is an unenviable situation and


we have to work to patch the com- munity back together and fix this.” Neil Pattison, of Jubilee Primary school, said: “Decisions concerning the final size of the school will be made in conjunction with Maid- stone Council, KCC and the De- partment for Education. “We will build on the foundation


of an excellent education for our children and aim at nothing less than an outstanding Ofsted rating.”


downsmail.co.uk


Salary error to be repaid


A MAIDSTONE woman who continued to accept a salary from the NHS despite quitting her course has been ordered to pay back more than £9,000. Natalie Davidson (41), of Hadlow Close, enrolled on a community nursing pro- gramme in September 2012 but left four months later for an- other job. She continued to be paid by Kent Community Healthcare NHS Trust for a year – about £18,000 – but failed to point out the mistake. The trust learned of David-


son’s dishonesty in January 2014, and in November was given an eight-month sus- pended jail term after admitting retaining a wrongful credit. She has now been ordered to


pay back £9,092.75 to the NHS after Kent Police applied for a confiscation order under the Proceeds of Crime Act. Financial investigator Jackie Lowdon, of Kent Police, said: “Natalie Davidson’s dishonesty caught up with her in the end and she must now return a sig- nificant portion of the salary she had no right to claim.”


Pub given new lease of life


REGULARS have toasted the success of the new landlord at The White Hart in Claygate. The Shepherd Neame


pub, near Collier Street, had been closed over the entire Christmas and New Year period, with Terry Horton taking over behind the bar on Janu- ary 5. Terry (54), who is originally fromLondon, has been a publican for 37 years


host woodwork classes at their home, which helps six members of HeadwayWest Kent redevelop mo- bility, craft and social skills. Gill has also participated in the charity's annual “Host for Head- way” event, preparing a five-course meal for 16 people, raising more than £300 for Headway. She also takes part in weekend


breaks for Headway to give service users a break from their routine. Gill was named Volunteer of the


Year at a ceremony at The Dorch- ester Hotel, in London.


Unpaid order for officer offences


AKINGSWOODman smashed a window, hit another drinker in a Maid- stone High Street pub and two police officers. Nathan Vallis (24) was ordered by court to do 180 hours of unpaid


work in the next 12 months. He admitted causing criminal damage, as- sault and two counts of assaulting officers at Maidstone Police Station. Vallis, from Gravelly Bottom Road, must also pay £425 compensation, a £150 criminal courts charge and a £60 victim surcharge.


18 Maidstone South January 2016


and has lived in Ashford for the last 15 years. His son Nicky will be working with him as head chef.


Top rating for school kitchens


FUTURE Schools Trust has been served with a clean bill of health at all four of its schools. The Maidstone-based education provider hosted several unan- nounced visits from Environmental Health and is delighted to an- nounce that each of its kitchens achieved a five-star rating. The most recent inspection took place at the trust's campus in Boughton Lane, Loose, where it runsNewLine Learning Academy, which also caters for Little Learners Nursery, and Tiger Primary School. Cornwallis Academy, in Hubbards Lane, Linton, had al- ready been awarded the top mark at the start of November.


Man rescued


FIREMEN had to use hydraulic cutting gear to free a man trapped in his car following an accident at just after 10am in Cambridge Crescent, Shepway, on Saturday, November 28.


Assault work


JIMMY Williams (28) was ordered to carry out 250 hours of unpaid work after he admitted assaulting another man in Yalding’s Hamp- stead Lane, the road on which he lives. Hewas billed £860 in costs.


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