This page contains a Flash digital edition of a book.
News


downsmail.co.uk More funds for town museum


MAIDSTONE Council is to pump an additional £125,000 into the town’s museum after another funding blow.


Despite an annual budget, ex- cluding staff costs, of £260,000, Maidstone Museum and Bentlif Art Gallery in St Faith’s Street is fore- cast to lose £60,000 in the year be- ginning March 2016. It will have overspent by more


than £9,000 by the end of this March – a figure that would have been much higher but for the suc- cess of the Brick City Lego-building attraction last summer. Nowthe council, which manages


the museum, is to lose more money when the Arts Council’s four-year education programme finishes in March, ending an annual grant of £108,000 per year.


Care home’s


good report INSPECTORS from the Care Quality Commission gave a good rating to Fairlawn ResidentialHome in Queens Road, Maidstone. The service provides accommoda-


tion and personal care for up to 26 older people, some of whom have dementia. The manager was said to under-


stand her responsibilities under the Mental CapacityAct 2005 and all as- sessments and decisions made in people’s best interestwere recorded. Staff were said to be motivated


and felt supported by the manager and senior staff. Peoplewere treated with kindness


and respect and their needs had been assessed to identify the care they required. Care and supportwas planned with residents and re- viewed regularly. Risks to people’s safety had been assessed and measures put in place to manage any hazards identified. There was a range of activities within the service and local commu- nity and enough staff to help people to participate.


Get creative


KEEN crafters are invited to CAMEO coffee and crafts sessions from 9am to noon onWednesdays. The sessions organised by the Sal-


vation Army take place at 74-80 Union Street, Maidstone and partic- ipants should bring their own mate- rials and projects, but tea and coffee are provided. The venue also hostsArt Together,


a group for artists, from 10am to noon. Materials are provided for a donation of £1, or participants can bring their own. Artists will be on hand to offer advice. For more details, call the commu- nity office on 01622 681808.


16 Maidstone Town February 2016 Although the council is aiming to


make savings of £1.63m in 2016/17, the increased budget for the mu- seum, which will be spread over three years, was agreed by the pol- icy and resources committee. It will fund the education pro- gramme and “enable the continued


delivery and growth of a sustain- able museum service”. An additional £353,000 capital


works programme will take place during the next two years, which will include refurbishing an old ed- ucation room to double the capac- ity for children’s parties. Shared museums manager Jo


Wiltcher said: “One of our best in- come generators is children’s par- ties. We are fully booked most weekends and the additional space will double our income.” Other suggested works are to im-


prove the cafe and exterior. Resources have already been identified to fund the new post of a


Old cars a lifeline for school


SHEPWAY charity Chibozu Community Trust has been able to installwater at Simooya village school in PembaDistrict, Zambia, thanks to aUK car re- cycling initiative. Giveacar, a not-for-profit social enterprise, helped Chibozu Community


Trust, an international aid projects charity based in Shepway, raise more than £1,000 – enough to provide clean running water for the school.


Milden Choongo, fromthe


trust, said: “The Simooya Vil- lage community and school waited for water and Giveacar team responded. Giveacar team, thanks for your gift of safe water. Safe water transforms lives.” Patrick Church, manager


of Giveacar, said: “After making contact with Choongo earlier this year, the response from vehicle donors was fantastic.We reached our goal easily, thanks to the generos- ity of charitable UK car owners.” If you’re interested in donating your old car to Chibozu Community


Trust, please contact the Giveacar team on 0207 7364242 or complete the form at www.giveacar.co.uk/donate.


full-time museums director, who could earn more than £48,000, when the current arrangement of a shared museums manager with TunbridgeWells Council finishes at the end of March. Meanwhile, work is already on-


going to improve the east wing re- ception, which will involve moving the reception desk. Areport to the council’s heritage, culture and leisure committee said: “The current desk is poorly located, creating a pinch point for visitors entering the building and creating a situation where staff who are serving in the shop have their backs to customers entering the site.”


Driver in court A MAIDSTONE man who commit- ted a string of motoring offences has been jailed for 84 days. Craig Palmer (33) of Upper Street admitted driving while disqualified, without due care and attention and failing to stop at a red light. He also pleaded guilty to making


off without paying a £17.10 taxi fare inWaterloo Street, Maidstone, and obstructing a police officer. Palmer appeared at Medway Magistrates’ Court, where hewas or- dered to pay £17 compensation, a £180 criminal courts charge, £856 costs and an £80 victim surcharge.


Assault charge AHOMELESS man who smashed a £1,000 window at a pub in Maid- stone and assaulted a police officer has been jailed. Darren Turpin (47) admitted the damage at the County Road pub, being drunk and disorderly and as- saulting an officer on Christmas Eve. Hewas sentenced at Mid Kent Mag- istrates’ Court to 30 days in prison and told to pay £85 compensation.


Play tackles hard topic and succeeds JOHN


Whose Life is it Anyway?' Willington Players, Hazlitt Theatre THISwas an impressive produc- tion in every way. It was not an easy choice for the group, but Richard Pilborough is a director with a very successful record who gave us another success. The set would have been impres- sive in Canterbury's Marlowe Theatre. Stuart Chapman was Ken Harrison, a paraplegic who wants to die. He spends the whole wonderful performance in bed arguing his case with med-


MUNSON SHOW TIME


ical professionals. Written by Brian Clark and first produced in 1978 in theWest End, it is to say the least, a controversial subject. A superb cast handled the ar- guments with great skill and sensitivity. Debbie Mason ex- celled in portraying a believable matron. Laura Cusack was just


right as Nurse Kay and Michael Kurtay was a cheeky porter. Penny Baines and Tony O'Leary were the two most involved medics. We shared their doubts about how best to deal with the wishes of the disabled patient. The legal decisionwas eventu-


ally made at the bedside by Ed- wina Bicker, with aplomb, as Justice Millhouse. Others on the cast roll of honour must be Tony, Sheila, Janice, Matt, Jeanette, Richard and Catherine. A triumph for The Willing-


tons.


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56