East March 2016

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News

Flats plan for old policeHQ

THE site of Kent’s original police headquarters looks poised to be re- developed as offices and flats. Wren’s Cross, at the junction of

Upper Stone Street and Knightrider Street, has been a blot on the town centre landscape for a number of years. It was vacated by the police in

1940, when the force moved to the current headquarters in Sutton Road. The property has now been boarded up as it has fallen into in- creasing disrepair, with large sec- tions of the roof now missing. Kent County Council, which

owns the property, has been trying to sell the site for some time and has been in negotiations with would-be developers including supermarket companies and housebuilders. Last year, it was rumoured a fast

food outlet or supermarket was to be built on the site. Now Geko Development Ltd has applied for listed building consent to demolish many of the buildings – but not those which are listed – re- placing them with a total of 76 flats. Sixty-six of the flats will be built in

a five-storey block, while the exist- ing barracks building will be con- verted into four more flats. Another block will house the remaining six flats.

There would be two three-bed-

room flats, 49 two-bedroom flats and 25 one-bedroom flats. There would also be 80 parking spaces for residents. The remaining grade II listed building would be turned into of- fices and a workshop. Maidstone Council will decide the

plan. Matt’s school completed

FUNDS raised following the death of a young Bearsted man inNepal have helped to complete the school he started to build in Cambodia. Matthew Carapiet, from Peverel Drive, helped build the Self Help Com- munity Centre in Siem Reap while he was travelling around Asia in 2015. He died, along with dozens of oth-

ers, when a huge earthquake struck Nepal on April 25. Matthew, an architecture graduate,

would have been 24 in January. His parents will visit the Langtang Valley where he died on the anniversary of his death to take part in a memorial service and to witness the unveiling of a memorial wall in honour of those who died. The Carapiet family raised £11,000

following Matt’s death which has helped to complete the school project and pay for furniture and fittings. The family now plans to publish a book recounting Matt’s tales of trav-

elling through Russia and Asia, using his own words, sketches and photos. Money raised from sales will help the villagers in Langtang, who are still trying to rebuild their devastated community.

Charity ceilidh

for civic farewell THE retiring Mayor of Maidstone is hoping for the luck of the Irish when he holds his farewell dinner. Cllr Daniel Moriarty and his

niece, mayoress Shirley Moriarty, have plumped for a lively Irish night, complete with ceilidh the day after St Patrick’s Day. The dinner, in aid of Ellenor hos-

pice care and The Alzheimer’s So- ciety, is at the Mercure Maidstone Great Danes Hotel, at 7pm on Fri- day, March 18. Guests can come in fancy dress or smart casual. Cllr Moriarty’s reign as mayor

ends in May. He is due to be suc- ceeded by Cllr Derek Butler.

Takeaway makes

award finals A BEARSTED takeaway has won through to the final of this year’s Asian CurryAwards. Yummy’s in Cavendish Way, Bearsted, joined some of the coun- try’s top venues for lunch at the House of Commons, where the fi- nalistswere announced. A team of judges led by Pat Chapman, the editor and founder of the Cobra Good Curry Guide, visited the short-listed restaurants, before revealing the winners earlier this month. The awards are open to busi-

nesses that have been trading for at least 12 months.

You are invited to

LAST NIGHT AT THE PROMS CONCERT

on Saturday 12th March 2016 at 7.30pm at The Salvation Army,

74-80 Union Street, Maidstone (ME14 1ED). This will be led by

Maidstone Salvation Army band (Bandmaster: Nigel Yalden)

with special guests:

The Rainham Ladies Choir (Musical director: Simon Tatnall)

and Adrian Whittell (Piano soloist)

Tickets £5 are available from the Community Office at the above address.

For further information please contact the Community Office on 01622 681808.

Maidstone East March 2016 19

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