News
Plan to double size of school
RESIDENTS in Headcorn are being consulted about a proposal to double the size of the village pri- mary school. Kent County Councilwants to in-
crease the school’s capacity from 210 pupils to 420, starting in September 2017. One additional class will be created, but as the years progress, a new-build plan will be put in place. Although KCC is in the early
stages of consulting on the proposal, its property department has held discussions at the school and draft plans have been drawn up for par- ents to view. Building work will be part of a separate planning consultation process, should the proposals get the go-ahead, and residents will have a further chance to comment on those. Traffic and parking assessments
will be carried out as part of the process and the school will be en- couraged to get families to find al- ternativeways of travelling to school in order to reduce car journeys. The school would remain open as normal during the building phase. There have been a lot of new homes in Headcorn in recent years,
as Maidstone Council forges ahead with providing a further 18,560 homes between 2011 and 2031. KCC describes the proposal as its “strategic response” to the forecast population growth in Headcorn and neighbouring Staplehurst. Headcorn already has a popular
and successful school. Forty one ap- plicants selected it as their first choice in September 2015 and, with only 30 available places, some chil- drenwere naturally disappointed. By 2018, there could be a shortfall
of -11.7% in school places in Head- corn and Sutton Valence – without allowing for the projected growth in housing numbers. An open meeting has taken place
and the deadline for comments is March 24. They can be given to the school reception office, emailed to
school.consultations@
kent.gov.uk or posted to Jared Nehra, KCC Educa- tion Officer,West Kent Area Office, Sessions House, County Hall, Maid- stone, Kent ME14 1XQ. The outcome of the consultation
will be debated by cabinet in late spring and a final decision made in July.
downsmail.co.uk Firewalkers help hospice
CROWDS gathered in Maidstone’s Jubilee Square to watch 50 brave fire walkers hotfoot it across 15ft of smouldering coals in aid of Heart of Kent Hospice. The event was hosted by Scott Bell, who holds two world records for
fire walking and is one of the country’s leading experts. It was sponsored by central heating and boiler installer Samsian Ltd, from Borough Green. Many of those
taking part in the challenge were walking in memory of loved ones and in recognition of the care that staff and volunteers at the hospice provide for those with a life-limiting illness and their families. Sarah Lawless, from Vinters Park, who has raised more than £400 in memory of her mum and mother-in-law who were both cared for by the hospice, said: “The fire walk was awesome. I was really anxious when I first arrived, but the training was brilliant and Scott put everyone at ease. I felt a great sense of achievement when I completed the walk and being able to say I did it in honour ofmy mum and mum-in-law. “I can never thank the hospice enough for the respect and dignity
they gavemymum at the end of her life.” More than £11,500 was raised by the evening, which drew a big crowd
of supporters and spectators, and more money is still pouring in. TomAbbott, events manager for Heart of Kent Hospice, said: “There
was a real buzz in the air as our intrepid walkers took on this huge challenge and made this a great night to remember.”
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