News Store plans
on garage site TONBRIDGE Road residents will soon have a Sainsbury’s conven- ience store which will create 20 full and part-time jobs. Work is underway on the site of
the former BP petrol garage be- tween the Spice Fusion restaurant and Cherry Tree pub. The store, which will sell food,
drinks and convenience products, is expected to open later in the year. A company spokesman said: “Sainsbury’s Local provides the same quality as our larger super- markets, but on a smaller scale. It is designed to cater for people within walking distance of the shop.” The retailer has announced plans for a similar store in Coxheath.
Four arrests
FOUR people have been bailed until May 26 on suspicion of bur- glary at a house in Maidstone. Officers were called to Fisher
Street after reports of a break-in. Half an hour later, three men
aged 31, 21 and 19, and a woman aged 27, were arrested in nearby Thornhill Place. The address is close to the town’s
prison and up to half a dozen po- lice vehicles were involved in the arrest. All four were on police bail pending further inquiries.
downsmail.co.uk
Guide dog volunteers’ commitment rewarded
LABRADORS,labradoodles and retrievers took over Bearsted Golf Club for a presentation evening in National VolunteersWeek. Guide dogs and puppies in train-
ing attended the Kent and East Sus- sex Guide Dogs for the Blind’s first VolunteerAwards in Maidstone. Among the puppy walkers and volunteers whowere honouredwas Anita Knott, from Kings Hill, who co-ordinates the boarding ofupto 24 dogs between 50 volunteer boarders. She won the customer-focused
award for volunteers who strive to provide excellent service and are never too busy to help. Anita received two separate nom- inations, an indication of the esteem in which she is held. Her citation read: “What should
be a one day aweek role has turned into her being on call five days a week. “Her phone is never off and emails
are constantly checked. The team could not have coped this year with- out her.” Boarders Caroline and Craig McAteer, from Vinters Park, were
Volunteeer winners (from left) Anita Knott, James Quinn, Caroline and Craig McAteer and Jenny Fortnum.
runners up in the “passionate and determined volunteer” category. They have been dog boarders with
the Maidstone Mobility Team since 2004, boarding one or two dogs – often at short notice. Jenny Fortnum, also from Maid-
stone,was runner-up in the category for volunteers dedicated to superior quality. Jenny is a puppy walker, speaker
and fundraiser who spends Friday afternoons with the training dogs. She even takes their toys home to mend andwash. James Quinn, fromWeavering, be-
came a volunteer driver a year ago and now acts as the driver co-ordi- nator for the area, using his IT and
people skills to match the job to the driver. He was runner up in the Trustworthy class – awarded to those with high integrity, who focus on positive outcomes and alwaysde- liver what they promise. The Maidstone centre for Guide
Dogs at Turkey Mill is one of the country’s main training centres and has 24 dogs on site at any one time. They train for 20-26 weeks, during which time they stay with boarding families overnight and atweekends. The Maidstone Mobility Team
looks after approximately 200 guide dog owners, 60 puppy trainers, pro- vide up to 500 visits every year and support about 17 fundraising groups.
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Maidstone Town July 2016
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