downsmail.co.uk
Scouts’ eviction notice a blow to pre-school
A POPULAR pre-school in Maid- stone faces an uncertain future after its landlord decided to end the lease. Mote Park Pre-School in Oxford
Road – which opened in January last year – has been running out of the Scout hut. Now Kent Scouts have decided
no external organisation can use the premises and have given the pre-school notice to quit byAugust 31.
Manager Ellen Purvis said: “I
have asked for a meeting with the Scouting movement and had no luck so far. “We have been open for 19 months, have 45 regular children and nine members of staff.We feel that the decisionwas taken with lit- tle or no consultation. “Wewere told that the Scouts did
notwant to focus on anything other than their primary purpose and mission. We have built up a good reputation and the parents choose to use us for a reason and it says a lot about this place.” Mrs Purvis fears that staff will lose their jobs and parents will have
Ellen Purvis and Reece Birkill
nowhere to send their children. The Scout hut is also used by the
New Horizon Performing Arts group, which also has to leave the premises. New Horizon owner Reece
Birkill (21), said: “We are now probably going to have to shut our doors. What a shame.” A spokesman for Kent Scouts
said: “Following a change of vol- unteer leadership at the Mote Park Scout Group, the charity trustees undertook a review of the group’s activity. “At this time, the group decided
to end its relationship with Mote Park Pre-school. “Mote Park Pre-school has now
01622 758248
Petition to save group
THE pre-school has launched a pe- tition online in the hope that Kent Scouts might have a change of heart and has so far gathered al- most 300 signatures at
www.change.org/p/mote-park- scout-group-save-mote-park- preschool A comment on the site by John Hopkins, of Maidstone whose son Toby attends the pre-school, reads: “This pre-school may only have been open just over a year but the staff care about each child they have. My son Toby goes here and with their help and patience he has come on a long way de- spite his learning difficulties.”
been asked to vacate the premises by August 31 and has been given five months to find an alternative venue. As the situation is part of an ongoing legal process we are un- able to comment further.”
News
DIY help offer AGARDENINGand DIY service for vulnerable and older people in Maidstone has been launched by local charity Involve Kent. The service operates with the char-
ity’s handyman and a group of vol- unteers who will go to a client’s home and help them with jobs such as cutting a hedge to painting a liv- ing room. Some people will be eligi- ble for the service free, while others will be charged a reduced rate. Eli- gibility will be confirmed after a tele- phone call with the client. The charity, based in Marsham
Street, Maidstone, said: “We aim to support communities and improve the quality of people’s lives through various projects thatwe run.We are really keen to get out and reach even more vulnerable members of the communitywhoare struggling with their garden and home.” Call 01622 235833 or email com-
munity.hub@
involvekent.org.uk.
Discover bats
GRAB a torch and go bat watching at Mote Park in Maidstone from 8.30-10.30pm onAugust 10 and 7.45- 10pm onAugust 31. Visitors will learnhowto track the
bats with sonar equipment and hear how they live and feed. Tickets are £2.50 per adult, with proceeds going to the Mote Park Fellowship. To book, call 01622 730453.
HEALTH & BEAUTY AWARD RUNNERS UP - JUNE 2016!
SILVER HAIRDRESSER OF THE YEAR & BRONZE SALON OF THE YEAR
SHQ is based in Pudding Lane in the heart of Maidstone Town centre. We do our up most for all of our clients and always offer a personal service. SHQ has a friendly reputation, which we are known for. We always go the extra mile to maintain these high standards We are known for providing high quality services, at competitive prices.
SHQ believes that the most important thing is to ensure our clients' experience is much more than a just a visit to the hairdressers. From the moment your through the door, you will enjoy a warm welcome from every member of our team and we want all of our clients to be long term regulars.
SHQ is not just a salon it’s a way of life. We have recently won two awards at the Kent Health and Beauty Awards June 2016, we won Silver for hairdresser of the year. Bronze award for salon of the year.
Order through our new website
www.zerandelivery.co.uk FREE DELIVERY
Minimum order £12, within a 5 mile radius.
t: 01622 663205 t: 01622 661677
www.shqsalon.co.uk
19 Pudding Lane, Maidstone, ME141PA Email:
shq@hotmail.co.uk
Open 7 days a week from 5pm - 11pm
58 Lower Stone Street, Maidstone ME15 6LX
Maidstone Town August 2016 3 INDIAN T A KEA W A Y
DISCOUNT 15%
ON COLLECTED CASH ORDERS OVER £15
DOWNLOAD ZERAN APP
25%
DISCOUNT FOR NEW CLIENTS*
*Terms & conditions apply.
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