News


downsmail.co.uk Mu Mu to ‘re-open after virus’


MUMUowner Ciaran O’Quigley hasvowed that the Maidstone town centre restaurant will re-open as soon as possible after a suspected outbreak of norovirus.


Mr O’Quigley (pictured) said his


team had carried out a massive fu- migation exercise “like something out of Ghostbusters” after he de- cided to temporar- ily close theWeek Street eaterie and nightspot on Sat- urday, February 18.


All foods and


dry productswere being destroyed.


He told Downs Mail: “The guys


at the council’s environmental health people have given us huge Brownie points for shutting the place down after a few people re- ported getting ill. The place is get- ting a total wipe-down and we can reopen any time.” Mr O’Quigley posted a lengthy response on the restaurant’s Face- book page after a number of reports that diners had suffered sickness after eating there on Valentine’s Day. He said that two days later “it


Mu Mu inWeek Street, Maidstone


came to my attention that three bookings had felt unwell due to dining at Mu Mu, with a fourth booking contacting us on the Fri- day. All of these bookings were in- vestigated internally and the cooking methods were scrutinised and suppliers contacted to trace cer- tain items back. “We were more than happy that


our hygiene and cross-checks fell in line with theway thatwe have con-


ducted our business for the last 25 years and met our high standards.” He said that on Valentine’s Day,


one member of staff had rung in sick and was told not to come in, and two workers said they felt un- well and were sent home immedi- ately. On Friday, he had contacted the head of Maidstone council’s en- vironmental health section. He was also made aware that an outbreak of contagious norovirus


(vomiting and diarrhoea bug) had broken out throughout the country. Itwas decided to close the business temporarily to break the cycle of this infection, and staff were advised to stay away until the followingweek. Maidstone Council said that its environmental health department had been contacted. “Our officers are working with the owners ofMu Mu and Public Health England to ensure that all precautions are taken to safeguard the public whilst fur- ther investigations take place. “An environmental health officer


will be attempting to contact those who ate at the restaurant last week and complained of illness. The food business operator has engaged in a process of deep-cleaning the whole premises prior to re-opening.” Mr O’Quigley said on Facebook:


“It is heartbreaking for us...to read some of the negative comments on social media. We are one of the busiest restaurants in Kent and serve on average of well over 1,000 customers aweek.”


Serial offender is jailed


SERIAL offender, homeless Billy Matthews, has been sent to prison for a year after a string of crimes. Hewas sentenced on February 16


at Medway Magistrates’ Court where he admitted failing to co-op- erate with a breath test, failing to surrender to court bail, two counts of driving without insurance, two charges of driving while disquali- fied and two of shoplifting. On December 23, 2016, Matthews


KIMS site school plan Continued frompage one


have received bids frompotential school providers. “They are likely to be choosing between a primary school and a special


school. This progress iswelcome, but I’m worried that they indicate theywill be making a choice between these school options. In fact,we need both.” Mrs Whately says she has set up a meeting with schools’ minister Lord


Nash to “press him on the urgency for both a new primary and a new special school”.


Whether the announcement of an £18m mental health unit – run by


Cygnet Health Care – to be constructed at KMCwill have any bearing on the eventual outcomeis not yet known.We understand that the EFAandKMCare now at the early “heads of terms” stage of contract negotiations. According to a documentwritten by the EFAchief executive Peter Lauener,


and seen by DownsMail, he says “…there are indeed two proposers, Leigh Academies Trust and Valley Invicta Academies Trust, for the proposed Kent Medical Campus sitewho have both progressed to interview.” Of school applications generally,MrLauener adds: “The announcement of


the schools that have been successful is likely to be around Easter 2017. Min- isters will make the final decision on which free school applications to ap- prove.” Leigh AcademiesTrust runs thenewLangley Park School while VIAThas the widely-respected Invicta Grammar School and Valley Park School in its port- folio.


14 Maidstone East March 2017


(28), of no fixed address, drove a Mercedes Benz on the A249 at Stockbury while disqualified and with no insurance. On January 18, 2017, he stole meat worth £90 from a service sta-


tion in Branbridges Road, East Peckham. Three days later, he stole clothing


worth an unknown amount from a shop in Eclipse Park, Maidstone. On January 23, he failed to sur- render to bail at Mid Kent Magis- trates’ Court. On February 15, he drove aVaux-


hall Zafira in Bearsted Road, Maid- stone, while disqualified and with no insurance. He also failed to co- operate with a breath test. Magistrates sentenced Matthews


to 12 months in prison and banned him from driving for 30 months. He must also pay £156 compensa- tion and £85 costs.


Car burned out in Leeds


THIS abandoned, burnt-out hatchback is the latest vehicle to be dumped in and around Leeds village. The carwas set on fire on a bri-


dleway off Burberry Lane and photographed by a localwalker. Hewas bemused as to how the


vehiclewas driven onto the path which had a metal, padlocked bar at the entrance. He added: “I just don’t know


how they managed it. I thought we’d left the abandoned, burnt- out car phase behind us, but it seems to be back, worse luck.”


Fly-tipping, littering and abandoned vehicles have be- come a serious worry for local borough councillor Gill Fort, who lives in Leeds.


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