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downsmail.co.uk


News


New roles for village shops


EMPTYshops around The Square in Lenham have been snapped up and given a new lease of life. Creating a fresh arrangement at


the village florist is Wendy King, who has refurbished the High Street outlet, renaming it Lavender Kings. The floristwas formerly run by Maureen Bell, who has retired after 20 years in business. Mrs King (48) – a former student


of South Borough Primary School in Maidstone – decided to set up her own business after 34 years in the flower trade with various florists, including Jacksons, Hook- ers and Marlowes in Maidstone. She told Downs Mail: “You get to


a certain age when the time is right to give it a go for yourself. I’m de- termined to serve the community well and, while times are tough, hope to make a little money too.” The mum-of-two, from Walder-


slade, has recently taken on Ann Friend to assist. Over at Simon Miller’s, Lorraine


Miller has turned the former estate agents into the No 3 lifestyle store, selling linens, arts, crafts and cloth- ing.


Lorraine, who grew up in Char-


ing and has five children, based her business on her passion for de- sign and the places she most loves – her time living in France as a teenager and her deep roots in Kent. She says: “My life is rooted in family and friends and opening


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this store is an exciting next chap- ter for me.”


Appropriately, the former butcher’s is now Sweeney Todd’s, the barbers. Villagers were concerned when


GB Lister closed after 60 years, but are delighted that the barber shop plans to offer more from its larger premises since moving across the square. The Square Fish Cafe opens this month under the direction of 43- year-old Marino Michaelas, who has run the Chequers Fish Bar next door for 20 years. The two will run in tandem, with the restaurant pro- viding a licensed setting for 50 to 60 diners. The café has been refur- bished after operating some years ago as a bric-a-brac store.


Nursery set to close


PARENTS have been disap- pointed to learn that a popular nursery school in Grove Green has been put on the market. Linden Lea Day Nursery has


been providing placements for the area’s youngsters during the day and after school for the last 10 years. Parents received a letter from


its principal, Philip Hull, just weeks before the sale, breaking the news and outlining his “in- credibly hard decision” to put the business up for sale. The detached property in


Weavering Streetwent under the hammer, with a guide price of £400-£450,000, on Monday, July 24.However, it failed to make its reserve price and is still for sale. Onemum,whodid notwant to


be named, said: “We are devas- tated to learn of the closure.” In the letter, parents were told


the property has been Mr Hull’s family home since 1989 and his


business for 10 years. But falling numbers had put


the childcare services under fi- nancial strain. He said: “I have explored a number of options to see if I could make the settings finan- cially viable and keep them open, including putting the two nurseries and out-of-school club up for sale, but I have been left with no alternative. “I am deeply saddened and disappointed not to be able to continue offering childcare at Linden Lea.” He said that if the sale goes through, childcare services will continue until a closing date has been agreed with any potential buyer – usually 20 business days after the sale - which would be August 21. Other parents said that thePen-


nies Nursery at nearby Newn- ham Courtwas already only able to offer limited places.


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