News


Man charged with assault on constable


A MAN has been charged with as- saulting a police officer following a disturbance in the centre of Maid- stone. Kent Police was called at around 1.55am on Thursday, September 21 to reports of an affray in the High Street.


Officers attended the scene and


two menwere arrested. It is then al- leged that a police officer was as- saulted as one of the men was being conveyed into custody. Matthew Pritchard (31), of Nearcroft Road, Rotherham, was later charged with assaulting a po- lice constable in the execution of their duty and with attempting criminal damage to a property. He has been bailed to appear be-


fore Maidstone Magistrates’ Court on October 20. The second man arrested, was later released without charge.


Ideas for market


IDEAS to help revitalise the farm- ers’ market in East Farleigh are being sought following a disap- pointing September turn-out. A reduced number of customers


meant that some stalholders barely broke even. The market, which was estab-


lished in 2010, has just under 20 stalls when it is held between 10am and 1pm on the first Sunday. New traders are always wel- comed, and anyone with ideas to help the market grow should con- tact market manager Sue Morris at sue@sjmorris.plus.com.


Harvest appeal


DONATIONS are still being wel- comed by All Saints Church in West Farleigh as the annual harvest festival nears. The church’s annual harvest sup-


per, on Saturday, October 7, is fully booked and despite efforts from the Friends of All Saints, no more spaces are available. They will be making a donation


to the Salvation Army Food Bank for their Thanksgiving Charity Ap- peal, and are asking for offerings to be brought to either the supper or the Harvest festival service at 11am on Sunday, October 8.


Pub quiz night


“FIENDISH” questions are prom- ised at this year’s RNLI quiz night at the Good Intent inWest Farleigh. The quiz is being held on Friday, October 13 at the pub, with a buffet also on offer. Prizes include a free meal at the pub and wine. Entry is £9, with tickets available


from the bar on the night. Tables of up to six people are welcomed to help raise funds for the RNLI.


20


downsmail.co.uk


Plan for aerodrome museum rolled out


A PROPOSED multi-million pound transport museum at Head- corn Aerodrome could provide a new home for Maidstone’s his- toric carriage collection alongside a stellar array of Second World War fighter planes. The plan which would cost at


least £2million, could see the Tyr- whitt-Drake Museum of Carriages, with its 60 antique vehicles, sedan chairs and bicycles, move from its current base inMill Street, to a pur- pose-built site at the airfield. Those backing the idea have stressed that proposals for the working transport museum are at a very early stage and that no official decision has been made. Jamie Freeman, owner of the air-


field, said that plans are not ex- pected to take final shape until at least next year. A new hangar is being planned


to house a de Havilland Dove and two Spitfires plus other aircraft be- fore the erection of the building for the new museum.


The scheme could also generate


jobs and apprenticeships in trades including engineering, upholstery and woodwork. It is hoped to obtain Heritage Lottery funding towards the cost and that a star exhibit could be a horse-drawn carriage given by the Royal Family. Borough Cllr Martin Round, who represents Headcorn, said: “This is a project of many facets. The idea was only floated in July andAugust. “The carriages in the Maidstone museum can only be seen on a lim- ited basis. The wheels and body- work are in pretty fine condition but the upholstery and fabrics are suffering from cold and damp and are likely to deteriorate.We need to protect them and enhance them.” Cllr Round said that a pre-appli-


cation approach to the Heritage Lottery Fund had been warmly re- ceived. The transport museum would reintroduce the air tower and balcony to provide a stage for music events and shows. It would


One of the historic carriages in the museum collection


hope to partner a training agency such as Mid-Kent College and work with other tourist attractions such as Leeds Castle. The carriage museum, which opened in 1946, is currently housed in a 14th century building which was once the stables of the Arch- bishop’s Palace, many of the horse- drawn vehicles and transport curiosities were in the private col- lection of former Maidstone mayor and benefactor, Sir Garrard Tyr- whitt-Drake, who lived at Cobtree Manor


Verbal aack


thug is jailed A VIOLENT thug who broke the terms of his suspended sentence when he launched a verbal attack on another person in Week Street, Maidstone, has been jailed for six months. Harry Cadwallader (21)was sen- tenced on September 20 at Mid Kent Magistrates’ Court where he pleaded guilty to using threaten- ing, abusive or insulting words or behaviour. On August 19 this year, Cadwal-


Therapy centre makes sense


FUND-raisers have handed over nearly £20,000 to a health centre in Coxheath to create a sensory room for children with complex needs. The one-stop shop for chil-


dren’s therapy at the Heathside Centre in Heath Road means mums and dads from across the Maidstone area can now access services for youngsters, after pre- viously having to travel to Tun- bridgeWells. The significance of the centre


and the sizeable donation from Maidstone Lions Club was praised by the Mayor of Maidstone, Cllr Malcolm Greer, who attended the


Maidstone Weald October 2017


official opening of the centre on September 22. Sophia Blackwell (two), whowas


born with one leg, and Jayden Jarvis (four), who has a rare ge- netic condition, were just two of the first children to try out the new room, and their reaction was priceless. Lion and fund-raising chairman Malcolm Luxton said: “Itwas clear to us that Maidstone families needed a similar service closer to home and our members resolved to raise the money to equip this new centre as our main project for our international centennial year.”


lader, of London Road, Maidstone, used threatening, abusive or insult- ing words or behaviour towards a person in Week Street, Maidstone, causing them to fear violence. Mag- istrates sentenced him to seven days in prison. Because the offencewas commit-


ted during the operational period of a suspended sentence, the over- all length of his sentence is 180 days. He must also pay a £115 vic- tim surcharge.


Water main repairs


TALKS are being held with landowners to reduce the amount of time Hunton Hill will have to close forwater main repairs. An 845-metre stretch of pipe,


which has burst 14 times since 2010, needs replacing from Ams- bury Road to Lughorse Lane. South East Water hopes to start the work in November.


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