News
Jobs createdif store expands
MORE jobs could be created if a store forced to relocate after an arson attack in the town manages to open a second store. Owners of The Works discount
bookshop say they are in talks to move back into their previous Week Street premises, and have hopes of keeping on its temporary home in TheMall. Aspokesman said: “We are in ne-
gotiationswith the landlord, sowe are unable to give any further de- tails. Ideally, like to keep both stores. However, we cannot con- firmat this point.” The arson attack in June 2015 left
three stores out of action. Hotter shoes failed after reopening, while Thomson travel agentswere forced to move out for more than two years while their building was re-
paired.At TheWorks, progress has been slow, with the roof and win- dows still to be fitted and an open- ing date set. Police said they are still keen to
talk to anyone with information about the Week Street fire, follow- ing the collapse of its prosecution case. Anyone with fresh informa- tion is asked to call 01622 604100 quoting reference YY/011341/15, or KentCrimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.
downsmail.co.uk
Stones set sights on Premiership big boys
MAIDSTONE UNITED could be just 90 minutes from facing a Pre- mierLeaguebig-boy inthe FACup. The National League side caused
an FA Cup upset in the first round proper of the competitionwhen they beat Football League side Chel- tenhamTown 4-2. In the second round, they will
travel to stadium:mk, the the 30,500- seater home ofMiltonKeynesDons. The prize – as well as £27,000 for
the club’s coffers – is a spot in the thirdround,where the likes ofMan- chester United, Chelsea, Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur enter the competition. To get through, the Stones will
need to cause another upset, but manager Jay Saunders insists there is no pressure on his side against a teamtwo leagues above them. “I’d have preferred to be at home
because I think we’d have been on TV,” he said. “We’re not going to win the FACup, so frommypoint of view it’s good to get the club some publicity, and it brings in revenue. “On the flip side, it’s a big sta- dium, they’re a clubwho are up and
will be played on the weekend of December 2/3. Ticket details and the confirmed datewill be available via
www.maidstoneunited.co.uk. But fornow, Saunders is able to re-
flect on a job well done for his side against League Two Cheltenham, where Sam Delano-Yorke scored twice before being sent off,with Joe Pigott and ZavonHines also on tar- get. “To go there andwin 4-2was very
pleasing,” he added. “Wewere very good on the day and we fully de- servedtowin. “It was a free hit at a league side.
Stones’manager Jay Saunders Picture:Maidstone United
down on form and if we go there and perform to the levels we did (against Cheltenham Town) we’d have a chance. “We’ll take a few fans up there,
and try and enjoy it and hopefully cause another upset.” Saunders expects around 1,000
Stones fans to attend the clash against theLeagueOneDons,which
We had a good run and beat Steve- nage when were in the Ryman League, but this time I was quite confident,we’ve got a lot of players who have played in the League, we were looking forward to it. “Intheprevious roundagainstEn-
field, all the pressurewas on us, but we went to Cheltenham and we lookedlike therewas nopressure on us.We put in a really good perform- ance.” Could Stones be facing a pitch bat- tle? Page 20
OUTGOING owners Rob and Amanda Brookman insist it will be business as usual as they pre- pare to move on from the Potted Garden in Bearsted. The couple were at the helm of
the plant centre, situated on the A20, for almost 17 years. But on November 1, there were
newowners in place. Coolings Nurseries Ltd, who al-
ready have a garden centre in Knockholt near Sevenoaks, have bought the site, but nothing – in- cluding the staff –will change. Mrs Brookman said: “The staff
will all be the same, it will still be the same faces for the customers, just Rob and Iwon’t be here. “I think the staff are excited
about the new owners, but cer- tainly initially the customerswon’t notice any difference. There is planning permission for some de- velopment here, a bigger shop and a tea room, but for that to happen we either had to commit to another five years ormove on, sowe’ve de- cided to move on. It’s the right time for us to go. The centre will
benefit from fresh ideas and fresh owners. “We’re very pleased with what
we’ve built up here over the years, we’ve got lots of cracking cus- tomers.” The pair, who live near Faver-
sham, who celebrated their silver wedding anniversary this year havingmetwhile studying atHad- lowCollege. They have no immediate plans
other than to spend timewith fam- ily and a holiday. Mr Brookman (51), pictured
above, said: “Inevitably after 17 years here, itwill be strange not to be coming here for work every day. I will still buymy plants here and I hope I can get a discount!” He hasworked in the plant busi-
ness for 33 years, andwent to agri- cultural
college with Gary
Carvosso, managing director of Coolings. The new owners are “proper
plant people”,Mrs Brookman said, and added: “We wanted it to go to good hands and we wanted Cool- ings, to be perfectly honest.”
Grow With Your Community Volunteering is an excellent way to give back to your community, gain new
skills and become a part of an inspiring experience. Whether it’ clients at the day care centres, jumping behind the wheel of our minibuses or
By sharing just a few hours a week, you could make all the difference to a lonely or isolated person in your community.
www.ageuk.org.uk/maidstone
Call us on... 01622 753618 Or pop in to... 7 Mill Street , Maidstone, ME15 6XW Or email…
Volunteering@ageukmaidstone.org.uk
Registered Charity Number 1062723 10 Maidstone December 2017 Maidstone December 2017 11
sign up to meet readers AUTHOR Kathy Elkins and key characters fromher book willmeet the public at a signing ses- sion atMaidstoneMu- seum on Saturday, December 9. As well as being able
to buy a copy of The History Sphere, there will be an opportunity to get it signed and to grab a gift from the “pocket of necessities”, made famous by the book. Kathy will be there
with her granddaugh- terOlivia – the heroine of the story – and her dog, Archie,who together repair the earth’s history by beatingWarlock Brogan’s evil efforts to change the passage of time at pivotalworld events. Olivia, Archie and Kathy are pictured here. The book has taken Kathy, fromChart Sutton, five years to research
and write. She will be signing books at the museum from 10.30am- 3pmas part of amini Christmasmarket, alongwith Archie and Olivia.
Author and key characters
downsmail.co.uk
News
Gardencouplein a fond farewell
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