News


Car robbery at Christmas


POLICE have appealed for wit- nesses after a woman had her car stolen on Christmas Day. A woman in her 60s was in her


car in FullingpitsAvenue at around 7.30pm when she was approached by aman who threatened her with a long object. He told her he “needed her car”,


a red 54 plate Ford Focus, and she got out of the vehicle, at which point he got in and sped off to- wards the town centre. The car was later found aban-


doned in Mangravet Avenue, where it had crashed into some railings. DC RayDusanjh said: “Although


the victim was unharmed this was clearly a distressing incident for her and we are keen to catch the of- fender.” The offender is described as


white, possiblywith long hair, and was wearing a white T-shirt or top and awoolly hatwhich covered his ears.


Digging charge THE right to charge utility compa-


nies for digging up the road inKent has been extended. It follows a trial of the Lane


Rental scheme in the county,which has seen disruption to drivers caused by roadworks halved. The Department for Transport is


now considering rolling out the scheme to other areas in England. The scheme provides Kent


County Council (KCC) with an ability to charge utility companies up to £2,500 a day for carrying out work on busy routes at peak times, encouraging firms to consider qui- eter roads and to avoid peak times. The scheme was due to end on


March 2019. Matthew Balfour, KCC’s cabinet


member for highways, said: “The scheme has incentivised a change in how work is carried out on the busiest parts of Kent’s road net- work so that disruption is min- imised.”


Reading appeal IF you fancy volunteering as a one- to-one reader with primary school children in Maidstone or Malling, literacy group Beanstalk wants to hear fromyou. Beanstalk,which supported 1,600


children in Kentwith their reading last year, has launched a recruit- ment campaign. It ismaking “a sig- nificant difference to the future prospects of young children and their enjoyment of reading”. Volunteers are provided with


training in return for 30-minute ses- sions with a primary school-aged child twice a week during term time, for at least one academic year. Call 0845 4500307 or email info@beanstalkcharity.org.uk.


22 Maidstone Weald January 2018


downsmail.co.uk


Club seeking help to find brighter future


A 200-year-old club providing the only pub in Hunton is facing one of its toughest challenges yet. The history of Hunton Village


Club has been chequered, but last year more than 40 failed to renew theirmembership. The club was saved fromclosure


in 2005 and has managed, since then, to stay open in the evenings thanks to volunteers. But, now, even they are drying up. With Gil Robertson in place as


chairman, it is hoped the village will step up and take the important facility fromstrength to strength. Parish councillor Helen Ward


said: “The parish council and the community do recognise the im- portance of the club.Unfortunately, because it relies on volunteers, this help is crucial to keeping it open as often aswewould like. “We are hopeful that villagers


will help and let us know what they want from the facility to en- sure it is fully utilised.” The club inWest Street,with a ca-


pacity of 60-100, offers a cosy es- cape and a place for a quiet drink. It is also heavily used by community groups and kitchen facilities are being installed. While money is not the main


issue, working out the best way of keeping the facility going by vol- unteers is the main issue the new chairman is keen to address.


He said: “We have seen a wel-


come renewed interest in the club and our bookings diary is looking good, but it is the day-to-day use thatwewant to build. “We are always looking for new


members and volunteers as there are many jobs to do to keep the club running including helping be- hind the bar,maintenance, garden-


The Hunton Club, above, pictured in 1905 and, below, in the current day.


ing and decorating.” Any ideas or offers of help can be


sent to gilbert@breachfarm.com. The building – originally a school


for young ladies and part of the HuntonCourt Estate - dates back to the 1800s. It was bought for £200 in 1956


and placed in trust. Affiliated to the Working Men’s


Union, women were not admitted until the late 1950s. The club, which flourished dur-


ing the 1970s,was extended, but by December 2005was insolvent,with debts of over £10,000. At a special meeting, the mem-


bership agreed to make donations to keep the club afloat. Since then, it has been run by volunteers.


You’re hired! Louis shines in apprentice tasks


TOP-flight apprentice Louis Broad (pictured) was in no danger of being fired when he went before his boss. The 20-year-old former student


at the Valley Park school in Maid- stone, took an apprenticeshipwith Kent County Council (KCC), and is about to finish his course eight


months’ early. Louis, who works as a business support assistant - deal- ingwith tasks including processing staff benefits and members’ grants - achieved his Level 3 in Op- erational Delivery (Advanced) in little over a year. As a reward, he joined KCC chair- man David Brazier at a lunch with


five colleagues from the Engage- ment, Organisation, Design and Development team that he works with for their contribution to ex- cellent service. Louis, who studied IT, literature


and history, said: “When I left school I wasn’t really sure what I wanted but an apprenticeship al- lows you to gain experience in the world of work. You can find out how a business functions and deal with high-profile things if you show you’re competent, and earn while you learn.” He says the skills he has learned


will benefit him now and in future roles, as well as in his outside ac- tivities which include organising gigs for his band Fortune Favours. Meanwhile, KCC bosses have


been so impressed with him, they’ve offered hima full-time job. Louis added: “The apprentice-


ship has benefitedmy confidence. “It’s important for people to do


what’s right for them but I would definitely encourage people to consider an apprenticeship.”


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