News
downsmail.co.uk Funding plea to keepMela alive
THEMaidstone CommunityMela multi-cultural festival may not be staged this year owing to a lack of funding after its financial support was withdrawn, writes Amy Mar- tin. The free event is being organised
by Cohesion Plus, which promotes positive community relations in Kent,with local volunteersworking alongside. They are seeking £5,000 via
Crowdfunder to keep the event going for the 14th consecutive year now that Maidstone Borough Council is no longer involved in its funding or organisation. Organisers have invested a lot of
generate income from stalls, but without the campaign to raise addi- tional funds there is a real danger it will not go ahead. The family day out has attracted
thousands each year and showcases diverse music and dance, street artists, activities for children and food fromaround theworld. Dev Sharma, chairman of Kent
Equality Cohesion Council, said: “I had the great pleasure of perform- ing at the Maidstone Community Mela last year. “It was particularly special to see
such a diverse crowd celebrating the festivities together.” The festival celebrates shared
time to secure sponsorships and British values and is different in giv-
POLICE are appealing for wit- nesses to a collision involving a squad car and three other vehicles inMaidstone. The accident in Tovil on Thurs-
day, March 1, at 9pm, involved a marked police car that was re- sponding to an emergency call. It was in a collision on Brenchley Road with a grey Chevrolet Cap- tiva, a white Fiat 500 and a black
Skoda Octavia. Officers and SE- CAmb attended and treated two officers and amember of the public for injuries. They were taken to hospital, but
were later discharged. The Serious Collision Investiga-
tion Unit is investigating. Anyone with information should call its ap- peal line on 01622 798538, quoting DS/DH/31/18.
by a love ofmusic, the arts and the outdoors, say the organisers. The crowdfunding page states the
Mela is currently important, re- gardless of people’s faith and back- ground. Jassi Sidhu, international bhangra
artist, said: “We have performed at theMela overmany years and have had the pleasure of watching it grow in popularity. Its atmosphere is truly unique.” The Mela is due to be staged at
One of the artists at last year’smulti- culturalMela festival inMaidstone
ing a platform to culturally diverse local artists and businesses, fuelled
FIVE people have been arrested in Maidstone in connectionwith the supply of drugs. Officers went to an address in
Farleigh Lane at 12.20pm on Fri- day,March 2 where they arrested a man, aged 20, and a 15-year-old boy, from London, along with a Maidstonewoman, aged 43, and a 49-year-old man from Five Oak Green on suspicion of supplying
Whatman Park on Sunday, July 22 from12.30-6pm.
Maidstone Mela’s crowdfunding page will run until May 1 at www. c r owdfunde r . c o .uk/ maidstone-community-mela.
Witnesses to collision sought Drugs seized and five arrested
controlled drugs. A 45-year-old man, from West
Farleigh,was also arrested on sus- picion of possessing a controlled drug when he arrived at the ad- dress. Aquantity of drugs,wrapped in
cling film and believed to be heroin, was seized. All five were later released under investigation.
downsmail.co.uk
David andMarion set to be new‘chain gang’
NEXT year’s Maidstone mayor will beDavidNaghi. Liberal Democrat CllrNaghiwas
nominated as ‘mayor select’ for the county town for 2018-19 by mem- bers ofMaidstone BoroughCouncil onMarch 7. Father of three Cllr Naghi is a
local builder and has been on the council since 2002, currently serving inMaidstone eastward. He has been the deputy mayor
duringCllrMalcolmGreer’s time in the town’s most prestigious civic post. Cllr Greer, a former manager at
Gillingham FC’s Priestfield sta- dium, has been a councillor since 2003 and represents Boxleyward. Themayor’s office – which is en-
tirely non-political – oversees hun- dreds of engagements throughout the year, aswell as representing the borough in other parts of the coun- try. It isMaidstone’s custom to ap- point the deputy as mayor, who also becomes chairman of the bor- ough council. Conservative Cllr MartinRound joked he thoughtCllr
Naghi was a “complete idiot” be- cause he was allegedly unable to grasp rural affairs. But over the decade he has
known him, has become impressed by his “infectious enthusiasm and motivation” and added he has the making of a “very greatmayor”. Ukip councillor Gordon Newton
said: “I have knownCllrNaghi and his family formany years. I and his
Maidstone’s ‘mayor select’ for the coming year is Lib DemCllr David Naghi and the ‘deputymayor se- lect’ is Conserva- tive CllrMarion Ring
ward members support his ap- pointment and they know and I know that he will do a damn good job.” Conservative councillor Marion
Ring has been named as Maid- stone’s ‘deputymayor select’. CllrDenise Joy said: “It is good to
knowthatwe have a ladymayor in waiting. It’s been 10 years and Iwas the last one, so I amlooking forward to it.” Ukip’s Cllr John Barned said he
and Cllr Ring “go back a longway” and would have no hesitation in supporting the recommendation for her to become deputymayor.
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News
Wartimewalks WALK back in time and celebrate the part Maidstone people played duringWWI. That is the invitation being
made to active fans of history to take two commemorative walks tracking the lives of soldiers, sailors, aircraft mechanics and everyday peoplewho contributed to the war effort. Starting at the Kent History and
Library Centre in JamesWhatman Way, download your map at www. k e n tww1 . c om/ 1 0 0 - miles/maidstone-trail/
Domestic affray POLICEwere called to a domestic incident inMaidstone at lunchtime on Monday, March 12, following reports of a disturbance in Week Street. They attended the scene at 1pm
and calmed down the
situation.No arrestsweremade.
Staff reassured THE immediate future of Prezzo restaurant in Earl Street, Maid- stone, appears safe, despite na- tional cutbacks. Members of staff at the popular
eaterie have received assurances and bookings are still being taken.
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