News Newhome for


probation base PART of Maidstone’s probation service has moved to a new town centre location after a £1.8m up- grade of facilities across Kent. The operational centre – for low


and medium risk offenders – is at Galleon House on King Street, re- placing a previous office in College Road. The Kent, Surrey & Sussex Com-


munity Rehabilitation Company took over responsibility for super- vising released prison inmates and those serving community orders in February 2015, as part of the Gov- ernment’s probation reforms. Suki Binning, KSS CRC chief ex-


ecutive officer,which is responsible for 4,500 offenders in Kent at any one time, says she hopes that aswell as improving working conditions for probation officers, the new of- ficeswill provide a “one-stop shop” to address issues such as training, housing and addiction for those moving on. She said the company’s next proj-


ectwill be to develop a research unit to test, trial and evaluate new pro- grammes to reduce re-offending. KSS CRC alsomaintains an office


inMaidstoneHouse,where back of- fice functions , including the data analysis unit, are based. The National Probation Service


(NPS), which supervises high-risk offenders in the county, still works out of College Road.


Free bus travel


deal extended YOUNGSTERS who hold a Young Person’s Travel Pass can nowtravel free onArriva buses in the evening, in the school holidays and atweek- ends. Before the dealwas negotiated by


the county council, pass holders could only travel on Arriva buses between 6am and 7pm,Monday to Friday. KCC’s cabinet member for trans-


port, Mike Whiting, said: “This is great news for children with our travel pass as itmeans they’ll be able to get out independently during the summer holidays andweekends.” He congratulated KCC officers


andArriva on the agreement. KCC provides £8.5m to the dis-


cretionary travel scheme each year, with no financial assistance from government. The extended benefits are being introduced at no addi- tional cost to the council. Stagecoach, which operates bus


services in the east of the county, al- ready allows young passholders to use its services in the evenings, weekends, and holidays.


28 Maidstone June 2018


KIMS Simon James, left, andMarcusWhiteley at the end of their Highland Fling UltraMarathon


downsmail.co.uk


Maplin staff ‘could lose their jobs this month’


STAFF atMaplin inMaidstone say the electronics store could close by the end of themonth. Discounts at theWeek Street out-


let have risen to 80%in a bid to shift the last of its stock following the ap- pointment of administrators by Maplin Electronics Ltd in February. The store’s nine staff said a last-


ditch-attempt to improve customer service and boost sales had failed to turn aroundthe fortunes of the busi- ness and theywere nowwaiting for their notice. An employee at the Maidstone


store for more than 10 years told Downs Mail it was a tragedy that “circumstances had led the com- pany down this route”when “there remains a lot of roomfor a store like Maplin on the High Street. I just hope we see another Maplin reap- pear in time.” He saidstaffwere nowwaiting for


news of an official closing date, adding: “Wewill get aweek’s notice


and probably a statutory redun- dancy package.” He said staff in the south-east felt


luckier than most of the 2,500 who will lose their jobs, adding: “Store closures started in February, but seem to have been from the north down. Our head office and ware- house have already closed.” The 37-year-old said he had


signed up for an apprenticeship as an electricianandwouldbe carrying outmoreweddingphotography.He ended: “It’s just got to be a case of


embracing change forme.” Maplin chief executive Graham


Harris said when the business was put into the hands of administrators that he had been left with no alter- native, after failing to find a buyer for the business. He saidMaplin staff had worked


hard tomitigate the impact of a de- valuation in the pound, post-Brexit; aweak consumer environment and the withdrawal of credit insurance, which he saidlay behindthe closure of the company’s 200 stores.


KIMS team’s race total


KIMS Hospital’s chief executive Simon James and chief operating officerMarcusWhiteley raised £4,000 for the SamaritansMaidstone &Weald by completing the gruelling Highland Fling Ultra Marathon in late April. Simon and Marcus ran alongside each other, com-


pleting the 53-mile course in just under 13 hours. The route took themthrough the Loch Lomond and


Trossachs National Parks, and along the West High- land Way – Scotland’s oldest official long distance footpath. Speaking after the race, Simon said: “Taking part


was a great experience thatmore than compensated for the earlymorning training runs aroundMaidstone. “The amazing support on socialmedia fromfriends,


family and the team at KIMS Hospital, and the strength of our cause, helped us blast over those dev- ilish Scottishmountains.” Marcus added: “We are proud to have raised over


£4,000 for the SamaritansMaidstone &Weald, KIMS Hospital’s charity of the year. “This is a cause close to my heart and I know how


much this donation will benefit the work the Samari- tans carry out.”


MP starts fancy dress walk


MP Helen Grant, honorary presi- dent ofMaidstoneMencap, joined the Worshipful Mayor of Maid- stone, Cllr Malcolm Greer, to cut the starting ribbon at a fancy dress sponsoredwalk inMote Park. A Pegasus Gym gymnast loos-


enedwalkers’ tightmuscleswith a warm-up routine before the off. Mrs Grant said: “I so admire


Maidstone Mencap for the work they do in our community and for their tireless fundraising efforts. It is a pleasure to be involved.” The money from this walk will


go towards refurbishment works inside Mencap’s building at Cob- treeHall inMote Park. Donations can bemade atmaid- stonemencap.org/donations.


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