News Metal charge


AMANhas been charged over the theft of scrap metal from a recy- cling centre in Lenham.


Calum Osborne, of Eltham, was


arrested in Staplehurst on Mon- day, June 4, five days after the in- cident at


the Countrystyle


Recycling Centre inAshford Road. On Thursday, May 31, at about


1.20pm, two men began loading scrap metal from the site into a van. But when challenged, it is al-


leged one of the men threatened the staffmember with a hammer. They then drove off. Osborne, who is 27, has been


charged with robbery, possessing an offensive weapon in a public place and with obstructing a po- lice officer in the execution of their duty.Hewill appear atMaidstone Crown Court on July 4. SamO’Shea (26), of Portsmouth,


was also arrested and has been charged with obstruction.


Chase arrests


AMANfromNettlestead is among two arrested on suspicion of bur- glary following an incident in Bredgar. Kent Police were called to the


Lime Kiln Road area of the village at about 9.35pmonMonday, June 11.


Before arriving at the scene, of-


ficers were told by their control centre that the suspects were run- ning through a nearby field. Patrols headed to Bottom Pond


Road and parked on a vergewhile checking for suspicious activity, and at about 10.10pm they be- came suspicious of a vehicle on Bexon Lane. They stopped it and the two


men were arrested. Theman fromNettlestead is 45,


and was arrested alongside a 43- year-old from Bredgar on suspi- cion of burglary.


Geing active


COUNTY councillor Gary Cooke has signed up to this summer’sAc- tive 10 campaign. The Public Health England


campaign – backed by Kent County Council – urged adults to take 10 minutes of brisk walking each day using the free Active 10 app.


May fair return


THE May Fair in Headcorn raised £7,120 for the village school. This beat the £5,000 target organ-


iser had been hoping for. The money will be used to de-


velop outdoor learning opportuni- ties for pupils.


24 Maidstone Weald July 2018


downsmail.co.uk


Castle opens restored manor house to locals


BATTELHall, the 14th centurymanor house on theLeedsCastle estate, has reopened for rental after a £1.5mrefurbishment. Castle management threw open


the doors on June 16 so that local people couldlook aroundits luxuri- ous interior. The wisteria-clad house had pre-


viously been the family home of for- mer chief executiveVictoriaWallace, her husband Sean and daughters Emily andGeorgia. Locals were clearly impressed by


the new-look, five-bedroomed Bat- tel Hall, which can sleep up to 14 guests, and its oast house annexe with high-end furnishings, fixtures and fittings. Prices range fromabout £6,000 to


£14,000 perweek, depending on the time of year. It is also available to be used forweddings. Villager Alastair Pollock, who


visited with his son Jamie, was very impressed with Battel Hall’s refurbishment. He said: “They’ve done a great job. “In someways, it is hardly recog-


nisable frombefore, although the ac- tual building has changedlittle from the outside, it is just smartened up. “Once the gardens bed in, the


placewill be stunning.” The gardens have been exten-


sively landscaped and the parking area has been resurfaced. Battel Hall was built in the 14th


century by the master mason to King Edward II. Leeds Castle chief executive Sir


David Steel said: “The recent open- ing of Battel Hall after a £1.5m re- furbishment has been a significant change for the estate, improving our hospitality offermassively.” Sir David said Lady Olive Baillie,


who bequeathedthe castle to a char- itable trust after her death, wanted the public to enjoy it as a place of


“enjoyment, fun, interest, education and tranquility”. He added: “She did not want the


regulation thatmight have been im- posed by a bigger ‘corporate’ um- brella organisation – hencewe have no ‘keepoff the grass’ signs andvery fewother restrictions. “Shewanted a place inwhich the


visitor can feel at home and, whether one stays overnight in the castle, Battel Hall or the Stable Courtyard, or simply comes for the day, it is the aimof all ofmy teamto make being here feel like being in a very special home, andone towhich the visitor will wish to return time and time again.”


School’s life-saving gift


A JUNIOR school inMaidstone has taken delivery of a life-saving defibrillator thanks to the fund-raising efforts of theMaidstone Lions. Sue Heather, head at St Michael’s in Douglas


Road, was presented with the equipment by Lions member Malcolm Luxton. He was accompanied by colleagues Bryan McCathy, who attended St Michael’s School during World War II, and Julie Wickens. Malcolm said he hoped the school would never


have to use themachine, but would be reassured to know that should a pupil or teacher at the school have an arrest, it had the technology at hand to help.


Local residents were invited to


look around the elegant Battel


Hall, which has just been


refurbished.


Below right, visitor Alastair Pollock


and his son Jamie were very


impressed with what they saw


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