News Surgery news


COBTREE medical practice is now known as Sutton Valence Group Practice Branch Surgery. Evening surgeries will no longer


be available, although thesemay be re-introduced. Practice opening hours are 8am to 6.30pm, and con- tact details remain the same. An announcement on the practice


website said: “Dr Sara decided to move onto pastures new at the end of September, andwewish herwell in her newposition.Wewill haveDr Mangar and Dr Cranston working regularly with us, along with Dr Heber andDrWong. “Dr Cara Sinden will be helping


us out till the end ofNovember and thenDrDavid Colin-Joneswill take over her sessions.”


History talk


THE Maidstone Historical Society will hear a talk about “the revolting English”. Maureen Clayton, from Marden,


will give a speech in the Methodist ChurchHall,Headcorn, onWednes- day,October 31. The eventwill start at 7.30pm. Annual memberships cost £11, free for children and stu- dents and £2.50 for visitors. For more information emailmaidstone- historical-society@hotmail.co.uk.


downsmail.co.uk


Residents ‘selling up’ as school plan agreed


PERMISSIONhasbeengrantedby a planning inspector on appeal for a large extension at the Jubilee free school in Maidstone, writes Jade Schopman. The expansion will enable the


Gatland Lane primary to almost double in size to 420 pupils, despite opposition fromneighbours and an refusal of permission byMaidstone Borough Council in July 2017. The news has been welcomed by


the Jubilee management but oppo- nents say residents have started to sell their homes. The chairman of governors,Bryan


Fitzgerald, said: “The inspector’sde- cision is welcome news. At last we have permission for our much- needed extension. The school will gain classrooms, a hall, changing fa- cilities and a kitchen.As a two-form entry school we can offer an out- standing academic and life educa- tion to more children and, at the same time, helpmeet the local need for pupil places. Cllr Paul Harper (Lab) said the


Governor Bryan Fitzgerald (centre, standing)with Jubilee staff and pupils


rulingwouldbring significant prob- lems to the area.He said: “Themain issue of this school is that it does not provide enough space to ensure a decent education. So with this ex- pansion brings great unhappiness fromthe public. “The school has offered no ‘travel


to work plan’ and shown zero re- gard formembers of the public. “I’ve heard that people have al-


ready started to sell their homes. That is the level of unhappiness we are dealingwith at themoment.” However,


inspector Deborah


Board said the scheme could not be resisted on the grounds of distur- bance to the living conditions of ex- isting occupiers. She acknowledged the plan would reduce the area available to the school for outdoor play and PE. The school’s plans rely on using the nearby Gatland Recre- ation Ground for sports and it in- tends tomake a block booking of the three football pitches there for two half days eachweek. Additions to the building also in-


clude a hall for indoorPEandan all- weather pitch.


26


Maidstone Weald November 2018


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