News KMC offices


are approved MAIDSTONE Borough Council has given itself the green light to build a £9.5m commercial office block at KentMedical Campus. Approval from the authority’s


planning committee for the busi- ness support complex, dubbed an innovation centre,means construc- tion should start this autumn. However, architects Bond Bryan


suggest the first tenantswill arrive in the summer of 2021 – a year later than first thought. The borough council says the


four-storey centre, within the North Kent Enterprise Zone, will accommodate small andmedium- size businesses, and be a gateway to theKentMedicalCampus. It an- ticipates the project will generate an estimated £120million for the local economy. Bearsted borough councillor Val


Springett calledfor applicants to be vetted to prove their medical and scientific credentials, in line with the ethos of themedical campus. WilliamCornall, the council’sdi-


rector of regeneration, said: “The innovation centrewill complement the services provided by Kent Medical Campus by establishing Maidstone as a regional hub for in- novation and creativity in the healthcare andmedical sector.” Tony Collins, KMC chairman,


said the development highlights MBC’s belief in the site as “the largest economicdriver for the bor- ough and a major centre for sci- ence, healthcare and education employment”.


Festival help


KENTMS Therapy Centre is urg- ing volunteers to step forward for this year’s Music on the Green in Bearsted on Sunday,August 25. The centre is one of the chosen


charities for this year’s event.Moira Mitchell, head of fundraising, said: “We need volunteers for a range of roles, including eventmarshals.” Volunteerswill get a free ticket to


the festival. Email Moira at mmitchell@kentmstc.org.uk.


Market funds MORE than 700 people attended Bearsted’sMarket onTheGreenon Sunday, April 7, with 30 stalls of- fering crafts and produce. The parish council-run event


raised £420 for Demelza, which provides hospice care for children. The next market, on Sunday,


May 5, will support Holy Cross’s Raise the Roof Campaign.


18 Maidstone East May 2019


Parish councillor Denis Spooner by the wall and above, diggers remove the wall to start work


Diggers remove Bartywall


CONTRACTORS are tearing down a listed wall as a prelude to building 100 houses in Bearsted. The well-recognised structure at


the front of BartyHouse care home in Roundwell, had been a major bone of contention between vil- lagers and the developers behind the controversial Barty Farmplans. The wall will be reinstated fur-


ther back, say the contractors. Its height andwidthwill be reduced to accommodate a wider entrance. A public pavement will also be


created on the same side of the road. The lawn area behind the wall,


whichwill be substantially reduced, resulting in the loss of one tree,will be landscaped and planted.


A spokesman for Barty House,


which sits in front of the proposed Barty Farm development, con- firmed the 10-week project is being carried out to accommodate the conditions set by Maidstone Bor- ough Council relating to the hous- ing proposals from Crabtree and Crabtree (Bearsted) Ltd. She said: “The work will create a


wider, level entrance to the care home, with road markings, which will increase visibilitywhen leaving the lane by providing a good unre- stricted view of any approaching traffic. Pedestrian access will also be improved to the side of the property.” The care home will remain open throughout the project.


downsmail.co.uk


LeedsCastlewelcomes sunny Easter invasion


WALL-to-wall sunshine, a delayed Brexit and 900 years of history drew huge crowds to Leeds Castle this Easter. The attraction’s bosses say


The late Easter break and the


more than 20,000 visitors flocked to the grounds over the bank hol- iday weekend. Good Friday saw the highest


attendance,withmore than 6,000 people through the gate – nearly twice the number expected –with 5,268 on the Saturday (April 20), 4,328 on the Sunday and 4,534 on theMonday. Sarah Codrington, the castle’s


head of marketing, said: “We’re in the business ofmaking people happy, and all the feedback we have received and comments on social media suggest that we’re doing our job.”


soaring temperatures proved a welcome boost for the first public holiday of the year. The ther- mometer peaked at 21 degrees at Leeds during the weekend – the historical average for this time of year is 13 degrees. Early concerns about traffic dis-


ruption caused by cross-Channel delays around Brexit during the castle’s anniversary year were also not realised, with the UK’s departure from the EU post- poned. Sarah said: “Our financial year


runs from April to April and Easter is always very important


to us – it sets the tone for the year. At close to double the numberwe expected, we are absolutely de- lighted.” Investment in TheMaze grill, a


newcrazy golf course and the re- furbishment of the children’s playpark, The Knights’ Strong- hold, also proved to be crowd- pullers. Last year, Easter was a chal-


lenging time at the castle, which was built in 1119 by Robert de Crevecoeur. With the bank holi- day falling weeks earlier and with heavy rain the entiremonth, numberswere down to little over 7,500.


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48