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Bail hostel plan to double in size


A BAIL hostel in Maidstone is set to double its capacity if plans are passed, Downs Mail has learned. The “approved premises” in the north of the town are run by the National Probation Service for the Ministry of Justice.


The Fleming House hostel in Tonbridge Road has 13 bedrooms and will increase by 11 if an appli- cation is approved by Maidstone Borough Council. The project will involve the de- molition of a garage and two stor- age buildings to make way for a two-storey extension with the 11 rooms for residents, a kitchen, showers and an interview room. The number of people who can


be catered for will increase from 12 to 24, according to council papers. Local councillor, Conservative Jonathan Purle said: “We’re told that this is the only facility of its kind in Kent, which begs the ques- tion why it is here in Maidstone, let alone in our part of town. “If the Ministry of Justice now


wants larger premises, this is surely a good opportunity to move


the entire facility to a more appro- priate part of Kent.”


A spokesman for the National Probation Service said: “We are ex- panding approved premises across the country and the modest exten- sion of Fleming House will help re- duce the risk of offenders committing further crimes, im- proving the work we do to keep the people of Maidstone safe.” He said the premises are staffed


all year round and residents’ movements are restricted. They are subject to overnight curfews and check-in times during the day. l Susan Haynes wrote on Face- book: “The percentage of trouble that has come from that place which is very small and it's been there years and the staff are very good at their job.” l Single mum Lauren Brooker said: “I don't feel comfortable walk- ing around my area after nightfall, obviously this gets a lot earlier come the winter months. It should be shut down and relocated to a more rural and secluded area, if it is rehabilitation you are offering.”


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Friends’ skydive for charity


A GROUP of friends put their fear of heights to one side to leap out of a plane to raise money for a disability charity close to their hearts. The fearless foursome took part in a tandem skydive to raise money for


Surrey-based Queen Elizabeth’s Foundation for Disabled People (QEF), which helps disabled children and adults. Sarah Edwards (39), from Maidstone, Vanessa Geylani (44), from Maid-


stone, Rachel Harbord (45), from Maidstone, and Lillie Harvey-Matthews (34), from Wainscott, took off from Headcorn and raised £2,214 towards the charity’s work. Sarah said: “I don’t like flying, heights or not being in control, so it was


an immediate no. Very quickly after though, I thought why not face my fears and do something amazing, so I said yes. Then within about 24 hours, three friends also decided to sign up and that was it.” QEF spokesman Jolene Ryan said: “These four wonderful ladies should feel immensely proud of themselves.”


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