Latest news with #Maidstone
BBC News
a day ago
- General
- BBC News
Maidstone welcomes new community-run mobility service
A new community-run mobility service has launched in a town in Mobility, which offers short-term wheelchair loans and other mobility aids, has opened in Hermitage Court in organisation, which also refurbishes equipment, is run entirely by volunteers and has received the space from property developers The Gallagher Naghi, Maidstone Borough Council's cabinet member for community cohesion and safety, said: "We all recognise the value of what Wheeleasy is doing. It's practical, it's community-led, and it's already making a real difference." Nicky Callow, who helped establish Wheeleasy Mobility, added: "People come in needing a wheelchair, but often, that's not quite what they need."Maybe the footplates aren't right, or the chair's too heavy. You only find that out by seeing them in person, by trying things out together."That local, human touch, and that's what we were determined to maintain."Wheeleasy Mobility is also encouraging donations of wheelchairs, walkers and toileting aids.
BBC News
2 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Women's final abandoned over safety amid Palestine protest, says club
A women's regional cup final was abandoned over "a perceived risk to safety" when fans refused to remove flags and banners showing support for Community were playing Dulwich Hamlet Reserves in the final of the London and South East Women's Regional Football League (L&SERWFL) Trophy, which was hosted at Gallagher Stadium, the home of National League South men's side Maidstone of both sides displayed pro-Palestinian flags and banners for the game on Sunday, amid the ongoing conflict with game kicked off as scheduled but after 20 minutes, with Clapton leading 2-0, the match was paused after a request for the flags and banners to be moved was rejected. Maidstone United issued a statement, external that said "the match was abandoned by league and match officials, in consultation with the stewarding team, for reasons of a perceived risk to safety and with regard to clear stadium regulations and FA guidelines."This was because spectators refused requests to remove non-football related banners and flags."Maidstone United is a football club serving the local community. Ensuring a peaceful and safe environment for spectators in the stadium is a priority. The club does not engage in politics of any kind."Ground regulations typically ban flags and banners which carry political messaging, in line with guidance from governing bodies Fifa and Football Association rules, clubs can be sanctioned if fan behaviour is deemed improper or has the potential to ground regulations refer to the banning of flags and banners if they can be used as weapons, or "interfere with the viewing of spectators", though go on to say spectators should follow FA and National Football League rules and regulations, and not conduct actions which "could reasonably be construed as, constituting a source of danger, nuisance or annoyance to any other person".Football's laws of the game prohibit political messaging on kits and equipment, and it is not uncommon for this principal to be applied more widely.A statement from Clapton issued after the game said management at the venue objected to the presence of a Palestine flag among their support and a banner displayed by the Dulwich player Tammy Hymas told BBC Sport: "An official from Maidstone came on the pitch and said the game had to stop, as they no longer consented to the stadium being used while political material was present."The game was stopped. As I understand, there was a suggestion the match could continue behind closed doors, with no fans."As a team we refused that offer, we said we wanted to show solidarity, so we went into the stands and joined the fans."Hymas added the action had the support of Jewish members of the club's fanbase who were present at the Clapton supporter, who wanted to be known as Max, said: "When the match was abandoned, Dulwich Hamlet supporters came over to stand with us, and for a moment, it felt genuinely powerful. I've never seen something like it in football - it was beautiful. As a Jewish supporter of Clapton CFC, I feel proud of what the team and the fans stood for."I had so many emotions. At first I was shocked - it just seemed absurd. We were there to watch football. The players wanted to continue. The fans wanted to continue. The responsibility lies with the stadium - and I'll be asking for my money back."After an announcement at Gallagher Stadium saying the match was abandoned, a joint protest took place outside the stadium with both Dulwich and Clapton Community, which describes itself as "a members-owned, members-run football club", said in a statement, external that "32 women were denied the opportunity to play the L&SERWFL Trophy final".It said players and fans were "united in their support and concern for Palestinians" and added: "Showing that support with a flag or banner is no reason to abandon a cup final."Dulwich Hamlet chairman Ben Clasper said in a statement, external that his club had "seen no evidence that our fans have behaved in any way other than the peaceful and dignified manner that we would expect from them, in accordance with the values of our club and that the banners on display were not new, are not in breach of any laws or rules and have been to many games before this final".He added: "We are very disappointed that the L&SERWFL Trophy final has ended in this fashion, and we look forward to a full explanation as to how this was allowed to happen."The London FA told BBC Sport it was "gathering all relevant information and working closely with the appropriate parties".It added: "As this matter is ongoing, we will not be making any further comment at this time."
Yahoo
2 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Castle to open gardens to help local hospice
A castle is opening its gardens to help a local hospice raise money. On 20 July and 3 August, Allington Castle, near Maidstone in Kent, is hosting events for Heart of Kent Hospice in Aylesford. Maisie Bass, event manager at the hospice, said: "By supporting events, including the Allington Castle gardens open days, we can help our hospice to continue providing free end of life care and support to those living with a terminal illness." The hospice says it costs £6.6m a year to deliver its services and it depends on donations to raise 80% of this. At the events, people will be able to explore the grounds and there will be a children's treasure trail. Allington Castle is a medieval 12th Century castle, set in 42 acres of woodland on the banks of the River Medway. Follow BBC Kent on Facebook, on X, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@ or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250. Campaign to target new volunteers at hospice Hospice plan approved in health complex Man to sell his 4,000 books in aid of hospice Heart of Kent Hospice Allington Castle
BBC News
2 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Allington Castle to open gardens to help Heart of Kent Hospice
A castle is opening its gardens to help a local hospice raise 20 July and 3 August, Allington Castle, near Maidstone in Kent, is hosting events for Heart of Kent Hospice in Bass, event manager at the hospice, said: "By supporting events, including the Allington Castle gardens open days, we can help our hospice to continue providing free end of life care and support to those living with a terminal illness."The hospice says it costs £6.6m a year to deliver its services and it depends on donations to raise 80% of this. At the events, people will be able to explore the grounds and there will be a children's treasure Castle is a medieval 12th Century castle, set in 42 acres of woodland on the banks of the River Medway.
The Sun
5 days ago
- Business
- The Sun
Major motorway to CLOSE this evening for vital works with diversion in place
A MAJOR motorway will close this evening for essential roadworks. The road is used by up to 120,000 people per day. 5 5 5 The M20 motorway will be closed this evening for vital works taking place between 8pm and 6am overnight. The closure will take place in both directions between Junctions four and seven. Junction four offers drivers exits for Rochester, meanwhile Junction 7 does so for Maidstone. The closure covers the road's carriageways, slip roads and lanes for planned barrier works. A National Highway spokesperson said: "These times have been chosen to minimise disruption to road users and ensure the roads are suitable for the traffic.' This comes after other parts of the M20 were closed for the same period last night. Westbound, the road was closed between Junctions 9 and 8, between Ashford and Lenham respectively. Eastbound, the closure extended even further from Junction 9 to Junction 7. Signed diversions were put in place to guide drivers to their destination using nearby roads. Both sides of the road were re-opened today, with the usual national speed limit being re-implemented. Drivers warned of travel chaos this Bank Holiday amid M20 closures These closures took place to remove barriers for a contraflow which had been put in place over the bank holiday, to accommodate for heavy traffic during the school holidays. These were rolled out as part of an initiative called Operation Brock. This is a traffic holding system which enables lorries to queue for English Channel crossings. Under Operation Brock, Dover -bound lorries queue on one side of the M20. Meanwhile on the other side of the carriageway, a contraflow enables traffic to run in both directions. The Operation was originally designed for use if the UK had left the European Union with a no-deal Brexit. It is implemented by a group of local authorities called the Kent and Medway Resilience Forum (KMRF). Today, the BBC has released new data on the system's cost to the taxpayer. Its use over the bank holiday weekend will have cost between £100,000 to £250,000. Across 10 occasions when Operation Brock has been used between 2019 and 2024, it has required more than £2.7 million in funding. Simon Jones, KMRF strategic lead for border disruption, told the BBC that it was never done "without having clear data of increased border crossings to inform our planning". He said: "Until the government agrees permanent, long-term solutions to tackle disruption on Kent's roads and delays at the border during busy periods, Operation Brock is the only option available." 5
