Rap for council as fabrics store shuts
MAIDSTONE'S specialist C&H Fabrics store is closing after 40 years – and the borough council has been heavily criticised by the company chairman. C&H, at the corner of Week Street and
Union Street, will shut when the lease ex- pires in March, as it is making a loss. But the firm's other outlets, including Canter- bury and Tunbridge Wells, will remain open.
Chairman Bryan Hamblin said the rent (to
a Scottish landlord) and the business rates “have climbed so steeply that we cannot continue to trade profitably in Maidstone”. Mr Hamblin said: “We pay £70,000 a year,
which is far too high. I fear other retailers will be forced to follow us as their leases end.” Mr Hamblin said: “The borough council
has done little or nothing to arrest the de- cline of the town centre and, in particular,
Silver anniversary
our end of town. No new car parks have been built near us in 20 years (indeed one has been shut).” He regretted the loss of 47 “excellent” em- ployees, plus freelance curtain-makers. Mr Hamblin added: "Maidstone has
changed a lot in the last 15 years and our end of Week Street has never recovered from the loss of the old Army and Navy store. Bluewater opened and Maidstone took a big hit. The new Fremlin Walk de- velopment has further damaged other areas of the central shopping zone. “Wealthier and more mature customers
repeatedly tell us they do not like coming in to Maidstone. They prefer the 'comfort' and 'quality' of TunbridgeWells, Canterbury and Tenterden.” C&H opened a new store in Guildford in
2009. Its other seven stores had a "remark- ably strong" 2010.
for bakery couple COXHEATH master baker Leslie Freeman and his wife Danthi have celebrated 25 years in business. To mark the anniversary on December 15, cus- tomers of their Simply Delicious shop were greeted with free cakes, rolls, raffle tickets and a celebratory drink. Back in 1999, Mr Freeman was the National As- sociation of Master Bakers' champion. He was runner-up in 2000. He has also written a book, A Bakery Experi-
ence, a signed copy of which was presented to local councillor Derek Mortimer, who is Maid- stone's deputy mayor. Mr Freeman is pictured sitting, between his wife and Cllr Mortimer.
Council spokesman Roger Adley said:
“Business rates are set nationally, based on rental values, which are themselves an in- dication of the area’s prosperity. The coun- cil collects the money on behalf of the Government and the money goes to the Government. “When Fremlin Walk opened in 2005 it
put Maidstone into the top 50 town centre retail destinations nationally and main- tained our status as Kent’s premier town centre.
“Maidstone is well served by car parks –
FremlinWalk has 760 spaces. “The council has approved a planning ap- plication for a mixed residential and retail use of the former Army and Navy store. “A number of new stores have opened in recent months. The former Woolworth’s store is now back in use as two retail units and a Tesco Express has opened on the other side of C&H Fabrics.”
Continued from page one “Be full of gratitude for friends and fam-
Vikki’s online farewell
ily, for the goodness you find in others and for your health and all you are capable of. “Love yourself every day and remember
how many people love you. Do good things for others. Always see the goodness in this world.”
Borough Cllr Mike FitzGerald, the ward member for Chart Sutton, said: “She was a lovely lady who will be greatly missed and all of us in the villages she served owe her a lot. Chart Sutton was her first parish. “She was very good at managing time and equally good at responding to issues. It is all very sad.”
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