Barriers come down in a drive for safety


MAIDSTONE residents may have noticed how roadsides and junctions have been cleared of clutter recently. Ironically, barriers that were supposedly installed in pedes-


trians’ interests, have been ripped out to improve their safety. And the man behind the transformation of the town's streetscape is delighted after seeing 1,000 items of unneces- sary metalwork scrapped in the past two years. The last to come down was at the junction of Mill Street and Palace Avenue. Cllr Malcolm Greer takes his


job as Maidstone's cabinet member for regeneration very seriously. He is also a big fan of UK urban designer Ben Hamil- ton-Baillie who advised Ash- ford on a "shared space" approach to its ring road. Shared space is a concept


aimed at breaking the physical and mental barriers between


Now you see it… now you don’t. First, high hedges were felled to open up a view of the carriage museum, then the barrier was removed at the corner of Palace Avenue and Mill Street.


vehicles and pedestrians to achieve an integrated space for walking, shopping and driving. Cllr Greer said Mr Hamilton- Baillie is "one of the best", whose ideas lead to improved traffic flow and public safety. "It makes drivers slow down and makes people realise they have to use self-preservation and think for themselves," said Cllr Greer who added that speed and accidents have been re- duced in Ashford since the shared space initiative was launched in October 2008. The extensive removal of


signs and barriers in the centre of Maidstone followed a safety audit by KCC's consultant engi- neers, Jacobs.


Cllr Greer said: "They looked


at the necessity of every barrier and whether it could be re- moved with no effect on public safety. The perception of barri- ers has changed immensely. You don't just put them in for the sake of it. Ashford centre has no barriers anywhere.


Continued from page one wayoffundingitwouldbe through a higher percentage of business rates coming back to local authorities, rather than going to the Government as happens now. His suggestion, that Maid-


stone could pilot such a scheme, was sent in letter to Whitehall, signed by Cllrs Wil- son and Garland. Cllr Wilson said, if the High


Street could be funded that way, her group would remove its objection as the finances


“You don't need barriers as


long as crossings are built in the right place and sound systems are in place for the hard-of- hearing." Cllr Greer said the de-clutter-


ing of roads exemplifies good partnership work between the borough and county councils.


High St project is a ‘fudge’


would be coming out of busi- ness rates, not out of the coun- cil's revenue account. Meanwhile, Cllr Garland told


the cabinet, which endorsed the plan, not every council in Kent was in the fortunate position of having a capital budget that could deliver long-term bene- fits, which included “two- thirds” of the High Street at minimal debt” plus the mu- seum extension and Mote Park revamp. KCC is contributing £600,000 to the High Street scheme.


…but will ‘aspiration’ ever come?


MAIDSTONE Council leader Chris Garland described it an “aspi- ration” but there are now fears that the Lower High Street part of the revamp will get stuck on the drawing board. Here is what the council’s own website has been saying for some


time about the Lower High Street – and still is, despite its cabinet decision to put it (Phase 2) on hold: "This area has suffered years of neglect and decline, re- sulting in street clutter, narrow pave- ments and highways engineering that all de- tract from the cheerful character of this part of the High Street. "Wewanttomake


better use of the space and make the cannon a central feature. "The high quality envi- ronment will enhance Maidstone’s reputation as a place to shop and will attract more shoppers and visitors to the town.


MP’s concern at cut in legal aid


Continued from page one managed to limit its CAB cut to 3% but is worried that it could fall victim to the general drop in charitable giving. Mrs Grant said: “These cuts


will affect a third of legal-aid clients who have received ad- vice on debt, and a staggering


14 Town


two-thirds of those needing ad- vice on benefits, have an illness or disability. It cannot be right that those most in need of sup- port are left without it.” She concluded: “Our coun-


try's financial health is a prior- ity, but not at the cost of basic social justice.”


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