High Street work begins Continued from page one
closed and drivers wanting to get into town from Fairmeadow will have to use Earl Street and Pudding Lane. A council statement said the 'Public
Realm Project' aims to improve how the High Street looks, feels and works. "The completed scheme will see less road space given over to vehicles and a new public space created in front of the Town Hall.
"The wider pavements and new cross-
ing points will make the street more peo- ple-friendly, whilst maintaining access for buses, taxis, loading vehicles and blue badge holders," the statement adds.
It is hoped that high-quality pavement surfaces, new seating, lighting and trees will attract shoppers and tourists, and en- courage them to relax and spend time there. Town centre managers, retailers and
other user groups have been consulted throughout. Changes include: Buses stops by the Queens Monu-
ment to be relocated beside theTownHall The taxi rank moved to King Street The project will stop for two weeks
over Christmas, from December 22. The go-ahead for the Phase 2, Lower High Streetworks has not yet been given.
The predicted timescale of the regeneration scheme ‘Town should push for ring road’
A COUNCILLOR has called for a Maidstone ring road, built in sections that would even- tually be joined up. Cllr Val Springett, a newly elected borough member for Bearsted, spelled out her vision during a debate about solving the town's con- gestion problems. The much-discussed Leeds-Langley bypass
Women score with smart new look
A LOCAL netball team has a new set of bibs thanks to the generosity of a Maidstone law
firm.Gullands is spon- soring the Yalding senior team, who play in Division One of the Malling and Maidstone league. One of the nine-strong squad, Catherine Bond (31) of Maidstone (pic- tured top left), is an associate solicitor at Gullands. She approached her em- ployers for help at the end of the win- ter season. The league uses the netball courts at Aylesford Bulls Rugby club.
Cash machine found A CASH machine was found in Head- corn following a ram-raid by two 4x4 vehicles at aMeopham store. A Jeep Cherokee and Toyota 4-Run-
ner were used to gain access to theMc- Coll’s shop in Wrotham Road early on Saturday, July 23. The thieves then loaded the machine onto the Jeep be- fore escaping along Meopham Road. The two vehicles were located in an outbuilding nearby and a cash ma- chine, thought to be the one stolen,was discovered in Headcorn.
is unlikely to be funded by government for at least 15 years. And to pay for it with devel- oper contributions would require the council agreeing to a vast housing estate south east of Maidstone - something it has "not got the stomach for", the regeneration scrutiny com- mittee heard. But Cllr Springett said themajority of traffic crosses from east to west, and added: “Iwould love to come out of Bearsted, turn left and whiz on a bypass and go round the outside. My ideal would be a ring road.” Though she understood this was not going
to happen immediately, she insisted: "We have to pursue the Leeds-Langley bypass. I know we have been told it's not going to hap- pen. I think we need to stop telling ourselves it's not going to happen and say, 'how do we
make it happen?' "The M25 was built in segments. They built
a little bit, then built another little bit. "We need to look ahead with a major plan.
Are there any little segments of this we can look at and pursue, with the aim - in 30 years' time - of all these little bits being joined up? The [London]North Circular ismade up of in- dividual roads that form a big pattern.” Cllr Springett concluded: "We have to say,
'we need it, how can we achieve it'." Cllr Malcolm Robertson said there is little likelihood of the present government financ- ing any major road infrastructure and Kent County Council has other priorities. He said the only way to fund it would be
with Section 106 contributions from develop- ers but added: "I don't think members would have the stomach even for the level of devel- opment that might pay for half of it." Cllr Springett, however, warned: "I thinkwe
are going to end up with a development any- way, with something at junction 8 [M20] but without the road. So we will end up with the worst of both cases. That is my fear, that that will happen anyway."
Police hunt Portaloo pilferers POLICE are investigating the theft of luxury mobile toi- lets and a trailer. The loos, which were hired from Acorn Event Hire in
Oast Court, Yalding, and were awaiting collection fol- lowing a wedding, had been left outside a property in Ford Road,Wrotham Heath. In an early morning raid, thieves took the 19ft trailer carrying a 15ft x 8ft x 10ft portable building, containing both male and female toilet cubicles, which had a dark green exterior. It is thought the trailer may have been taken in the di- rection of Trottiscliffe. Anyone with information should contact 01732 379170 or Kent Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Pretty as a Picture
Tabernacle blow PLANS to renovate one of Maid- stone’s most iconic buildings – The Tabernacle at The Mote cricket ground – have taken a blow now the local 36 Engineer Regiment duties are growing in Afghanistan. The soldiers had drawn up de-
tailed plans to help with much of the restoration – but now their manpower is needed around the world they have withdrawn. This has left the cricket club at
least £10,000 short on the budget to bring the historic derelict building back into sporting use.
competition
VOTENOWfor your favourite picture by visiting
www.downsmail.co.uk
The winner will be invited back for a further sitting and to choose their favourite image on either canvas print or an acrylic wall art. For terms and conditions please see
www.maidstonephotofactory.co.uk
4 South
Win a portrait sitting & images worth £500 DownsMail You can e-mail the Downs Mail —
info@downsmail.co.uk
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