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.


Youth club closure fury Continued from page one


community services Mike Hill said: “We are pro- posing to change the way we deliver services to young people so that we can continue to provide a first class service despite the severe financial pressures we all face. “It is our intention that youth activities will still


be available in local areas; whether they are based in an existing centre, a new location such as a school or delivered by going to the places where young people meet. Many of these services will be commissioned from the voluntary sector and there will also be an opportunity for voluntary groups and individuals to run the activities them- selves.” “It is important to remember there have been no decisions made about any youth centre. We are carrying out a wide-ranging consultation, from 1 August until 29 October, with the public, young people and staff to ask their views on the propos- als before any formal decisions are taken.”


Brakes put on council’s


car park sale plan COUNCILLORS have challenged an of- ficer's assertion that a 66-space car park is surplus to requirement. Maidstone's parking services manager


Jeff Kitson listed seven reasons for the Brunswick Street site sell-off. Cabinet member Marion Ring approved it. But her decision was "called in" for further discussion. One member said it was not a "black


and white issue" and others wanted ad- equate consultations with nearby resi- dents and businesses. Alocal dancing school is worried par-


ents would be unable to drop off and pick up their children. Mr Kitson's report argued there would be enough on-street parking bays. College Road car parkwas also an alternative. The scrutiny committee asked Cllr


Ring to be sure the sell-off would not have an unduly adverse effect on locals.


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 Maid- stone ring road, built in sections, to even- tually be joined up. CllrVal Springett, a newly elected Maid-


stone borough member for Bearsted ward, spelled out her vision during a debate on town congestion problems. She said the majority of traffic crosses


from east towest, 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 by- pass. I know we have been told it’s not going to happen. I think we need to stop telling ourselves it’s not going to happen and say, ‘How dowemake it happen?’ The


M25was built in segments. They built a lit- tle 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 Cir- cular is made up of individual roads that form a big pattern.” Cllr Springett concluded: “We have to


say, ‘We need it, how can we achieve it?” The much-discussed Leeds-Langley by-


pass is unlikely to be funded by Govern- ment for at least 15 years. And to pay for it with developer contributions would re- quire the council agreeing to a vast hous- ing estate south-east of Maidstone – something it has “not got the stomach for”, the regeneration scrutiny committee heard.


Store man- ager Paul Posner (left) pre- senting the cheque to Hi Kent’s Debra Jones and John Clay- ton,


watched by store staff


Charity boosted by store’s £1,500 HI Kent, the charity that supports deaf and hard-of-hearing people, received a cheque for £1,500 from Sainsbury’s store at QuarryWood, Aylesford. Staff there had chosen Hi Kent as their charity of the year 2010-11. Hi Kent’s Debra Jones said: “We had a wonderful year as


the store’s charity and really appreciate all the help they have given us. It was a marvellous boost to our fundraising in our 25th anniversary year.”


Pretty as a Picture 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 Malling


Win a portrait sitting & images worth £500 DownsMail You can e-mail the Downs Mail — info@downsmail.co.uk


Tabernacle blow PLANS to renovate one of Maidstone’smost iconic buildings – The Taberna- cle 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 detailed 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


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