Homelessness at ‘critical state’ Couple living in car Continued from page one


accommodation.” Housing consultative board chairman Cllr David Barned said: "Homelessness has now reached a critical state in the borough and a number of proactive measures need to be implemented. "Hopefully we can


make some firm rec- ommendations to the cabinet within a few weeks to get action underway." Maidstone, like


many other towns and cities in the UK, no longer has emergency hostels or night shel- ters. There is a dire shortage of private rented accommoda- tion – especially for people on benefits. Even when the council thinks a household is in- tentionally homeless, it still has a duty to provide temporary accommodation for a “reasonable pe-


MAIDSTONE model Lydia Spearink found herself well and truly in the spotlight when TV cameras followed a group of celebrities to an artist’s retreat in rural Italy. Lydia (27), who has worked as


an artists’ life model for the past eight years, was on her second visit to The Retreat in Le Marche, NE Italy, last year when a coach- load of famous faces rolled up for a surprise life-drawing session. Among them were comedians Canon & Ball, “EastEnders’” Charlie Slater and Nick Cotton and former royal aide Paul Bur- rell.


The celebrities were taking part


in a new C4 TV programme “Celebrity Coach Trip”, which was aired in January. In it, the group were shown


how to develop their drawing skills with the help of artist John Skelcher who runs courses at The Retreat. Lydia said: “I am naturally self- confident or I wouldn’t be in this job, but it was a bit strange hav- ing TV cameras focused on me and such a lot of well-known people looking at my naked body!” Lydia, who is the daughter of Staplehurst parish Cllr Peter Spearink and lives in Grecian Street, travels all over theUKand abroad to pose for artists.


Housing refusal BARRY Lux has been blocked in his application to replace a garage block with six houses and three flats at 19 Rawdon Road,Maidstone. Maidstone Council felt the proposal, which was submitted in outline form, was harmful to the pattern and character of the adjoining area. “Furthermore,” the decision notice added, “it has not been demonstrated that there would be no adverse im- pact on the occupiers of neigh- bouring dwellings particularly 27 Old Tovil Road.”


4 Town


Burden on taxpayers IN Maidstone, in the current financial year, temporary accommodation has been provided for an average of 54 days per household, expected to cost the council £275,000, before estimated housing benefit payments of £100,000. The council allowed £127,200 for tem- porary accommodation in its budget for the current year, offset by housing benefit income of £61,670, resulting in a net cost of £65,530. However, the net expenditure on temporary accommodation already stands at £130,580 and is forecast to in- crease to £175,000 by the end of the year.


riod” - generally an average of 21 days. However, the shortage of bed and breakfast ac- commodation in Maidstone and the increased de- mand on the service, means families are being relocated out of town – which brings its own difficulties if there are children involved who attend local schools. But the picture is little different


in neighbouring authorities, with Medway, Ashford and Tunbridge Wells facing their own problems. Housing services manager Neil


Coles’ report states: "As the eco- nomic climate continues to con- tribute to increased levels of hardship, it is expected that the number of households presenting to the council as being threatened with homelessnesswill continue to rise.


"Demand across Kent for temporary accommo- dation is currently so high that it is becoming in- creasingly difficult to find accommodation available on demand."


Art proves a model career


APROFESSIONAL couple re- cently sought help at Maid- stoneDay Centre, having both lost well-paid jobs and, con- sequently, their home. They hadbeenlivingintheircar and their relationship had fi- nally cracked under the strain.


less and you haven’t con- tributed


“When you become home- to


your


circumstances, it is devastat- ing,” said day centre manager Sue Tallowin. “They have worked all their


lives, paid their taxes and wonder why there is nobody there to help them in their hour of need. Mentally, peo- ple rarely recover.” In the past year, the centre


has helped six people holding down full-time professional jobs while living in their cars and on other people’s floors.


Choose your star of Maidstone


THEfirstCelebrate Maidstone event is being supported by ahost of the town and county’s most prominent leaders and organisations. Amongthose supporting the event, organised by Jubilee Church and


Training Centre to recognise the area’s unsung heroes, are Maidstone Borough Council, mayor Brian Mortimer, Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce and Hillreed Homes. Nominations for Stars of Maidstone, divided into several different categories such as star volunteer, arts contribution and courage in the care sector, are already flooding in. The winner of each category will not be chosen because of the number of nominations they receive but because of the reasons given for their recommendation. The awardswill bepresented at an invitation-only evening on Friday,


Lydia Spearink with a coach trip drawing of herself


This year, she has a month planned in Bruges and two more trips to Italy and Scotland, although most of thework tends to be concentrated in the South East. A former pupil of Angley School, Cranbrook, Lydia stud- ied art at college and does a lot of work with Kent’s adult edu- cation art department. She first got involved inmodelling when her former GCSE tutor needed a portrait model. Lydia said: “I do a lot of work


with schools across Kent as well as for local art groups and one-to-one sessions for individ- uals. It has certainly broadened my horizons and helped me see the world.”


Hospice donation MORE than £2,000 worth of new furniture will raise money for the Heart of Kent Hospice. Redrow Homes, who are building on the former Senacre College site, off Sutton Road, donated the show home furni- ture and accessories for the charity to sell.


Nursery proposal A RETROSPECTIVE applica- tion has been submitted to erect a building for administration and storage at Hemsley House Nursery, Tonbridge Road, Maidstone.


May 11, at theMercure Hotel in Hollingbourne. The heads of a num- ber of organisations that contribute to the health and prosperity of the town will be invited to attend alongside thewinners of the awards. Formore information on voting, aswell as other ideas to celebrate the town, go towww.celebratemaidstone.org.uk.


Brownies WERE in Tovil


TOVIL Brownies did once meet in Tovil – and here’s the proof! Following last month’s story


when Sean Carter, vice chair of the Coombe Farm and Tovil de- velopment group, claimedTovil Brownies had never met in Tovil, we were contacted by reader Jill Fissenden, who as- sures us that they did! Not only that, she has the photos to prove it. Mrs Fissenden (nee Morgan)


well remembers the days she and her Brownie pals gathered on a Monday evening at the


TovilWorkingmens’ Club. One of the photos was taken


in the field where they carried out lots of their outdoor activi- ties – which now forms part of theWoodbridge Drive develop- ment. The other is a celebration of ‘Thinking Day.’ Mrs Fissenden, who now


lives in Heather Drive, Maid- stone, has identified her old Brownie pals as (left to right): Linda Pearce, Christine Burton, Sheila Bickner and Katherine Farrow.


Fitness centre gets planning thumbs-up


AFITNESS centre offering classes in yoga, Pilates, dance etc is to be established on part of the first floor of a unit in Wharf Road, Tovil. Jane Salida, who lives in Allington, claims the unit has been empty for at least 10 years. Her supporting statement added: “Other units leave at 5.30pm so my clients would be able to park outside the other units. There is also plenty of street parking for any daytime clients.” Maidstone Council granted planning permission.


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