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 im- plemented. "Hopefully we can


make some firm recom- mendations 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 shelters. There is a short- age of private rented ac- commodation – 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- riod” - generally an average of 21 days. However, the shortage of bed and breakfast ac-


Burden on taxpayers IN Maidstone, in the current financial year, temporary accommodation has been provided for an average of 54 days per household, ex- pected to cost the council £275,000, before es- timated housing benefit payments of £100,000. The council allowed £127,200 for temporary 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 increase to £175,000 by the end of the year.


commodation inMaidstone and the increased de- mand on the service, means families are being re- located out of town – which brings its own difficulties if there are children involved who at- tend local schools. But the picture is little different in neighbouring authorities, with Medway, Ashford and Tunbridge Wells facing their own problems. Housing services man-


ager Neil Coles’ report states: "As the economic climate continues to con- tribute to increased levels of hardship, it is expected that the number of house- holds presenting to the council as being threat-


ened with homelessness will 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."


KENT Police Authority has voted to freeze the police council tax for the forth- coming year and to accept a £2m gov- ernment grant instead. The authority has agreed a budget of £274m for 2012-13 of which 68% is funded by the Government and 32% by the police council taxpayer. The authority and force are entering


Girls gain top Guide honours FOUR members of 2nd Coxheath Guides gained their Baden Powell Award. The award is the highest a Guide can achieve before be- coming a member of the Guide Senior Sec- tion.


Bethany Simpson, Katie Parker,Melissa Cooke, Charlotte Parker (pictured, l-r) had all been members of the unit since they were 10 years old and their enthusiastic participation in activities including camps, unit meetings and county-based events enabled them to ob- tain the skills required to complete their Baden Powell Awards. It took each of them around a year to com-


plete 10 clauses from five zones: healthy lifestyles, global awareness, discovery, skills and relationships and celebrating diversity. They organised unit meetings for the younger Guides, spent a night sleeping in shelters they had erected and helped raise money to sup- port the education of a child in Guatemala. Having completed a final residential trip to London with Guides from across the capital and the South East, the girls received certifi- cates and badges for their achievements. They continue to be part of 2nd Coxheath Guides and have recently become young leaders, helping to pass on their experiences to the younger members of the unit.


New garage turned down MAIDSTONE Council has blocked an applica- tion to erect a garage block on land adjacent to North Lodge, New Road, Langley. Brian Martin wanted the building to store ve-


hicles and implements used to maintain almost a hectare of oland to the south,which was to be used for goat grazing. But Maidstone Council felt there was no jus- tification for new development in the country- side and argued that the proposal had an “overly-large footprint and excessive height and bulk”, whichwould harm the rural character of the area.


4 South


A PROFESSIONAL couple re- cently sought help at Maid- stone Day Centre, having both lost well-paid jobs and, conse- quently, their home. They had been living in their car and their relationship had finally cracked under the strain. “When you become home-


less and you haven’t con- tributed to your circumstances, it is devastat- ing,” said day centre manager Sue Tallowin. “They haveworked all their


lives, paid their taxes and wonder why there is nobody there to help them in their hour of need.Mentally, people 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.


Police pledge to deliver despite cut backs The county was split into three polic-


the second year of amajor programme to find £50m in four years. However, policing services will be maintained including the boost to neigh- bourhood officers, introduced last No- vember as part of a reorganisation programme.


ing divisions – West, North, and East – and a new appointment system has been introduced to enable victims of crime to see an officer at a time and place of their choosing. Kent still has one of the lowest police council tax rates in the country,with the average band D household paying £2.67 a week. Ann Barnes, chairman of Kent Police Authority said: “A one-year grace will help hard-pressed families and this de- cision means that those who are strug- gling are not burdened with more financial worry.”


Kelly takes STEPS to make a difference HIGHGROVE Garden Centre, in Staplehurst, is hosting a coffee morning to raise funds for STEPS, a small national charity that supports children and adults with lower limb disorders. It will be the third coffee morning organised by


Kelly Frater, from Marian Square, Staplehurst, to raise awareness of hip dysplasia, after her daugh- ter Honey was born with the problem. Honey’s condition was detected when she was


10 weeks old. She went on to spend four months in a harness, then a special brace. At 18 months old, Honey (pictured right) was put in a cast from chest to ankle, followed by another brace. Honey is now three and Kelly said: “Honey is catching up well but we don’t know if she will face surgery and more casts in the future. “STEPS have been a great support to us but I am


trying to help them raise awareness of hip dyspla- sia as, if it is picked up at birth, it can make treatment a lot easier.” The combined total ot Kelly’s first two coffee morning was just over £3,700. The


event takes place on Friday,March 16, from 9am to 12 noon. Staplehurst Primary School is holding a non-uniform day to coincide with the event.


Vote for your unsung hero and make them a star THE first Celebrate Maidstone event is being supported by a host of the town and county’s most prominent leaders and or- ganisations. Among those supporting the event, or- ganised by Jubilee Church and Training Centre to recognise the area’s unsung he- roes, are Maidstone Borough Council, mayorBrian Mortimer,Kent Invicta Cham- ber of Commerce and Hillreed Homes. Nominations for Stars of Maidstone, di-


vided into several different categories such as star volunteer, arts contribution and courage in the care sector, are already flood-


You can e-mail the Downs Mail — info@downsmail.co.uk


ing in. Thewinner of each category will not be chosen because of the number of nomi- nations they receive but because of the rea- sons given for their recommendation. The awards will be presented at an invi- tation-only evening on Friday, May 11, at the Mercure Hotel in Hollingbourne. The heads of a number of organisations that contribute to the health and prosperity of the townwill be invited to attend alongside the winners of the awards. For more information on voting, as well


as other ideas to celebrate the town, go to www.celebratemaidstone.org.uk.


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