Lines drawn in pavement row Traffic wardens


DEMARCATION lines have been drawn as the dispute rum- bles on over the safety of Maid- stone’s new-look High Street. Despite claims from the coun-


cil that the new granite paving stones were safe and the pave- ment was easily identifiable from the road, reports of trips and falls continued to flood in. In a bid to counter the critics,,


the council instructed contrac- tors Eurovia to spray paint a thin yellow line along the “problem” kerbstone edge, clearly marking the drop from the pathway to the road. The paint is only temporary, however, and will be replaced with “black nosing” in the af- fected bus stops, according to the town’s regeneration and economic development man- ager John Foster. Numerous people com- plained to the council after trip- ping off the edge of the pavement by the taxi rank, across from the entrance to The Mall. One woman, Carol Taylor,


broke one leg and badly sprained her other, while Maid- stone Cllr David Pickard was another victim of the new-look High Street. There were four re- ports of broken limbs from four different people in the space of a few days.


Serial offender


back in court THOMAS Robert Morgan (23), of Hollingworth Road, Park Wood, was jailed for 42 days at Mid Kent Magistrates’ Court after admitting receiving stolen goods and shoplifting. He was also re-sentenced for


five earlier offences. On January 19, inMaidstone, Morgan received stolen DVDs worth £28 and stole computer gamesworth £25 from a shop in The Mall. He was re-sentenced for three counts of shoplifting, possess- ing cannabis and aiding in the retention, removal or disposal of stolen goods.


Car park permission A PLANNING application has been granted for five extra park- ing spaces at the Nimbus Enter- prise Park, Liphook Way, Allington. Maidstone Council backed


the scheme, which involves widening the area next to units 8 and 9, on condition it is land- scaped using indigenous species and the retention of ex- isting trees and hedgerows.


Broadband hole NERISSA Lebiecki has applied for listed building consent to put a hole through a front ele- vation for a broadband cable at a flat at 62-64 Lower Stone Street, Maidstone.


cracking down NEW traffic regulation orders have come into effect in Maid- stone High Street, following the recent improvement works. Signs are now in place, and


both the police and traffic war- dens will have the powers to stop and penalise motorists caught flouting the law. Only buses and taxis are al-


Temporary yellow lines mark the edges of the pavements


Maidstone Town Centre Man- agement’s business forum heard that dozens ofwomen had been seen tripping off the kerb in a similar lay-by outside Wether- spoon’s – and not just as a result of drinking. While Mr Foster initially claimed people regularly tripped in town centres and it was necessary to identify those who had fallen as a direct result of the £2m “improvement” works, the council’s U-turn has been welcomed by opposition leader FranWilson. Cllr Wilson said: “Our three High Street ward councillors


TWELVE students from Maid- stone Grammar School for Girls (MGGS) were invited to St James’s Palace in London to re- ceive their Gold Duke of Edin- burgh awards from HRH The Earl ofWessex. The school is one of the most successful DofE units in the South East. The 12 successful students


were: Bethan Sweeting, Alicia Clark, Althea Dove, Sophie Far- row, Laura Hayton, Claudia Hogan, Laura Hogan, Georgia Powell, Nichole Russell, Mari- anne Thompson, Zoe Warren and CatherineWyatt. Katie Allsopp and Lydia


Payne received their gold awards at an earlier ceremony. The students have worked through the five sections of the DofE programme over 12-18 months to achieve their awards and unit leader Michelle Starns


said: “They showed determina- tion, perseverance, and com- mitment – the ethos that MGGS instils in all our students.” Another 35 MGGS students


are expected to submit their gold DofE evidence before the end of the summer. Head teacher Mary Smith


said: “The DofE is a very impor- tant aspect of our school. Well done to all our students.


THE League of Friends at Maidstone Hospital has raised and spent more than £61,000 on equipment for the hospital in Hermitage Lane between May 2011 and April 2012, and has com- mitted to spending a further £208,000. Items bought include a vital signs monitor for


themedical assessment unit, reclining chairs for chemo patients, murals and pictures for the birth centre and monitoring equipment for the dia- betes unit. The League of Friends has also com- mitted funds to a cardiac monitor for the ITU, a


had been dealing with com- plaints for a month before this happened. It took the borough a long time to accept there was a problem relating to the struc- ture, repeating the samemantra that the elderly and infirm often fell over in the town. “Many of the people who


have been affected by this are not elderly and infirm! “When these reports started to


come in, the council should have taken some action. It is their responsibility and it is only a pity they took such a long time to wake up to the fact. “The tragedy is that we high-


lowed at the top end of the High Street and enforcement action will be taken against anyone caught in breach of the regulations.


lighted this some time ago – and we were not crying wolf.” Cllr Wilson said there had


also been reports of people get- ting trapped in the grids be- neath the trees. She said: “These things need


to be monitored.” Cllr Malcolm Robertson said:


“We do not want to see the town urbanising.” Paul Alcock, chairman of the Maidstone Town Centre night economy business forum said: “I am disappointed it has taken the council so long to realise this was a problem. I am glad common sense has prevailed.”


Girls go for gold at palace ceremony


Some of the pupils from Maidstone Grammar School for Girls who have


achieved their gold Duke of Edinburgh awards


“This is an amazing achieve-


ment for our students and MGGS.” All students in years 10, 11


and 12 are offered the chance to work towards the Duke of Edin- burgh award. The scheme was founded in


1956 by HRH The Duke of Ed- inburgh, who remains the Pa- tron. HRH The Earl ofWessex is a trustee.


Friends make life easier for hospital patients


TV for the orthoptic waiting area, cannulation trolleys for A&E, a heavy duty wheelchair for physiotherapy and a number of urine analysers. The largest single sum of money, £130,000,


will be spent on a urology ultrasound machine. Director of nursing, Flo Panel-Coates, said:


“We are very grateful to The League of Friends. Their hard work means our patients can benefit from this first class equipment.” The group’s fun day will take place at the hos- pital from 12-4pm on Saturday, September 8.


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