Bingo hall ‘is letting town down’


OWNERS of a prime site in Maidstone town centre have been told to clean up their act. The Gala Coral Group Ltd, which owns Gala Bingo, housed in the old 1930s cinema on Lower Stone Street, have been accused of letting the building fall into disrepair by the Town Centre manager Bill Moss. With plans afoot to rejuvenate


the rest of Maidstone High Street and to re-pave Gabriel’s Hill, Mr Moss feels the time is ripe for Gala to do something about the state of the former cin- ema, which he desribed as an eyesore. He said: “We are talking about


a multi-million pound company here who appear to have ab- solved themselves from all re-


Caravan site plan


ROB Schroeder has applied to extend The Finches touring car- avan and camping park in Chartway Street, Kingswood. He wants to add 20 “eco” log cabins on land north of the site, which was allowed to double its capacity to 20 caravan and 20 tent pitches in June 2009. His supporting statement


said: “The eco log cabins will be built to the highest standards to lessen the impact upon the local surroundings and will contain many environmentally sustainable features such as electricity generation by solar panels and rain water harvest- ing.


“The northern boundary will


be enhanced by the planting of a mix of indigenous trees sup- plemented by low level shrubs. The existing wooded areas to the west and east of the site will be managed with the creation of woodland walks.”


Stable and home


CHARLOTTE Smith has applied for permission to erect a stable block and station a mobile home for residential accommodation at Huntsman’s Stables, Maidstone Road, Sta- plehurst. Her supporting statement


says that the site has been used for the placement of horses and associated accommodation for equestrian use for more than 10 years. It added: “The applica- tion also seeks to allow a single family residential status to oc- cupy the site that is directly linkedwith the care of the live- stock, in particular the stabled and grazing horses. “The new stable block and residential building is to be constructed low in profile with details and materials that are similar to other sites within this area. The buildings cannot be seen from themain road due to extensive foliage and planting.” Maidstone Council will deter- mine the planning application.


“This is premier site in the


town centre, on a busy corner of an important route through the town. It lets us down badly.” Mr Moss said the building


was in such a state that many people thought it was empty and disused. He said: “We tried to brighten


sponsibility for the state of the building and even refused our offers of help. “To tidy the place up and give


it a lick of paint would cost a few thousand – a drop in the ocean to a company of that size.


it up withmurals, but even they have been left untouched for several years. It’s just an eyesore now.” Mr Moss said he thought the owners had a responsibility to keep the building clean and smart in the short term. However, in the longer term,


he hoped a company could in- vest in the former Somerfield site on King Street and the ad- joining King Street car park to


create a leisure complex for bingo and bowls, with a multi- storey car park above. He said: “This would free up


what could be a magnificent building, on a prime site, for re- tail use, with easy access from theMall shopping centre.” Gala Coral Group Ltd is owned by private equity houses Candover Investments, Cinven and Permira. It is the UK's third largest bookmaker and largest bingo operator and owns more than 30 casinos. The group headquarters are in Nottingham. A spokesman for Gala Bingo


said they were unaware of any plans to refurbish the building, but would investigate the com- pany’s long-term plans.


Sports changing rooms revamped


dards with extensive washing and toilet facilities for players, of- ficials and spectators.


There is alsoameetingroomthat


can be used by the club and other community groups.


The sports club changing rooms are near completion


MPFORMaidstone and theWeald, Helen Grant,was due to officially open the long-awaited new chang- ing rooms at West Farleigh Sports Club on Friday, September 14.


The club secured£31,000ofOlympic legacy fund-


ing fromSportEngland’s InspiredFacilitiesFundand further funds from the Football Foundation, Kent County Council and the Kent County Playing Fields Association.


The sports club itself raisedmore than£18,000 to-


wards the facilities and has been running a “buy-a- brick” scheme, while a former player and local businessman also made a donation.


The changing rooms at WFSC have been desper- ately in need of replacement for several years.


The new showpiece clubhouse includes safe, discreet and secure changing rooms to FA stan-


MAIDSTONE’S assistant director Steve Goulette has added another string to his municipal bow. Mr Goulette is to assist Cllr Malcolm Greer, the Cabinet member for economic develop- ment and commercial services, deliver the council’s top priori- ties to have a growing economy with rising employment. Maidstone has the highest employment rate in the county at over 80%, thanks to a proac- tive approach to supporting local business and encouraging inward investment. Cllr Greer said: “Steve is an experienced and highly capable senior officer. I am delighted


The club, which celebrated its centenary in 2011, has used a large wooden cabin for changing since 1995, with which visiting teams in particular have been less than impressed. An earlierwooden shed blewdown in the hurricane of 1987 and a concrete garage erected in its place, proved to be too hot.


The building was scheduled for


completion at the end of July butwas delayed due to the appallingweather at the start of the summer.


Club secretary Ian Payne said: “The drive


at the sports club was always to obtain full funding for this centenary project, rather than taking out loans that would burden future generations with a legacy of financial debt.”


Mrs Grant said: “In the current difficult financial climate, this is a fine example of positive-minded and determined people taking firm action to improve the quality of life for those living in their community.”


Mrs Grant,whowas instrumental in helping the


club secure funding for the community project, will declare the changing rooms open at the sports field in Charlton Lane at 7pm on Friday, September 14.


New role for assistant director


that he will be supporting my portfolio. Mr Goulette,who will also act


as the council’s link with in- ward investment companies, said he was looking forward to the new role, which he will un- dertake alongside his existing responsibilities as assistant di- rector for environment and reg- ulatory services. He said: “Maidstone is the County town of Kent and a great place to do business. We want success for all our existing busi- nesses but we recognise we need to continue to attract new ones, particularly in these chal- lenging times.”


Drink driving charge


NORMAN Pooley (47), of Lacey Close, Langley, was sentenced at West Kent Magistrates’ Court, Sevenoaks after he pleaded guilty to a charge of drink driving. On 5 June, in Ditton,


he drove a Ford Transit Connect along the M20 while over the drink drive limit. He had 101 mgs of alcohol in


100 mls of blood. The legal limit is 80 mgs. He was banned from driving


for 36 months and fined £92 plus an additional £85 in court costs and a further £15 victim surcharge.


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