Town Centre Management update: Maidstone Business Forum Award flags up a great night out
MAIDSTONE has achieved offi- cial recognition as a safe and clean place to enjoy a night out. The county town has received
the accolade in the Purple Flag national award scheme, which judges themanagement of town centres at night. Last year, Maidstone failed in
its bid on issues including street lighting, public transport and toilet facilities. But this time, the town was assessed as outstanding for the safety and care of revellers, and
New nightspots
opening up MAIDSTONE’s night economy will be expanding with the opening of three new venues in the two centre. Turning Tables deli and restaurant (formerly Flaming Henry’s) in the High Street was due to open during the second week in November, followed by new club Wonderland on No- vember 23/24, to replace the closed Liquid & Envy, at Lock- meadow. The Buddha Belly restaurant
on the junction of High Street and Pudding Lane is expected to open in early December. Maidstone Business Forum
heard that, following refusal of an adult entertainment venue licence, work had ceased in the former Loder and Payne build- ing in Bank Street. It was antic- ipated that the company would appeal the decision. The refurbishment already undertaken had been done to a very high standard with many of the original features retained and restored.
No free parking CHRISTMAS shoppers will not receive the gift of free parking in Maidstone this year after the idea was thrown out by the bor- ough council. Town Centre Management suggested parking fees could be waived after 3pm at Lock- meadow during the festive pe- riod, as well as a park and ride. However, the “Free After Three” initiative did not find favourwith Maidstone Council, who considered it too expen- sive, with an estimated £9,000 loss in revenue. The borough’s development manager John Foster told Maid- stone Business Forum the council had already put tens of thousands of pounds into the town centre and was not con- vinced this projectwould work. The forum felt that the Lock- meadow site was underused and the scheme could have raised awareness.
36 East There is a silver theme to the Christmas decorations Silver tree is Christmas choice
A HIGH-tech silver Christmas tree is the centrepiece of Maidstone’s festive lighting display this year. A green conifer has traditionally been the highlight of the seasonal
display, but this Christmas, an electronic tree, standing seven metres high, has beeninstalledby the borough council inJubilee Square. There are also lots of newlights throughout the town centre. Town Centre manager Bill Moss said: “It’s very much a 21st century
tree. Christmas is looking good this year.” The Christmas lights switch-on took place on Thursday, November
22, intwostages–firstly in JubileeSquarebefore itmovedalong tothe Earl Street and FremlinWalk area. The fun included street entertainers, music, games and an appear-
ance from Father Christmas. The Mayor of Maidstone, Cllr Rodd Nelson-Gracie, pressed the big
switch in Jubilee Square, assisted by stars from the Hazlitt Theatre panto “Cinderella”. This preceded a glow-stickwalk alongWeek Street to the entrance to FremlinWalk,where a second ceremony took place.
Town Team awarded £40,000 A £40,000 “pot” of cash has been earmarked to kick start initia- tives that will benefit the whole of the town. A quarter of themoney has been awarded to Maidstone as a re-
sult of its bid to become a Portas Pilot town. Although the appli- cation was unsuccessful, the Government has granted £10,000 to help get some of the ideas off the ground. This sum, with a further £30,000 fromMaidstone Council, has
been allocated to the newly-formed Town Team. The town’s business forum noted that the team has formed four
sub groups covering marketing, events, regeneration and culture. The team, which aims to involve businesses, residents and other organisations, would also work on sourcing additional finance to sustain the project. Among the Town Team’s first tasks was to work on this year’s town centre Christmas marketing campaign.
its parking, pedestrian routes, signage and crowd management were praise as being above stan- dard. To highlight the achievement,
a purple flag will fly above the Town Hall. Assessors spent an evening in
the town, accompanied by rep- resentatives from Maidstone Town Centre Management, Maidstone Council and the po- lice.
The judging panel visited sev- eral of the town’s nightspots, in-
cluding Strawberry Moons, Muggletons, Lockmeadow and MuMu, and saw the range of en- tertainment on offer, from the- atre, clubs and pubs to bingo and bowling. They were particularly im- pressed with the Urban Blue Bus, which provides help for revellers, saying it should be seen as “a template for best practice”. The report also praised door
staff for being welcoming while showing a clear use of age poli-
cies. The discreet and highly ef- fective partnership with the street pastors was also high- lighted. Town Centre manager Bill
Moss said: “We are delighted to be one of only 36 towns in the country to achieve it. I think it’s something that everyone in- volved with the night time economy in Maidstone can be very proud of.” The award ceremony is due to
take place in Sheffield on No- vember 27.
Gas works are
well on course THE gas works in Maidstone centre are now running five weeks ahead of schedule, al- though the current phase has caused the biggest traffic prob- lems, the town’s business forum was told. Work will stop at the end of November for the Christmas break. Town Centre manager Bill
Moss said that footfall in Maid- stone centre was down in Octo- ber by 2.75%, compared to last year. It was assumed that was partly due to the gas works but this could not be proved. No complaints from busi- nesses had been received at the Town Centre Management of- fice so far. The forum noted that other roadworks had taken place around the town centre during the gas works period, despite assurances that this would not happen.
Marketing man LARRY Williamson has been appointed as the new event and marketing co-ordinator for Maidstone town centre. He has taken up the part-time
role after retiring as sales pro- motions manager with the KM Group in May. Town Centre manager Bill
Moss said: “I am delighted to have coaxed Larry out of retire- ment. He brings a wealth of ex- perience in advertising and promotional marketing.”
Volunteers success THE successful Volunteers Week, staged by the Town Cen- tre Management at The Mall, gave 14 voluntary groups the chance to attract new volun- teers. Town Centre Manager Bill Moss thanked event spon- sors Golding Vision.
Late chips plan MARINO’S fish and chip shop in Gabriel’s Hill could become the latest member of MaidSafe. The chippie has applied for permission to stay open later and has spoken to the TCM about its security scheme.
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