McDonald’s ‘not wanted’ 1 in 4 children “This is likely to cause gen-


FAST food giant McDonald’s has been rebuffed in its aspira- tion for a drive-through restau- rant in central Maidstone. The burger chain had applied


to set up a 130-seater restaurant on the corner of The Broadway and Barker Road, on the site of a former Renault dealership that has been empty for more than a year. But Maidstone Council re-


fused the planning application on a number of grounds, in- cluding concerns about the im- pact of unrestricted vehicle movements between 6am and midnight


Marston plans new pub for A20


MARSTON Inns has unveiled plans for a pub and restaurant close to M20 Junction 5 off the A20 on the northern edge of Maidstone. The pub, which would have a


gross internal floor area of 581sqm, would be located south- east of the London Road round- about with St Laurence Avenue and north of the train line. A sup- porting statement from the appli- cant said: “The proposal is designed to attract passing trade. Thus, the site is in a relatively


prominent location on the round- about serving the A20 London Road and at the entrance to the 20/20 Maidstone Business Park. “The compact formand layout of


the proposal avoids the common ‘front versus back’ approach fre- quently associated with serviced


A FATHER-of-three was more than twice over the legal alcohol limit for driving when he died after a motorcycle crash in the centre of Snodland. Jason Randall (39), of Mary Last Court, Snod-


land, had started to drink heavily after the death of his father, his wife Nicola told an inquest at Maidstone. The bereavement was followed by the suicide


of his employer, Michael Foster (73), of Lambert and Foster auctioneers in Paddock Wood. It was Mr Randall who found his boss dead from a shot- gun wound to the head at his Boxley home. Mr Randall died from multiple injuries on Sat-


Gallery nightclub opens THE Gallery Nightclub has now opened in the former Loder & Payne building in Bank Street, Maidstone. The grade II-listed building has three rooms


over two levels and a huge chandelier hangs above the dance floor. Other features include a grand staircase and carved stone pillars. An application for a sex entertainment licence at the venue was rejected last year.


A GROUND-level car park in King Street could be an added boon to disabled drivers in Maid- stone.


Following the granting of plan-


ning permission, the King Street multi-storey car park has now been permanently closed by the council, along with the superstore below it. Demolition is due to commence shortly, after which the site will be levelled and turned into a landscaped, surface level car park with spaces for bikes. However, as well as four


buildings, thus maximizing the public frontage.” There would be 60 parking spaces. A planning application, to be determined by Tonbridge & Malling Council, also requests first floor accommodation for security reasons.


Fatal crash dad was over drink limit


urday, July 14, last year after his bike hit a sta- tionary Vauxhall Corsa in Malling Road. Coroner Patricia Harding heard the cycle had no defects which could have contributed to the crash. However, the road was damp, which could have made the wheels lock. Recording a verdict of accidental death, Mrs Harding said that the stationary Corsa ahead was letting other cars across. As the bike braked, it ap- peared locked up and hit the rear of the Corsa with Mr Randall’s body impacting on the side. She said there was no evidence he intended to take his own life.


Burglar sentenced SAMUAL Lee Willicombe-Barden (23), of St Catherine’s Road, Maidstone, was ordered to carry out 150 hours of unpaid work by Mid Kent Magistrates Court after being convicted of bur- glary. He denied entering a building in Hart Street, Maidstone, as a trespasser on June 18 last year with intent to steal.He was ordered to pay £50 costs and £12 compensation.


Disabled to benefit from demolition


dedicated spaces for blue badge holders, the remaining 61 spaces will be available on a ‘first come, first served’ basis, but with free parking for up to four hours for any other blue badge holders. A council spokesman said:


“The decision to permit the dem- olition of the car park followed careful consideration of the costs involved in necessary car park improvements, ongoing mainte- nance, overheads and customer usage levels.


“The new car park facility


planned for this site will provide good level access to the town cen- tre for disabled users.” The council hopes the new car


park will be ready for use by the autumn. In the meantime, the nearest alternative long stay car parks are in Sittingbourne Road, Union Street and Lucerne Street. The nearest alternative short


stay car parks are in Wheeler Street, Brewer Street and Med- way Street. Season tickets are valid in any of the council’s long stay car parks.


To contact Downs Mail just phone 01622 630330


eral noise and disturbance, in- cluding car lights shining into habitable rooms, having a sig- nificant adverse impact on the amenity of the occupants of the residential flats at 19 The Broadway and 25, 27 and 29 Hart Street,” said the decision notice. The council also said the drive-thru would have a “sig- nificant adverse effect” on local air quality, cause unacceptable noise, odours and fumes for nearby residents and would compromise highway safety. The proposal was further re-


fused for its poor design and layout, and harming the charac- ter, appearance and setting of grade II Listed buildings at 19- 21 The Broadway. The £4million restaurant would have created 75 jobs, ac- cording to the planning appli- cation.


Cabinetmember for planning, transport and development, Cllr Stephen Paine wrote on his website that the location was wrong for a McDonald’s restau- rant and felt a concert hall, other entertainment or leisure facilities or housing would be better suited to the site.


‘in poverty’ UP TO 24% of children in the Maidstone area are living in poverty – with a household in- come of less than £26,500 – ac- cording to the Campaign to End Child Poverty. While the area covered by Maidstone Council has a 17% child poverty rate, some of the constituencies whose bound- aries fall within the Maidstone area are much higher. The Chatham and Aylesford con- stituency has a 24% child poverty rate while 23% of chil- dren in the Faversham andMid Kent constituency are below the poverty line. Maidstone and the Weald has


a 15% child poverty rate, while 14% of children in Tonbridge and Malling are in poverty. Na- tionally, the figure is just over 20%.


Enver Solomon, chair of the campaign, said: “We’re calling on authorities to prioritise low income families in the deci- sions they make about local welfare spending. The Govern- ment must also closely examine its current strategy for reducing poverty and consider what more it could do to ensure mil- lions of children’s lives are not blighted by poverty.”


Skate park plan A NEW skateboard park at Park Wood recreation ground is a step closer to reality after resi- dents met with representatives from developers Maidstone council and Golding Homes. Feedback from the open day


will be used to determine the design of the skate park and the ramps and jumps required. A second consultation will


then be scheduled to finalise plans, with the target being to open the skate park in time for the school summer holidays. The development will cost


£60k and the project was the one most favoured by young- sters who voted in the area’s Planning For Real consultation. It will be jointly funded by the council and homes developer. Residents can still submit


their ideas for skate park equip- ment online at the website www.surveymonkey.com/s/N MKH7WH


Chance to run in city THE Heart of Kent Hospice, based in Aylesford, has some places available in the British 10k London run through the heart of the capital on July 14. Starting in Piccadilly outside


The Guards and Calvary Club, runners will pass the new WW2bomber command memo- rial which was unveiled by the Queen in June 2012, with Wellington Arch at Hyde Park Corner forming the backdrop to the start. Contact 01622 790195 or visit


www.hokh.org to register.Min- imum sponsorship £150.


Town 27


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