Squatters hit with second eviction


A YOUNG man and woman were arrested when bailiffs evicted a group of squatters from a disused NatWest bank in Maidstone. The squatters, who moved


into the Bank Street building after being evicted from the old Maidstone library in St Faiths Street, were evicted by bailiffs acting for the Royal Bank of Scotland, which owns the prop- erty, with support from police. A 17-year-old youth was ar-


rested for a public order offence and possession of a controlled substance and a 19-year-old woman was arrested for a pub- lic order offence. The woman was cautioned


and the youth bailed until Wednesday June 12 - but the same pair were then rearrested for criminal damage and steal- ing electricity. A group of to 20 young peo-


ple got into the library early last month (April) after it had lain empty for almost a year. According to Town Centre Manager Bill Moss , after being evicted from the library, they then approached Maidstone Council for housing, but were unsuccessful. After an attempt to get into


the Stone CourtHotel, they then moved into the old Kentish Bank. Maidstone’s Green party believes KCC should have shown more compassion by al-


lowing the homeless to use the empty library. Stuart Jeffery, from the Green


party, said: “These young peo- ple were putting an unused building to good use as a home, but thanks to the actions of the county council they have to find somewhere else to live while the building goes back to being empty. “They just need a place where


they can do this. Maidstone Li- brary has sat empty for the past year and while it might not be an ideal building, it could help


ONE of Maidstone’s “big guns” is on themove. But this time, it’s not a senior council figure or top-earn- ing business guru – but, literally, a big gun! The historic cannon, which sits


in a prime position near the junc- tion of Mill Street and the Lower High Street, is being relocated as part of the road improvement scheme. The Russian gun and its plinth


are to be shifted only slightly, to fit in with the paved road scheme, where they willbesetamongeight newtrees andilluminatedat night. The council has applied for plan-


ning consent to carry out the works andaspokesmansaid: “The cannon and plinth are to be relo- cated to afford the monument a


them.” But KCC estates manager


Mark Cheverton took a differ- ent view. He said: “There is a key distinction to be made be- tween these so-called ‘lifestyle squatters’, who unlawfully tres- pass, cause great nuisance, in- convenience and cost significant sums of money to evict – all paid for by the coun- cil-tax payers of Kent – and those genuinely homeless rough sleepers and other vulnerable groups in need of housing. “Illegal squatting is not the


answer to the problem of home- lessness. Whilst we had to take firm and immediate steps to re- gain possession of our property, we have at the same time sought to offer help to the most needy and vulnerable.” Mr Cheverton said KCC had worked with Maidstone Coun- cil and homeless charity Porch- light to see what support and assistance could be given. He said : “Although the premises were empty, they will be re- quired for KCC use in the near future.”


Town’s Russian gun is on the move


more central position, commensu- rate with its importance.” The process of relocating the cannon will involve its temporary removal and careful demolition


and reconstruction of the stone plinth, using theexisting materials wherever possible. The cannonwill then be re-sited on the reinstated plinth.


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