Latest work to boost High Street


THE transformation of Maidstone town centre has entered a second phase with the Lower High Street earmarked for a £1.7m makeover.


Improvements will include repaving the


area, planting trees and installing new seat- ing and lighting. The centrepiece of the Lower High Street


will be the cannon, which will be reposi- tioned at the heart of the new space. A granite-paved area is to be created to allow space for seating outside restaurants and cafes. Works will be carried out by Dartford


firm F M Conway, and the scheme has been refined following consultation with businesses, the police, bus and taxi com- panies and the disability focus group. The project follows on from the comple-


tion of works in the upper end of the High Street, including Jubilee Square, a space that has already been used for perform-


Rural site ‘is wrong place


The High Street, left, and an artist’s impression of the new look


ances, markets and events. Councillor Malcolm Greer (right), cabinet member for economic and commercial de- velopment, said: “I am de- lighted to see work beginning on phase two of the High Street Regeneration. Thiswill complement the improvements to the upper High Street,


andwill be a real boost to businesses in the area.” The project will be completed in October


and is expected to bring 100 extra jobs, plus £4.5m of additional visitor expendi- ture to the town.


Bike docks launched at station


for homes’ A PROPOSAL to build eight af- fordable houses just outside Marden was turned down over concerns about the impact on the open countryside. Maidstone Council planning officers had recommended the refusal of Golding Homes’ scheme on land next to High- field House inMaidstone Road due to the design and layout causing harm to the immediate surroundings. While the planning commit-


tee agreed it should be refused, members demanded that coun- cil policy ENV28, which pro- tects the open countryside from new housing in most circum- stances, should also be in- cluded in the decision notice. Cllr Tony Harwood said: “Re-


fusing on the grounds given by the officers would suggest that development is fine but not this development. Ifwe do lose these former orchard sites we will lose the character of Marden.” Officers said the proposal for


two blocks of four terraces, was in a rural exception site so the principle of the development would have been acceptable in the open countryside. Marden Parish Council supported the scheme, saying affordable housing was much needed. Cllr Clive English, a commit-


tee member, said: “It is a pity the parish council took such a detached view.” Chris Blundell, a director at Golding Homes, said the final design had been the result of detailed discussions with plan- ning officers. But the committee voted unanimously to refuse the pro- posal and to include policy ENV28 in the decision notice. Cllr Ian Chittenden, a commit- tee member, said: “The parish council and developers need to have a serious chat about how a scheme like thiswould fit in.”


30 South


COMMUTERS and visitors to Maidstone are being urged to get on their bikes following the launch of the latest folding cycle hire scheme at one of the town’s two stations. A 24-dock cycle station has


been unveiled at Maidstone East, where Southeastern rail customers will be able to hire a bike for an hour, a day – or even a month or more. The folding nature of the


bikes means that they can be taken into the home or office and on public transport, even at peak times. Members of the scheme, oper-


ated by Brompton Dock, can keep the bikes for as long as they like, from hours to weeks. Users register online at


www.bromptondock.co.uk and pay an annual membership fee. They can then hire a bike by


A SERVICE of Remembrance for Staplehurst’s missing air- man, Sergeant Reginald Charles Fitzgerald, held in the parish church,was attended by former airmen and civic dignitaries. The Mayor of Maidstone Cllr


Rodd Nelson-Gracie attended, as well as MP for Maidstone and theWeald Helen Grant. The omission of Sgt Fitzger-


ald’s name from the village war memorial came to light when local history buff Ted Sergison unearthed the fact that Sgt Fitzgerald had worked on Slaney Farm for four years, as the ward of the Bateups. How- ever, the Bateups moved to Pad- dock Wood and his connection with the village was lost. Sgt Fitzgerald volunteered for service in 1943/4 and was sent to 31 Squadron South African Air Force – a mixed common- wealth squadron. He was lost on his second mission from Italy dropping supplies to the


Sgt Fitzgerald’s brothers with his medals


partisan forces. No trace of the plane has ever been found. The memorial has now been restored, with Sgt Fitzgerald’s name in its rightful place. The service was attended by Group Captain Patrick Tootal, Deputy Lt of Kent, who pre- sented the medals to Sgt Fitzgerald’s brother Charles and his family. The wind quintet of the Cen-


tral Band of the RAF, under the leadership of Cpl Paul Phelan, played throughout, courtesy of the Air Force Board of the De- fence Council.


text message or reserve a bike or empty bay online. Frequent members pay a £45 annual membership fee and then £2.50per daytohirea bike. Leisure members pay a £10 annual membership fee and then £5 per day to hire a bike. The dock is one of several to


be launched in Kent, with oth- ers at Ashford International, Canterbury West, Tonbridge and the University of Green- wich in Canterbury and Med- way.The Kent docks will bring the number of automated Brompton Docks in the UK up to 18.


Managing director of Bromp-


ton Dock, Mark Antwis said: “This is our first county-wide scheme, and we are really ex- cited about seeing the benefits it can bring. “The scheme has been de-


Service tribute to lost airman


signed to suit a range of needs and we look forward to seeing commuters and visitors to the area making the most of our folding bikes.” Managing director of South- eastern, Charles Horton said: “The rapid rise in passenger numbers over the last few years means trains are busier than ever before, which means we have to restrict the carriage of conventional bikes in peak pe- riods.


“However, fold-up bikes can


be carried at any time, so this scheme is great for both leisure travellers and commuters. We look forward to its roll out to other stations.” The scheme is being sup- ported by funding from the De- partment for Transport's Local Sustainable Transport Fund.


Summer fete date EAST Farleigh summer fete takes place on Saturday, July 6. Anumber of pitches for stalls


are still available priced £15 – contact Sue Morris for a book- ing form on 01622 726164.All profits from this year’s fete will go towards the new village car park project.


Bigger churchyard PLANNING permission has been granted to extend the churchyard at St Peter’s Church in Church Lane, Boughton Monchelsea. The extension is to be built


on agricultural land owned by Boughton Monchelsea Place, which has agreed to transfer the ownership to the church.


New warehouse BATHROOM suppliers Clay- gate Distribution Limited have opened a new warehouse at their base in Marden. The 30,000 sq ft facility was opened by MP for Maidstone and theWeald, Helen Grant.


Have you got news for us? Phone our News Desk on 01622 734735


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