Hard times for Chicago Rock


THE future of a Maidstone town centre night club hangs in the balance, after administrators were called in to rescue its par- ent company. Atmosphere Bars and Clubs, which owns Chicago Rock in Maidstone High Street, along with 23 other licensed bars and clubs across England and Wales, went into administration earlier in May, with Deloitte being appointed to handle its affairs.


Although a spokesman for De-


loitte said it was hoped to keep the venues operational and sold as a going concern, the future of the club remained uncertain. There was no reply from Chicago’s “party hotline” or from the club itself as the Downs Mail went to press. Atmosphere Bars and Clubs,


based in Milton Keynes, fo- cused on providing food, drink, music, parties and entertain- ment via its 19 Chicago bars and


CLLR TED Denham, of Thurn- ham Parish Council, requested the council and neighbouring parishes be involved in any consultation about plans to close the junction with the A249 and Pilgrims Way, as re- quested by Detling Parish Council. Cllr Jenny Whittle said she


had received a 150-signature petition from Detling residents asking for the junction to be


a handful of others. More than 500 jobs could be at risk if a buyer cannot be found. Daniel Butters, joint adminis-


trator and partner at Deloitte, said: “As a consequence of cash flow problems, the decision was taken by the directors of At- mosphere Bars and Clubs to place the company into admin- istration. We are continuing to trade the business and all ven- ues remain open whilst seeking a sale as a going concern.” Atmosphere had struggled in


the economic downturn, re- porting losses as late-night ven- ues went in for heavy discounting to retain their pop- ularity and share of the market. The group posted an annual pre-tax loss of £4.1m for the year to February 2012, with management blaming “unsus- tainable” discounting by rivals for the loss. This came after a pre-tax loss of £5.2m the year before.


Discussion over plan for A249 junction


shut to stop vehicles cutting through their village to avoid rush hour queues on theA249. She also said she has had emails from people who don’t want the junction closed. She said shewould pay for a traffic regulation order, which any- one could object to or support. Cllr John Horne said the problems were symptoms of the lack of an integrated trans- port strategy in Maidstone.


Two-storey extension ‘would block out light’


A PLAN to extend a home in Ulcombe was turned down due to likely overshadowing of a neighbouring property. Robin Turner’s planning ap- plication for a part two-storey and part single-storey side and rear extension and a front porch at Forge House, Windmill Hill, would have resulted in an “un- acceptable loss of light” for the occupiers of Wheelwrights, a bungalow to the north, said Maidstone Council. Planning officer Steve Clarke


said: “If the side extension was single storey, instead of two storeys, the problem would have been solved. But the ap- plicant has declined to go along with that.” Forge House, the end prop-


erty of a five-home terrace, re- tains its original two-up, two-down form. It has no bath- room, other than a makeshift arrangement in one of the bed- rooms, and the only toilet is downstairs. Peter Titchener, chairman of


Forge House and Wheelwrights


Ulcombe Parish Council, backed the applicant’s claim that the extension was neces- sary to provide an acceptable standard of living. But Cllr Stephen Paine, a member of the planning com- mittee, said: “The difficult thing is that we have a light policy- which says this should not go ahead.” Cllr Ian Chittenden, who is


also on the committee, agreed: “I really wish the applicant had listened to officers and gone for a single storey on the side.” The committee voted, with


nine votes for, two against and one abstention, to refuse the scheme.


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