Bike docks launched at station


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. A24-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, operated by Brompton Dock, can keep the bikes for as long as they like, from hours to weeks. Users register online at www.brompton- dock.co.uk and pay an annual membership fee. They can then hire a bike by text mes-


in new role CHIEF Superintendent Steve Corbishley has returned for his third stint at Maidstone po- lice station, taking up the role of divi- sional com- mander for West Kent. The division covers Maid-


stone, Tunbridge Wells, Sevenoaks and Tonbridge and Malling. He succeeds acting Chief Su- perintendent Andy Rabey who held the position on a tempo- rary basis, following the depar- ture to force HQ of Chief Superintendent Matthew Nix. Since joining Kent Police in


1993, Chief Supt Corbishley has performed a variety of roles, with much of his early career in the criminal investi- gation department. He under- took his first command role in 2004 at Maidstone, returning again in 2006. He was ap- pointed area commander at Medway in 2008. During his command, signifi-


cant reductions in crime were achieved and long-standing problems addressed, notably the virtual removal of street prostitution in Chatham. Since July 2011, he has taken charge of the partnership direc- torate at force HQ, with re- sponsibility for strategic crime reduction activity, partnership and community engagement. He said: “I am pleased to be


given the opportunity of lead- ing the police team at West di- vision and look forward to seeingmany familiar faces. The key for us will be to continue reducing crime and anti-social behaviour.”


Tree ‘now too big’ A SCHEME has been submitted by Clive Lewis to fell a leyland cypress tree in The Old Vic- arage, Church Street, Loose, as it was becoming “dispropor- tionately large”. Maidstone Council will de- termine the conservation area application.


Officer returns


sage or reserve a bike or empty bay online. Frequent members pay a £45 annual mem- bership fee and then £2.50 per day to hire a 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 others at Ashford Interna- tional, Canterbury West, Tonbridge and the University of Greenwich in Canterbury and Medway.The Kent docks will bring the number of automated Brompton Docks in the UK up to 18. Managing director of Brompton Dock,


Mark Antwis said: “This is our first county- wide scheme, and we are really excited about seeing the benefits it can bring.


NINETEEN additional parking spaces could be established near a car park behind 7 Ash- ford Road, Maidstone. Dashwood Estates says the


plan would provide an alterna- tive for drivers following the closure of the King Street multi- storey car park, with a loss of 171 spaces. A supporting statement said:


“The car park access off Albion Placewould be relocated to a po- sition further south and closer to the Ashford Road junction. The existing exit off Albion Place would be closed with a new egress being provided off An-


AFORMERmusic teacher from Allington has been voted the People’s Choice in an art com- petition at Maidstone Museum. Visitors to the museum’s Bentlif Art Gallery voted a pic- ture by Kay Gretton (55) as their favourite. Wealden Sea- sons was on display with more than 80 other entries, in the museum café from July to Oc- tober last year. Judges named Robert An- drews. of Waterloo Street, Maidstone, as the outrightwin- ner, but it was Mrs Gretton’s


MAIDSTONE has a new mayor. Councillors elected Cllr Clive English to represent the bor- ough for the coming year, taking over the chain of office from Cllr Rodd Nelson-Gracie. A LibDem member for High


Street Ward since 1994, Cllr English was nominated for the position by fellow Cllr Ian Chit- tenden (Lib Dem) who said he was “well known in council cir- cles to have an encyclopaedic knowledge of local and national government”. However, as a councillor, he is probably best known for his knowledge of planning issues. Seconding the motion, Con- servative Cllr Stephen Paine said: “He has given a lifetime to public service and for that we should all respect him. I think


“The scheme has been designed to suit a


range of needs and we look forward to see- ing commuters and visitors to the area mak- ing the most of our folding bikes.” Managing director of Southeastern, Charles Horton said: “The rapid rise in pas- senger numbers over the last few years means trains are busier than ever before, which meanswe have to restrict the carriage of conventional bikes in peak periods. “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 supported by fund-


ing from the Department for Transport's Local Sustainable Transport Fund.


Office site earmarked for car parking


drew BroughtonWay. “There will be a net increase


of 19 spaces (on the basis that there are already 50 spaces lo- cated to the rear of numbers 7 to 11 Ashford Road). This makes a total of 69 spaces that would be available on the application site and existing car park together, all being located at the rear of numbers 7 to 11 Ashford Road. “The application site has been un-developed for many years, it having been the subject of a number of previous proposals for large scale office develop- ment. None of these schemes have come to fruition and, in


Artist Kay voted people’s choice


modern mix of Kentish oast houses, green fields and frosty meadows which caught the at- tention of visitors. Mrs Gretton was a strings teacher and conductor at Kent Music School until she devel- oped a disability, which forced her to quit seven years ago. She says she has now learned


to re-direct her creativity through her art. Judges described entries in


last year’s Bentlif open art prize as being of the highest standard ever.


he will make a superb mayor.” Cllr Fay Gooch, on behalf of


the Independ- ents, sup- ported the motion, say- ing: “Having loyally served this borough and its com- munities for so many years, Cllr English (pictured) has rightly earned the honour and pride of being Mayor of Maidstone.” Accepting the role, the new


mayor said: “There is much to be proud of in the community that we all, in different ways, serve. Thank you very much, mem- bers, for your support, and I will tryveryhardtoliveuptoit!”


To contact Downs Mail just phone 01622 630330


the current economic climate, it is unlikely that any new office development will be forthcom- ing in the immediate future. “The proposed car park ex- tension would be of great bene- fit to those persons who occupied spaces in King Street on a regular basis. “This application proposes a temporary car park use of the application site for a five-year period, by which time the econ- omy may have improved and the site’s redevelopment can be progressed. This form of tempo- rary development would not prejudice any future use.”


Back to school MORE than 40 teacher train- ing students from University College KAHO, in Belgium, visited Maidstone schools to learn about teacher education in England. In a visit organised by Can- terbury Christ Church Uni- versity, the trainee teachers visited Valley Park Commu- nity School and Invicta Grammar School, where they taught lessons, observed teachers and toured the schools.


New mayor proud to take on role Cllr English was born in


Walthamstow, London, before moving to Maidstone in 1961. He gainedaBA(Hons)inhis- tory and politics at Lancaster University and became a Methodist Church accredited preacher in 1990. He started his working career at Canterbury City Council planning depart- ment, before moving to the RoyalMail where he worked in data management and logistics. He became a borough council-


lor in 1994 and has served on a number of committees, notably planning and transportation, and leisure overview and scrutiny. He also held the post of cabinet member for regeneration. His interests include chess,


being an officer with the Boys Brigade and charity work.


Town 27


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