All the latest news from Maidstone’s Night Economy Forum ‘High price’ for loss of marshals
THE loss of the town’s taxi mar- shals could cost Maidstone dear – in more ways than one. Town Centre Manager Bill
Moss fears that lack of funds to support the service could also lead to the loss of its recently- won purple flag. Mr Moss told the night econ-
Bar plans for
former bank THE former Kent Reliance/ NatWest bank inBankStreet has been taken over by the Wilson brothers,whorunRoadhouseand Strawberry Moons in nearby Gabriels Hill. Work is underway to turn the imposing premises into some- where that may once again at- tract bankers. Town Centre Manager Bill
Moss said while the town had a thriving night time economy, therewere fewplaces wherepeo- ple could “pop in for a drink”’. He told the forum that the bar
would serve food during the day, butwouldhaveamore relaxedat- mosphere in the evening, where workers could have a drink.
omy forum that the taximarshals – who help keep trouble at bay among clubbers pouring into the streets in the early hours – had played an important part in help- ing the town win the accolade, earlier this year. The award runs for two years and has 18months to go, but he
said: “If we don’t do something, I do fear we might lose it. The loss of the service has left a se- rious gap in our offer.” The service has benefited the police and the taxi drivers, as well as the public themselves, he told the meeting. Unfortunately, despite several donations, including private ones from four borough coun- cillors, the funds to run the service fizzled out on July 20. Dennis Conyon, from the Maidstone Licenced Taxi Oper- ators, said he was both angry and disappointed that the taxi operators had not seen fit to put
Clubbers ‘pre-loading’ ONE in five people who enjoy pubbing and clubbing in Maidstone are already the worse for wear when they hit town. Statistics gleaned from the town’s urban blue
bus revealed that 20% of those breath-tested were already drunk before going out. Police officers working with the urban blue
bus carried out a voluntary survey of people arriving in town to gauge the level of ‘pre- loading’ – the amount of alcohol consumed be- fore clubbers arrived in the town’s bars. Town Centre Manager Bill Moss told the
Night Economy Forum: “According to the po- lice statistics, one in five of those arriving in Maidstone are already ‘hammered’.”
their hands in their pockets – but had been hoping to see a lead from the police, who had also not contributed financially towards the scheme. He said: “I know everyone is tightening their belts, but clubs and pubs in other towns donate towards their running costs. I don’t see whywe should be any different. “I am sad that individuals
have felt the need to put money into the fund and I would like to see them get it back – it is the businesses and the people who benefit from the scheme who should help to fund it.”
Blue bus to be charity MAIDSTONE’S urban blue bus is set to get char- itable status. The bus offers first aid and support to night
time revellers and was an instrumental part in the town obtaining the coveted purple flag for the ex- cellence of its night time economy. The running costs for the bus – about £20,000 a
year – are mainly through hire fees, and the Town Centre Management, which operates the bus, also gets occasional grants from bodies such as Kent Police and the Safer Maidstone Partnership. Staffed by volunteers, it plays a crucial role in
the town centre on Friday and Saturday nights. Charitable status will mean it can more readily attract funding –with the potential to also attract gift aid on donations from tax payers.
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