Lions’ charity car park stopped
MAIDSTONE Lions Club has been told it can no longer raise funds for charity by charging shoppers and football fans to park in the County Gate car park on Saturdays. For the last three Decembers
and the second half of the last football season, Lions volun- teers have manned the car park in Staceys Street at weekends, giving all proceeds to charity. Now a new agent has taken
over the management of the of- fice building and grounds and have refused to let the Lions continue the arrangement for the car park, which has over 150 spaces. Lions president Malcolm Lux-
ton said: “Manning the car park was our main fundraiser – throughout the year we raised about £6,000 doing that, com- pared with about £2,000 to £3,000 by other methods. With 100% of the funds
raised from shoppers and Maid- stone United fans parking on this site, we have been able to
Money raised at the car park
has been used to: buy two bespoke tricycles so disabled children can enjoy cy- cling with their families; help Maidstone Food for Thought purchase a new van; provide an outdoor play area for a school in a deprived area; house two women who had been living in a refuge. The new agent is London-
Lions Club members manned the car park gate on match days
help many people. “There are only ever about six
office workers’ cars in the car park on a Saturday and we would have been more than happy to carry on reserving a space for workers, who are enti- tled to park there for free but often made a donation anyway. “We would even have adver-
tised the new agents on our posters and flyers. It’s a great shame because it made a huge difference to charitable causes in Maidstone.”
based property advisors Matthews and Goodman. Nicola Dixon-Brown, who manages of- fice properties for the company, declined to comment on the company’s decision. Mr Luxton concluded: “We
have detailed our good track record over the past three years and given assurances with our public liability insurance pol- icy, but have been unable to change their mind. “We therefore apologise to all shoppers and MaidstoneUnited fans who were hoping to con- tinue to use this office car park in the future.”
Internet pair get Town Team online
TWO talented entrepreneurs challenged with taking onMaid- stone’s new Town Team and giv- ing it an identity are being rewarded for their labours. Former Maidstone Grammar School students Ed Craddock and Will Beeching were se- lected from several applicants to design and build the Town Team’s website – and not only were their ideas exciting and imaginative, but so was their price! The pair set up their company
Flowboxlessthanayearago, straight after leaving school, and are fast becoming a success. Both Ed andWill had univer-
sity offers to study brand com- munication and graphic design, but decided to put into action a business plan they had devised
1994, before the building of FremlinWalk. Jon Spree, from Pingala Media,
as part of their creative media diploma. Their company Flowbox was incorporated in May 2012, and they began working full-time in the business, from premises in Tovil, in January this year. The Town Team – which com-
prises businesses, councillors and volunteers who want to help make Maidstone a better place – voted to give the pair a signed, framed Graham Clarke print ofMaidstone – as it was in
acted as the Town Team’s con- sultantwith regard to the tender- ing and appointment of Flowbox, as well as assisting with the job specification and helping to oversee thewebsite. Jenny Hunt, from Maidstone Council, devised the web site specification and managed the tender process. Will said: “We pitched for the
job quite late, but it has been ex- citing to work on and has al- ready led to more contracts.” One of the aims now is for the public to get involved with the website, coming up with sug- gestions and ideas which could be developed for the benefit of the town.
Supply crisis at food bank
THE autumn harvest can’t come quick enough for one Maidstone charity, which is rapidly running out of supplies. The Salvation Army, which
gives food parcels to the needy, says demand has doubled in the past six months and stocks of non-perishable items are running at an all-time low. The charity gives out food parcels to families. At the start of the year, that was about 15 parcels a week, but now it is more than 30. The change in the Govern-
ment’s welfare reforms could have played a part,with a sharp rise in demand when the changes came in in April. Many schools pass on their harvest festival donations to the Salvation Army, in September or October. In the meantime, stocks at the Union Street citadel are rapidly running out. Maidstone Council has agreed to put a food collection point at its King Street Gate- way. Other donations can be taken to the Salvation Army in Union Street, which acts as a distribution centre for the parcels between 9am and noon from Monday to Friday.
Sporting plan A NEW floodlit 3G sports pitch and six tennis courts are ear- marked for Valley Park Com- munity School in Huntsman Lane,Maidstone. A planning application has
been submitted for the new fa- cilities, as well as upgrading and extending the pedestrian access from the school site to- gether and the refurbishment of tennis courts and fencing. The Valley Invicta Academy
Trust also plans to submit an application for a 12-court sports hall. KCC will determine the plan- ning application.
New plans to revitalise ‘eyesore’ bingo hall
THE days of the silver screen could be on their way back to a ramshackle Maidstone cinema. The old Granada Theatre, later the ABC Cinema, at the bottom of Lower Stone Street, has been owned by Gala Bingo for more than a decade. But, as the council strides forward with
plans to smarten up Maidstone, there have been grumblings of discontent about the state of the building. Several years ago, volunteers painted a
giant mural on the art deco building to brighten it up, but once more it is being dubbed a blot on the landscape in the cen- tre of town. Now, a group of volunteers want to re-
store the cinema screen and use the rest of the building for gigs and pop-up shops. As the Downs Mail went to press, Jason Martin, founder and chief executive of Kent CAN, which supports the voluntary sector,was calling ameeting of volunteers,
32 East
The mural on the Gala Bingo hall at the bottom of Lower Stone Street
when ideas for the future of the building would be discussed. Describing the concept as a ‘community-
led regeneration project’ Jason has launched awebsite and facebook page ask- ing followers to come up with their ideas for future use of the space. Suggestions so far include a film club,
cultural events, tea dances and live music. There could also be gallery space for up
and coming artists, a recording studio, a restaurant and a bar. However, Gala Coral have not said whether or not they would be prepared to relinquish the building and have not been involved in any of the talks. Town Centre Manager Bill Moss, who has
been critical of the present owners for let- ting the exterior run into disrepair, said: “This is a first class idea and I really hope something can come of it. This semi- derelict building is Maidstone’s biggest eyesore, a real embarrassment to the town and the Gala Group and is seen by thou- sands of passing motorists every day. I wish Jason and his team every success.” The building opened in January 1934 and closed after it flooded in 1968. It became a bingo hall in 1971 but reverted to a cinema in 1989. It closed for the last time as a cin- ema in April 1999.
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