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 Borough Council, devised the web site specification and man- aged 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.


Sporting plan A NEW floodlit 3G sports pitch and six new hard-surfaced ten- nis courts are earmarked for Valley Park Community 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.


Homes refused MAIDSTONE Council has blocked the Diocese of Canter- bury’s application for a pair of three-bed homes on land west of St Philip’s Church,Waterloo Street (pictured). The planning department


said the proposal would erode the open character of the churchyard and be detrimental to the setting of the church. The decision notice added: “The proposal would also result in the loss of the ragstone church- yard wall and several trees.”


Denture studio A BUSINESS in King Street, Maidstone, is offering the un- usual technique of undergoing all aspects of denture work. Maidstone Denture Studio promises to bypass the dentist and carry out all clinical stages of denture treatment, including crafting and fitting the den- tures.


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,


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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