to rise again COMMUTERS could face an- other massive hike in fares in the New Year – putting the cost of an annual season ticket to London above £4,000 from Maidstone and Bearsted. The Trades Union Congress is already protesting at stations around the county, claiming that the cost of rail travel will have gone up by 40.1% in six years, while average earnings only rose by 15.16%. Commuters travelling from Maidstone East and Bearsted could pay around £400 a month or £4,184 and £4,122 re- spectively if the anticipated fare increase of 4.1% was to be applied in January. Train operators can increase
fares by July’s Retail Price Index – which was 3.1% - plus 1%. The exact fare increases will
not be announced until Decem- ber but could be a bitter Christ- mas present for the thousands of commuters from Kent who travel daily to work in the City. The Association of Train Op- erating Companies says that in- creases above inflation are needed to support investment in new trains, better stations and faster services.
Council praised
by investor MAIDSTONE Council has re- ceived a pat on the back for its enterprise in encouraging new businesses to town. The Maidstone branch of the Giggling Squid, due to open in Earl Street in January, is poised to be the flagship of Britain’s first national Thai chain. And bosses say the people of Maidstone – and the local council – deserve the credit. Owner Andy Laurillard said
“We received lots of emails from Maidstone-based cus- tomers asking ifwewould open up in the town. One in particu- lar was a major local developer who promised to find us a site. “The local council was also instrumental in bringing us here. They’re encouraging of business and very forward- thinking.” The restaurant, due to open
in the former Earl’s gentlemen’s club and snooker venue, will seat 260 diners and become the chain’s 10th – and largest – restaurant.
Crematorium plan A PLANNING application has been submitted to alter the en- trance to Vinters Park Cremato- rium to prevent it from being used for unauthorised parking and as a turning circle. The scheme, which will be de- termined by Maidstone Council, also includes additional parking for staff and users of the crema- torium in Bearsted Road, Weavering.
32 Town Dad’s Army invades pub fun day
LAND Girls and Home Guards joined regulars at a Maidstone pub to raise £400 for charity at a Dad’s Army Theme Day. Although attendancewas down, everyone dug deep to raise almost
as much as last year for Cancer Research UK and Help for Heroes at The Swan in County Road. Landlady Jackie Hipwell said: “We were really pleased, but will be
checkingwith our diaries next year so that our event doesn’t coincide with the Military Odyssey at Detling, as it did this time.” As the Mid-Kent Swans, the pub raises money for Cancer Research UK throughout the year.
Plan to fell 16 trees after survey A PROPOSAL has been submitted to remove 16 protected trees at Cobtree Manor Golf Course in Chatham Road, Sandling. The planning application, which will be determined by Maid-
stone Council,would see the removal of four cherry, four ash, three common ash, two wild cherry, two hawthorn and a field maple tree as well as work to remove deadwood from the crowns of several other trees. Applicant My Time Active says thiswould be “prudent tree man- agement” following a recent health and condition tree survey.
Train fares are
Care home told to improve
A HOME for the elderly in Maidstone has been told to make urgent improvements after inspec- tors found major failings in the care provided. During an unannounced visit to Ranc Care Homes Ltd’s Maidstone Care Centre in Boxley Road, the Care Quality Commission found basic standards were not beingmet in five out of eight areas inspected. In two cases – involving staffing – warning notices were issued. Inspectors found staffing levels at the home
were inadequate on all units, both day and night, and this was having a major impact on the qual- ity of care being given. Staff training was also not up to date, meaning
they lacked the knowledge to provide effective care. Care plans, too, did not always provide enough information on individuals’ needs and
while some people in the home were happy, oth- ers thought staff were too busy to give proper care. The Care Quality Commission formally warned Ranc Care Homes Ltd to make urgent im- provements. Adrian Hughes, the regional director for the
south, said the commission’s findings had been referred to the local authority and it would re- turn to the home unannounced to check that the changes needed had been made. He added: “People are entitled to be cared for
in services, which are safe, effective, caring, well led, and responsive to their needs. This means there should be enough staff on duty who have received training to equip them to provide con- sistently good quality care.”
Town’s Tories facing merger
MAIDSTONE and The Weald Conservative Association looks certain to move its offices out of town and merge administration with the Conservatives’ West Kent Group, currently covering Tonbridge and Malling, Chatham and Aylesford and TunbridgeWells. Membership losses have led to declining income, which, says chairman Cllr John Wilson, means “the association cannot continue in its present form”. The association moved from
Rock House in Terrace Road, Maidstone, several years ago to a house in Albion Place, Maid- stone. This will be sold to re-fi- nance the association, ahead of borough elections next June and the next general election, possi- blyin2015. The association, with branches throughout the con- stituency, is the political and fi- nancial powerhouse behind its MP (Helen Grant), and its KCC and Maidstone Council mem- bers. A key role is fundraising. The association is talking with Andrew Kennedy, agent for the West Kent Group, and Cllr Wil- son said: “They are happy we should join and share costs while retaining our operational independence.”
Parking income soars in Kent
PEOPLE might complain about parking problems in Maidstone – but the price they pay for over- staying their welcome is just the tip of the iceberg, compared to many other parts of Kent. Figures released by the RAC Foundation reveal that Canter- bury City Council raked in more than £2.5m in parking fees and fines between 2011 and 2012 – while Maidstone’s was a little more than half a million. Almost all of the local coun-
cils in Kent boosted their profits from parking charges and fines in the same period, with Canter- bury and Tunbridge Wells prof- iting the most. Only Thanet and Shepway
saw a drop in income from on and off-street parking. Maidstone’s income rose from £495,000 to £557,000 – a rise of £62,000 and a snip compared to Canterbury’s leap of £400,000, putting its total income for the same period up to £2,564,000. TunbridgeWells climbed from £2,356,000 to £2,490,000 – an increase of £134,000. Medway, which also tops the
£2m mark for parking in- come, saw an increase of £80,000 to £2,090,000 and Sevenoaks from £1,431,000 to £1,568,000. Nationally, Westminster City Council pulls in the most money from car parking charges
and fines, at £41m a year. Professor Stephen Glaister, di-
rector of the RAC Foundation, said: “For many local authori- ties, parking charges are a nice little earner. “Hundreds of millions of pounds are being contributed annually to council coffers through parking charges.” But he added: “Drivers who
are paying them have a reason- able expectation to see the cash spent on the roads.” Recently, Barnet Council was panned by a High Court Judge for acting illegally in trying to set charges to raise revenue, rather than as part of traffic management.
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