Maidstone Borough Council 3 New Year Recycling Resolutions!
If you haven’t made a new year’s resolution for 2014 yet, why not make it your mission to Reduce, Reuse and Recycle. Maidstone residents already recycle over 50% of the borough’s rubbish and we are aiming to increase this figure even more over the coming years. Join us on Saturday 15 March for a recycling extravaganza event in Jubilee Square in the town centre where you can find out more about recycling and take part in fun activities. Keep an eye on the council’s website and Facebook page for more information.
Improving Air Quality in the Borough
Good air quality is vitally important for the health of everyone living and working in the borough. Poor air quality can have a big impact on things like asthma and heart conditions.
The weather affects the quality of the air at a regional level but local transport issues can make things worse. This is why we have action plans in place for those areas in the borough where air quality isn’t meeting targets, and these help us to deliver the national air quality strategy.
What the council is doing
We’re working with lots of partners, including other local councils, private businesses and transport companies to tackle the problem. We’re doing this in a variety of ways, from retro-fitting buses with new technology to reduce harmful emissions, and working on Walk to School projects. We’ve also put in bids for a new Park and Ride site, and to improve the gyratory over the river.
How you can help
We need residents to work with us to improve air quality, as one of the main factors is emissions from vehicles. The main thing that you can do is walk, cycle or use public transport rather than take your car. If you do need to use your car, there is advice at
www.kentair.org.uk on low carbon technologies, for example hybrid vehicles and electric cars.
If you run a business, consider whether your employees could be using more sustainable forms of transport, and whether
What’s On in the Gateway
13 – 17 January New Year, New You – everything you need to improve your health and feel better about yourself in 2014!
30-31 January
Financial Health Checks – Help with budgeting and how to deal with debt.
3 – 7 March Changes to benefits – Find out what benefits you’re entitled to, and get advice on what to do if you’re affected by recent benefits changes.
your company vehicles are as green as they could be. Visit
www.kentair.org.uk for lots of information on where to get more advice.
What to do if you’re concerned
The Daily Air Quality Index at
www.kentair.org.uk will let you know what level air pollution is at each day, and gives advice on what you should do if you think that you’re likely to be affected (for example, if you have asthma, respiratory or heart conditions).
Winter Shelter
Maidstone Borough Council is supporting the Maidstone Churches Winter Shelter, which will provide overnight shelter for homeless people across Maidstone. The project will be open between 30 December and 23 February. Partner agencies will provide advice and assistance to help homeless people find a home of their own.
Love Where You Learn
Oakwood Park students are now enjoying the first outdoor classroom area in Kent, thanks to a £2000 grant from Maidstone council. They won the coveted prize by entering the ‘Love Where You Learn’ competition, which encourages secondary schools to launch their own anti-littering initiatives. Entries are now invited from secondary schools for the 2013-14 funding grants – the deadline for submissions is 31 January. For information and an application pack, please contact
lovewhereyoulearn@maidstone.gov.uk or 01622 602115
Council Tax Bands
Letters are being sent to residents by a private company regarding possible Council Tax reductions in the banding of their properties. The company will charge a fee for any refund made to a resident if a successful reduction is made. Residents should be aware they are able to challenge the valuation band of their property free of charge if they feel it is wrong with the Valuation Office Agency. Visit
www.voa.gov.uk for more information.
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56