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downsmail.co.uk Pre-loaders hiing pub trade Continued from page one


peak ‘party’ time was now from 1am to 4am – with many people coming straight from home, having consumed large quantities of alco- hol in advance. NEF chairman Paul Alcock, who


is a regular volunteer on the Urban Blue Bus, said the bus had been far busier already this year than last. He said: “A lot more people are drinking a lot more at home. The statistics are looking horrendous.” He said a new campaign, whereby those helped by the Blue Bus were given an option to come back and assist others,was proving very successful. “Someone can be on the bus


being sick oneweek – then holding the bag for someone else the week after. It seems to beworkingwell in getting the message home.” Breathalyser research carried out


on the bus revealed that 27% of people tested in 2011-12 were well over the drink-drive limit when they arrived in town; itwas a simi- lar sum in 2012-13.However, so far this year the figure was as high as 40%. Mr Alcock said: “We are not say-


volunteers MAIDSTONE street and prayer pastors are marking Volunteers’ Week, the firstweek in June, with a “thank you” event. The group will meeting at Mug- gleton’s Inn from 11am to noon on Saturday, June 7. Tea, coffee and biscuits will be available – as well as alcoholic refreshments – and there will be a chance to chat to the team about theirwork in the town. The street pastors are always looking for more helpers. Contact Maidstone co-ordinator Nigel Downes at maidstone@streetpas- tors.org.uk.


Fair is free


ADMISSION to this year’s summer fair at Leeds and Broomfield school is free, leaving visitors more to spend on the attractions. The decision has been taken by


the Friends of Leeds School Associ- ation. Joint chair Beth McCausland said: “This is such an important fund-raiser for us, with the pro- ceeds helping to buy the added ex- tras for the children’s education.” The fair opens at noon and runs until 3pm on Sunday, July 6.


FREEMore local www.downsmail.co.uk


news online 12 Maidstone East June 2014


drinking less in our premises.” Mr Moore said he regularly had instances of people trying to smug- gle in bottles of spirits or hip flasks and bag and body searches were now part of the security regime. He said: “If things don’t change,


the writing is on the wall. People are getting blotto at home and not coming to us sober. The problems start after they have had about two drinks and we are left to clear up the mess.” Mr Moore said his security bill


The Urban Blue Bus


ing these people are driving. But we are using the measurement as a yardstick of how much people have had to drink – or pre-loaded – be- fore coming out for the evening.” Steve Moore, manager of the Source Bar in Rose Yard, said prof- itswere down 20% year on year.He said: “A lot less people are buying alcohol when they come out. It is hitting us really hard as a business. “They are coming out later and


had gone up by a third in the past nine months, yet early evening drinking declined markedly. “I have been in the business 25 years and never known it to be as bad as now,” he added. The change in licensing laws, de- signed to turn Britain into a café culture, had failed abysmally, he said. “The idea was for people to come out and have a few drinks, sitting at a bar or street café. Allwe have done is create a culture where people get hammered at home and roll out at midnight, then carnage ensues. Iwas far happier when peo- ple came out at 8pm and went home at 2am.We have a much big-


ger game to deal with now.” Trading standards officer Jason


Reilly said people were drinking less but going for drinks with a higher alcohol content. He said: “Theywant the maximum strength and to drink it as quickly as possi- ble. It’s quite horrible.” Operators will meet to address


the town’s drinking culture. Ideas include hosting ‘club’ sessions in Jubilee Square earlier in the evening to give young people a taste of what the town’s clubs have to offer, selling wristbands which allow admission to all participating clubs and pubs – an idea recently adopted in Canterbury – and a new system of ID. Other ideas to get people into


town include getting taxi operators to promote a fixed fee rate for cus- tomers coming from places such as Medway and Ashford.


Do you think the town is a worse place for people drink- ing at home before going out? Email the editor on stephen@downsmail.co.uk


Pastors thank Volunteers needed to help restore nature site


THE Friends of Boxley Warren are looking for more volunteers to help them restore the area. The group meets once a month


to carry out a variety of tasks involved in recreating the Site of Special Scientific Interest for the enjoyment of the public. Projects include the creation of glades, habitats for reptiles and a pond to encourage amphibians. The Friends meet on the second


Sunday of each month and a hot meal and drinks are provided.


Some of the volunteers working at Boxley Warren


Chairman Bob Hinder said: “We


are always looking for more people to join us. If you could spare about four hours a month to come along and get some fresh air and enjoy


the stupendous views while you work, please contact us.” For more details, ring 07753 992550 or Boxley Parish Council offices on 01634 861237.


Interact club awarded charter Awards venue


INVICTA Grammar School’s Interact Club received its charter at a recent meeting of the Maidstone Riverside Rotary Club. Guests including the


Mayor of Maidstone Cllr Clive English saw Inter- act president Alice Mus- grove receive a badge of office and certificate on behalf of the school. Head teacher Julie Derrick welcomed guests and spoke about the ethos of the school while Alice gave an in- sight into the events held along with a brief history of the group, founded two years ago.


She concluded her speech by thanking her team for their hard work. Ellie Monks-Walker and Georgia Phipps explained how they had raised £1,000 for their local charity, Trinity Foyer in Maidstone. During the more formal part of the proceedings, members were pre- sented with Rotary pins and both the retiring president Alice, and the in- coming president, Sophie Aujard, were given their charter, badge and a cheque towards their fundraising.


THE organisers of Kent’s biggest annual showcase for the food and drink industry has confirmed it will return to the Kent Event Cen- tre, near Detling, in 2015. Produced in Kent’s Taste of Kent


Awards celebrated its 10th anniver- sary recently and the organiser staged the final at the Kent Event Centre for the first time.


The organisation has confirmed that the 2015 awards ceremony will be held at the centre, home to the Kent County Agricultural Society. The centre is preparing for the opening of its new £1.5m confer- ence building. The 72-metre long hall can seat up to 4,000 people and will be an addition to the existing Clive Emson Conference Centre, John Hendry Pavilion and the Astor Pavilion.


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