News
downsmail.co.uk Cash cuts hit business hub plan
MAIDSTONE Council’s attempt to set up an enterprise hub to help start-up businesses has been hampered by a cut in KCC funding. The councilwants to provide flex-
“Start-up businesses cannot af-
ible office accommodation, hot de- sking and advice from private and public sector experts for new com- panies. It was working towards opening
the enterprise hub on the site of the former post office in King Street but this has been shelved due to a lack of funding from KCC and unsatis- factory rental terms. In 2013, KCC offered a £500,000
loan and £200,000 grant subject to match-funding, which was agreed by Maidstone Council. But earlier this year KCC clawed back the grant, which coincided with the borough council failing to reach an agreement with post office landlord Telereal Trillium, leaving the scheme back at square one.
Make-up of
the borough POLISH people make up the largest non-native part of the com- munity in the borough of Maid- stone.
Figures from the Office of Na-
tional Statistics show 1,526 Poles now live in the borough – the high- est number of foreigners now mak- ing it their home. A breakdown of the figures
shows residents from more than 30 countries now make up the bor- ough’s 155,800 residents, with the top five places represented by: Eng- land (137,398), Scotland (1,666), Poland (1,526) andWales (1,160). Other large community groups include those from South Africa (816), India (787), Republic of Ire- land (811) and Germany (717), with more remote places including Sri Lanka (187) and Zimbabwe (328). The borough’s religious make-up comprises 62.9% Christian, 26.2% No religion, 1.1% Muslim, 1% Hindu, 0.6% Buddhist, 0.1% Sikh, 0.1% Jewish and 0.1% agnostic. Some 11,043 people did not state a religion, while 627 stated their alle- giance as a Jedi knight and 14 be- lieved in heavy metal. Just over half are married (50.8%), 12.2% cohabit, 0.7% live with a partner of the same sex, 21.3% are single, with 8% sep- arated or divorced.
Thief in court A HOMELESS man has appeared before Mid Kent Magistrates Court accused of shoplifting. Josh Drewett admitted taking clothes valued at £97.50 from a shop inWeek Street, Maidstone. He was sentenced to 14 days in prison.
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The former post office in King Street Karen Franek, principal economic
development officer for Maidstone Council, told the economic and commercial development overview and scrutiny committee: “There are other organisations doing similar things but with a bias towards peo- ple like ex-offenders or those with additional problems. We want to give our businesses the best start.
ford to get into long leases that are not flexible. Offices in Maidstone are not flexible enough for the very early stages of a business. The pri- vate sector does not want to touch it because there is not an instant re- turn. We are talking about remov- ing the barriers that prevent people from doing business. We are not talking about subsidising but pro- viding facilities that provide earn- ing potential.” Ms Franek said she would ex-
plore suggestions made by the com- mittee for alternative sites, including the Maidstone Gateway and suitable leasehold premises. She added: “There has been a
30% increase over the past 10 years in the number of businesses estab-
lished from home. This is a national trend and Maidstone is at a higher level. “Every yearwe are seeing 700-800 people considering self-employ- ment or starting a business. Many of these are home-based. “They lack peer-to-peer support
with access to professionals and services they can’t fund themselves. “If you get a hub you cut costs
and bring them all together. There are a phenomenal number of busi- nesses out there and I would be lying if I said some of them aren’t under the radar, so we want to reach out to them. “It would be a seed bed to help businesses get off to a good start with all resources on site or easily accessible.”
Council joinsworld’s biggest coffee morning
KENT County Council staff raised £1,118 at a coffee morning in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support. More than 300 people turned up
at the event in County Hall to enjoy homemade cakes and biscuits and to try their luck in the grand raffle. The coffee morning was opened
by KCC vice-chairman Mike Harrison. He said: “Mymother is 104 and still going strong, but she has needed care for the last four years. When I visit her in the care home I often see Macmillan nurses coming and going and the work they do is truly amazing.” The coffee morning was also
attended by Macmillan’s area fundraising manager Helene Poursain, who said: “More and more people are living with cancer
rather than dying with it, and they all need care and support. Macmillan provides the help they need.”
KCC events manaager Deborah Malthouse,Helene Poursain from Macmillan Cancer Support and KCC vice-chairman Mike Harrison.
Carwash plan Church lights Bank to open
ABID to establish a carwash in the car park of an Indian restaurant in Tonbridge Road, Maidstone has been refused. Maidstone Council felt Enamul Haque’s application in relation to Spice Fusion would have harmed the amenity of the residents of 450 Tonbridge Road and 4 Fountain Lane “byway of noise, disturbance, water spray and odours”.
NEW lighting has been installed at St Philip’s Church and the Cen- tre in Maidstone, thanks to be- quests and money raised by the Friends of the church. Churchwarden Mollie Neaves
said the electrical system had failed an inspection earlier in the year, so the workwas necessary to keep the buildings open.
Driver refused breath test A MAIDSTONE man has been convicted of failing to give a breath specimen for analysis. Paul Stone (50), of Grecian Court, was convicted by West Kent Magistrates’ Court in Sevenoaks.Hewas banned from driving for 24 months and fined £165, with £785 costs and a £20 victim surcharge.
Formore local news –
www.downsmail.co.uk Maidstone Town November 2014
A COMPANY that claims to be the UK’s first high street bank in more than 100 years is to open a branch in Maidstone. Metro Bank has applied to move
into premises in Colman Parade, King Street, at its junction with Week Street, which was occupied by clothes shop Peppermint until September. Metro has expanded rapidly
since its launch in July 2010, with 27 sites established and more planned. Branches are open every day except New Year’s Day, Easter Sunday and Christmas Day. The application for the Maid-
stone branch, which will be deter- mined by Maidstone Council, includes two cashpoints. The com- pany says the branch would offer up to 30 jobs.
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