News | Night Economy Business Forum Ladies’ toilets


‘too expensive’ LADIES caught short are continu- ing to concern the Maidstone street pastors – particularly as they use the alley alongside their base as an unofficial toilet.


Street pastor


Nigel Downes has raised the issue on many occasions with the Night Economy Business Forum.


Nigel Downes


Maidstone Council repeat- edly says it cannot


afford to provide toilet facilities for ladies in the town centre on a par with the “pop up urinals” provided for the gents. The pastors’ latest suggestion


was to approach management at Fremlin Walk to see if they would be prepared to leave their facilities open at the end of Earl Street. But members felt women would


not be prepared to walk so far – and that Fremlin Walk would not be in agreement in any event. Maidstone police said it would


not be happy with the location ei- ther, as it would become a magnet for drug-taking and crime. Town centre manager Bill Moss


said the cost of providing the uri- nals was minimal, whereas a tem- porary toilet for ladies could be in the region of £25,000, with a £5,000 annual maintenance fee.


Free use of hall COMMUNITY groups in Maid- stone are invited to bid for the free use of Mote Hall at the town’s leisure centre. Maidstone Council is offering


five free lets for one-off sporting or cultural events between April 2015 and March 2016. Events must not be fund-raisers


and activities for young children will be looked at most favourably. To apply, call Paul Caulfield on


01622 602584 or send an email to paulcaulfield@maidstone.gov.uk. The closing date for applications is January 30, 2015.


downsmail.co.uk


Street pastors’warning of ‘laughing gas’ craze


A NEW drugs craze among teenagers is causing concern in Maidstone. Vigilant street pastors have spot-


ted small gas canisters scattered on the pavements late at night. The canisters are being filled


with nitrous oxide – also known as laughing gas – and inhaled by youngsters to get a short “buzz”. Team leader Gordon Mackley


said: “This is, of course, very dan- gerous.” It is not illegal to possess nitrous


oxide – although it is illegal to sell it to anyone under the age of 18 – and Mr Mackley said: “As such,


there is really nothing we can do about the usage, but it is another thing to consider if we find some- one in a collapsed state, especially if there is an empty canister nearby.” When inhaled, nitrous oxide can


make people feel euphoric and re- laxed – but some people also expe- rience hallucinations. However, there is a risk of death


as a lack of oxygen can occur when using nitrous oxide. This risk is likely to be greater if the gas is con-


sumed in an enclosed space or if a substantial amount is rapidly used. Despite being known as laugh-


ing gas, nitrous oxide is a depres- sant-type drug, which slows down the brain and the body’s responses. Mixing nitrous oxide with alco-


hol is especially dangerous as it can increase the risks associated with both substances and lead to an in- creased risk of accidents or death. If you have too much you can


end up fainting, having an accident or worse.


Cameras get


an upgrade ASERIES of new CCTV cameras in Maidstone town centre is set to help police and security officers keep a closer eye on anti-social ac- tivity. The High Street cameras are now


between 10 and 15 years old, so the Medway CCTV Partnership, which operates the cameras on behalf of Maidstone Council, is to replace five of them in the run-up to Christ- mas.


The new cameras will record The new Urban Blue bus is now back on the road Breakdown blues for bus


THE new white Urban Blue has had its first airing on the streets of Maid- stone, after getting off to a fairly rocky start. After being given a great VIP send-off at the police training college in


Sutton Road, the bus drove all of 100 yards to the electric gates before breaking down. It transpired an air lock had developed in the fuel pipe and the buswas eventually sent on itsway, making its first appearance in town the following Saturday.


Doormen could help clear streets


POLICE and nightclub doormen are planning a high-visibility campaign to control pub-goers and clubbers in Maidstone town centre. Policewearing hi-vis jackets already monitor ac-


tivity as the clubs begin to spill out in the early hours. But a new initiative, whereby doormen might alsowear hi-vis jackets, could help clear the crowds even more quickly. Police Inspector JodyGagan-Cook told the Night Economy Business Forum that the presence of a po- lice car made a noticeable difference to crowd dis- persal and it was planned to involve more special constables in such activity.


role.


However, doormen could also play a valuable She said: “We are looking at options and we


think we could work together really well. At that time in the morning, all people see is the hi-vis jacket – they don’t know if we are police or not.” Recent police shift patterns changes mean the


town now has the same level of policing 24/7. She said: “In the past, the night time economy benefited from a ‘premium service’ with more re- sources concentrated on the night time economy. “Now, the service is the same, both day and night.”


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For more local news, go online at www.downsmail.co.uk Maidstone South December 2014


much clearer, digital photos, which will be relayed back to the CCTV control centre in Strood. New cameras will be fitted in Ju-


bilee Square, Gabriels Hill, at the junction of Week Street and Earl Street and at the entrance to Brenchley Gardens. Two new cam- eras will cover Palace Avenue and the junction of Week Street and Brewer Street. A further six cameras are due to


be replaced in the next financial year.


This year’s upgrades are being funded by Maidstone Council from the budget set aside when the op- erationwas switched to Medway.


Young drinkers YOUNGER people are presenting themselves under the influence of alcohol to the Urban Blue Bus. Paul Alcock, chair of the Night Economy Business Forum, said there had been three instances of people under the age of 18 turning up “totally inebriated” and being helped by the bus volunteers. The younger people tended to


visit the bus between 10pm and midnight, while the older clubbers needed its services much later, as the clubs were dispersing at about 3am and 4am.


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