8 Maidstone Borough Council We’ve been listening
Maidstone Borough Council has been listening to all your comments on the draft local plan and will be making changes as a result.
More than 2,000 people commented on the draft plan during a six week consultation last year.
Since then we’ve held 26 face to face meetings with parish councils, residents and community groups to answer questions and find out first- hand what people have to say about the plan.
Cabinet members were also listening and answering questions on the plan when they met more than 1,000 people during the budget and priorities road show last year. Several communities have also lobbied the council about the proposals.
At the time of writing, the council’s planning, transport and development overview and scrutiny committee and then the cabinet are due to consider comments and amendments to development management policies
Making the most of Maidstone
Important decisions aimed at making sure the people of Maidstone benefit from future economic growth will be made by Maidstone Borough Council’s Cabinet at its next meeting on 11 February.
The draft economic development strategy is designed to support the county town’s growth and prosperity between now and 2031. The cabinet will consider consultations including an online survey, a market research exercise and meetings with businesses, and with parishes and community representatives.
The draft strategy sets out ambitious plans to ensure Maidstone benefits from the economic recovery. It aims to deliver more jobs, a growing economy and sustainable growth and proposes actions designed to achieve these aims.
The draft strategy focuses on retaining and attracting investment, stimulating entrepreneurship, enhancing the town centre, meeting the skills need and improving the infrastructure – and how this can be achieved.
It highlights that in order to attract investment and make sure jobs are created in Maidstone rather than elsewhere, the borough
needs: “a pipeline of good quality
office, industrial and warehousing accommodation
in locations that are attractive to modern businesses with good infrastructure connections. This includes sites in the town centre, on the edge of town adjacent to the motorway and in rural service centres.”
Maidstone’s Cabinet Member for Economic and Commercial Development, Malcolm Greer is grateful to everyone who took part in the consultation: “The Economic Development Strategy is one of the most important documents that Maidstone Borough Council will produce. We believe our vision for the borough is the right one, but we want to make sure businesses and local people share that vision. Their views will help shape our plans and actions so that together we can help the borough of Maidstone, its people and its businesses thrive.”
“The strategy will set out how we plan to accommodate the needs of our growing population, create jobs for local people, help businesses grow and develop a sustainable economy that will take Maidstone forward between now and 2031.”
Maidstone’s Invictus Games winners
Maidstone honoured three of its Invictus Games winners in October when the Mayor of Maidstone, Richard Thick held a special reception at Maidstone Town Hall for three ex-Gurkha soldiers from Maidstone - Kushal Limbu, Vinod Budhathoki and Anil Gurung.
Guests included councillors and former Mayors and Bill Cockcroft DL representing the Lord Lieutenant of Kent.
Each of the soldiers won a Gold medal in sitting volley ball. Kushal Limbu also won Silver in 100m, Gold in 200m, and Bronze in the 4x100m relay.
The Invictus Games were held in September at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in London. Wounded soldiers took part in sports including wheelchair basketball, sitting volleyball and indoor rowing.
such as design and air quality measures, and then to housing and employment sites put forward as a result of last year’s further call for sites. There will then be a chance to comment at a further public consultation in March.
Further consultations are planned for later in the year including on transport and open spaces.
Keep up to date with the consultations on
www.maidstone.gov.uk/consultations.
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