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Is it good value to pay for your funeral before you die?


Yes it is, according to funeral plan adviser, Peter Camrass of Camrass Wills. The cost of funerals has gone up by more than the rate of inflation for many years and shows no signs of stopping.


Fast food plan for retail park


FAST food giants Subway and KFC could be moving in to South Aylesford Retail Park if a plan to extend the shopping centre by building two units is approved. The catering “pods” would be lo-


cated at the main entrance to the Quarry Wood site on part of the car park next to the Pets at Home store. The Crown Estate, owner of the


centre, is seeking approval from Tonbridge and Malling Council for the development, which it says would provide a high quality land- mark on a prominent corner of the site. The two national food retailers were expected to create a total of 30 jobs at the new outlets. Subway planned to open a sand-


wich shop with an eat-in area and KFC would be a larger unit with a restaurant with takeaway facilities. Both would have mezzanine floors. External seating and a reconfigured car park with the loss of 14 spaces from the park’s total of 551, were also included in the scheme.


COUNCILLORS have approved a three-year plan to put Maid- stone on the map. The Maidstone destination management plan, endorsed by the new heritage, culture and leisure committee, sets out a strategy for improving key areas identified by tourism businesses in order to achieve its potential as a top destination for tourism and investment. About 70 organisations pro-


vided information to help iden- tify key target audiences. The consultations also identi-


fied areas of importance and op- portunity in the visitor economy such as retail, river, rural, her- itage, and the night-time econ- omy.


Housed in an “elegant and dis-


tinctive” building covering 393sqm, the new venues would enhance the range and choice of catering facili- ties in the area, said the Crown Es- tate.


However, parish councillors had


no appetite for the scheme. Registering a strong objection,


AylesfordParish Council said itwas “over-development of the site with the loss of car parking spaces”, adding: “The site is already working to full capacity.” CostaCoffeemoved into the retail


park last year and anM&Sfood hall and coffee shop opened this sum- mer. A McDonald’s drive-in is also set to open on a nearby site close to the corner of Hermitage Lane and London Road after receiving plan- ning approval. Crown Estate said the new cater-


ing units “will enhance the facilities for customers and staff of the retail park, Sainsbury’s and the wider Quarry Wood area.”


Destination Maidstone Action plans have been devel-


oped to make sure that the bor- ough is making the most of those areas. Cllr Gordon Newton, chairman


of theHCLcommittee, said: “The hard work of everybody in- volved in the development of the DMPhas ensured that now is the time to take the marketing and tourism potential of the borough to the next level.” Maidstone Council is keen to


work with service providers and businesses that rely on tourism as a significant part of their business to help in the delivery of the DMP action plan. To be involved email info@vis- itmaidstone.com or call 01622 602748.


Night curfew part of sentence


A MAIDSTONE man was sen- tenced to 70 days in jail, suspended for 12 months, after he pleaded guilty to assaulting a police officer and being drunk and disorderly. Robert Gregory Massey (23)


from Perryfield Street, was found drunk and disorderly in Gabriel’s


Hill, Maidstone, in September last year, where he also assaulted a po- lice officer. Massey was also given a three- month curfew to remain at home between 7pm and 6am daily and must pay £50 compensation, £350 costs and an £80 victim surcharge.


Peter goes on to say that there are other benefits also.


Cash flow during probate. Very often, the family will not have access to your savings until well after the funeral because Probate, the legal process which takes place after a death, can take several months. This means relatives have to find the money for the funeral from their own funds. If you have a pre­paid funeral this difficulty is avoided.


Funeral wishes in your Will. Even though you have stated preferences in your Will, e.g. burial or cremation, eco­friendly coffin etc., it is up to the executors of the Will to arrange the funeral and they are not legally obliged to follow your instructions. With a pre­paid funeral, you have already instructed the funeral director and so your wishes will be honoured.


Peace of mind. Setting up your own funeral plan not only protects your loved ones from rising funeral costs, but also spares them the distress of having to make difficult decisions at an emotional time.


For a free guide to funeral plans contact Peter on 01622 720985 www.camrasswills.co.uk


A warm welcome awaits you at


Maidstone Salvation Army 74-80 Union Street, Maidstone ME14 1ED


Our weekly programme of events includes: • Sunday services at both 10.15am & 6pm. All are welcome.


• SAMS Tots. A term time mother and toddler group which is held on Monday & Friday mornings. (There is a waiting list for this group).


• Home League every Tuesday from 1.30 - 2.30pm. A friendly meeting group for ladies of all ages.


• CAMEO (Come and Meet Each Other) Coffee & Crafts on Wednesdays (weekly) 9am-12pm.


• Ladies Fellowship at 7.30pm, on the 3rd Wednesday of each month. This is a mixed age group with guest speakers & various activities to do.


• Over 60's group meetings each Thursday from 1.30 - 2.30pm. This group is open to all ladies and gentlemen, over the age of 60!


• Messy Church, held on the second Thursday of every month from 4-6pm. A time for primary school children & their families to have some creative fun, fellowship & share tea together.


• Youth Club for all children from Year 7 onwards. This is held on Friday evenings from 7-9pm and costs £1.50 per person.


For further information on these or any of our other events, please telephone the Community office on 01622 681808.


Maidstone Town September 2015 37


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