News
Drivers urged to share journeys
CAR-sharing initiatives are to be encouraged in Maidstone to help reduce the volume of traffic on the roads.
Maidstone has one of the highest
rates of single occupancy car use in Kent, with 52% of journeys made by the driver alone. Kent County Council already manages “kentjourneyshare”, a freeweb-based service which links drivers, passengers and taxi users who make similar journeys and en- courages them to share their trips. It also manages the “NewWays 2 Work” scheme to encourage sus- tainable travel choices. Even so, figures obtained from
the 2011 census revealed that 50,131 people – 44.3% of Maid- stone’s population – drove a car to work, 8% (9,023) walked and 4.6% (5,257) used the train. A further 31% were not in work and 4.2% (4,705 people) worked from home. Only 0.8% cycled to work, 0.5%
rode a motorcycle or scooter and 2.6% travelled by bus or coach. Maidstone has very high levels of
car ownership and usage compared with other parts of the country, says a report to the council.
Some 84% of households in the borough have at least one car, com- pared with 80% across Kent and 74% across England. The heavy reliance on a small number of key junctions – espe- cially in the town centre – means Maidstone is vulnerable when acci- dents occur on the motorway or events such as Operation Stack come into the equation. Maidstone Council has two pool
cars and two pool bikes for use by its staff, but reports that usage is very low compared with similar schemes elsewhere in the UK. Anumber ofKCCemployees use
Zipcar – a short-term car hire serv- ice – to get to and from work and two cars are based at County Hall, with another located in Church Street, which are available to mem- bers of the public who sign up to the Zipcar scheme. The 2011 census shows that 15%
of trips to work in Maidstone are 2km or less – walkable for most people – yet only 8% of people opt towalk. “This offers great potential for in- creasing walking, if the environ- ment is right,” it concludes.
downsmail.co.uk Gift boxes cross the world
NATIONAL charity Samaritan’s Purse has thanked the Regus centre at Kings Hill in West Malling, for helping to collect thousands of gift-filled shoeboxes for needy and vulnerable children across the world. The shoeboxes, filled by members of the public, businesses, schools and churches, contained gifts such as toothbrushes, sweets, toys, pencils and stickers. They were distrib- uted to children in orphan- ages, hospitals and refugee camps in some of the world’s poorest countries. This is the third year that workplace provider Regus has been involved in the shoebox appeal. Simon Barrington, executive director of Samaritan’s Purse, said: “The Regus network of centres was ideally positioned to sup- port the appeal andwe would like to thank the company for its continued support.We would also like to thank everyone who brought in gifts.” RichardMorris, CEO of Regus in the UK, said: “Our centre teams enjoyed their participation and were happy to do their bit.”
Excited children in Uganda with their boxes Future of prison is unclear
THEMinistry of Justice says it is un- able to confirm whether Maidstone Prison will close under plans to shut some of the country’s oldest jails. The prison rebuilding programme announced by Chancellor George Osborne and Justice Secretary Michael Gove will “close Victorian relics of the past on prime sites in city centres”, replacing them with nine detention centres.
Maidstone meets this criteria, but
a Department of Justice spokesman said while nine new sites had been identified, only Reading had been announced for closure. The area’s women’s prison, East
Sutton Park, is already set to close. He added: “I can’t comment on
the situation in Maidstone because what we close will depend on the needs of the prison estate.”
Dementia Day Care Age Concern Rotary House West Malling
Living with dementia or know someone who is? Feeling alone and need support? LET US HELP!
Now open five days per week Monday - Friday 9:30 – 14:30
We offer a range of activities including: • Arts and crafts
• Bathing and foot care • Hairdressing • Home cooked Lunch including drinks • Musical entertainment • Outings & Carer support groups
£40 per day Supported by a Registered Nurse
For more information phone Lyn Rootes on 01732 848008 or email
lyn.rootes@
ageconcernmalling.org.uk
14 Malling January 2016
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