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Maidstone Borough Council 9


The Queen’s 90th Birthday Beacons Sittingbourne Road Park and Ride Closure


There is a long tradition in the UK of celebrating Royal jubilees, weddings, coronations and special birthdays with the lighting of community beacons. Now there will be an opportunity for communities to organise and take part in their own celebrations on Thursday 21 April 2016, when beacons will be lit throughout the United Kingdom, Channel Islands, Isle of Man and UK Overseas Territories in celebration of Her Majesty The Queen’s 90th Birthday. There are three types of beacons that can be used - the traditional bonfire beacon, a beacon brazier on top of a tall wooden post that has been previously erected for similar occasions and a gas-fuelled beacon. If you are interested in running a beacon event, you can find information and advice on www.brunopeek.co.uk including how to officially register your event with the Queen’s Pageantmaster. Once you have confirmed your event, you can promote it via the Visit Maidstone website at www.visitmaidstone.com/whats-on/add-your-event if it is open to the public.


Explore Maidstone’s Parks


Brenchley Gardens (Town Centre) St Faith’s Street, Maidstone ME14 1LH


Brenchley Gardens were opened in 1871 as Maidstone’s first public park. Situated in the town centre, this picturesque green space provides an oasis of calm in contrast to Maidstone’s bustling shopping streets. Features include a Victorian band stand, the Royal Engineers statue and the Cenotaph War Memorial designed by Sir Edward Lutyens, where remembrance services are held.


Clare Park Tonbridge Road, Fant, Maidstone ME16 8SR


Clare Park has been awarded Green Flag status which recognises the best green spaces in England and Wales. It boasts numerous facilities including a children’s play area, a multi-use games court for football, basketball and netball, tennis courts and a memorial fountain. The park is also home to a bowls club, open between May and September, and a Friends group.


Cobtree Park Forstal Road, Aylesford, Kent ME20 7AE


Cobtree Manor Park is a landscape of diverse character; part open country park, part woodland and part parkland garden, all set on a gently sloping hillside with wonderful views of the North Downs. The park has undergone extensive improvement works in recent years; highlights include a new visitor centre and café serving hot and cold food, innovative play areas for children, a sculpture trail, events and picnic tables. Car parking charges apply.


Millennium River Park


Along the banks of the River Medway, between Teston & Allington


Maidstone’s Millennium River Park was one of the largest projects in the South East to mark the new Millennium. It transformed pedestrian access to the River Medway with a 10-km path running from Teston Country Park, through Maidstone’s historic town centre and on to Allington Lock – perfect for spotting wildlife in and around the river.


Mote Park Mote Avenue, Maidstone ME15 7SU


With more than a million visitors a year, Mote Park is one of the biggest parks in the South East. Visitors can enjoy picturesque lake-side views, outstanding access to nature, the Mote Park Water Sports Centre, the Mote Park Café, walking routes, children’s play areas and special events throughout the year. Voted the third best park in the UK in the national Green Flag awards, it offers fantastic days out for all the family. Car parking charges apply from 1 Feb.


Penenden Heath


Penenden Heath Rd, Penenden Heath, Maidstone ME14 2DQ


Penenden Heath is a large, open space offering football pitches with changing rooms and tennis courts available to hire. Other facilities include a children’s play area and a large recreation ground. The heath also boasts a rich, colourful history – it acted as an execution site for several hundred years and was a gathering point for Wat Tyler’s mob during the Peasants’ revolt of 1381.


South Park


(North and South Side) Armstrong Road, Maidstone ME15 6AZ


South Park is a park of two halves – the north side and the south side - divided in the middle by Armstrong Road. The north side is home to the elegant formal gardens, a pavilion and a lily pond as well as two tennis courts, a skate park and all weather floodlit hockey and five-a-side football pitches (leased to Maidstone Hockey Club). On the south side you’ll find a children’s play area and football pitches. The Friends of South Park volunteer group helps maintain and improve the park.


Whatman Park


Main entrance: next to the health club at Mill Meadow, St Peters Street, Maidstone ME16 0SX


Around half a mile from the town centre, the Green Flag Award winning Whatman Park is at the heart of the Millennium River Park which runs along the River Medway.


Despite recent improvements to the Park and Ride service, use of the Sittingbourne Road site has continued to fall. The council has been faced with a significant increase in costs and regrettably the Sittingbourne Road Park and Ride site will close on Monday 8 February 2016 with the last service on Saturday 6 February. We are very sorry for any inconvenience caused by the closure, but unfortunately the cost to renew the lease was significantly higher than the council could justify to make the service financially viable. Park and Ride season tickets are valid at our other Park and Ride sites - Willington Street (M20 Junction 8) or London Road (M20 Junction 5) - or you can contact parkingservices@maidstone.gov.uk or 01622 602377 for a refund on the remaining portion of your ticket.


For more information, visit www.maidstone.gov.uk/parks


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