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Arcade to get major revamp
MAIDSTONE is about to undergo some serious retail therapy. Workis to startona major revamp
of the Royal Star Arcade, which it is hoped will breathe new life into the High Street. The arcade, which stands on the
site of the old Royal Star Hotel, has had mixed fortunes, despite attract- ing top designernamesbecause of its prestigious location. Created as a shopping mall in
1989, it retains much of the architec- tural splendour of the 16th-century coaching inn. Manager Daniel Le Beau said: “The arcade will be trans- formed into a beautiful, classically- styled shopping experience unmatched in the area, with the atrium, given its undoubted beauty, its crowning glory.We plan to focus on a high quality blend of independ- ent and niche retailers and comple- mentary businesses for those who enjoy a little bit of luxury.” The arcade has two levels, provid-
ing 28 retail units including a cafe, health food shop and other niche outlets. The refurbishment includes the removal of the bandstand stair-
case and redevelopment of the cen- tral rotunda. Mr Le Beau said: “In its place we
will have a large covered area that will provide ample dining space, as well as the opportunity for seasonal events that are simply not possible anywhere else in Maidstone at the moment.” The original Star Hotelwas a pop-
ular overnight stop for those travel- ling between London and
Folkestone.The19th centurysawthe hotel get the royal seal of approval, and the ‘royal’ prefix, after a visit by a young QueenVictoria. It is home to the Disraeli Balcony,
where Benjamin Disraeli made his parliamentary acceptance speech after being electedMPfor Maidstone in 1837. Mr Le Beau said the scheme would draw on inspiration from the Burlington Arcade in London and the Royal Arcade in Norwich. An announcement is expected
soon on plans for land at Maidstone East railway station. Maidstone Council has long been keen to see a supermarket and housing on the site but there have so far been no takers.
Age UK set for cut Continued from page one
some services or more costs being passed to our clients – neither of whichwewant.” MrColes said negotiations are continuing with KCC, with a de- cision expected in the coming weeks. However, it is clear that there
will be no funding after July 2016 to continue Age UK’s befriend- ing service that was started in West Kent with Maidstone Mind. MrColes said: “This attracted a couple of hundred volunteers to befriend or accompany elderly people and those with mental health issues in their home or on day trips. Unfortunately, the suc- cess of this pilot is not the issue here, but the county council’s re- sources to continue funding it.” Hesaid effortswere continuing
to fund the project from outside sources. Mr Coles added: “Age
UKfills a largenumberof gaps in the service provision for the eld- erly inWest Kent and these talks will need to look at what KCC wants and whatwe can offer. “If there is no flexibility in the budgetwe will not be able to pro- vide the same level of service.” He said the organisation was
being forced to absorb the cost of setting up staff pensions and the implications of the livingwage. KCC part funds voluntary groups to help in areas such as adult social care services, which has a £9.5m
budget.Aspokesman said: “Due to well-publicised cuts to local authority budgets, we have had to look again athow muchwe fund voluntary organi- sations and as a result have writ- ten to all 98, includingAge UK. “We have asked if they could reduce the amount of funding they require, and many have agreed to do this.”
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Malling February 2016 5
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