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Young ‘priced out of homes’
HOUSING chiefs have pledged to support a four-pronged policy to tackle the problems of housing and homelessness in the borough. While the number of people sleeping on the streets is sympto- matic of the crisis in Maidstone, campaigners claim many more young people are hidden behind the scenes, suffering from the shortage of affordable accommodation. Cllr Paul Harper told Maidstone Council: “Our looming housing cri- sis is disproportionately affecting the young and vulnerable. Whilst there are people sleeping on the streets in Maidstone, they only rep- resent the easily identified need. “Most homelessness is hidden as
people are forced to remain athome with their parents, move around to find a bed, or live in unfit and over- crowded accommodation. “The young struggle to rent, are restricted in claiming housing ben- efit until they are 35 and have little hope of buying a home.” Cllr Harper said he believed
young people should have the op- portunity to buy their own homes, just as the previous generation did and said too many young people
were trapped into sub-standard ac- commodation. Members of Momentum, who
held a protest outside theTownHall before the council meeting,warned young peoplewere at risk of devel- oping mental health issues as a re- sult of the stress of having to sofa-surf or be homeless. The council has identified the
need for a further 18,560 housing units in the borough between 2011 and 2031 and sites with more than 15 units must offer 40% affordable housing. The council agreed it would con-
sult young people about their hous- ing needs and work with private landlords to identify empty housing and provide bed spaces for the homeless. They will also try to identify over- occupied properties and work with the occupants to resolve this. In the longer term, Cllr Harper
wants to see a housing conference in Maidstone on the subject, encom- passing the statutory authorities, housing associations and the volun- tary sector, with the aim of formu- lating a multi-sector approach to tackling the various issues.
Discount store back in Mall
A FAMILIAR face is returning to The Mall in Maidstone town centre. The discount department store TJ Hughes is returning to the promi- nent corner site in The Mall which it last occupied in 2011, before the company went into liquidation. Staff at the store had little more
than a week’s notice that it was to close, leaving more than 60 people out of work. Lewis’s Home Retail, which pur-
chased the company, kept six of the original 57 branches open, but is now looking to expand. The name will be back up on the
store from September, as part of the £5m refurbishment of the Mall. TJ Hughes was best known in the
north of England and the return to Maidstone is the first in the com- pany’s expansion plans for the south. Capital and Regional, owner of
the Mall, see the return as a vote of confidence in the county town – and in the shopping centre. The 32,000sqft store will be split
over two levels, making it one of The Mall’s largest retail units, along with BHS. Capital and Regional has agreed
new leases with 10 retailers in the past year while the refurbishment work has been ongoing, and retail asset manager Gareth Holland sees this latest signing as a real coup for the Mall.
Football date Car damage
YOUNGSTERS aged 11 to 16 can join in a five-a-side football tourna- ment at Kings Hill Sports Park. The tournament from 11am on Thursday, March 31 has been organ- ised by Tonbridge and Malling Council with the community safety partnership and community war- dens, with funding from Safer Kent. Transport to and from the venue is
available on request. Contact com- munitywarden Lara Sams on 07969 584183 or
lara.sams@
kent.gov.uk.
TWO cars parked in bays in Lancer Drive, Kings Hill, were damaged. A Fiat had its front screen cracked and a Vauxhall was daubed with graffiti.
New cafe
A NEW cafe has opened at the Woodstock garden and pet board- ing centre in Hermitage Lane, Maidstone.
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