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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. It will also try to identify over-oc- cupied properties and work with the occupants to resolve this. In the longer term, Cllr Harper
Discount store back in Mall or both? or bot
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.
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.
Russian singers’ church date
MAIDSTONE people are being given a rare opportunity to hear top quality acapella singers from Russia when the Hermitage Ensemble sing in Leeds Church. The concert, at 7.30pm on Sunday, April 3, is being organised by the church to raise money for its repairs fund. The group from St Petersburg will present a varied programme of Russian hymns and folk songs at St Nicholas’ Church. The Hermitage Ensemble includes soloists from theatres and con-
cert companies of St Petersburg, including the Kirov Opera and Bal- let, Maly Opera Theatre and St Petersburg Concert. The group tours the UK every year. Tickets for the concert are now on sale, priced £10. Call Brian Hardy on 01622 842915.
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Bu ng, selling Buying, selling
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