downsmail.co.uk Parking boost
AN additional 145 parking spaces for patients and visitors could be es- tablished to the east of Maidstone Hospital. It would be set up on hardstand-
ing currently used for a mobile scan- ner and as a temporary vehicle base for the Maidstone and Tunbridge WellsNHSTrust’s general transport department. Eleven of the spaces would be disability compliant. Asupporting statement said: “The hospital currently has 85% of its pa- tient and visitor parking located to the front of the hospital. “However, with extensive services
nowoperating to the rear of the hos- pital it is clear that there is an inade- quate amount of parking available for patients using these services.” Maidstone Council will decide the planning application.
Leader visit
KCC LEADER Paul Carter visited Bearsted’s Roseacre Junior School to talk politics as part of a closer look by pupils at democracy. He told them his job was about “making sure the whole of Kent was a good place to live, work and be” and this, he said, involved making big decisions about issues including education, roads and the care of the elderly. He told them: “Making sure we
spend council tax money to get the best possible services for the peo- ple of Kent is a huge responsibil- ity but I’m confident that I do the best job I possibly can.” Youngsters were then invited to
put their questions to the county council leader of the past 10 years, including his choice of tie.
Crossing bid MAIDSTONE Council hopes to get £250,000 of Local Enterprise Part- nership (LEP) funding for a cross- ing on the A20 at Harrietsham. The pedestrian crossing is deemed essential with the large amount of new and planned house building in the village, but there is a shortfall in the S106 money due to the council from the developers. Maidstone Joint Transportation
Board has agreed to support the case for the crossing at Harriet- sham, alongside any other bids which may come forward.
Florist re-opens
APOPULARBearsted business has found new premises – on the other side of town. Sara Henderson and her business Hunker Down Daisy had to leave Yeoman Court in Ashford Road when the rentwas increased. The florist and gift shop had been
at the location for five years before its closure in January. Sara has now found new prem-
ises in the old post office at Apple- dore Court, Allington.
26 Maidstone East May 2016 Send us your pictures
MANY thanks to the reader who sent us this photograph of a field of rape near Leeds village. Neill Johnston was out walking at dusk when he captured this image
on a bridleway off Burberry Lane. Do you have a picture our readers would enjoy? Drop us an email at
info@downsmail.co.uk.
Charity sale for Mencap
GRAB a bargain at Maidstone Mencap’s plant, book and cake sale on Saturday, May 21. The event at Cobtree Hall, School Lane (off Willington Street), Maidstone, starts at 2.30pm. For details contact Rita on 07790 643218.
News
Partnership to promote pride in county town
ANEWtown centre partnership is powering forward to make the county town the pride of Kent.
One Maidstone – a collaboration
between the former Town Centre Management and the Town Team, backed by Maidstone Council – is a community interest company (CIC) formed with the aim of promoting Maidstone’s status as the county town. The not-for-profit organisation is politically independent and aims to act as a catalyst to communication between members and local au- thority decision-makers. Unveiling the new logo and the mission statement for One Maid- stone at Strawberry Moons night- club in Gabriel’s Hill, One Maidstone chairman Andy Davey said: “We aim to bring together businesses, the community and the voluntary sectors ensuring the town continues to be worthy of being the county town of Kent.” Four key working groups will
deliver key projects to benefit the town centre and the business crime
Boardmembers and supporters of OneMaidstone at the launch
reduction partnership MaidSafe. These will focus on events, public
realm improvements (regeneration and street scene), marketing and volunteers, which would include training stewards to support town centre activities. The new branding and logo for
One Maidstone was created by Maidstone-based graphic design company Geomedia and the pro- motional video compiled by Gareth
Powell of
PlayMountain.co.uk, also based in the town’s Royal Star Ar- cade. Cllr Fay Gooch, deputy leader of Maidstone Council, said: “It is so important we have a long-term vi- sion for the town centre to make it stand out as the county town. “We have a strong cultural side,
a huge retail element and some fan- tastic small businesses – a wonder- ful mix.”
Best blooms
go on show BLOOMING beautiful towns and villages in Kent are being urged to step forward for the annual South East in Bloom competition. Being sponsored this year by London Gatwick Airport, the con- test is a chance for all sectors of the community to show off their floral splendour to the rest of the region. With more than 30 categories cov-
ering everything from small and large towns, parks and cemeteries to conservation areas and pictur- esque villages, there is the opportu- nity for everyone to take part. London GatwickAirport replaces
the competition’s previous sponsor, Southern Water, which pulled out after 14 years last year. South East in Bloom chairman
Peter Holman said:“We need spon- sorship to help us to run efficiently and effectively and to continue to involve as many entrants as possi- ble across the region.” Judging by experienced horticul- turalists takes place in July, with awards presented at a ceremony in September. Details of the categories and
entry forms can be found at
www.sseib.com.
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