downsmail.co.uk Maidstone North Edition Maidstone North Edition


Maidstone & Malling’s No. 1 newspaper


March 2017 Tower blocks ‘a new face for town’


MODERN flats on a key site at the northern entrance to the town have been approved by Maid- stone Council. The towers – rising to 18 storeys – off Royal Engineers Road will cost £100m to build. Designer Guy Hollaway says the scheme, which will include houses to buy and rent, will pro- vide a new face for Maidstone and an important gateway to the town. The unusual design, which in- corporates communal facilities and grounds for public use, also boasts allotments on the roof.


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All change as Arriva unveils bus review


BUS passengers in Maidstone face major upheaval in a shake-up of routes throughout the borough by Arriva.


Changes which come into effect


on April 2 will see a number of cut- backs, with some services with- drawn completely. However, there will be improve-


ments in some areas, including a newdedicated service every 20 min- utes from the town to Maidstone Hospital. Details of the new timetable,


whichArriva says should reducede- lays by avoiding routes through the congested town centre, were being unveiled at a public meeting on Sat- urday (February 18) at the Hazlitt Theatre, Maidstone. The review coincides with the hir-


ing of leading PR consultancy Maxim whose press release, on be- half of Arriva, highlighted “exciting


changes to Maidstone services”. Craig Taylor of Arriva Southern Counties, said the bus firm had wanted “to see how we can further improve the reliability and punctu- ality of our services.” He added: “Congestion in the


town centre makes it difficult for our buses to keep to the timetable. By splitting routes and ensuring good connections, we will be able to pro- vide a far more reliable service.”


But concern over the “impact of


some of the changes proposed and the timing of them,” was raised by KCCbosses, according to an officer’s private briefing note to members, who will be going to the polls four weeks later on May 4. The briefing, obtained by Downs


Mail, says: “As a result of our ap- proach, Arriva have made some ad- justments to their intended changes andmanyof the most sensitive have been mitigated. Despite this, there remains a negative impact for some passengers and the changes are likely to result in a negative reaction from the general public.” Arriva says that key improve-


ments include service 7 be- tween Maidstone and


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FREE No. 239


News Lockmeadow delays


A FACELIFT to transform the Lockmeadow entertainment cen- tre in the town centre has been delayed.


School expansion


OVER 20,000 school places must to satisfy house-building and rising birth rates.


5 Saxon Ramblin’ Men


HEAVY metal band Saxon kicks off the Ramblin’ Man fes- tival as gates open earlier. 6


Tributes to Sir John


WARM tributes have been paid to former MP Sir John Wells, who has died aged 91.


8 GPs work together


GPs in Maidstone and beyond are increasingly working to- gether in clusters.


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Hazlitt talent tester 27


MAJOR stars will be encouraged to road test material at the Hazlitt Theatre.


Obituaries 34 Crime Reports 37


A RESTAURANT sign in Week Street was damaged; body and tyre damage was caused to a ve- hicle in Tarragon Road; jewellery was taken in a break-in at a house in Beverley Road after a patio door was forced; a Seat car was damaged in Tonbridge Rd.


Parish Councils 37


COLD callers continue to be a nuisance to residents in Loose; tree works have been carried out in the Hayle Park Nature Reserve, Tovil; The Medway Valley Line would receive a contribution of £75 from the parish council at Barming; parish councillors in Tovil have rejected a proposal to record meetings.


Comment 46 - 47 01622 880840 3


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