News


downsmail.co.uk M&SbranchesoutwithParkdeal


MARKS & Spencer has confirmed it plans to open a newstore inMaidstone, stepping into the void left afterWaitrose pulled out of becoming the flagship premises on Eclipse Park. The chain will be keeping their


main store in the centre of town, but the larger store on the outskirtswill give them an even bigger presence in the area. Charlotte Hall, store manager at


M&S Maidstone, told Downs Mail that the decisionwill create a bigger and better offer for fans of the brand in the town. She added: “We’ve been serving


customers in Maidstone for over a 100 years and we’re really excited about our plans to open a newstore at Eclipse Retail Park.” As part of the move, M&S will


continue to sell clothing and food from its main high street store, but proposes closing its smaller store further downWeek Street - and no jobswill be at risk. She finished: “The whole team will stay withM&S and, should the


plans go ahead, the new store will also create newjobs. “We’ll make sure we keep the


community updated as plans progress.” NickYandle,managingdirector of


developers Gallaghers, said M&S had been interested for a while but now a planning application would have to be prepared. He said that the store at J7 of the


M20 would be attractive to out-of- town shoppers. He added: “It’s fantastic. I haven’t


been able to say verymuch for obvi- ous reasons but we’ve been getting emails frompeople disappointed by Waitrose and I’ve been saying to themthat therewere other options. “I think most people will have


been thinking those other options were not as good, so I think the re- lief andthepleasure that comeswith


M&S coming is huge. I think it’s going to be better. “The rest of the site is allocated –


we’ve got permission for a hotel which hasn’t had a great deal of in- terest, if I’m honest. Having M&S there may be the difference in at-


Pub opens its doors to the whole community


THEQueenAnnepubis looking to abright future after a £100,000 refit. The pub, run by Craig and Leon


Burns, had its grand re-opening on Monday, October 9, with mayor MalcolmGreer among the guests. Traditionally a “gaypub”, the cur-


rent landlords are keen tomake sure it is an inclusive spacewhere every- one feelswelcome. “We class it as LGBT friendly,”


Craig said. “We’re hoping to push the place


forward, get the foodgoing through- out the day and in the school holi- dayswewant to introduce some sort of kids’ club out in the garden and do something likepizza-making and cake-making, and stuff like that. “Previous landlords would only


allow gay people in. Our doors are open for children to come in,mums and dads after school, disabled peo- ple, gay people, transgenderpeople, we want to turn into a pub for the whole community to share.” The refit has completely changed


the interior of the pub, and Craig is thrilledwith the result.


FIREFIGHTERS have issued a stark warning after being called to a bin fire in Maidstone which they be- lieve was started deliberately. Kent Fire and Rescue Service were called to reports of bins alight


22


Natalie Burnett, business developmentmanager of Admiral Taverns, mayoress Brenda Greer,MayorMalcolmGreer with Leon and Craig Burns


He said: “It’s a high-class finish,


it’s quite posh, it’s not dark and dingy anymore sowe’rewellhappy. “We’ve been here six months.


Whenwe first came in here the tak- ingswere next to nothing,we’ve al- ready quadrupled them so we’re doingwell so far.” Cllr Greer was impressed by the


work carried out, and has called on the town to support the venture. “It’s a fantastic pub,” he said. “We needthis type of public houses .Peo-


ple have come fromall over today. “It will be like a beehive, people


will come to it because the venue is fantastic, they tellme the foodis bril- liant andit’s absolutely essential that we support these kind of establish- ments. I congratulate everyone here forwhat they’ve done. “I’ve been here for half an hour


and everyone I’vemet is so friendly. It’s such a genuine place and all I’d say to people is come down and try it, you’ll enjoy it.”


tracting someone to the hotel.We’ve also got permission for offices – but we’re just taking it one stepat a time. “Eclipse Park has a fantastic loca-


tion – it’s just outside town butmost importantly it is bang on themotor- way junction. “We took the trouble to put the in-


frastructure in very early and then we’ve just taken the viewthatwe’re going to be patient to get the right development. “We’ve had approaches from all


sorts of companies, motor dealer- ships and storage companies but we’ve never felt that they are right for Eclipse Park. “We’d rather wait and get some-


thing that’s good quality rather than just do a deal because a deal can be done. “It fulfils our belief in the loca-


tion.” Moremarkets


to boost town THERE will be twice as many opportunities to shop atMaid- stone’s open-airmarket. The borough council’s plan-


ning committee has extended the number of days that the market can operate in Jubilee Square, from60 to 120 a year. The market, outside Maid-


stone’s TownHall,will be able to operate from 8am-6pm on each of the days. It follows a proposal from


Cllr Brian Clark, supported by CllrMartin Cox. Speaking after the decision,


CllrClark said: “Themarket at Jubilee Square has a long his- tory, even pre-dating the build- ings ofMiddle Row. It is great to see a thrivingmarket in this location once again, becoming a key part of life in Maid- stone.” Cllr Cox added: “The farm-


ers’ market and events at this location have been a real suc- cess. The extra trading days will boost the town centre’s at- tractiveness to visitors and shoppers and provide further scope formarket events.”


Fire service issue warning after deliberately-lit rubbish blaze


in St Peter’s Street at 5.45am on TuesdayOctober 17 and discovered the contents of a brick-built out- house and a small pile of rubbish. It was quickly extinguished, but a statement warned those who set


Maidstone Weald November 2017


such fires that not only is it awaste of time and money, but it could also cause danger elsewhere. “We are reminding people that


what may start out as just a small fire, or a bit of harmless fun, can


quickly spread out of control,” the Service said. “Deliberately-started fires waste time andmoney. “They can be dangerous and


have the potential to keep crews away fromreal emergencies.”


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