News Old enough to
vote debate YOUNGSTERSwill get a chance to challenge their political leaders at a Votes for 16 debate in Maidstone thismonth. On the guest panel will be
county councillors, includingGary Cooke and Rob Bird, the leader of the Lib Dem party on the county council, plus Youth Parliament member Dami Salako and James Cathcart, the director of Young Voices Heard and former CEO of the British Youth Council. The event, at Maidstone Gram-
mar School for Girls, in Buckland Road, runs from4pmto 5.30pmon Tuesday, February 27, and has been organised by Kent Youth Par- liament and county council mem- ber Elena Ewence. Formore details email
elena.ewence2@kycc.org.
Bee friendly LEARNmore about beekeeping in Maidstone thismonth. DerekMarch’s talk entitled “Bee
keeping and encouraging bees into the garden” is at the Baptist church hall in Knightrider Street, from 7.30pmon Thursday,March 1. The event is hosted byMaidstone
Horticultural Society and tickets are £2 for non-members.
downsmail.co.uk
300 jobs set for store if M&S plans approved
PLANS to create a new Marks & Spencer store at Eclipse Park, near J7 of theM20, have been unvieled to the public. The scheme – being brought to
life by Gallagher Properties – would, if approved by Maidstone Borough Council, create 300 full and part-time positions when the store opens. A public exhibition was set to be
to be held at the HiltonMaidstone Hotel, on Bearsted Road, on Thurs- day, February 22, between 2pm and 8pm. TheMarks&Spencer (M&S) pro-
posals follow a decision by Wait- rose not to proceed with its plans following the granting of planning permission byMaidstone Borough Council inMay 2017. M&S requires a new store that is
the same footprint as the permitted foodstore, with a 300 space car park, including accessible and par- ent and child spaces. The store will have striking de-
sign, incorporating high quality materials, and provide approxi-
Artist’s im- pressions of the proposed Marks & Spencer store at Eclipse Park
mately 5,760m2 (62,000ft2 ) of sales
area. Final decisions on the split have yet to be decided, but current thinking is that the store would offer: Food hall – 1,050m2
(11,300ft2 ) )
General merchandising (fashion and household) – 4,413m2
(47,500ft2 )
Hospitality (cafe) – 297m2 (3,200ft2
Nick Yandle, of Gallagher Prop-
erties, said: “The combination of a Marks & Spencer and NEXT at Eclipse Parkwould improveMaid- stone’s retail offer as the county town to both local residents and people fromacross a wider area of Kent. “This investment by Marks & Spencer would also reinforce the
area around J7 and its importance to the borough’s economy. It would send out a positivemessage about the town as a location for business, and we are delighted to be working alongside such a na- tionally respected company. “Wewant to listen to the views of
local residents at the public exhibi- tion and then submit a planning application in late February 2018. “If the proposal is granted plan-
ning permission,workwould start on site in the summer of 2018 and the store would open in autumn 2019. Local residents can find outmore
about the plans by visiting: www.
marksandspencer-maidstone.co. uk.
WE ARE INDEPENDENT ESTATE AGENTS BASED IN BARMING
FOR A FREE VALUATION PLEASE CALL US TODAY
If You Live In Postcode Area ME16 We Are Your Local Agent For your free no obligation valuation
Call us on 01622 728999 or email
sales@asmresidential.com
www.asmresidential.co.uk
1-3 Tonbridge Road, Barming, Maidstone, Kent ME16 9HB
12 Maidstone March 2018
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48
