Maidstone North Edition


downsmail.co.uk


Maidstone & Malling’s No. 1 newspaper


December 2018 Park and Ride now in private hands


TRANSPORT bosses are to out- source Maidstone’s subsidised Park and Ride after a four-month probe into its performance revealed the scheme was haemorrhaging pas- sengers and cash. Borough councillors have now


asked officials to find a commercial operator willing to take the service off their hands. The scheme was given a reprieve


in January, but a forensic study into its performance between June 1 and September 30 showed passen- ger numbers were down to 55,885 compared to 71,732 over the same period last year.


8


Disabled face losing transport in cost cuts


THE future of a crucial lifeline for hundreds of disabled people is in the balance as councillors prepare to inflict swingeing cuts on grants.


Maidstone’s Disability Travel


Voucher scheme faces the axe as part of the borough’s wider drive to wring “efficiencies” from its budget. But Downs Mail understands the


move has set the council on a colli- sion course with Age UK Maid- stone – the charity which administers the £50,000 service on the authority’s behalf. A Maidstone Borough Council


source said: “Age UK says the voucher scheme shouldn’t be in- cluded among cuts to grants be-


cause the money is not a grant, but part of a service the council con- tracted the charity to deliver. “One of their senior people is due


to appear before councillors immi- nently to make their case.” Disability Travel Vouchers are


currently available to Maidstone residents, regardless of age, for jour- neys within the borough to hospital or GP appointments, or to schemes that counter social isolation. Those applying are unable to use


public bus and train services be- cause they have severe visual, phys-


ical or mental impairments, or mo- bility issues. Successful applicants receive £70-


worth of vouchers, valid for a year, to use with participating taxi and community transport organisations. Around 500 people benefit di-


rectly from the scheme, but sup- porters also point out the funds are “recycled” within the Maidstone economy – providing income for cab companies and transport charities. Age UK Maidstone has employed


a part-time administrator specifi- cally to maintain the service ever since the council approached it to run the scheme in 2008. Paul Coles, the charity’s chief ex-


ecutive, confirmed his organisation ran the scheme, but would not be drawn on the latest developments. “We’re currently in talks with the


council,” he said. Maidstone Borough Council had


not commented by the time Downs Mail went to press.


FREE No. 260


News


Business nomination MEET the former Invicta Grammar School pupilwho has been nominated for a business start-up award.


MBC boss under fire


COUNCIL boss Alison Broom is under fire after a complaint against KCC was rejected.


6


Leeds Castle celebrates 10


CELEBRATIONS for Leeds Castle’s 900th anniversary have been announced.


Meet the new boss


MAIDSTONE building giant Gal- lagher has named Lance Taylor as its new chief.


MPs ‘safe’ in snap poll


A RECENT poll says local MPs will be re-elected if a general election is called early.


Ordered tomuzzle


ADOGowner has been ordered to muzzle her bull terrier after it bit two people.


Obituaries


26 36


Parish Councils 37


A NEW PCSO for Tovil was named as Ross Russell; £10,000 of funding was secured for play equipment in Barming; a planter will be built out of railway sleepers in Tovil.


Crime Reports 37


ACAR’S tyres were slashed in Alling- ton; a restaurant was broken into in Tonbridge Road; a door window was smashed in Sheals Crescent; a pass- port was stolen from a car in North Way; building materials including copper, cable tools and a lock were stolen from a garage in Fant; a gate was removed from a property in Shepway.


Comment 46-47 01580 890713 | www.frankiesfarmshop.co.uk


Christmas at Frankie's - Come along & join us for our CHRISTMAS TASTING EVENING on 30th November. Tickets are £10 - includes a glass of BUBBLY Tickets available from the FARMSHOP


Open 7 days a week, 9am-5pm Mon-Sat - 10am-4pm Sun


Clapper Lane, Staplehurst, TN12 0JT


22 14


3


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