News


downsmail.co.uk Cleaning patrolmoves into town


ARADICALnewapproach to keeping the county town’s streets clean after years of “going to rack and ruin” has beenwelcomed.


The Maidstone Business Im-


provement District (BID) is fund- ing a specialist street cleaning service inMaidstone town centre. Local borough councillor


Jonathan Purle said the scheme will help to “restore some civic pride” and benefit businesses. BIDmanager for the town centre


group, Ilsa Butler, said the pro- gramme goes beyond the cleaning provided by Maidstone Borough Council by targeting issues of par- ticular concern to local businesses. Cllr Purle said: “The place is


looking better already, after years of being allowed to go rack and ruin. We need to get some civic pride back into the place. “Retailers are having a tough


time and it is hard enough attract- ing people into town with sky- high, rip-off parking charges and never-ending congestion.” Staffers use power washing and


Street and will undertake routine cleansing activities.” Nu-Venture Buses Tweeted its


approval: “A great initiative.More bins at the main bus stops would help –much of the town centre de- bris seems to relate to students eat- ing the remains of their lunch whilst awaiting their buses.” Maidstone Borough Council,


Cllr Jonathan Purle and BIDmanage Ilsa Butler


deep cleaning of pavements, as well as the removal of gum, vege- tation and graffiti. In addition, the contract includes


a rapid response service for emer- gencies, such as spillages, graffiti removal and rubbish collection. The Street Ambassadors will sup- port local businesses by reporting


any issues to the cleansing teams. Ilsa Butler said: “Local busi-


nesses and visitors will benefit fromthe servicewhichwill ensure the town centre is as clean and at- tractive as possible. “The enhanced cleaning project


has started with gum removal along King Street and the High


was one of four organisations which bid for the work and will now be paid £40,000 annually for three years fromBIDmoney. The BID, which came into effect


lastOctober,wasproposedbyOne Maidstone, a not-for-profit body dedicatedto improving the trading environment. An MBC spokesman said: “By


making the town centre a clean and attractive place, the initiative will encouragemorepeople to visit and enjoy Maidstone’s fantastic business, retail and leisure offer.”


KENT Police and Crime Commis- sionerMatthewScott has set aside £1mto invest in projectswhich cut violent crime. The "violence reduction fund" is


one of the recommendations to emerge fromhis study into the na- ture, scale and causes of the issue. Local groups will soon be able to bid for about £100,000 each, with the funding to be spent over three years.


Flats ready


ABLOCKof flats, hailedas herald- ing the start of a rental income for the borough, openedinKing Street at the end ofMarch. Lenworth House, described by


Maidstone Borough Council as “housing solutions”, has 14 apart- ments that are a mixture of one-, two- and three-bedroomflats.


Coffee date


ACOFFEEmorningwill be heldto raise funds for the Kent Multiple Sclerosis Therapy Centre on Fri- day,May 3. It takes place at the Oak on the


Green, Bearsted Green from 9.30- 11.30am.There is a £5 entry for tea, coffee and cake, aswell as a raffle. Call Natasha on 07949 051408 for details.


4 Maidstone May 2019 Cu�ing crime Two chargedwith a�acks on police


AMANandwoman are the latest suspects to be charged under re- cently-introduced legislation to protect emergencyworkers. It is alleged the woman made


threats to police officers in Palace Avenue,Maidstone, at about 7pm onApril 4. As she was arrested, she is said


to have spat in the face of an officer and kicked a colleague. Another officer claimed to have been as- saulted whilst she was in custody at a police station. Dawn Ring (36), of Tonbridge


Road, was charged with three counts of assault by beating of an emergency worker and a further charge of common assault of an emergencyworker. She is bailedto appear at Maidstone Magistrates’ Court onMay 8. On Sunday,April 7, policewere


called to a collision in Holland Road,Maidstone,where one of the officers was allegedly punched in the face. JacobKeep (21), of PostleyRoad,


was arrested and later charged with assault by beating of an emer-


gencyworker andcausing criminal damage. He was bailed to appear before Maidstone Magistrates’ Court onMay 10. Maidstone Chief Inspector Ray


Quiller said: “It can never be ac- ceptable for police officers to be subjected to assaults and abuse whilst carrying out their duties to uphold the law and protect the communities they serve. “We will seek to prosecute any-


one we suspect is responsible for these offences andensure there are consequences for their actions.”


Private hospital closes its doors


HEALTHchiefs have closed the door on a private hospital after three decades of life-saving service to the people ofMaidstone. Bosses at The Somerfield, which


alsohandledNHS referrals, saidthey had taken the “difficult decision” after the growth of rivals in the area rocked the London Road hospital’s activity and financial position. The last patients moved out on


March 31. The future of The Somerfield’s


50-odd nurses and healthcare prac- titioners is still hanging in the bal- ance, with owner BMI Healthcare


saying that it is committed “to help- ing staff on the next steps in their careers”. Aspokesmansaid: “Wedevisedin-


dividual care plans for each of our patients, so they could continue with their treatment.” The 38-bed private hospital,


which had three operating theatres and a high dependency unit, had around 60% of its inpatients re- ferred by the NHS and upwards of 30%of its outpatients. Its owners announced over a


month ago that itwould be closing. The spokesman told Downs Mail


at the time: “Thishasbeenadifficult decision tomake, not least because the staff at the hospital have been so dedicated and take pride in the service they provide to patients.” The Somerfield has posted a


farewell message on its website which reads: “We thank our patients who have chosen The Somerfield Hospital over the last 30 years, and hope that our sister hospitalswill be able to serve you in the future.” The infirmary is now in the


process of shutting down itswebsite and following up with “small bits and bobs” that still need to be done.


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