News
Pizza Hut to close at Mall
THE Pizza Hut restaurant in The Mall shopping centre in Maid- stone is to shut as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. The chain is planning to close 29 outlets across its UK portfolio, with the loss of up to 450 jobs. The restaurant will shut permanently next year.
It’s another blow for the high street, which was in trouble long before the Coronavirus struck. The Mall Pizza Hut is one of two shutting in Kent, the other being in Gravesend.
A spokesman said: “We are
doing everything we can to rede- ploy our team members from our Pizza Hut restaurant locations that are closing and minimise the im- pact to our workforce. We are therefore unable to share exact job loss numbers for each branch. “We understand this is a diffi- cult time for everyone involved and we are supporting our team members as much as possible throughout this transition.” The plan was to try to protect more than 5,000 jobs across its re- maining restaurants.
downsmail.co.uk
Buskers face new rules after public complaints
IT IS mid-morning and musician Gary Woodcock is tuning his gui- tar ready to entertain shoppers in Week Street, Maidstone. Gary (52), pictured, who has
been busking for more than 35 years, makes his living singing classic pop songs on the streets of Maidstone. But the father of two from Barm-
ing is aware of the local council’s plans to toughen up on street per- formers who veer towards the an- tisocial with amplified “karaoke” routines. The council has drafted strict
new guidelines after claims it had received an “increasing number of complaints” about buskers block- ing access points in the high street. Gary said: “There is a basic code
of conduct I think we should all abide by, but some take the mick. “This is my life and there is no-
body around here doing it for a liv- ing anymore; it’s how I pay my bills and support myself. My
daughter is a music teacher and my son is a busker in Europe, so I am no stranger to this job. “These karaoke buskers are going to ruin the town, because
Under the new drafted guidelines, buskers: l will not be able to repeat the same material within two hours; l will be encouraged to take regular breaks between perfor- mances as continuous noise can be regarded as “intrusive”; l are advised to stick to a 45- minute maximum performance time.
Maidstone has a dwindling sense of community as it is. “Some performers completely
block entrances to roads and blare their sound systems so loud I can’t even hear myself. “With shops closing and the
virus still heavily on people minds, I just do it to make people happy.” MBC said: “ We are receiving an increasing number of complaints, often regarding amplified busking, repetitive busking and/or obstruc- tions to highways/access points.”
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