News Covid-19 hits


MBC coffers HEAVY costs and lost income due to the Covid-19 pandemic seri- ously impacted on Maidstone Bor- ough Council’s (MBC) financial strength, says chief executive Ali- son Broom. She warned councillors they must take “practical measures to bring the budget back into bal- ance”. The authority will use re- serves to stay afloat.


Mrs Broom said budget pres-


sures arise from income losses such as non-collection of council tax and business rates. Car parking in- come, which took a huge hit, now shows a slight improvement. Extra money was spent on the homeless, leisure, shielding and PPE. Total losses will be £5m, even with £2m of Government help. Projections see a budget “gap” of £3.3m in 2021-22, which may lead to savings and increased income generation.


Independent councillor Eddie


Powell said: “MBC is spending public money like a drunken sailor on its Lenham Heath project as well as millions on flats and tens of millions on a cinema complex.”


downsmail.co.uk


Council considering sites for development


FORTY-nine “call for sites” land offers are currently front-runners for selection by Maidstone Bor- ough Council for residential devel- opment, employment and retail uses. They are: Town centre: Len House (29


units) (pictured), Gala Bingo and Granada House (71), the riverside including Powerhub and retail warehouse land (650 plus substan- tial retail and employment), Maid- stone West (130), Mote Road tower block (84), Right Kard, Week St (2), 12-14 Week St (3), High St/Medway St (42), Maidstone East/ex Royal Mail (210), Mill St car park (15). Urban/edge of town: Springfield


Tower, Royal Engineers Road (145), Danebury, College Road (3), for- mer British Legion site (4), Willow Farm, Tyland Lane (45), Rochester Meadow (39), Bydews Place, Tovil (10), Abbey Farm, Dean Street widening, Tovil (240), Boughton Lane with public open space (23), current Kent Police HQ, Sutton


Road (300), south-west of Police HQ (196), Sutton Road, respecting setting of Rumwood Court (139), rear of Appletree House, below 127 Hockers Lane (25), north of Ware Street, Thurnham/Bearsted (67), Dorothy Lucy Centre (16), Oxford Road (14). Villages/countryside:


Keilen


Manor, Marley Road, Harrietsham (40), south of A20, Harrietsham (60), Mote Road, Headcorn (127), Ashford Road, Lenham (employ- ment only), Dickley Court, Lenham (offices), north of Copper Lane, Marden (74), east of Albion Road, Marden (39), east of Lodge Road, Staplehurst (78), Home Farm, Sta- plehurst (49), land adjacent White


Cottage, Boughton Monchelsea (18), Campfield Farm, Boughton Monchelsea (24), junction Dean Street/Heath Road, East Farleigh (20) and adjacent Dingley Dell (17), junction Gallants Lane/Heath Road, East Farleigh (33), Forstal Lane/Stockett Lane, Coxheath (30), south east of Eyhorne Street, Hollingbourne (11), 4 Southways, Sutton Valence (12), Haven Farm, Sutton Valence (41), Fir Tree Farm/Norton Lea south, Sutton Va- lence (47), north Kenward Road, Yalding (100), Braemar Garage, Sutton Valence (16), Sapphire Ken- nels, Sutton Valence (9), between Maidstone Rd and Whetsted Rd, south of Laddingford (employment use only). Excluded: Among them are:


KCC's Oakwood Park complex; Fant Farm; opposite Red Start pub, North Street, Barming; Pested


Bars Rd,


Boughton Monchelsea; large sites around Marden, Staplehurst, Head- corn, Lenham and Harrietsham.


delhispice


Fine dining Indian Restaurant serving traditional Indian food


Menu selected from various regions from all over the Indian sub continent, with specialist Indian spices, and 100% free from all artificial colourings and flavourings.


Very popular traditional bar, serving fine wines, real ales and an extensive range of teas and coffees


The Rose, 87 Ashford Road, Bearsted


Tel: 01622 734747 / 738200 www.delhispice.co.uk


Open Throughout Lockdown For Takeaway Service


To claim your 20% off use code COVID 19 6


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