News
Bringing empty homes into use
MAIDSTONE has the third high- est number of long-term empty properties according to new data, writes Katie May Nelson. Local authorities in Kent and
Medway had been asked to supply data on how many privately- owned homes were empty for more than five years. Medway recorded the highest number, with 210. Thanet had 131 and Maidstone had 126. The lowest number recorded
was Ashford with seven. Data from Kent County Council
(KCC) last year revealed there were 17,275 empty properties and 8,755 second homes across Kent. Local authorities sometimes em- ploy techniques to try and bring empty homes back into use. KCC’s “No Use Empty” loan scheme has brought a yearly aver- age of 511 long-term vacant homes back into use; the figure for 2020/21 was 334. The scheme, established in 2005,
has provided loans to the value of £37.4m leveraging £32m in private sector funds to give a total invest- ment of £70.4 m.
KCC has also lobbied central
government to spread the scheme into other areas of the country. Nationally, local authorities are
facing a house-building crisis; re- cently-released figures from the Local Government Association (LGA) show 2,782,300 homes have been granted planning permission by councils since 2010/11, but only 1,627,730 have been built. Jon Sparkes, chief executive of homelessness charity Crisis, said: “Bringing empty homes back into use is not a solution, with empty homes making up around 1% of housing in England. We need to build 90,000 social homes a year to address the backlog of need. “A secure home is essential for people to enter and keep work, provide for their family and pro- vide security for their children.”
Firm funds speed scheme
A LINTON landowner has paid more than £35,000 to reduce vehicle speeds through the village. The traffic-calming scheme, paid for by Alan Firmin Ltd, has seen two
signs replaced with a white gateway design and a “Welcome to Linton” post. A new 40mph sign has also been installed along the A229. The work also involved fitting “dragon’s teeth” road markings through the
village and extending the 40mph zone by 100 metres beyond Redwall Lane. Chairman of Linton parish council Bernard Cresswell said: “As a Harley-
Davidson rider and the council’s Speed Watch coordinator, I know only too well that we need to reduce speeds through our communities.” Managing director Michael Firmin, who is pictured with Mr Cresswell,
said: “We were very aware of the longstanding challenge that residents, as pedestrians and drivers, have in safely accessing the village hall and St Nicholas Church and its car park. “As a local business with strong family ties to the community, we were pleased to step in and fund the road safety improvements in the village.”
nate and caring service aved day or night
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Lawrence Director
Michael Lawrence Funeral Director
Parade, Beverley Road, Barming, Maidstone, Kent ME16 9JN. 00.
barming@familyfuneralservice.net
ore orough Parade, Beverley Road, Barming, Maidstone, Kent ME16 9JN. 22 920300.
barming@familyfuneralservice.net
Rik Moore 6 Marlborough Parade, Beverley Road, Barming, Maidstone, Kent ME16 9JN. Tel: 01622 920300.
barming@familyfuneralservice.net
Michael Lawrence Funeral Director
ec y, Bearsted, Maidstone, Kent ME15 8PW 05
bearsted@familyfuneralservice.net
milyfuneralservice.net
ralservice.net
34
www.familyfuneralservice.net
www.familyfuneralservice.net
www.familyfuneralservice.net
eQuelenec dish Way, Bearsted, Maidstone, Kent ME15 8PW 22 920305
bearsted@familyfuneralservice.net
Karan LeQuelenec 4 Cavendish Way, Bearsted, Maidstone, Kent ME15 8PW Tel: 01622 920305
bearsted@familyfuneralservice.net
Karan LeQuelenec 4 Cavendish Way, Bearsted, Maidstone, Kent ME15 8PW Tel: 01622 920305
bearsted@familyfuneralservice.net
www.familyfuneralservice.net
Rik Moore 6 Marlborough Parade, Beverley Road, Barming, Maidstone, Kent ME16 9JN. Tel: 01622 920300.
barming@familyfuneralservice.net
Karan LeQuelenec 4 Cavendish Way, Bearsted, Maidstone, Kent ME15 8PW Tel: 01622 920305
bearsted@familyfuneralservice.net
Karan LeQuelenec 4 Cavendish Way, Bearsted, Maidstone, Kent ME15 8PW Tel: 01622 920305
bearsted@familyfuneralservice.net
Michael Lawrence Funeral Director
Michael Lawrence Funeral Director
assionate and caring service e bereaved day or night
Compassionate and caring service For the bereaved day or night
Compassionate and caring service For the bereaved day or night
Compassionate and caring service For the bereaved day or night
Compassionate and caring service For the bereaved day or night
p34
Rik Moore 6 Marlborough Parade, Beverley Road, Barming, Maidstone, Kent ME16 9JN. Tel: 01622 920300.
barming@familyfuneralservice.net
Rik Moore 6 Marlborough Parade, Beverley Road, Barming, Maidstone, Kent ME16 Tel: 01622 920300.
barming@familyfuneralservice.net
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