News | Week Street COMMENT
by Maidstone Borough Council leader, Cllr David Burton
MAIDSTONE is the business capi- tal of Kent. Let us not dwell on the negative aspects, but instead let us build a positive energy that can displace the darkness that lurks in certain places. Antisocial behaviour and illicit dealings have no place here. I put on notice those who harbour in these areas that we will be taking back these places. I sense a great opportunity that
begins at Lockmeadow. Our plans are advanced and our delivery is commenced to bring new purpose and enjoyment there. To experience the newly up-
graded cinema. To enjoy live music on the riverside. To share exciting and varied food. To feel safe and happy with friends and families. To look across at the spectacular Archbishop’s Palace, the church and some of the finest heritage buildings that exist. And from here it can spread.
Take the footbridge across the river to Gabriel’s Hill, Bank Street and the High Street. Experience more events in Jubilee Square. Look up at the magnificent buildings. Pic- ture the buzz of Maidstone, its shops, its restaurants. This is the setting for so much that can be achieved. Let this radiate out into our rural
areas, with their wineries and dis- tilleries, the airfield buzzing with Spitfires, all set in the most beauti- ful Garden of England. As politicians, we are prone to criticise and condemn one an- other’s ideas – to denigrate and disparage. That is a race to the bottom. This is a race to the top. Maidstone deserves us to do bet- ter – and we will. (Extract from address to MBC on July 14)
downsmail.co.uk
Club owner devastated as blaze wrecks venue
THE owner of a popular venue in town has spoken out after a ‘tragic’ blaze ripped through the building just days before restrictions were due to end.
Fire crews were called to Mu Mu bar in Week Street at around 2.30am on July 14 as dark clouds of smoke wafted across the town. Severe damage was caused to
the burning building and fire in- vestigators are trying to work out the cause of the blaze.
Owner Ciaran O'Quigley, who has run the nightclub for over 29 years, said: “The devastation this has caused us is beyond words. We have had the toughest 18 months and were just a week away from the first grasps at normality. "We ask customers to bear with us – we have no offices, no com- puters, no phone lines, no access to our venue – these have all been taken as a result of this fire. "We will be back. That is certain." Describing Mu Mu as the best bar in town, borough councillor
David Naghi said the tragic fire came just as things were supposed to be getting back to normal. Local businesspeople and friends shared sympathy and encouragement on social media. A spokesman for Apollo Taxis said: "The O'Quigley family has supported us for the last 10 years at least. They are genuine, hardworking, generous and an asset to Maidstone.”
Friend Teresa Streeter, who has set up a fundraising page, said: “Ciaran is a hard-working busi- nessman who has strived to build his business despite the pandemic. He treats all his employees with re- spect and is a much loved and re- spected figure in the town." To donate go to https://go-
fund.me/7d738e4c . MP Helen Grant, page 47
Taking action on law and order crisis
A NUMBER of measures are to be implemented to deal with a "law and order crisis" in the county town, particularly in Week Street.
Problems with violence,
weapon-carrying, street crime, theft and antisocial conduct have been highlighted. The area around Week Street
and Brenchley Gardens is particu- larly hard hit. Ward councillor David Naghi blames poor CCTV coverage,
problem residents being placed in Maidstone by other councils and "indifferent" policing. But town centre borough coun- cillor Jonathan Purle, deputy leader of the authority, is trying to force through a raft of mea- sures tackling the problems. Council leaders are keen to in- troduce CCTV in Brenchley Gar- dens, which is frequented by alcoholics and drug dealers. The park will be shut at night and a dawn to dusk ban on street
drinking will be introduced. Cllr Purle will also seek ways to bring in a 2am closure of late- night entertainment venues. Kent Police claims it patrols the area at all times of the day, carries out proactive operations and works with partner agencies. Chief inspector Gary Wood-
ward said: "Our officers are reg- ularly on foot in the retail areas, parks and public spaces and re- sponding swiftly to crime and antisocial behaviour."
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