Borough WINTER

2021

The Community Magazine from Maidstone Borough Council

RECOVERY & RENEWAL

STUDENTS
Look Forward After Covid
LOCKMEADOW
Food Hall Opens
#CLEANUPMAIDSTONE

COMPETITION Page 26

PRIDE IN OUR BOROUGH

 Letter from the Editor
Maidstone moving forward together.....
Hello,
There’s no doubt that 2021 has been a
different year for so many of us and one
that has seen us pull together again to
help make changes and support each
other to recover and move forward.
This edition of the Borough Insight
Magazine looks at some things helping
Maidstone move forward to help recover from Covid.
We hear about the exciting times ahead from MBC Leader,
Cllr David Burton including Maidstone Innovation Centre -
the state-of-the-art building providing flexible office space,
facilities and business support for firms in the life science,
healthcare and medical sectors welcoming new tenants.
We find out about a new skills hub which will be run by
IS NOW OPEN
MidKent College and based in the centre of the Mall shopping
centre.
Take a peek inside the fantastic new offering for visitors
Maidstone’s brand new dining to Lockmeadow which has recently opened the food hall;
Love Food @ Lockmeadow’s eight new outlets under one
hotspot with 8 amazing street roof offering locally sourced food and drinks.
food and drink outlets - offering We look at ways you can help yourself recover too; visiting
some of the parks across the borough (four of which won a
something for everyone - from coffee Green Flag Award this year); local walks to help you keep fit
and healthy; and some historical highlights that you may not
to cocktails ∙ American ∙ Thai ∙ Jamaican have realised are literally on your doorstep.
food and lots more! And meet the winners of the Maidstone Borough Council and
Heart of Kent Hospice Compassionate Community Awards
2021, which received some wonderful nominations and
moving stories about the amazing people and organisations
and how they helped others.
LOCALLY INDEPENDENT BUSINESSES There are always some amazing things happening in
Maidstone and this magazine covers just a few of them, but if
WITH A PASSION FOR GREAT QUALITY FOOD. you have news of a community project that you would like us
to feature in the next edition of Borough Insight please contact:
communications@maidstone.gov.uk
Take care and kind regards,
Julie
Maidstone’s new food hall,
Julie Maddocks - MBC Communications Manager
Love Food @ Lockmeadow
Find us at: Barker Rd, Maidstone ME16 8SF
Meet the MBC Communications Team
Editors: Julie Maddocks, Ella Watkins, Peter Cooper
Design: Sue Fuller, Rachel Lea
Advertising Sales: communications@maidstone.gov.uk
2 www.maidstone.gov.uk www.maidstone.gov.uk
In this issue...
Maidstone Road to Recovery
Leaders Address, New Health Centre 4
Maidstone & Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust 4-5
MidKent College - Skills Hub 6
One Maidstone BID & Maidstone Business Boost 7
Safe, Clean & Green
Parks, Green Flag Awards & Brenchley Gardens 8-9
Mote Park Student Artwork 10
Maidstone in Bloom 11
Environment & Climate Change 12-13
Heart of Kent Hospice Tree & Christmas Collections 14
Recycling 15
Community Protection & Enforcement, Marden 16-17
Clean Up Maidstone - Litter Campaign & Waste Crime 18-19
A Thriving Place
Lockmeadow - Play Area & Giant Christmas Post Box 21
Lockmeadow - Opening of the Food Hall 22-23
Walking to Recovery 24
Community Resilience Fund 25
The Hazlitt Theatre - Pantomime, Competition 26
Community Arts & Culture, Maidstone Museum 27
Compassionate Community Awards 28-29
Hidden Gems, Maidstone Museum, Archbishop's Palace 30
Embracing Growth & Enabling Infrastructure
Maidstone Innovation Centre 31
The Business Terrace & New Business Advisor 32
The Local Plan Review 33
Homes & Communities
National Award for Housing Team, Homelessness 34
Energy Efficient Roadshows 35
Maidstone Bus Station & Maidstone East 36
The Mayor - Out & About 37
Did You Know? Get Involved & Stay Connected 38
Contact the Council 39
COMPETITION WINNERS: Thank you to everyone who entered the
competition to win a Maidstone Monopoly and sent in their fabulous selfies
from around Maidstone - we had some brilliant photos.
Congratulations to our six winners picked at random:
Nick Beal, Sharon Foster, Fiona Mallion,
Sue Mead, Bob Newberry, Victoria Smoker.
Get in touch...
maidstoneboroughcouncil
maidstonebc See Page 39
for our full
maidstonebc contact list
maidstonecouncil
Front cover: Valley Park student artwork at Mote Park
At time of going to press all information is correct.
3
 MBC Leader
looking forward to exciting times ahead
Cllr David Burton, the Leader
of Maidstone Borough Council
is looking forward to better times
ahead for the County Town of Kent.
David said: “It’s been an interesting
time to take over as the new Leader.
We have all found ourselves in the
most challenging circumstances our
generation has ever faced and the
road to recovery and renewal from
it will depend on what we do next.
As we gradually move forward we
must make good use of the funding
we have been given and create
opportunities for our businesses
and residents.
“Maidstone is the County Town of
Kent as well as the business capital
and I want to see the Council being
bold and innovative, making the
most of the many opportunities it
has at its fingertips.
“The fantastic new food hall at
Lockmeadow is a fine example of
how MBC is leading a project to put
the location firmly back on the map
for residents and visitors and to
revive the local economy.
“Maidstone Innovation Centre will
see a brand new state-of-the-art
building attracting cutting edge
MedTech employers to Maidstone.
We want them to come and invest
here and for our residents to be
able to reap the benefit of the jobs
they will bring. Maidstone is open
for business.
“The summer events were great
examples of how we can attract
more people back into our town
centre with colourful art displays
and music. The use of our parks
and open spaces for events may
have been limited these past couple
of years however the September
concerts in Brenchley Gardens
were a fantastic opportunity to feel
positive about the future of our
much loved town.
“The work of the Council is varied
and vast, covering everything
from waste collections to planning
decisions, regenerating our local
economy and providing a safe,
vibrant future for us all to thrive in.
We provide essential services which
touch everyone’s lives at some
point or another, residents and
businesses all need to rely on these
for day to day living, we are here
when you need us.
“There is so much for everyone
to look forward to; they are indeed
exciting times ahead.”
NHS 111: Helping you get the right
treatment - when you need it
Our local NHS services have worked tirelessly
throughout the Covid pandemic and continue to be very
busy. You can help ease the pressure by choosing the
right service for you when you need medical help or
advice. Knowing the right place to go can help you get
the treatment you need faster.
NHS 111 is open 24-hours-a-day, 365-days-a-year,
offering support on a wide range of conditions, covering
both illnesses and injuries.
Help is at hand from a team of highly trained experts
and, if needed, an appointment can be booked at an urgent
treatment centre (UTC) or even an A&E department.
There are several UTCs in Kent and Medway,
including at Maidstone Hospital.
I20091253_STOP THINK CHOOSE_190x130mm half page ad_HR PRINT.pdf 1 01/11/2021 09:30:44
Dr Navin Kumta, Clinical Chair of NHS Kent and
Medway, said: “People should use 111 first if they
are not sure where to go or what help they need.
By calling the free number, they will be given
professional advice about their condition or directed
to the best place for treatment. They might be given
advice on how to self-care at home, see a pharmacist,
contact their GP, referred to community or mental
health services or visit an urgent treatment centre.
“Urgent treatment centres provide treatment for
minor injuries and illnesses that are urgent, but not
life threatening and they can treat children of any age.
If a patient needs to go to an A&E department, and
it’s not a 999 emergency, appointments can also be
booked at any of these departments in the county.”
Please choose wisely and help us help you.
Visit: www.111.nhs.uk
or call the NHS free phone number 111.
More details are on the website:
www.stopthinkchoose.co.uk

Building work continues

for new health centre in Maidstone
C

A new medical centre for people in Coxheath and the surrounding area M

is taking shape. Y

Work is well underway at the new facility at Greensand Health Centre, CM

which will create additional GP capacity in a modern, spacious building MY

when it opens in the spring. CY

The number of patients registered at Greensand has steadily grown over CMY

recent years and the new facility will cater for continued growth. It will K

enable the practice to focus on health prevention and build on links with
the community, for example through a volunteer-led therapy garden, cafe
and reception space that will be available to groups.
The local NHS has worked closely with Maidstone Borough Council to
agree the use of Section 106 contributions for this scheme, which was
a key project in the Council’s Infrastructure Delivery Plan. A total of 11
separate Section 106 healthcare contributions from housing developers,
totalling £482,000, will be used towards the costs of building and installing
the necessary IT infrastructure.

4 www.maidstone.gov.uk www.maidstone.gov.uk 5
 New Community and Skills Hub
for Maidstone
There is no doubt that a lot of us
have had to rethink our career path
after the impact of the pandemic
with many having to retrain or gain
new qualifications.
Added to Covid changes, the youth
unemployment (18-24 year olds)
in Kent are higher than the national
average with 7.5% across the county.
MidKent College is working with
MBC (who is providing £60,000 of
support via its Covid-19 Recovery
and Renewal Action plan), and other
partners to create and launch a new
Community and Skills Hub designed
to help support young people in
Maidstone.
The new Hub will be based in The
Mall and provide a ‘one stop shop’
where people can easily access
information and advice regarding
finances, housing, benefits and
education under one roof. One of the
aims of the Hub will be to engage with
those that are not in employment,
education, or training (NEETs).
MidKent College and partners will
be on hand to offer career advisor
appointments, further education
options and apprenticeships,
along with the ability to offer short
training courses to support the
move into employment.
6 www.maidstone.gov.uk
Chris Hare, MidKent College
Executive Director for Employers
and Corporate Services said:
“The new Community and Skills Hub
in the Mall is a positive development
for Maidstone and will not only boost
our regional economy but help to
source local jobs for local people.
“The College is proud to be driving
this initiative to future-proof our
local workforce and fill much
needed skills gaps in our community
through relevant courses and
training. We are looking forward
to working with local charities and
support agencies to provide a wide
range of services from this central
hub.”
The Skills Hub will offer pre-booked
or drop-in sessions for people who
are not currently able to access the
service.
It is due to open early 2022 and will
provide an initial broad range of
courses which would be developed
depending on what people need and
will be designed to offer targeted
pre-employment training.
The initial proposed training
options will include:
• Bookkeeping and computerised Improvement District (BID) which is funded by town businesses to improve
accounting (in conjunction with The Council is asking businesses
SAGE)
• Skills Development Online Courses
• Essential Digital Skills
• Certificated Work Skills scheme, Maidstone Business Boost
Programmes
• Food Hygiene
• Employability
If you would like to know more
about the new Community and
Skills Hub in Maidstone or MidKent
College and the courses they have
available visit: www.midkent.ac.uk
for further information.
Maidstone Business Boost
Supporting businesses in Maidstone: MBC to give
Businesses in the borough will be familiar with One Maidstone Business
businesses a boost
the economic condition of Maidstone town centre.
Throughout the pandemic the BID affected by Covid-19 to come
worked with partners including MBC to forward to check what help, advice
support local traders recover after what and potential financial support is
has been a very unpredictable time. available to them as part of its new
“The Covid pandemic and restrictions (MBB).
have been huge hurdles for businesses
over the past two years,” explains Ilsa By offering diagnostic meetings to
Butler, One Maidstone Manager. understand individual businesses’
“The uncertainty for businesses has needs, MBB aims to guide applicants
hit them throughout the pandemic through the wide range of free
particularly the restrictions that were resources on offer, and help them
introduced and the speed they were identify which they qualify for,
required to change. including training, marketing,
and recruitment.
“I have to pay credit to all BID partners
who were extremely agile in reacting not knowing from one day to the next In addition to the support for
what was going to happen, be required of them and forcing them to look at businesses significantly impacted
how they were working.” by Covid, grants of up to £10,000
are available to those taking on a
It’s not just Covid that has impacted trade, the growth of online retail has lease for ground floor premises
hit the high street too: “We need to give people a reason to come and spend in a commercial centre due to
time in the town; offering them something to eat, good quality shopping, diversification or growth.
(even if they’re just popping in to click and collect), and Maidstone is giving
them that along with a safe and welcoming environment”, adds Ilsa. There is a wealth of help and advice
available, however businesses might
“Businesses big and small have been hit but it appears the smaller - find it difficult to identify what they
independent ones of Maidstone have weathered the storm by really qualify for. Maidstone Business
looking at the changes needed to withstand the pandemic. Boost is designed to make it as easy
“We have such a fantastic mix of independent retailers here. There is no as possible for them to get what
doubt that they have been really stretched but stood strong alongside the they’re entitled to.
national chains. I’ve always felt that Maidstone is a family of businesses Any business that would like to
which is as true now as it has ever been. Businesses support each other receive information on the support
which is a foundation of what a BID should be.” available should contact:
The BID is also working closely MBB@maidstone.gov.uk
with the Council to support local
businesses on the Road to Recovery
through the Maidstone Business Boost.
Ilsa concludes: “The MBB is an
amazing benefit to businesses,
this latest government funding is a
fantastic incentive which could make
a massive difference to some of the
smaller businesses in the town.”
www.maidstone.gov.uk 7
 SAFE, CLEAN AND GREEN
PARKS
Maidstone flies the flag
in four of the country’s best parks
Four of Maidstone’s parks have been recognised
as some of the country’s best and presented with
a Green Flag Award in October.
The parks in the borough of Maidstone were
Clare Park, Cobtree Manor Park (managed
by the Cobtree Trust), Mote Park and Whatman
(Millennium River) Park.
The Green Flag award is the international quality
mark for parks and green spaces. In celebration
of the national recognition, the Council’s grounds
maintenance staff raised the Green Flags with great
pride and Maidstone the Town Hall was lit green.
Chair of Communities, Housing and Environment
Committee and MBC Deputy Leader Jonathan Purle
said: “After 18 months that have seen our parks and
green spaces play a vital role for people through
lockdowns as a place to relax, exercise and meet
friends and family safely. The news that four of our
parks have achieved the Green Flag Award is testament
to the hard work and dedication of the MBC team that
make the green spaces such wonderful places for
everyone across Maidstone to visit and enjoy. As a close
neighbour to Whatman Park I am particularly pleased
to see that it has been recognised in this way.”
To find out more about the parks in and around
Maidstone please visit the MBC website:
www.maidstone.gov.uk
8 www.maidstone.gov.uk
Oakwood Cemetery
MBC Parks and Open Spaces Team have
made improvements to Oakwood Cemetery, Oakapple
Lane off Hermitage Lane.
The team restored a Kentish Ragstone boundary wall,
constructed a new entrance and have completed
a network of footpaths and new seating.
The cemetery is an important historical landmark for
Maidstone and is the final resting place for thousands
of patients and staff from the original Oakwood
Hospital. It is a beautiful area and these works
will hopefully encourage more residents
to visit and enjoy it.
New children’s play area
at Barming Heath
The children’s play area at Barming
Heath has been refurbished thanks
to the MBC Parks and Open Spaces Team.
The new equipment has been designed for children of all
ages and abilities to have as many play experiences as
possible, as well as opportunities to develop themselves
socially and physically.
The play area is now bigger and most of the original
equipment has been replaced. With toddler and junior
zones, better access and play value on some equipment
for children with additional needs and a quiet sensory area
in the middle. There should now be something for everyone.
SAFE, CLEAN AND GREEN
Brenchley Gardens Bandstand Concerts
Return to Brenchley
'Mark the Park' This year, we were delighted to offer five music events in
Fondly known by many as 'Mark the Park'….. Borough
Brenchley Gardens, funded by the Welcome Back Fund, all
held on the bandstand. Sunday afternoons in September
Insight caught up with one of MBC’s longest serving
were filled with music from the Jon Hamilton Big Band,
staff – Green Spaces Ranger - Mark Rumble:
Invicta Jazz Orchestra and BAE Systems Brass Band all
Days after leaving school in 1979 he joined the Council organised by Maidstone Area Arts Partnership.
as an Apprentice Gardner in Brenchley Gardens and
There were also two Saturday events offering a more
has been there ever since.
eclectic mix of music from folk and indie rock to acoustic
Under the supervision of two excellent teachers and blues organised by Make Some Noise. Each event
(as Mark describes them), he learnt his trade from was well attended, with a great atmosphere and more
John Sawyer and Trevor Brockway who taught him than 100 people enjoying the entertainment each time.
traditional skills. “It may sound simple, but I learnt
how to mow a lawn, dig a flower bed, the right tools
to use and how to do things properly,” explains Mark,
“skills that have stayed with me for life - thanks to two
brilliant gardeners and my apprenticeship.”
As part of his learning, Mark studied horticulture for
three years at Hadlow College, gaining City & Guilds
and voted Best All Round Student of Maidstone.
“I was lucky, working alongside John and Trevor meant
that the three of us could achieve so much in the five
acres of the park,” adds Mark. “Unfortunately it isn’t
as easy these days as I’m on my own now.
“When I first started we were regularly featured in
gardening magazines showcasing tropical bedding
or the Victorian greenhouse where we grew some
stunning displays. Sadly neither exist anymore.”
However, despite changes Mark
clearly still enjoys his role. “I loved
my job from the start and still do
thanks to some great people I work
with and the majority of visitors
who visit the park and tell me how
they appreciate what I do. It gives
me a real sense of pride in my work
and makes it all worthwhile.”
Highlights of his role are being
outside and the satisfaction of
creating something when you
can see the results straight away.
And his advice for anyone looking
to follow in his footsteps: “Good
training, listen to what people tell
you and be willing to learn – if
you’re enthusiastic about gardening
then you should be alright.”
www.maidstone.gov.uk 9
 SAFE, CLEAN AND GREEN
Students looking to the future through art
Young artists from Valley Park School Maidstone have
expressed their thoughts and feelings about Covid-19
through artwork and inspirational messaging in a
beautiful mural as part of the new Mote Park Café works.
MBC invited the students to create the artwork who
in response designed and painted the 8 x 16ft piece of
art which is based on the four seasons inspired by the
Mote Park location and includes positive quotations the
artists chose to illustrate their thoughts as Maidstone
recovers from the pandemic.
Deputy Maidstone Mayor, Cllr Derek Mortimer who
joined the students to unveil the artwork at Mote
Park said: “I’m totally blown away by the mural it has
clearly been created from the hearts of the students
and incredibly inspirational. Every time I look at it I see
something different. It looks amazing and I’m sure it
will inspire anyone who visits and sees it.”
The group of 14 Valley Park students (from a range
of year groups) dedicated two days working together
creating designs, sketches and stencils, as well as
choosing the quotations.
Valley Park Assistant Headteacher - Gemma Lowe
who supported the students added: “We were so
excited to be invited to take part in this project which
brilliantly displays our school’s ethos – CREATE
(Community, Respect, Excellence, Aspiration, Tenacity
and Enthusiasm).
10 www.maidstone.gov.uk
“This piece required respect from groups of students
who initially weren’t familiar with each other as well
as creating a piece of work to be enjoyed by the local
community. They worked brilliantly as a team. I’m so
proud of them and what they achieved. The mural looks
fantastic and I hope everyone who sees it loves
it as much as we do.”
The Council is leading the work on the Mote Park café
which is being built by BBS Construction and expected
to be completed by summer 2022.
BBS Construction Managing Director – Geoff Slee
commented: “When the opportunity of artwork was
discussed for the Mote Park hoarding, we jumped
at the chance to work alongside Valley Park School
and MBC. The standard of artwork that has been
produced is fantastic and it has created a vast amount
of interest and positivity from the public since it has
been installed. We cannot thank all of the students and
teaching staff enough for their superb artistic efforts.”
The new café will include indoor and outdoor seating,
flexible space for learning, an educational and meeting
area for local schools and community groups to hire
and new larger modern toilet facilities. The build of the
new flexible space, café, landscaping and toilets will
cost £2.5m and is the second phase of the Council’s
investment in the redevelopment and improvements
of Mote Park.
n e r s
Win of the Maidstone Borough In Bloom competition
A huge thank you to everyone who
entered the first ever Maidstone
Borough In Bloom competition.
MBC is delighted that so many
residents and businesses took the
time to enter their beautiful gardens
or hanging baskets and wants to
congratulate all the winners.
The Council worked with Coolings
Garden Centre to host the
competition which ran from 22
April to 5 July. Judges inspected
all entries for the three categories
during August before deciding the
winners.
The standard of entries was very
high and as the criteria for judging
is developed by the London Garden
Society anyone who has received
a prize should feel very proud.
Residential Categories
Best Front Garden & Best
Pollinator Garden - Claudia
Muessig, West Farleigh
Best Back Garden - Joint Winner
Catherine Burchill, Maidstone
and Jenny Adams, Maidstone
SAFE, CLEAN AND GREEN
Gardening has many health benefits particularly pleasing that many
not only in helping burn off calories local businesses took the time to
but also in helping to reduce enter especially after the difficult
depression and anxiety according year they have all been through.
to a King’s fund report. In some
In the future it might be possible for
areas GPs have been prescribing
Maidstone to progress and enter
gardening not only for rehabilitation
the South In Bloom competition to
but also as a preventative mechanism.
showcase community efforts and
In fact during lockdown many more parks as well.
people turned to gardening, with
it being the second most popular Each entry helps makes the borough
a better place to live and work in so
activity listed according to a survey
why not give it a go in 2022!
by GlobalData market research in
May 2020. Commercial Categories
The Council hopes there will be Best Commercial Garden
many more entries next year and Dougie Lawson, Turkey
was delighted that so many people Court, Maidstone
work so hard to make their garden,
pots, allotments or community
gardens look beautiful. It was also
Best Commercial Planted
Pot, Trough or Hanging
Basket - Stephanie
Fitzmaurice, HMP,
Maidstone
Community Categories
Best Planted Pot, Trough Best Community Ornamental
or Hanging Basket - Gary Garden - Nicola Dawson,
Norman, Maidstone Kings Lodge, Maidstone
Best Community Environmental
Garden - Stephanie Fitzmaurice,
HMP, Maidstone
www.maidstone.gov.uk 11
 SAFE, CLEAN AND GREEN
Committed to improving
biodiversity
In an effort to improve biodiversity in the borough the
Parks and Open Spaces team did not mow five areas in
Maidstone during May as part of a new environmentally
friendly initiative across the UK called ‘No Mow May.’
For the first time this year grassy areas throughout
May were not mowed to allow any wildflowers in the
lawns to have a chance to flower and support wildlife
and pollinators.
Temporary signs were put up at all sites informing
people of the project and neat borders cut to make sure
paths were not blocked and areas did not look unkempt.
It is hoped the trial could be expanded next year.
The initial five sites were; The Limes open space
in Staplehurst, Grovewood Drive North, Weavering;
Dickens Road Open Space, Ringlestone; verges on
New Cut Road; verges on parts of Willington Street.
The team has also made two large areas in local parks
more wildlife friendly. Three hectares of Mote Park and
a further one hectare in Oakwood Cemetery have been
left to grow long and management practices altered to
increase habitat for small mammals and slow worms.
Staplehurst
12 www.maidstone.gov.uk
Free parking
for battery electric vehicles
The Council has introduced free parking for battery
electric vehicles in the Maidstone Borough Council’s
car parks as part of its Climate Change Action Plan.
This concession demonstrates the commitment of
the Council to help meet its climate change target of
making the borough carbon neutral and may encourage
more people to consider electric vehicles. Electric
vehicles will help to improve air quality, especially
at air quality hotspots.
In order to make use of this concession, battery electric
vehicle owners will need to register their parking using
the RingGo Smartphone App so it can be identified
and not be charged for parking. This will apply for the
maximum length of stay permitted in that particular car
park using the RingGo cashless service. All Maidstone
Borough Council car parks have the facility to pay for
parking via the RingGo smartphone app or by phone,
which speeds up the transaction process.
For more information on how to register, search
‘electric vehicles’ on the MBC website.
There are also 18 Pod Point Electric Vehicle Charging
bays in key locations in the town centre car parks.
Anyone charging their electric car will only need to pay
for the electricity used and still enjoy free parking.
The Council is moving towards using electric vehicles to help keep emissions
low and improve the local environment and as vehicles are due for renewal
they are considered. Currently six electric vehicles are being used by the
parking, street cleansing, community protection and grounds maintenance
teams. In addition the MBC depot has been trialling a diverse range of electric
vehicles to use for all departments including waste collection, the latest being
the eCollect from Dennis Eagle with zero emissions which makes it ideal for
use in urban waste collection areas.
Call for Tree Planting Projects
Maidstone Borough Council is calling on anyone who
owns large areas of land in the borough to be part
of an ambitious tree-planting project.
The scheme is part of the Council’s Biodiversity and
Climate Change Action Plan where it is looking to partner
with local landowners to plant trees on their land in
order to increase biodiversity, combat climate change
and to help the borough reduce its carbon footprint.
MBC will subsidise or match funding to support
landowners plant more trees and link tree planting
projects to national government initiatives.
Planting trees and increasing woodland cover is
a powerful solution to combating climate change
and mitigating increasing global temperatures and the
Council has only limited land for large scale tree planting.
Tree planting comes with numerous benefits including,
increasing biodiversity, reducing soil degradation and
increasing water retention, reducing temperature rise
and providing natural flood management if planted in
the right places. Trees also have a significant positive
impact on our wellbeing and health.
The aim is to increase tree cover across the borough
whilst making sure the right trees are planted, in the
right place for the right reasons. With help from the
Kent Wildlife Trust and the Woodland Trust the scheme
will make sure tree species would be appropriate,
determine whether it is possible to create woodland
corridors or enhance ancient woodlands, increase flood
prevention through tree planting, and enhance natural
habitats and increase biodiversity.
www.maidstone.gov.uk
SAFE, CLEAN AND GREEN
During the call for tree planting sites landowners
and land managers are able to make a proposal for
tree planting projects on their land that will then be
considered for funding or match funding opportunities.
The Council has set out the criteria for priority and
favoured projects which includes:
• Projects that favour large scale planting of young
trees, whippets and saplings.
• Projects where tree planting is long term, and that
new trees will be maintained.
• If there are public rights of way in the proposed project
land, that the new trees will be adequately protected.
• Priority will be given to proposals that match funds
to be paid in proportion to funds available from the
Council.
• Land will not be considered if there are buildings,
concrete and other large-scale obstacles to be
removed.
• Larger areas of land for tree planting will be
prioritised however a minimum of 1 acre or half
hectare of land will be considered.
Any landowners who have land that meets the criteria
and would be happy to help improve biodiversity please
visit the Climate Change pages on Maidstone.gov.uk for
more information.
Clean Air for Schools
Campaign
The Clean Air for Schools Campaign
is aimed at tackling the growing issue
of air pollution around schools in the UK.
MBC wants to raise awareness and lower the levels
of pollution that are currently affecting children’s
health, while promoting leadership amongst students.
The Council is seeking to organise a workshop with
student leaders who are passionate about pollution
prevention to provide them with the tools needed to
take meaningful action against poor air quality. If your
school or student group would like to be involved in this
campaign, please email: delainey.curry@midkent.gov.uk
or call 01892 554012
13
 SAFE, CLEAN AND GREEN SAFE, CLEAN AND GREEN

Extra festive items that can be recycled:

Glass
No planned changes Mincemeat jars, Wine, Beer and Bubbly bottles
to MBC bin collections Metal
this Christmas Mince pie foil cases, Foil, Metal bottle and jar lids
There are no planned day changes to residents Drinks cans, Biscuit tins, Chocolate tins, Sweet tins
recycling, refuse and food waste collection services
this festive season. Paper and card
Cardboard packaging (remove polystyrene, bubble wrap
Please ensure that all bins are presented at the
and plastic film, to be disposed of in black waste bin)
boundary of your property on your normal collection
day by 6.00am.
Christmas and New Year Greeting cards and wrapping paper (no glitter)
Wrapping paper tubes

Recycling
Garden Waste Collections will be suspended from
25 December and restart Monday 10 January.
Plastics
Bulky Waste Collections will be suspended from Biscuit tubs, Sweet tubs, Plastic bottles
Here’s some top tips on how to recycle effectively this
25XMAS
December andA5restart
TREE RECYCLING Borough on Tuesday1 1122/10/2021
Insight.pdf January. 18:13
Christmas to help deal with the extra packaging and
food waste that comes with the festive period.
Please use your recycling and food waste bins correctly

Christmas Tree and as fully as possible, as recycling is a key part in

ensuring there is enough space for your remaining
waste in between collections.

R ECYCL ING Our top tips include:

• Ensure that all recyclable materials are placed
Let us collect and recycle We will be collecting in
ME14 3, ME14
loose in the recycling bin, no plastic bags at all.

your real Christmas tree in ME16 0, ME16

4, ME14 5, ME1
8, ME19 4, ME1
5 6, ME15 7, M
E15 8,
• Flatten all cardboard boxes to create room in your

exchange for a donation. 9 6, ME20 6 an green recycling bin.

RCN: 298164
£10 suggested d ME20 7.
donation to He
art of Kent Ho
spice. • Write a shopping list, that way you only buy the
BOOK YOUR CHRISTMAS * Tree Collection food you need. Any festive food waste should be
TREE COLLECTION NOW! Your real Chris
will be collected
tmas tree
between
home composted or go into your food caddy - you’ll
be surprised how much space that will save in your
Book online at Friday 7 to black bin.
www.hokh.org/support-us/events
Sunday 9 Janu
ary 2022. • Whether you choose a glass of mulled wine or beer,
*All trees must be booked for recycling before
11:59pm on Tuesday 4 January 2022. any cans or bottles can be recycled in your recycling
bin, make sure they are empty first.
• Paper, card and cardboard should go in your green bin.
• Polystyrene packaging and plastic wrapping must
go in your black bin as they cannot be recycled.
Working in partnership with
• Has your Christmas card or wrapping paper got
Parkfoot Garage glitter on? If so then it’s not recyclable. Why not
use - reusable gift bags rather than wrapping.

Heart of Kent Hospice @heartofkenthosp heartofkenthospice 01622 790195 www.hokh.org info@hokh.co.uk

14 www.maidstone.gov.uk www.maidstone.gov.uk 15
 SAFE, CLEAN AND GREEN
Dog owner fined for attack
The Community Protection Team has successfully
issued a Fixed Penalty Notice (FPN) for £100 to a dog
owner who allowed his dog to attack and cause severe
injury to another dog in Allington. This is the first FPN
issued in response to this type of incident.
This was issued after a series of incidents from the
same dog, which resulted in the most recent attack.
It was not a one-off incident and the team had been
made aware of other victims affected by the behaviour
of the dog and its owner. They were well known in
the area for the anti-social behaviour of their dog
on previous occasions. Fortunately, the latest victim
provided sound evidence, sadly the severity of the
trauma and injuries sustained were horrendous (but
not shown in the photograph below).
On the whole, dog owners are very responsible and
there will always be over-zealous play or minor
disagreements which is normal in the course of dog
ownership. Thankfully, severe incidents like this are
rare however, if they do happen, the team does have
powers to tackle irresponsible owners who choose to
ignore their dog’s aggressive behaviour and allow their
dogs to repeatedly behave in an anti-social manner.
Using Community Protection powers the team has also
issued a formal warning to the owner, which requires
the offending dog to be kept on a lead and muzzled in
public to avoid any future attacks.
Failure to comply with this requirement may lead to
prosecution resulting in a criminal record for the owner.
To make a report of reoccurring anti-social dog
behaviour, please visit the MBC website.
This is the dog that was the victim of the attack now recovering.
16
ONE YEAR ON
During the past year our Community Protection Team
has been working with Kent Police and other partners
as part of the Maidstone Task Force to tackle crime,
social deprivation and health inequality issues within
Shepway. It was set up to help identify and tackle crime
hot spots and trends and one year on officers have
made real progress in the area.
The joined up approach focusses on engaging with
the community and putting in place services to support
residents as well as identifying those who put others
at risk. Drop in services that improve wellbeing,
supporting victims of domestic abuse and managing
substance addiction are all new services that have
been introduced in the last year as a result of the work.
The work has involved making more than 175 arrests
and carrying out 350 stop searches, receiving more
than 650 intelligence reports and 65 Traffic Offence
Reports, the team has also carried out eight Search
Warrants.
Using the Proceeds of Crime Act a total of around
£56,800 has been seized since October 2020, during
warrants along with further seizures of high value
items, including designer clothing, watches, and
jewellery. The team has also seized more than 50
vehicles and Class A and B Drugs to the value of
£15,000.
The Task Force has also worked with a number
of families and individuals offering support and
advice, whether that relates to anti-social behaviour,
criminal activity or job opportunities and training. This
collaboration is changing lives and the lessons learnt
from the work are being rolled out as appropriate.
MBC wants to make sure Maidstone is a place where
people feel safe and are safe and to use the strengths
from within our communities along with the combined
strengths of the Task Force to bring about sustainable
positive changes.
NEW
Community Surgeries
Staplehurst - 7th December, 4th & 18th Jan, 1st and 15th Feb
Shepway - 24th Nov, 8th Dec, 5th & 19th Jan, 2nd & 16th Feb
Parkwood - 26th Nov, 10th Dec, 7th & 21st Jan, 4th & 18th Feb
Marden - 2nd & 16th Dec, 13th & 27th Jan, 10th & 24th Feb
Lenham - 14th Dec, 11th & 25th Jan, 8th & 22nd Feb
Headcorn - 29th Nov, 13th Dec, 10th & 24th Jan, 7th & 21st Feb
www.maidstone.gov.uk
SAFE, CLEAN AND GREEN
MBC protect
Marden residents
The Council’s Community Protection Team, Borough
Councillors, and Planning Enforcement Team have
worked together to help resolve an issue of anti-social
behaviour in Marden.
Residents contacted their Borough Councillors who
alerted both the Community Protection and Planning
Enforcement Teams to an issue where a plot of land
was being used as a motocross circuit. This was
mainly happening at weekends and was causing
a considerable amount of noise and dust nuisance
to nearby residents.
The residents had tried to speak to those riding the
motocross bikes, however they were often subject
to verbal abuse and intimidation.
MBC teams kept residents informed and were able
to use Community Protection powers to issue formal
warnings on the landowners. These required them to
take immediate steps to secure the land and prevent it
being accessed or used by nuisance vehicles. The team
also issued these warnings to the registered owners of
any vehicle which had brought a motocross bike to the
land.
Maidstone Borough Council
As the land continued to be used despite the warnings, Community Protection Team
Community Surgery
the Community Protection Team then issued four Marden Old Post Office
Community Protection Notices to landowners, which
Any Marden residents are invited to drop in to meet our Community Protection Team at the
Old Post Office Coffee House in the High Street between 10 and 11am on the following dates:
are enforceable by way of a fine or prosecution.
9 & 23 September, 7 & 21 October
4 & 18 November 2021
You can meet the team and discuss any concerns
you may have about community safety in the area.
The Planning Enforcement Team then issued an
The Old Post Office Coffee House,
High Street, Marden, TN12 9DP
Enforcement Notice and a Stop Notice on the land.
The combined efforts of all departments had the Look out for surgeries
desired effect, with the owners of the land fully near you on social media
engaging with MBC and apologising to the neighbouring For more information please contact
The Community Protection Team 01622 602202
residents, and most importantly, stopping the activities
on site which had caused such a nuisance. The land has
also been made secure. An excellent example of MBC
teams working well to resolve an issue.
The Community Protection team is running face to face
rural surgeries in various areas across the borough
where issues like this can be raised, they are an
excellent way to address local concerns.
To make a report of reoccurring anti-social behaviour,
please visit:
https://maidstone.gov.uk/home/other-service/
community-protection
www.maidstone.gov.uk 17
 SAFE, CLEAN AND GREEN
TAKING PRIDE in our borough - #CleanUpMaidstone
MBC is on a mission to #CleanUpMaidstone and is
asking everyone to play their part in helping to keep
the borough clean and tidy.
After the first Covid lockdown restrictions were lifted,
the Council saw a 250% increase in roadside littering
and in 2020 removed over 1950 tons of waste which
had been illegally disposed on the highways across
the borough. To combat the problem the Council
has introduced the #CleanUpMaidstone campaign
encouraging everyone to help eliminate litter now
and for future generations.
MBC’s Waste Crime and Street Cleansing teams have
joined forces to tackle the issue of illegally disposed
waste, fly-tipping and littering with the very clear
message that it is an offence to litter; it has a zero
tolerance policy and will fine anyone who is caught
committing an offence.
As part of the campaign MBC is also reminding
residents and businesses across the borough that
waste is everyone’s problem and that we all have
a role to play in solving it.
Communities, Housing and Environment Committee
Chair and the Council’s Deputy Leader, Jonathan Purle
said: “We should all have a pride in where we live and
work as waste is very much a shared problem.
I would appeal to you all to play your part in making
the borough a better place for everyone. This is about
more than simply asking people to pick up litter,
but more about saying we want to work with our
communities and change the way they behave and
think about littering as a whole.”
The MBC team comprises of 34 people who work
tirelessly to clean the streets, retrieve the litter and
clear the roads of fly-tipping across the borough.
Council officers successfully applied 265 enforcement
actions between 1 January 2020 and 31 September
2021 for waste offences; 45 vehicles were also seized
by the team during the same 18 months period and
now thanks to the testing and introduction of new
camera technology MBC can identify more people
littering from their vehicles and instantly fine them.
Cllr Purle added: “The simple fact is that people need
to take responsibility for their actions. The Council
will not tolerate those who continue to carry out these
offences and they need to realise the impact of littering,
fly-tipping and other crimes have on our urban and
rural environments. Isn’t it time we all worked together
and help to Clean Up Maidstone?”
18 www.maidstone.gov.uk
SAFE, CLEAN AND GREEN
Waste Crime Team
Jamie Duffy and Jack Orwell make up the Waste Crime
Team and work closely with Kent Police to combat
illegal fly-tipping and carry out enforcements against
offenders.
The work of the team has been featured by a lot of
media including national TV as part of the BBC One
series ‘Defenders UK.’
The documentary series showed how enforcement
officers from various public bodies work hard to protect
the public and followed the Maidstone team during a
joint operation with Kent Police, which was filmed last
year.
In the episode Waste Crime Manager, Jamie Duffy is
on the trail of a BMW driver caught on camera dumping
bags of rubbish in a lay-by that has become a fly-tipping
hotspot. Commercial Waste
Since October 2020 the Waste Crime Team, has issued MBC offers commercial waste and recycling collections
Alan Roostan
21 Fixed Penalty Notices for fly tipping, ranging from to local businesses with no ties to long or complicated
£300 to £400 which were for waste carriers offences contracts, so no leaving fee if you decide to end your
Litterers of Maidstone - BEWARE and six for duty of care offences. contract. For a quote or more information,
we are watching you and you will be fined please call us on 01622 602666 or email:
If you spot someone fly-tipping please let the team commercialwastesolutions@maidstone.gov.uk,
MBC is leading the way using new technology to help know and report it or any waste you see dumped maidstone.gov.uk/commercialwastesolutions
stop littering across the borough. anywhere in the borough via the website:
www.maidstone.gov.uk
The Council’s Waste Crime Team has introduced
automated cameras which will catch anyone who
decides to litter from their vehicles. The new
equipment will identify rubbish being thrown from
moving vehicles and the owners will be fined up to
£120 for the offence.
To clear our roads of litter costs £1.2 million per year
as both urban and rural areas require more resource
to clear as traffic management is needed to remove the
rubbish which causes inconvenience to road users and
communities.
The Council has, and will continue to use traditional
methods of catching people littering. It issued over
200 litter Fixed Penalty Notices in 2020 and the new
cameras will enhance the enforcement action they
already undertake.
The technology has been tested on ‘litter hotspots’
focussing on highspeed and busy roads into the town
centre but as the cameras are mobile they will be moved
to various areas across the borough.
So you have been warned - if you are tempted to litter -
you will be caught and fined!
www.maidstone.gov.uk 19

FRIDAY NIGHT Maidstone school children
SINNER
Approve Lockmeadow play area plans
The Council’s Economic Development
team, tasked with bringing a new
play area to Lockmeadow, took their
ideas to the classroom to find out
exactly what their primary audience
Don’t be a Wrong’un
thought of the designs.
Class Three children at Boughton
Monchelsea Primary School, met
with playground designers Kompan
Watch it!
and members of the MBC Team
when the plans for the play area
were shared with the pupils
in a workshop.
The theme of the surrounding
landscape has been taken into
careful consideration and the design
includes a proposed woodland play
area. Using natural materials to
match the riverside backdrop, it will
feature slides, climbing equipment,
a sunken mini trampoline, all
centred around a wooden squirrel
which children can also climb onto.
OR YOU will be fined
Littering is a CRIME
#CleanUpMaidstone
During the workshop all of the
children really engaged with the
woodland theme and suggested the
squirrel should be named and said
that it wasn’t like any play area they
had seen before.
Work has started and is set for
completion this winter. The cost of
the new playpark is £80,000 and is
aimed at children aged two to eight
years old.
Boughton Monchelsea School Class
teacher, Mr Stevens said: “This was
a great opportunity for the children
as they have been studying the
riverside of Maidstone as their topic.
Projects like these bring it alive for
them and it certainly fired up their
imaginations. We look forward to
seeing it completed.”
The play area forms part of
Lockmeadow’s expansion plans,
including the Love Food @
Lockmeadow food hall and the
outside eating terrace development.
LOCKMEADOW
Buy someone a unique homemade gift at the
Local Producers and Craft Market held every
second Saturday in the month in the market hall,
at Lockmeadow. Featuring local people selling
products they have created, the Christmas Special
is on Saturday 11th December, 9am to 2pm.
Maidstone Market at Lockmeadow is open every
Tuesday and Saturday from 7.30am - 1pm with
a range of stalls including farm produce, bakery,
street food, bargain bulk foods, flowers,
bric-a-brac and more.
www.maidstone.gov.uk
A THRIVING PLACE
Santa
’s
BIGGEST POST BOX
in Kent at Lockmeadow
Santa has chosen the Lockmeadow
entertainment centre as the festive
home for his magical Christmas
post box where children can visit,
write their letters for free, send
them off to the North Pole and
receive a reply before the big day.
The giant red post box is open
from 27 November - 12 December
and has a direct route to Santa to
ensure letters get there super-fast
so that children can share their
wish list and enjoy the magic of
Christmas. There is also a free
fun festive trail which runs through
Lockmeadow with a prize at the
end for all.
Lockmeadow Entertainment
Centre wants to ensure the spirit
of Christmas is still thriving this
year and with the addition of the
new food hall which is now open,
there’s even more reason for
everyone to visit and enjoy a great
day out. Families heading
there for Ten Pin Bowling,
some time at Gravity or a
movie at ODEON Luxe can
now take time out to enjoy
some tasty street food
as part of their day out
at Lockmeadow.
To find out more about the
latest about Lockmeadow
visit the website:
www.lockmeadow.co.uk
27 November
12 December
21
21
 A THRIVING PLACE
Maidstone’s new food hall
‘Love Food @ Lockmeadow is open
Maidstone’s newest dining hot spot
Love Food @ Lockmeadow is open
and buzzing with globally inspired
street food from local independent
businesses.
Following months of not being able
to dine out or enjoy new exciting
locally produced food, MBC led
a project to introduce a phased
development at the Lockmeadow
Entertainment Centre putting
the location firmly back on the
map for residents and visitors to
Maidstone looking for good food and
entertainment.
Love Food @ Lockmeadow features
communal dining within a collection
of eight independent food and drink
producers including Thai, Jamaican,
Asian, Vegan, American. It also
features a coffee shop with baked
goods and a cocktail bar!
The food hall will be open from 9am – 9pm*, with core hours of 12noon – 9pm – 7-days a week.
Some units may open later than 9am. *Some units may open later due to the variety of food they provide.
More information and news on events at Lockmeadow can be found on the website:
www.lockmeadowentertainment.co.uk and via social media.
22 www.maidstone.gov.uk
The new food hall is made up of
individual units at the front of the
building which is ideal for cinema
goers and families heading to and
from Gravity or Hollywood Bowl.
Diners can also feel proud to be
supporting local businesses. All
of the new tenants are Kent-based
and have already formed a great
business dynamic that will see
fresh ideas coming to Lockmeadow
to keep customers well fed and
entertained.
A THRIVING PLACE
The variety of food on offer is fantastic
with the new Love Food tenants comprising of:
•
Aroi Dee - An off-shoot from the Thai Orchid brand
who run restaurants in Maidstone and Whitstable.
Their menu will offer Thai street food with dishes
• Mr Big’s - Offering stateside street food in the form
of gourmet smoked sausage hot dogs, stone-baked
pizzas and children’s meals.
such as stir fry and soup noodle dishes.
• Moondance Bar - Expect a unique cocktail menu
• Easy Dine - This nutritious, sustainable menu has alongside sharing plates and tapas. Moondance
a heavy emphasis on vegetarian and vegan foods originated from Rochester High Street and are
including plant-based curries, rice dishes, wraps delighted to be relocating to Love Food.
and bao buns.
• Notorious BRG - The business owner comes from
• Flour Power - Local company baking cakes, Maidstone and has made a success in Canterbury
protein bars, flapjacks, keto milkshakes, smoothies, with the brand. Proud to use local produce to create
brownies, coffee and more. deluxe burgers and home-made sauce. Both meat
and vegan options with stacked fries and home-made
• Funky Feast -‘Superfood your way’ - creating mac n cheese.
health foods using Middle Eastern, North African
and Asian flavours such as superfood salads • Total Jerk Ltd - Family run business providing
and jerk fruit kebabs. Caribbean food including jerk chicken, goat curry
and festival dumplings.
www.maidstone.gov.uk 23
 A THRIVING PLACE
Walking to Recovery
Visit Maidstone Family
Nature Trail
Look out for a new Family Nature Trail along the River
Medway for 2022, which should be available in the
spring. It will include some of the rarer animals and
plants close to their habitats, to make sure people
take care of the habitat around that area.
Boosting Physical Activity
Walking is an activity that people of all ages and
abilities can safely enjoy, which is one of the reasons
it has always been a very popular activity and even
more so after the lockdown. It has been an effective
way to get outside and enjoy some movement over
these past few months when our lives have all been
so disrupted. It is increasingly important to stay active,
as we approach the cold and dark months ahead that
will help you get fitter, healthier and happier.
Above all, regular exercise can lower your blood
pressure, boost your immune system, help you to
maintain a healthy weight and improve your mental
wellbeing.
For tips and advice on getting active in and around your
home, visit: https://www.walkingforhealth.org.uk
24 www.maidstone.gov.uk
Take a walk back in time
In Maidstone, there are centuries of history waiting
to be discovered, you just need to know where to look.
To help you find these treasures there is a walk that
will reveal the hidden history of Maidstone, Kent’s
County Town.
The trail will take you to some amazing areas which
you may have walked past on numerous occasions but
perhaps didn’t realise the significance of the history
behind them.
The walk has some stunning architecture and beautiful
gardens which will see you stopping off at various
locations around the town centre including:
o Maidstone Museum
o Brenchley Gardens
o County Hall and Maidstone Prison
o Bank Street
o The Town Hall
o Market Buildings and Corn Exchange
o Royal Star Arcadeo allocated across 12 months. The fund offers a one-off
o Carriage Museum
o Millenium Bridge
o Riverside and Fairmeadow
Tour of Historic Maidstone please visit the website:
www.visitmaidstone.com
MBC launches support for residents through a new
Community Resilience Fund
MBC is supporting local community groups to tackle the
impacts of Covid-19 to help recovery and has launched
a Community Resilience Fund.
The pandemic has continued for a lot longer than was
first imagined, and the impacts have been felt deeply
in our communities particularly for people experiencing
isolation, inclusion and mental health issues.
In response the Council has introduced the Community
Resilience Fund to help organisations that have been
affected to deliver activities to help people in their
community and is inviting groups to apply for funding
which could help.
The £150k Community Resilience Fund will be
distributed by MBC to local voluntary and community
organisations who can apply for a grant of between
£500 and £5k (to be allocated dependant on their needs).
The grant will assist the continued efforts of groups
working with people in their communities that may
have become vulnerable during the pandemic with
the funds being distributed in three separate phases
support payment for projects that benefit the residents
of Maidstone and will be awarded according to the
impact the pandemic has had on the organisation for
the purpose of supporting recovery in the coming months.
Image courtesy of Involve: Actively Involve Service
www.maidstone.gov.uk
A THRIVING PLACE
Eligible projects that can apply for the Community
Resilience Fund could include, but are not limited to:
• Befriending schemes to tackle loneliness
• Youth groups providing recreation opportunities
for young people
• Grassroots sports clubs who need funding to purchase
kit and equipment for children to encourage increased
fitness and mental wellbeing
• Support schemes targeting residents whose mental
health has suffered because of loneliness or isolation
due to the pandemic
• Projects to support employability schemes for
residents that have faced unemployment caused
by the pandemic
• Schemes designed to encourage residents to access
nature for exercise and wellbeing
The first phase of resilience funding applications
is open from Mid-December and closes at the end
of January 2022. Anyone wishing to apply should
complete an online form by going to: https://maidstone.
gov.uk/home/primary-services/community-support/
tier-2-primary-areas/grants-and-funding
Applications should be able to demonstrate:
• How they will support people in the community
• Who will be supported by the project
• How it will be delivered
• What impact the project will have on people’s
health and well-being
25
 A THRIVING PLACE
At the Hazlitt Theatre
Sat 27th November 2021 -
Sunday 2nd January 2022
Ticket prices vary, starting from £16
Climb Up The Beanstalk and Join The Hazlitt
For A Giant Of A Family Pantomime!
Welcome to the world of fairy tales, where our poor
hero Jack and his dotty Mum Dame Trott are tricked
into selling their beloved cow Daisy for a useless bag
of beans. Laugh at silly Simple Simon, boo and hiss at
the wicked Fleshcreep and cheer-on our hero Jack as
he tries to rescue his sweetheart Jill from the nasty
giant’s castle in the clouds.
Fee Fi Fo Fun for everyone!
Competition Time.....
How would you like to win a fabulous celebration
cake courtesy of Flour Power? The brand new local
company based in LoveFood@Lockmeadow, bakes
cakes, protein bars, flapjacks, keto milkshakes,
homemade sourdough, coffee and more and is offering
you the chance to win one of their amazing creations
(up to the value of £30). To enter all you have to do
is email: competition@maidstone.gov.uk
Good Luck!!
26 www.maidstone.gov.uk
A Summer of Arts and Culture
This summer has been buzzing in Maidstone
town centre with lots of arts and culture events.
Art on the High Street
A mini art trail was created
earlier in the summer as part
of a campaign by MBC and One
Maidstone to brighten up the town
centre. Young people took part in
workshops to create artworks to
display in empty shop windows. The
trail starts at The Mall and a map of
all the other locations can be found
on the MBC website along with
further details about the project.
Putting on a Show
Jack - Harry Revell Earlier this year Maidstone Borough
Council was allocated funding from
T:
Jill - Beth Woodcock
the Welcome Back Fund, part of
S
Silly Simon - David Zachary
£56 million provided to councils
A
C
Fleshcreep - Kivan Dene across England from the European
Regional Development Fund (ERDF)
Dame Trott - Ian Good
to support the safe return to high
King - Colin Hubbard streets and help build back better
Fairy - Francesca Pim from the pandemic. Some of this
funding was used to deliver
a programme of activities
Please see full terms and conditions on the Hazlitt
Theatre website: www.hazlitttheatre.com and events across the summer.
The venue cannot offer refunds or exchanges if cast Fairy-Tale Fun
members, whether advertised or not, are unable to
perform due to illness or unforeseen circumstances. at the Amphitheatre
Discount codes are not to be used in junction with Pretending People Theatre Co.
other discounted shows. For example, family shows entertained children, their parents
are at a discounted rate, which will not apply codes. and grandparents across three
days at the Hermitage Millennium
Amphitheatre. There were pirate
workshops and storytelling with the
Brothers Grimm, all involving music
and games and much fun was had
by all!
Zac and Grace with the pirates
Fusion Festival
The August Bank Holiday weekend
saw the arrival of another elephant
on the High Street, at the first
Maidstone Fusion Festival.
The pop-up event featured Dancing
Maharajas, Chinese Lions, a steel
band, a brass band and much more.
Thank you to Cohesion Plus and all
the performers who worked hard
to deliver this colourful spectacle.
If you weren’t able to make it on
the day, you can still catch a taste
of the fun with this short YouTube
video: https://www.youtube.com/
watch?v=tvQVAUCDLKM
Arts Directory
Would you like to meet new people,
learn new skills or try out a new
hobby? Check out our online arts
directory where you’ll find details
of local clubs and organisations
right across the borough, all eager
to welcome new members.
You’ll find everything from choirs
and concerts to painting and
performance, so there’s something
for everyone.
Clubs and societies can register
for free via the online form.
https://maidstone.gov.uk/home/
other-services/arts-and-culture
www.maidstone.gov.uk
A THRIVING PLACE
Events at...
Maidstone Museum
Actively Involved
Are you over 55, or living with a long-term
health condition? Come along to our free
‘Actively Involved’ sessions.
Last Wednesday of each month
from 2.30 to 4pm (not in December).
Reserve a place: 01622 602862 or email
museumevents@maidstone.gov.uk.
Maidstone Young Artist Award 2022
Closing date for entries Fri 21 Jan 2022
This exciting bi-annual award is open to
all artists up to 25 years old, living in the
South East.
The ‘Plaxtol’ Protocol Exhibition
9 Feb to 16 April 2022.
An art installation by artist Jane Williams
of the imaginary ‘Leasingstede Museum’
(Leasing - is the Old English for lying,
stede for place), a fun, light-hearted
exhibition which plays with words and
people’s expectations of what a museum is.
February Half Term
Arts Award Days and Crafts
Children aged 7-11 can spend a whole
day achieving a Discover Arts Award with
an Egyptian or Japanese theme, trying
out different art forms and exploring parts
of the museum usually unseen by visitors!
Shorter crafts sessions will also be
running in the Museum Studio.
International Women’s Day
Celebration Tuesday 8 March at 3.30pm
Free virtual event. Join a fascinating online
talk by Pernille, Museum Collections
Officer, on the inspiring women who
created, collected and curated the amazing
objects in the Museum’s collections.
Mother’s Day - Cream Tea & Costume
Saturday 26 March 3-5pm.
Enjoy a luscious cream tea and a chance
to see the wonderful costume collection
behind the scenes.
Gallery Gander Tours
Wed 8th Dec 2021, 9 Feb 2022
and 9 March 2022 – 10.30 to 11.20am
An exclusive in-depth look at objects
around the galleries with the Curator.
For more details on all Museum events, see
the website www.museum.maidstone.gov.uk
For more information of What’s On in Maidstone
www.visitmaidstone.com
27
 A THRIVING PLACE
Maidstone Compassionate
Community Awards
Celebrating the work of people making a difference
The Maidstone Compassionate
Community Awards were held
in October celebrating and
acknowledging individuals, groups
and organisations who have gone
above and beyond to make a
difference to the people in their
communities throughout the Covid
pandemic.
The Council and Heart of Kent
Hospice hosted the awards
ceremony at the Town Hall where
the winners friends and family
joined the celebrations to showcase
the work they had done to help and
support people in their community
particularly the most vulnerable and
isolated.
The second annual Compassionate
Community Awards were launched
in July and received a wide variety
of nominations for the six categories
which reflected the hard work
of a vast number of people and
organisations across the borough.
28
Mayor of Maidstone, Cllr Fay
Gooch presented the awards to the
winners and said: “I have been so
impressed and moved on hearing
about some of the work that these
wonderful people have done to
help those in real need in their
communities. I was delighted to
have been invited to present the
awards to such very worthy winners
and would like to congratulate
each and every one of them for
everything they have done and
continue to do.”
The Maidstone Compassionate
Community Awards recognise some
wonderful acts of kindness and
shine a light on how people have
given their own time and skills
freely to support others.
The nominations this year included
some fantastic examples of how
in times of crisis acts of kindness
can make life a little more bearable
for those that need help and are
vulnerable or isolated. These
included Express Cabs staff who
collected and delivered to food
banks, helped elderly people by
dropping them off to supermarkets
and collected school meals and
homework packs free of charge
and Eastfield Care Home staff
who demonstrated compassion
and commitment when after an
outbreak of Covid lived-in to provide
continuous care for their residents.
A THRIVING PLACE
1
The Winners 2021
1 Compassionate workplace/business:
Express Cabs Maidstone
2 Compassionate Care/Residential Home:
Eastfield Care Home 2
3 Compassionate Neighbour/Volunteer:
Sheila Burgman
3
4 Compassionate School/Teacher:
Carly Hayman - Tiny Treasures Pre-school
5 Compassionate School/Teacher:
Clare Kyte - Palace Wood Primary School
6 Compassionate Young Person:
Katie Jo Webb
7 Compassionate Community: 4
Staplehurst Emergency Help Team
& Community Hub
5
7
The Judges - Cllr. David Burton, Alison Broom (MBC),
Rachel Street (HoKH) & Mary Graham (KM).
The Compassionate Community Awards were introduced in 2020 by:
MBC and Heart of Kent Hospice in conjunction with media partners - the Kent Messenger.
www.maidstone.gov.uk 29
 A THRIVING PLACE
Hidden Gems
The Long Gallery
at Maidstone Museum
Visitors to Maidstone Museum enjoy meandering along
the Ancient Lives and the Explorer galleries, looking at
objects from around the world displayed inside these
long, narrow rooms of the Museum’s Long Gallery.
These visitors though, rarely see the outside of this
graceful, historic building, as it overlooks the private
staff car park.
The Long Gallery was built in the mid-16th century
to join up two large houses at either end. The new
brick built Chillington Manor house at one end was
commissioned by Peter Maplesden during the reign of
Elizabeth I, now the central heart of the Museum facing
St Faith’s Street. At the other end was a much older
half-timbered house, demolished in 1873, and by then
known as the ‘Rats Castle’ due to its dilapidation.
At 27 metres, the gallery is nine times as long as it is
wide. The upper level was for strolling with friends and
family or business acquaintances, gently exercising
whilst gossiping, doing deals or discussing political
intrigue. Children may have chased each other along
its length - just as they do today!
If you’re walking through Brenchley Gardens, take
a peek inside the Museum’s staff car park to see the
hidden gem of the Long Gallery.
Long Gallery exterior, pre 1873
Watercolour of Chillington House garden, Oil on canvas by local artist
mid C19th Elizabeth Plowman,.
rear of Museum, late 1890s
30 www.maidstone.gov.uk
A Brief History of...
The Archbishop’s Palace
The Archbishop's Palace is one of Maidstone’s most
iconic buildings.
The Medieval Palace has developed and changed since
the Middle Ages, with parts being removed and rebuilt
according to the needs of the time.
The initial buildings were built prior to the Domesday
Book, and in 1086, were likely to have been a Royal gift.
Maidstone formed part of a series of palaces, such as
Charing, Otford and Croydon, used by the Archbishops
when travelling around the diocese.
At the Reformation, the Palace was given up to the
Crown, which sold it in the 1580s to Sir John Astley
(Master of Queen Elizabeth’s jewels). He was probably
responsible for reforming the main Palace buildings in
typically Elizabethan style, giving them much of their
appearance.
The Palace Chapel was demolished in 1730 and, by the
19th-century, the main building had been divided into
two houses. By 1887, it was due to be demolished for
warehouses and cottages. However, it was bought by
public subscription and presented to the town to mark
Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee.
Today the Grade 1 listed building is owned by MBC and
is currently being let to Kent County Council for use as
a Registry Office. The Palace is due to revert to MBC
next year.
To ensure that the historic building can continue to be
maintained and protected in the future, new uses are
being considered that are both economically viable
and are aligned to the overall development of the
surrounding area in the town. A public consultation
about its future has just finished and the results will be
discussed at a future Council Economic, Regeneration
and Leisure Committee meeting.
All Saint's, Archbishop's Palace and Hutson's Boatyard
Watercolour by Albert Goodwin (1845-1932)
Maidstone Innovation Centre
Plants ‘living wall’
Maidstone Innovation Centre (MIC), the borough’s
newest high-spec flexible working space, planted
a stunning ‘living wall’ to celebrate Great Big Green
Week. Comprising of over 10,000 plants, which is just
one of the building’s green features.
The wall will help to reduce the building’s carbon
footprint keeping it cooler in summer and warmer
in winter. It also acts as a natural sound insulator,
and oxygen released by the plants will assist with
air purification. A beautiful focal point, it incorporates
a range of species indigenous to the local area, which
will bloom all year round, attracting bees and butterflies.
Other green features include solar panels provided by
local business, The Little Green Energy Company, and
charging pods for eight electric vehicles with capacity
for three more. The building also scored a Building
Research Establishment Environmental Assessment
Method (BREEAM) rating for its environmental
performance of ‘very good’ putting it in the top 25%
of the country.
MIC has started welcoming tenants and is due to
officially open early 2022. It is part funded by the
European Regional Development Fund 2014-20
and has previously received funding from the
South East Local Enterprise Partnership.
www.maidstone.gov.uk
ENABLING INFRASTRUCTURE
Working hard to ensure every detail of the building
is just right for its new MedTech, health and life science
tenants are Sarah Tobias, Sophie O’Sheen and Marina
Ferguson.
Proud to be an all-female team, the trio brings a wealth
of experience to the MIC.
Innovation Centre Manager, Sarah, has worked in the
public sector for twenty years, including overseeing the
refurbishment of an innovation centre. Excited to build
a network of likeminded people in this niche market,
as well as establish and support start-ups
and entrepreneurs, Sarah is leading the project.
Centre Coordinator, Sophie, previously worked
at Maidstone’s Business Terrace. Responsible for
liaising with tenants and managing marketing
and events, she is looking forward to seeing how
businesses use the MIC space and make it their own.
Executive Assistant Marina’s focus is promoting the
fantastic business support available, assisting with
marketing and the day to day running of the centre.
With a background in housing and property, Marina
is keen to see what revolutionary ideas come out
of this dynamic building.
To enquire about office space visit
www.maidstoneinnovationcentre.co.uk
31
 ENABLING INFRASTRUCTURE
Business Terrace
Located in the centre of Maidstone, MBC’s Business Terrace is a great place
for companies large or small to base themselves.
CPR Recruitment has gone from strength to strength since moving there
as Borough Insight found out:
Tim Sutton and Rami Khoury have big plans to build on the success of
their office at the Terrace. Originally based in the Maidstone studios, CPR
Recruitment moved there in September 2019, before taking on a bigger
office in the building in July 2020. Now, the team has created their own
tailor-made space: “The team at the Business Terrace has been really
supportive,” Tim explains, “they’ve even allowed us to knock down walls
between offices to accommodate us.”
“It has such a communal feel,” he adds, “there are some serviced offices
where the tenants never speak to each other. Here, everyone’s happy to
chat and help each other out. I’d say to anyone looking for shared office
space - look around and appreciate how much of a difference it makes
to be with like-minded people.”
While the construction industry fared better than other sectors during
the pandemic, Tim admits the outlook was uncertain to start with, “on 23rd
March 2020, we had 180 staff placed on sites. By the 25th, we had seven.
Initially, we had to furlough but things soon started to look up again.” So
much so, in fact, that the business had record months in July, August and
October. It’s now looking forward to its biggest month ever, having turned
over around £6 million in the past year and forecasting £14 million this year.
32 www.maidstone.gov.uk
Introducing our new
Business Advisor
The challenges of the past year
have seen many people make
the leap from employee to
entrepreneur and have spurred
many businesses to change
the way they work, the services
and products they offer, and the
customers they target.
If you’re thinking of starting up
on your own, or need help to
adapt and grow, the new business
advisor, Chris Lyle is available to
help you to thrive. Based at MBC’s
Business Terrace in the centre
of Maidstone, on behalf of the
Let’s Do Business Group, she is
on hand with free advice for any
start-ups or existing businesses
in and around the town. With over
40 years’ experience, Chris can
also signpost to other available
expertise such as accountancy,
marketing, insurance or legal,
for example.
Chris is available to offer support
between 9.30am - 4.30pm
Tuesday to Thursday either
in person, via video call or by
phone. Drop in for a chat or book
appointments on 01622 239300 or
www.businessinmaidstone.co.uk/
help-support/our-business-
advisors/
alternatively email directly on
chris.lyle@ldbgroup.co.uk
Maidstone Local Plan Review -Consultation Regulation 19
The Council has been engaging with residents,
businesses and stakeholders through a public
consultation of the Local Plan Review Regulation 19
Draft for Submission.
Following approval from the MBC Strategic Planning
and Infrastructure Committee and Full Council in
October, a six week period of Public Consultation on the
Maidstone Local Plan Review was agreed to take place
between Friday 29 October and Friday 12 December 2021.
The Consultation sets out the main components of
future growth in housing, employment, retail and other
uses, along with the preferred locations where these
would be best able to mitigate their impacts upon local
communities, provide positive benefits in terms of new
local facilities and services and, in the case of some
larger developments, bring new strategic infrastructure
which will benefit the whole borough and beyond.
Anyone wishing to comment on the consultation can
access the online form via the MBC website: Local Plan
Review - MBC Local Plan (maidstone.gov.uk)
Chairman of the MBC Strategic Planning and
Infrastructure Committee, Cllr Paul Cooper said:
“The iterations of this important Local Plan Review
have now been through a number of consultation
processes. However, the Regulation 19 Consultation
is the culmination of all of our previous work, and
in accordance with government guidelines, is the
plan that we propose to submit to government for
examination by an independent inspector.”
www.maidstone.gov.uk
ENABLING INFRASTRUCTURE
Along with other local authorities across the country,
MBC is working to meet nationally imposed government
housing targets and the Maidstone LPR reflects that.
The Reg19 consultation document includes important
policy areas, including protection of key environmental
assets, climate change and funding of key infrastructure.
Cllr Cooper added: “The Council is acutely aware,
that as with similar plans across the south of England,
accommodating the scale of growth required of us
is contentious within local communities. As such, we
have worked very hard to identify a spatial strategy
and supporting policies which will be best placed
to mitigate the impacts of growth and to bring new
facilities which will benefit both our existing and
new communities. I would also remind people of the
consequences of failing to get a local plan in place,
which are that we effectively lose almost all local
control over where development goes in our borough
and risk a scenario whereby the first sites the
development industry brings forward are those that
they would be least likely to get an approval for with
the control that an adopted plan provides.”
The Local Planning Authority has undertaken extensive
work with a wide range of other organisations and
stakeholders to ensure all sites proposed in the Plan
have been fully assessed.
The Draft Local Plan Review document, report
and associated appendices/background papers are
available on the Maidstone Borough Council’s website:
www.maidstone.gov.uk
33
 HOMES AND COMMUNITIES
HOUSING TEAM wins national award
for preventing homelessness
The Council has received national The judges acknowledged the
recognition winning the prestigiouswork of the innovative project
Local Government Chronicle
Awards 2021 Housing category.
MBC submitted a bid for the award
based on the homelessness
prevention initiative ‘OneView’,
a pioneering project using data
analytics to identify and provide
support to people in Maidstone
who might be at risk of future
homelessness.
The Council set homelessness
prevention as a top strategic
priority in 2019 following a 58%
increase in just five years and
looked at a proactive new approach
to tackling the issue by working
with the private sector to design
and implement OneView.
The LGC Awards saw entries
from council teams across the UK
judged by other councils’ senior
officers, with the aim of promoting
new innovation that can inspire
other councils to improve their
own services.
34
created by the MBC Housing Team
working with partners EY and
Xantura and recognised what
OneView had achieved including
preventing over 100 households
from becoming homeless and
reducing the risk of homelessness
by 40%. The initiative also reduced
the administrative burden on
frontline Council officers, enabling
them to spend more time working
directly with at risk individuals.
MBC officers Stuart Clifton,
Anna Costello Mannering
and John Littlemore
www.maidstone.gov.uk
The OneView project brought
together stakeholders from across
the Council and key external
partners who collaborated together
to share data securely to enhance
the information quality and
provide a more in-depth picture of
households. Data Protection teams
were also instrumental in ensuring
details were transferred securely,
with successful data protection
workshops.
The success of the project has
enabled OneView to be rolled out
across the Housing Service to assist
even more people before they face
the trauma of homelessness.
Find out more about the MBC
Housing Services by visiting the
website: MBC Housing Service
The LGC Awards are the biggest
and best ceremony recognising
the achievements of officers and
politicians in local government.
HOMES AND COMMUNITIES
Winter Bills Roadshows
Helping to cope
with rising costs
Working with local charity Involve,
MBC has been helping people across
the borough who may be struggling
to cope with the rising costs of
household bills this winter.
Since the start of the pandemic, For more information or support
MBC has seen an increase in
Maidstone residents can email:
residents contacting it with concerns
roadshows@maidstone.gov.uk
around bill payments so the Winter
Bills Roadshows were introduced
to support everyone who may be
worried. The first were held at the
end of October to provide advice
around how to manage the cost of
food, utilities and fuel.
MBC’s Council Tax, Benefits, Housing
and Homelessness Prevention
Teams joined forces with partner
organisations including Involve,
Citizens Advice Bureau, South East
Water and One You to tell people
about funding that is available
to them. They provided details
on the Warm Home Discount
Scheme, updates around Universal
Credit, supported with Council Tax
payments information, healthy
eating, exercise and wellbeing, along
with household bill payment support
and general debt and money advice.
Winter Bills Roadshows were held
at Allington, Marden and Detilng with
further events being planned in the
coming months.
The Roadshows are a great example
of the Council services working
together with various organisations
which can advise people on a number
of issues and tell them about
support that is available to them
and which they may not be aware of.
All the advice the Council and partner
organisations offer is free, impartial
and confidential; it is tailored to help
each individual situation.
www.maidstone.gov.uk 35
 HOMES AND COMMUNITIES
Maidstone East Railway Station...
The Maidstone East Railway
Station improvement project is now
complete, providing a bigger
Our Dinosaur...
A large metalwork
sculpture now greets people as
they arrive at the newly refurbished
railway station. The stunning piece
of art celebrates the world’s first
bird hip dinosaur, an Iguanodon,
Brightening up Maidstone Bus Station reopens
the bus station Maidstone Bus Station has reopened
after six months of refurbishment work areas’, ‘new bus signage and
A different type of public art has
been created at the bus station,
where a bright and colourful mural
now greets passengers.
Designed by award-winning street
artist, Graham Upton, it was
created with the help of five local
youngsters - Becky Wiggins, Erin
Bourne, Charlotte London, Lauren
Andrew and Harriet Ellesmere.
It took over 140 cans of spray paint
in varying colours and five days to
complete.
The project was funded through
a £3,500 grant from Arts Council
England. The contractors, Knights
Brown, also contributed with
additional materials to help protect
the artwork and ensure it continues
to look its best for years to come.
Graham Upton, Harriet, Charlotte,
Lauren, Erin and Becky
36
and more spacious entrance and
concourse with new facilities for
passengers including a waiting
room, café, ticket office, plus a new
staff room.
Network Rail and Southeastern
staff have transferred from the
temporary ticket office to the new
and improved station ticket office.
Flowers and shrubs have been
planted to provide a bright and
which was found in Queens Road
in 1834, and which also features
on the town’s Coat of Arms.
The stunning artwork was created
by father and son artists, Gary and
Thomas Thrussell, and is made
from galvanised steel.
‘refurnishing floors in pedestrian
welcoming visitors back to the County
Town and providing a safer, brighter
space with new fire safety equipment,
improved CCTV and lighting.
MBC worked with Kent County Council, and included: upgrade of the fire
Arriva, NuVenture and the owners of safety features, new sprinkler
the Mall Shopping Centre to refurbish system, installation of new
and improve the Bus Station.
Following a public consultation
customers said that they prioritised bins and an upgrade of the public
the need for ‘improved lighting’,
www.maidstone.gov.uk
cheerful welcome for passengers
to the new upgraded station.
A further project is now underway
that will increase parking and
pedestrian access at the side of
the station. There will be better
lighting and CCTV to improve safety,
more accessible parking and drop
off spaces along with improved
connectivity to Maidstone East
Barracks Station.
Children from Allington and
North Borough Primary Schools
were invited to take part in some
craft workshops, led by Gary and
Thomas. The children learned the
art of repousse, a metalworking
technique that involves hammering
a design into a metal sheet.
timetable information’ along with
‘new benches and seating.’
The improvement work incorporated
these suggestions costing £1.4m
balustrades, repair and
resurfacing of the carriageway,
new street furniture, including
announcement system.
HOMES AND COMMUNITIES
Out and about
with the Mayor of Maidstone
Due to Covid restrictions, this Mayoral year started
relatively quiet for Cllr Fay Gooch who became Mayor
of Maidstone in May. However, the past few months
have certainly made up for it and her diary has been
packed with engagements.
The Mayor has been invited to a wide variety of events
which have seen her meet many people from across
the borough and the county.
She was asked to attend the Changeling Theatre
opening night of a Midsummer Night’s Dream held
at Boughton Monchelsea Place in July.
The locally based theatre group is well known for open-air
productions and the Mayor, along with her consort and
husband Peter Gooch, were delighted to have been
invited to open the tour. Both were so impressed by the
professionalism, energy and talent of the performers
that they have since become Companions of the
Changeling Theatre.
Maidstone has been chosen to be the focus of a new
Monopoly game which features a host of venues across
the borough including Teston Bridge, Whatman Park
and Teapot Island at Yalding. The Mayor launched
the board game at Leeds Castle and at Waterstones
bookstore the same day.
Cllr Gooch also made the presentations to the winners
of the Compassionate Community Awards. A moving
ceremony which celebrated the work of some
incredible people and organisations that supported
their friends, neighbours and communities in and
around Maidstone throughout the Covid pandemic.
The Mayor was delighted to open Maidstone’s newest
dining hot spot Love Food @ Lockmeadow, selling
globally inspired street food from local independent
businesses, putting Lockmeadow firmly back on the
map for residents and visitors to Maidstone who are
looking for good food and entertainment.
The annual Remembrance Sunday Parade and Service
were able to return to normal in November.
The commemorations in Maidstone were marked by
a parade and a service of remembrance, including the
two-minute silence at the Memorial in The Broadway,
followed by the laying of wreaths.
During the event the Mayor was joined by members If you would like to invite the Mayor to attend an
of the 36 Engineer Regiment and the Queen’s Gurkha event please go to the Mayor’s page on the MBC
Engineers, to take the salute from the parade. website and complete the form: Invite The Mayor
www.maidstone.gov.uk 37
 HOMES AND COMMUNITIES HOMES AND COMMUNITIES
YES!

Did you know? Your Councillors Contact the Council

Using our WEBSITE you can contact Get Involved and Have Your Say… David Burton 07590 229910 Customer Services
Council services and find information Get in touch with us on Facebook:
Leader of the Conservative Group
To speak directly with a Customer Service
you may need, including: www.facebook.com/maidstoneboroughcouncil Marden & Yalding Ward advisor, contact:
Benefits Join the conversation on Twitter: 01622 602000
@maidstonebc Clive English 07415 650232
Housing benefits, benefits calculator and uploading Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group Benefits 01622 602557
proofs Follow the Council on Instagram:
maidstonebc High Street Ward
Council Tax 01622 602003
Bins and Recycling Look out for news stories news.maidstone.gov.uk Housing 01622 602440
and in the local media Martin Cox 07970 723975 Waste 01622 602600
View collection calendars, report a missed waste
collection and order a new bin Watch our Committee Meeting webcasts: Leader of The Maidstone Group Parking 01622 602377
You can follow Council and Committee Meetings online at: East Ward
Council Tax www.maidstone.gov.uk/council Phone line opening hours:
Paying your bill, your property banding and building Attend Council meetings at the Town Hall: Steve Munford 01622 741310 You
Cust r
Monday - Thursday: 9am - 5pm
regulations Dates and agendas can be found online at: Leader of the Independent Group om
www.maidstone.gov.uk Friday: 9am - 4.30pm Ser v er
ice
Housing Speak to your local Councillor:
Boughton Monchelsea & Chart Sutton Ward Saturday & Sunday: Closed Team s
Includes housing register, homelessness and advice They can look into things for you, raise an issue Paul Harper 07834 845154
with the appropriate body, or help you find out who Leader of the Labour Group
Parking and streets you need to talk to:
Apply for a parking permit, pay a ticket and find www.maidstone.gov.uk/council Fant Ward
information on car parks
Chairs and Vice Chairs of Council Committees
Business and Investment Stay Connected
The Council
Business rates, licensing, tenders, housing and MBC has introduced ‘Stay Connected’ the new way Full Council meetings are chaired by the Mayor – Cllr Fay Gooch
regeneration projects to receive vital news and updates via email for the and the Deputy Mayor is Cllr Derek Mortimer.
many services and events provided by the Council. To MBC has 55 elected councillors who make decisions and provide
Get in touch...
Council and Democracy sign up for the new service simply register your email strategic direction. The Council adopts its constitution and delegates
power to its committees. The Leader is elected by the Council and maidstonebc
address on the pop up that will appear on the website maidstoneboroughcouncil
Details on voting and elections, Councillors and chairs the Policy and Resources Committee.
maidstone.gov.uk or scan the QR code below. maidstonebc maidstonecouncil
transparency, contact the Mayor and take part in Service Committees make decisions on MBC services within
consultations the overall budget and policy framework set by Council.
This magazine is just one way to let you know what the
Regulatory Committees make decisions on licences and applications.
www.maidstone.gov.uk
Council can provide, it is printed on recycled paper and
Street care and cleansing is fully recyclable. Other Committees oversee specific functions or roles.

Report fly-tipping and waste crime Service Committees Regulatory Committees

Burials and Cremations
Including information on cremations and memorials
Community Support
Find local community groups and support with
volunteering opportunities community grants and
funding
If you would like an electronic version of the magazine,
Policy and Resources
please visit out MBC news page:
Chair - Leader of the Council, Cllr David Burton
news.maidstone.gov.uk Vice Chair - Cllr John Perry
Communities, Housing and Environment
Chair - Deputy Leader, Cllr Jonathan Purle
Vice Chair - Cllr Simon Webb
Economic, Regeneration and Leisure
Chair - Cllr Martin Round
Vice Chair - Cllr Simon Webb
Licensing
Chair - Cllr Val Springett
Vice Chair - Cllr Bob Hinder
Planning
Chair - Cllr Denis Spooner
Vice Chair - Cllr John Perry
Audit Governance and Standards
Chair - Cllr John Perry
Vice Chair - Cllr Alan Bartlett
Maidstone Joint Transportation Board
Chair - Cllr Val Springett
Vice-Chair - Cllr Gary Cooke (KCC)
Council Acting as Corporate Trustee
Cobtree Manor Estate
Chair - Cllr Patrick Garten
Vice Chair - Cllr John Perry
Queens Own Royal West Kent Regimental
Trust Museum

Find out more visit the website: Strategic Planning and Infrastructure
Chair - Cllr Paul Cooper
www.maidstone.gov.uk Vice Chair - Cllr Val Springett
Other Committees
Democracy and General Purposes
Chair - Cllr Martin Round
Vice-Chair - Cllr Ziggy Trzebinski
Chair - Deputy Leader Cllr Jonathan Purle
Vice Chair - Cllr Annabelle Blackmore

38 www.maidstone.gov.uk www.maidstone.gov.uk 39
 This January
make a
resolution
you can keep
New Year start dates available for adults -
get a professional qualification to nail that
promotion or secure your career change.
Courses starting in:
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· Digital Skills
· Leadership and Management

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