Drinking Ban Plans to 'Clean up Town Centre'
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Four editions delivered to over 88,000 homes every month downsmail.co.uk MaidstoneMaidstone TownTown EditionEdition Maidstone & Malling’s No. 1 newspaper FREE Maidstone Town | Maidstone East | Maidstone South | Malling Christmas 2015 No. 225 News Drinking ban plans to Seasonal donations THE Salvation Army has invited members of the public to give gifts for its Christmas ‘clean up town centre’ present appeal. 6 A NEW order making it illegal to drink in the street, beg or sleep rough Air may take flight could be introduced to “clean up” Maidstone town centre. KENT Air Ambulance is looking to move away from its base Maidstone Council says the Pub- crime and ASB data provided by the help and support in my book.” in Marden. 8 lic Spaces Protection Order, which police and would extend from the He said the council had failed could be introduced as early as May, town centre along the river to homeless people in Maidstone, would help to cut crime and anti-so- Ringlestone, out to the Vinters Park where there are now seven times Tax office to leave cial behaviour (ASB) in urban Maid- estate, to Rock Road towards Penen- more than in 2010, adding: “The HM Revenue and Customs is clos- stone, where levels of ASB are the den Heath, across to Mote Park, and council needs to focus its energy on ing its Maidstone office, fifth highest in the county. Waterloo Street and Campbell Road. providing shelter and support for which employs 200. 10 The order would include further Maidstone Green Party cam- homeless people.” measures to deter unauthorised col- paigner Stuart Jeffery said the plan A map of the proposed control lecting of money on the street, the to use the order to “criminalise the area can be viewed at www.maid- School go-ahead use of “legal highs” and rough sleep- homeless” was appalling. stone.gov.uk/consultations, where PUPIL numbers are being halved ing on the street. Drinking alcohol in He said: “Homeless people need you can also have your say. at Jubilee Primary School public spaces, not including licensed support to get off the streets, support The consultation runs until Janu- in Gatland House, Fant. 11 premises, would also be prohibited that will often include help with ary 25, after which the results will be where it affects the quality of life for other issues rather than just finding considered by Maidstone Council’s visitors and residents. a place to live. Criminalising them communities, housing and environ- Separate the shows The proposed order is based on through a PSPO is the opposite of ment Committee. MAIDSTONE Council is taking steps to avoid event Why Annette is a star £785 a day for clashes in 2016. 14 A WOMAN who set up a mediation serv- town planner Shopping chaos ice to help residents settle disputes is to MAIDSTONE Council’s town cen- A LOCAL MP is attempting to receive a lifetime achievement award. tre troubleshooter Paul Spooner is address traffic issues at 16 Annette Hinton has been chosen by costing taxpayers £785 a day. Quarry Wood. the Celebrate Maidstone team to By the time his six-month con- receive the 2016 award at the Stars of tract as interim director of regener- Comment 28-2946-47 Maidstone award ceremony in March ation ends on February 23, 2016, 2016. more than £80,000 of public money Obituaries 32-33 For more than 25 years, Annette has will have been spent on Mr championed free access to mediation Spooner, according to the council’s Parish Councils 46 services for people in Maidstone, setting response to a Downs Mail Freedom up Maidstone Mediation in 1989 to of Information request. SCHOOL-RUN parking caused help settle disputes between residents, Mr Spooner, who replaced Zena fury in Barming; a Speed Watch and to facilitate restorative justice for Cooke in August, works four days scheme might be set up in Loose. victims of crime. a week so his services are costing Annette said: “There was no office, no the annual equivalent of £163,280 – Crime Reports 46 training manual, no template for doing exceeding that of chief executive A LIT firework was thrown into mediation and no money – just the Alison Broom, who earns up to the doorway of a home in concept of using a neutral third party to £115,000 a year. Wheeler Street. help people resolve conflicts. I Town planner Mr Spooner has had six volunteers and worked 4 worked on projects in Manchester, Birmingham and Portsmouth. In 2013 he was Croydon Council’s in- Road doubt terim executive director of plan- IT could be at least 15 years be- ning and environment, costing the fore Maidstone gets its long- equivalent of £242,666 a year in awaited south-east link road. wages and agency costs. Maidstone Council’s draft in- In Maidstone, Mr Spooner re- tegrated transport strategy says ceives £590 a day with the remain- the Leeds-Langley bypass may ing £195 going to an agency, who only be deliverable after 2031. will have pocketed more Full story – page 34 than £20,000 by the time he 22 CHRISTMAS SPECIAL Everything in 10% OFF the showroom Hurry great savings for a limited time only *RRP when new. 2 Maidstone Town Xmas 2015 downsmail.co.uk News Free hall for your event Transport firm’s £1,000 COMMUNITY organisations can receive a boost from Maidstone Council in conjunction with Maid- stone Leisure Trust by applying for gift boosts young team free use of Mote Hall at Maidstone Leisure Centre. AN AYLESFORD haulage com- Each year, five free lets are avail- pany has given a group of Maid- able for events run by community stone youngsters a leg up on the organisations in the borough, ladder to sporting success. which must be sporting, cultural or Castledene Transport, based at unlikely to proceed without a free Millhall in Aylesford, gave £1,000 let, and non-fundraising. to the Maidstone United Rangers Preference is given to activities U7s, allowing them to buy not only that support young people. home and away strips, but also Successful applicants last year in- footballs, tracksuits, cones, a first cluded the Heart of Kent Hospice aid kit and all the other bits and and Combat Martial Arts, Maid- pieces they needed to get the team stone. up and running. If your community organisation Castledene directors John and would like to apply for a free let of Nicky Amey were approached by Mote Hall for an event between team administrator and self-em- The Maidstone United Rangers Under 7s show off their new strip April 2016 and March 2017, please ployed lorry driver Mick Hydes contact Paul Caulfield in the coun- Although the lads haven’t had want to thank them for their great and were only too happy to help. cil’s parks and leisure department, too much success in the league so contribution, allowing these young Until then, the nine youngsters on 01622 602584 or email far, they did win two matches in boys the chance to develop their aged five to seven had been play- [email protected] the Autumn trophy, winning a game and learn to interact with ing in borrowed strip. The closing date for applications place in the final, only to be de- others by following the rules of re- The team were formed for the is Friday, January 15, 2016. feated by Tunbridge Wells Ridge- spect.” start of the season in September way Lions U7s. “The boys are absolutely thrilled and the boys play in the Saturday Mr Hydes said: “We had a group now that they finally have their U7s Maidstone Invicta League. of children who weren’t in a team own kit and don’t have to borrow Read our archived They play their home games at and saw the potential to set up a from others.” editions FREE online at the Gallagher Stadium, where they new side from scratch. The team train on Tuesday receive coaching from two of the “These boys have been given a evenings and play on a Saturday. www.downsmail.co.uk teenagers in Maidstone United’s great opportunity thanks to the If there is no game, they put in an football academy. support of Castledene, and we extra session of training. 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Open 7 days a week from 5pm - 11pm 58 Lower Stone Street, Maidstone ME15 6LX OFF on production of this advert ¡ Maidstone Town Xmas 2015 3 News downsmail.co.uk Achievement is rewarded How volunteering gave Continued from page one with each of them on their cases. Together we learned what worked me a new drive for life and what didn't work. Within two A MAIDSTONE man has de- Throughout my working life, most you are compelled to help.