High Street

Image produced from the Ordnance Survey electionmap service (www.election-maps.co.uk). Image reproduced with permission of Ordnance Survey (www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk) and Land and Property Services (www.lpsni.gov.uk).

High Street ward covers central Maidstone.

News from High Street and your local campaigners

The High Street ward councillors and campaigners

Fran Wilson

Denise Joy

Clive English

Fran Wilson

75 Old Tovil Road, Maidstone, Kent, ME15 6QE

01622 673349

07967 115351

fran.wilson@maidstone.gov.uk

Fran has lived in Maidstone for over 35 years. Before taking early retirement to concentrate on her duties as a borough councillor, she gained a wide knowledge of the service industries in both the public and private sectors. An experienced team leader, in 2007/08 she also had the privilege of being the first female Leader of Maidstone Borough Council. Fran has made a clear commitment to keep council tax increases to the lowest practical level whilst maintaining excellent frontline services.

Denise Joy

32 Lower Road, Maidstone, Kent, ME15 7RG

01622 674063

07788 634047

denise.joy@maidstone.gov.uk

Denise was first elected in 1994. She has lived in Maidstone all her life and is married with two children and two grandchildren.

Denise sits on the Licensing Committee and Recreation and Community Services, is a Board Member of Maidstone Housing Trust, is the Deputy Mayor, a Trustee of Collis Millennium Green and is a Governor of Archbishop Courtney Primary School.

Clive English

1 The Hurstings, Tovil, Maidstone, Kent, ME15 6YN

01622 672983

07971 334475

clive.english@maidstone.gov.uk

Clive has a BA (Hons) degree in History and Political Science. He is a postal worker, Trade Union Officer and has been a Councillor since 1994. He is a director of Maidstone Housing Trust and Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Community Services. A former Chairman of Tovil Parish Council and founder Trustee of Tovil Quality of Life Forum and Colus Millennium Trust. As Vice-Chairman of Planning Committee, and a former Planning Officer, Clive has considerable experience in personnel issues. Clive is also a qualified Methodist Preacher.

News from High Street and your local Councillors

• May 3, 2010:
  • Conservative Evasion on High Street Re-paving Scheme
    Conservatives wasting £4.5m on 'tarting-up' Maidstone High Street In September 2008, the Conservatives running MBC first said that they intended spending £1.25 million of a Government grant on a regeneration project in Maidstone High Street. Lib Dem Councillors immediately asked to see a cost / benefit analysis. It was their belief that the Council should not embark on such a scheme without a clear understanding of any economic benefit or traffic-flow improvements it would bring. Councillors were also told that the entire scheme would cost a massive £4 million. The Lib Dems asked how the remaining balance was to be found. It soon became clear that this was not a regeneration project at all and was just a re-paving and lamp post replacement scheme. Incredulous Lib Dem councillors vowed to fight this financial foolishness on the following grounds: The total failure to produce a cost / benefit analysis; The rising cost of the scheme - which has already gone up to £4.5 million; Zero benefit for tackling traffic congestion and air pollution would be delivered; The fact that no details were provided on how the big funding shortfall is to be addressed; and No details could be provided regarding maintenance costs. Despite repeated requests no answers were provided to any questions put by the Lib Dems. At a Council meeting in March 2010 Christopher Garland, Conservative leader of MBC, stated that an independent report had been published which said the High Street project would attract £3 million in investment year on year. The next day Fran Wilson, Leader of the Opposition at MBC requested a copy of this report but was told by council officials that it did not exist, rather that a report was being prepared. On 2nd May Fran Wilson sent the following email to Councillor Garland: "At the Full council meeting before last you informed everyone that an independent report had been published the previous Friday which estimated a £3 million year on year benefit, yet your election material states £4 million and I note from the latest edition of the Downs Mail (East Edition page 13) that you are now saying it will be £4-£5 million per year with the 'ripple effects' bringing in £12 million further investment. Which is it and where is the substantive evidence to support any of these statements? I have been exceptionally patient until now accepting officer's statements that no report has been finalised, checked for accuracy or sent to Cabinet for agreement. That patience has now run out. If members of cabinet can publicly quote these vastly differing figures and all use this independent report as their source surely the rest of us should be entitled to read it? Please will you instruct officers to email me a full copy of this independent report without further prevarication or delay. " Published and promoted by Maidstone & The Weald Lib Dems 56 Bower Mount Road Maidstone ME16 8AU. The views expressed are those of Maidstone & The Weald Lib Dems, not of the service provider. Printed (hosted) by Prater Raines Ltd, 98 Sandgate High Street, Folkestone CT20 3BY
• Apr 28, 2010:
  • A Litter Disgrace
    Under Lib Dem leadership Maidstone Council was widely respected for its tough enforcement against litter louts and fly tippers. Sadly, Maidstone Council's position as being at the vanguard of tough enforcement has been squandered under weak Conservative leadership. Under Lib Dems litter louts were slammed with 261 fixed penalty fines in a year but under successive Conservative administrations the council only handed out 16 in 2008/9 and just 22 in 2009/10. Lib Dem Campaigner Jenni Sharp was amazed at the steep fall in enforcement of fines for litter louts and stated "I am shocked and appalled by this Conservative Council's failure to punish the litter louts and fly tippers. It goes a long way towards explaining the recent increase in litter and fly tipping so evident across our town and countryside." Lib Dem Cllr Clive English added: "This shameful reduction in the policing of littering and fly tipping under the Conservatives is all the more shocking because we actually provided increased funding to ensure even tougher zero tolerance enforcement. They have squandered this investment and made our Borough scruffier and more unkempt!". Published and promoted by Maidstone & The Weald Lib Dems 56 Bower Mount Road Maidstone ME16 8AU. The views expressed are those of Maidstone & The Weald Lib Dems, not of the service provider. Printed (hosted) by Prater Raines Ltd, 98 Sandgate High Street, Folkestone CT20 3BY
• Dec 7, 2009:
  • Rail Cuts are "Ill-Judged and outrageous"
    Malcolm Robertson, KCC Liberal Democrat Opposition Spokesperson on Transport matters and Maidstone Borough Council Railways Champion is outraged by the Government's decision to axe Maidstone and West Malling's vital direct commuter rail service to London Canon Street and Charing Cross via London Bridge. District and County Liberal Democrats have campaigned on this issue and also strongly supported the local commuter Rail User Groups in their campaign to keep these vital trains. Norman Baker MP, national Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Spokesperson, wrote to the Minister in support of retaining the service. Norman Baker MP and our local MPs have all been snubbed by this deplorable and ill thought-through decision. Malcolm Robertson has said: "This is a decision that affects a substantial number of real people's lives. Elsewhere in Kent people are now being offered the opportunity of paying money to spend more time at home with their families by using the new HST commuter services, and take-up is very high. Maidstone commuters receive no benefit whatsoever from these new HST services and are now being dealt the dreadful blow of having to endure an ADDITIONAL 20 minutes or more in travelling time on every journey to and from work. This is quite inhuman and is resulting in additional pressures on families which may even lead to some people having to move house." Maidstone is the County Town. It is a very successful shopping destination and it is both a Regional Transport Hub and a Government designated Secondary Growth Point. It is being expected to accommodate 11,000 new houses by 2026. Cllr. Robertson added: "It seems ridiculous that in travel time, Maidstone is now as far from London as Folkestone and yet it is less than half the actual distance. How can Government in all conscience then go ahead with this appalling cut in services which makes matters even worse and inflicts such harm on local families? Your Liberal Democrat representatives will continue to fight this injustice with every means open to us." Published and promoted by Maidstone & The Weald Lib Dems 56 Bower Mount Road Maidstone ME16 8AU. The views expressed are those of Maidstone & The Weald Lib Dems, not of the service provider. Printed (hosted) by Prater Raines Ltd, 98 Sandgate High Street, Folkestone CT20 3BY
• Nov 30, 2009:
  • Clarification on Maidstone Downs Mail December 2009 Story: Parkway Rail Station Would Cut Journey Times
    Malcolm Robertson, Lib Dem County Councillor for Maidstone Central, wishes to clarify the following points raised in this newspaper article: • The positive proposal for establishing a Maidstone Parkway Station is contained within the recently released KCC draft consultation document, "Growth Without Gridlock, an integrated transport strategy for Kent". The KCC Conservative Cabinet Member, Mr Nick Chard, has clearly authorised the release of this document for consultation. • The KCC proposal does not name a site but the High Speed Rail line, HS1, is essentially only in the Maidstone area between the tunnel portal at Cossington (Bluebell Hill) and Hollingbourne. The number of possible practical sites is very limited. A good highway connection would be needed. • The Downs Mail article mixes quotations from me with journalistic editorial opinion and fails to distinguish between the two. • I am opposed to KIG. I have made no statements that link KIG with the KCC proposed Maidstone Parkway Station. I know nothing whatsoever about possible employment numbers at KIG and have made no comments on such matters. Any such comments in the article are journalistic. • I am Maidstone Borough Council's Railways Champion. In that capacity, I do welcome any opportunity to investigate ways to improve the County Town's connectivity with the national railways network. That is all this is. I certainly have many caveats in my mind, but the proposal must be fully examined. • There are other proposals such as the Network Rail Kent Route Utilisation Strategy (RUS) option to bring a future HST service into Maidstone West station from Ebbsfleet on the classic rail lines along the Medway Valley. Such a service, whilst adding to passenger comfort, would not cut journey times substantially. However, it could probably be established much quicker than a Maidstone Parkway Station. There is currently limited car parking near Maidstone West. Published and promoted by Maidstone & The Weald Lib Dems 56 Bower Mount Road Maidstone ME16 8AU. The views expressed are those of Maidstone & The Weald Lib Dems, not of the service provider. Printed (hosted) by Prater Raines Ltd, 98 Sandgate High Street, Folkestone CT20 3BY
• Oct 5, 2009:
  • Lib Dems Campaign to "Save our Swifts"
    Maidstone's Lib Dems say it's time to save our swifts In light of the recorded rapid decline in the UK swift population (a recent RSPB survey showed a decline of more than a quarter since 2004, which is put down to to renovation and modernisation of Victorian and Edwardian properties). Maidstone Lib Dem Councillors have called for the adoption of a policy whereby all new developments and extensions within recorded swift hotspots across Maidstone Borough incorporate "swift brick" nesting facilities. Such a progressive policy could perhaps arrest the local decline in populations of this enigmatic bird of "conservation concern". Nesting populations of swift can be found in Fant Ward, within the town areas of East and North Wards, the All Saints Church area of High Street Ward and in Headcorn, Lenham, Ulcombe and Marden village centres. A population also formerly nested at Maidstone Museum. Lib Dem Shadow Cabinet Member for Regeneration Tony Harwood states: "Such a simple but progressive policy would comply with the Council's legal duty to 'have regard' for biodiversity under the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006. Significantly, architect Lord Rogers utilises swift bricks within many of his projects. A number of companies market a range of designs of "swift brick" from as little as £30 each". Published and promoted by Maidstone & The Weald Lib Dems 56 Bower Mount Road Maidstone ME16 8AU. The views expressed are those of Maidstone & The Weald Lib Dems, not of the service provider. Printed (hosted) by Prater Raines Ltd, 98 Sandgate High Street, Folkestone CT20 3BY
• Sep 28, 2009:
  • Conservatives admit Public Toilets to Close
    After weeks of prevarication the Conservative Leader of the Council has been forced to admit that he was wrong when he told the Leader of the Opposition, Lib Dem Cllr Fran Wilson, by email, that no public toilets would close until alternative facilities were in place. The Conservative member for the Environment also stated at the full council meeting on Wednesday 23rd September that the closures of the toilets at Palace Avenue, Parkwood and Shepway was "imminent" giving as his reason that "the number one objective behind the decision was to improve the standards and quality of the facilities we provide". It is difficult to understand how 'no' public toilet provides an improvement to quality, especially when there are no other alternatives available in the immediate area of the three conveniences scheduled for imminent closure. Even harder to comprehend those closures when the Leader has also pledged to maintain 'all' frontline services. Opposition Leader Fran Wilson said, " The reason our toilets cost more to run than other comparable districts in Kent is because they are outdated and require a major overhaul. We have now been granted significant growth point money by the government. We could have upgraded our public toilets to an excellent standard and perhaps even provided new toilets in the All Saints heritage area, for a fraction of the four million pounds that this Conservative administration is using to repave the High Street." Lib Dem Councillor Tony Harwood, the shadow cabinet member for Regeneration added, "The roads and footways in the High Street are the responsibility of the Kent County Council as the Highways Authority and not Maidstone Borough Council; whereas the provision of public conveniences is undoubtedly the responsibility of the Borough Council. For many residents (including expectant mothers) their provision is a necessity not a luxury. Liberal Democrats believe this Conservative administration is making wrong choices regarding growth point money and closure of public toilets is completely the wrong decision." Published and promoted by Maidstone & The Weald Lib Dems 56 Bower Mount Road Maidstone ME16 8AU. The views expressed are those of Maidstone & The Weald Lib Dems, not of the service provider. Printed (hosted) by Prater Raines Ltd, 98 Sandgate High Street, Folkestone CT20 3BY
• Jun 5, 2009:
  • Lib Dem victory in Maidstone Central
    Malcolm Robertson wins second seat in Maidstone Central The Liberal Democrats have taken the second seat at the Maidstone Central County Division from the Conservatives. Lib Dem candidate Malcolm Robertson beat sitting councillor Jeff Curwood by a handsome margin of 1242 votes. Lib Dem Councillor Dan Daley retained his seat by an even bigger margin (1958 votes) over the Conservatives. Ian Chittenden also retained his seat in the North East Division with an enhanced majority. Clearly there is dissatisfaction with the Conservatives in Maidstone after one year of their control of the Borough Council. Newly elected County Councillor Malcolm Robertson said, "I would like to say thank you to everyone in Maidstone Central. This was a hard fought election, and I'm delighted to have won so decisively. I will do my best for the area and look forward to working at Kent County Council as a part of the Lib Dem group who are now the official opposition on the County Council". Related Links View full results for Maidstone Central View full results for Maidstone North East Published and promoted by Maidstone & The Weald Lib Dems 56 Bower Mount Road Maidstone ME16 8AU. The views expressed are those of Maidstone & The Weald Lib Dems, not of the service provider. Printed (hosted) by Prater Raines Ltd, 98 Sandgate High Street, Folkestone CT20 3BY
• Apr 21, 2009:
  • More rail misery for Maidstone commuters
    Southeastern trains has decided to stop the off-peak fast service between London Cannon Street and West Malling and Maidstone. Maidstone and the Weald Liberal Democrats are stunned that this announcement comes at a time when Maidstone stands to gain nothing from the new high speed commuter trains. Unlike practically all other main towns in Kent where journey times to London are being dramatically slashed, Maidstone will be left with only slow trains to London Victoria where journey times can be as much as 1hr 20 minutes. Malcolm Robertson, Lib Dem Transport Champion said, " It is disgraceful for the train operator to treat the County Town in this cavalier way. It will lead to real hardship for many long suffering commuters and no account seems to be being taken of this. People Power has to now be harnessed to change this harsh and unfair decision. Myself, Councillors Dan Daley, Ian Chittenden, and all the Liberal Democrat Group are supporting the users in raising a petition against this change. I am also seeking, with the support of the Maidstone Cabinet Member, a meeting with the Minister to discuss these issues. Ann Widdecombe has agreed to help facilitate this. To sign the petition visit www.keepourtrains.com Published and promoted by Maidstone & The Weald Lib Dems 56 Bower Mount Road Maidstone ME16 8AU. The views expressed are those of Maidstone & The Weald Lib Dems, not of the service provider. Printed (hosted) by Prater Raines Ltd, 98 Sandgate High Street, Folkestone CT20 3BY
• Nov 24, 2008:
  • Maidstone Conservatives drop parking bombshell equivalent to 12% on council tax
    Liberal Democrats in Maidstone have reacted with astonishment and anger to the shock announcement that Conservative controlled Maidstone Borough Council is to charge people to park in their own road and to introduce charges for Sunday Parking in the Town Centre. Free Residents Parking Permit schemes have proved to be a popular method of helping residents get parking spaces near their own homes and free Sunday town Centre parking is a help to town centre traders. However, the Council has announced plans to charge for Residents Parking Permits and for Sunday parking in the town. The move to charge residents £25 for the first residents permit is equivalent to a massive 12% increase in Maidstone Borough Council Tax. Leader of the Lib Dems on the Council Cllr Fran Wilson said: "This is a bombshell. Local people are already feeling the effects of what is now a major economic downturn. Now, the Council is to charge them for parking in their own roads. On top of that, local traders will be devastated at the news that charges are to be brought in for Sunday town centre parking." Cllr Tony Harwood, shadow Cabinet member for the Environment said: "This is a Tory stealth tax plain and simple. It is just another way of raising money from hard pressed Council Tax payers. Residents will get absolutely nothing back in return. The extra funds raised will be used to fund the Council budget which is sliding out of control. The Conservatives are wasting money on grandiose projects and are hitting local people in the pocket when they can least afford it." Cllr Wilson added: "The Conservatives did not mention ANY of these proposals in their election campaign in May in the areas of Bridge Ward, Fant Ward, High Street Ward, North Ward, East Ward and other areas near the town centre that will be hardest hit. How can they look local people in the eye now. This sort of behaviour is politically dishonest. The entire Lib Dem team in Maidstone will campaign to have these proposals overturned." Related Links Fight the Parking Bombshell campaign Published and promoted by Maidstone & The Weald Lib Dems 56 Bower Mount Road Maidstone ME16 8AU. The views expressed are those of Maidstone & The Weald Lib Dems, not of the service provider. Printed (hosted) by Prater Raines Ltd, 98 Sandgate High Street, Folkestone CT20 3BY
• Nov 11, 2008:
  • Maidstone Conservatives downgrade climate response
    Lib Dems on Maidstone Borough Council have reacted with astonishment to news that the Conservative administration has downgraded the Council's ambitions to become carbon neutral. The original position inherited by the Conservatives was that the Council should be carbon neutral by 2010. The new Conservative plans are for a much more modest 3% annual reduction on carbon emissions. Leader of the Lib Dems on Maidstone Borough Council Cllr Fran Wilson said: "This is civil irresponsibility. The Council is the leading civic voice in our area and should be taking a lead on this issue. This is a betrayal of our children. This is not some academic argument. This moves means that the Council is doing the bare minimum on things that are harming local people like congestion and pollution and new development." Cllr Tony Harwood said: "The Council could and should do so much more - they should be investing in park and ride, open spaces and making sure that new buildings are energy efficient. "They should be making sure that every council service is provided in the most environmentally friendly way possible. Instead, they are throwing away this opportunity and local people will suffer. How can it be defensible to do the minimum on the major threat to local people." Published and promoted by Maidstone & The Weald Lib Dems 56 Bower Mount Road Maidstone ME16 8AU. The views expressed are those of Maidstone & The Weald Lib Dems, not of the service provider. Printed (hosted) by Prater Raines Ltd, 98 Sandgate High Street, Folkestone CT20 3BY
• Apr 10, 2008:
  • Asbestos Discovered by Volunteers in Town Centre Nature Reserve
    A group of Lib Dem councillors taking part in a regular weekend work-party in a town centre nature reserve discovered large quantities of fly-tipped asbestos. The illegally dumped asbestos boards, the remains of a demolished out-building, is now being removed from the River Len Nature Reserve by a specialist cleansing team from Maidstone Borough Council. The asbestos rubble was found between the river and the rear gardens of properties in Square Hill Road, Maidstone. Maidstone Council Cabinet Member for Environment Tony Harwood, who led the voluntary conservation activity, deplored the "reckless and criminal actions" of the fly-tippers and added "all the fly-tipping we removed from the nature reserve was horrendous, lots of broken glass, sharp shards of metal, car parts, rolls of rusty barbed-wire, CFC leaking refrigerators and other electrical goods, but the discovery of so much illegally tipped asbestos came as a real shock. Around 2,000 people a year in the UK die from mesothelioma, a cancer of the lung and abdomen triggered by exposure to asbestos fibres." Local High Street ward councillor Denise Joy, who helped with the weekend clean-up, said "new security fencing around the fly-tipped part of the reserve should stop any further illegal dumping." She added "I'm personally saddened by the fly-tipping because so many hours of volunteer and Maidstone Council staff time has been devoted to creating a tranquil green space right in the heart of the County Town. I want the new nature reserve to be a place that all Maidstone's residents can be proud of." The recently agreed Maidstone Borough Council annual budget included funding to make permanent two dedicated litter and fly-tipping enforcement posts. Cllr. Tony Harwood is discussing options for tracing the source of the fly-tipped asbestos out-building and means of prosecuting legal action. Published and promoted by Maidstone & The Weald Lib Dems 56 Bower Mount Road Maidstone ME16 8AU. The views expressed are those of Maidstone & The Weald Lib Dems, not of the service provider. Printed (hosted) by Prater Raines Ltd, 98 Sandgate High Street, Folkestone CT20 3BY
• Mar 9, 2008:
  • CCTV in Blythe Road
    Denise Joy reports that she has been contacted by residents suggesting that mobile CCTV camera points should be provided in Blythe Road to enable the deployment of mobile CCTV cameras. Denise says, "Following calls from residents, the Borough Council has surveyed the road and the provision of mobile CCTV camera points would be possible but before proceeding with this I and my colleagues would like to know the views of local residents as to whether or not they would support this suggestion, and if so whether residents have a particular view as to the most appropriate location(s) bearing in mind that the camera points do need a power supply and thus are normally mounted on lamp posts. Published and promoted by Maidstone & The Weald Lib Dems 56 Bower Mount Road Maidstone ME16 8AU. The views expressed are those of Maidstone & The Weald Lib Dems, not of the service provider. Printed (hosted) by Prater Raines Ltd, 98 Sandgate High Street, Folkestone CT20 3BY
• Feb 13, 2008:
  • Lib Dems Pledge to Deliver Network of Nature Reserves
    A nature reserve in the heart of Maidstone's town centre is getting a boost with the planting of 150 native trees and shrubs including Holly, alder buckthorn, Blackthorn, Hawthorn and Wild Privet. Lib Dem councillors have been working over the Winter alongside local residents to plant new hedges, excavate a shallow pond, create woodpiles and open up rides and clearings to sunlight at the River Len Nature Reserve in the heart of Maidstone. High Street Ward councillor Denise Joy says " This is a very special and peaceful oasis with wonderful wildlife right in the heart of the town and much valued by residents." Cllr Tony Harwood, the Cabinet member for the environment adds " All this work will help to maintain the diverse vegetation structure and rich wetland habitats which make this such a unique place. The existence of a nature reserve and the presence of beautiful wildlife at the very heart of Maidstone town centre is quite astonishing. Under Lib Dem leadership Maidstone Council plans to create a network of nature reserves across our Borough allowing all residents to maintain an all important relationship and understanding of the natural world." Published and promoted by Maidstone & The Weald Lib Dems 56 Bower Mount Road Maidstone ME16 8AU. The views expressed are those of Maidstone & The Weald Lib Dems, not of the service provider. Printed (hosted) by Prater Raines Ltd, 98 Sandgate High Street, Folkestone CT20 3BY
• Oct 20, 2007:
  • Improving Environmental Health Service
    Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Clive English When the new Liberal Democrat Administration took over in May a priority was to improve the Councils poor performance in dealing with breaches of Environmental Health regulations. After considerable reorganisation of procedures and practices the Council has massively reduced the backlog of unresolved cases and now has the lowest backlog since October 2004. Cabinet member for Regeneration Clive English commented, "Our aim is for a service, which the public can access easily and understand without difficulty at every stage and where complaints are dealt with efficiently and with appropriate speed and do not hang around without resolution." Published and promoted by Maidstone & The Weald Lib Dems 56 Bower Mount Road Maidstone ME16 8AU. The views expressed are those of Maidstone & The Weald Lib Dems, not of the service provider. Printed (hosted) by Prater Raines Ltd, 98 Sandgate High Street, Folkestone CT20 3BY
• Oct 1, 2007:
  • Weekly refuse collections
    From February the first 20,000 properties will receive weekly rubbish collections and an improved fortnightly recycling collection. Maidstone councillors have agreed funding to keep weekly rubbish collections for kitchen waste, disposable nappies and other things that cannot be recycled and introduce an improved fortnightly recycling collection for plastics, paper, card and cans. Another 20,000 homes will get the extra collection in October and the rest in February the following year. Cabinet Member, Tony Harwood, said: "This scheme will give residents the recycling services that they demand and maintain the weekly refuse collection that they have told me that they want. It also makes sense environmentally and economically. I am not looking to recycle purely for the sake of recycling and I have considered in detail the environmental merits of the new recycling scheme. I will be placing equal emphasis on waste minimisation and re-use so that our service will have a reduced impact in terms of harmful climate change." Most households will be getting a new 180 litre grey bin for their weekly rubbish collection. Residents will be asked to use their existing green bins for their fortnightly recycling collections. Large families will be offered a larger bin and special arrangements will be made for people who don't have wheelie bins or space for a second bin. Although all 63,000 Maidstone homes will be getting a new fortnightly recycling collection some 14,000 will lose the kerbside glass collection. Cllr Harwood explains that this service does not make sense environmentally or economically. "Glass collected from the kerbside is crushed and used as aggregate in roads construction. If residents take it to a bottle bank where it is sorted by colour it is recycled into glass bottles and jars. Whereas, ever since the opening of the Allington waste to energy plant, if they put it into the normal refuse it is saved, crushed and used as aggregate in roads construction. So it really doesn't make sense to pay for an extra vehicle to collect it for no extra environmental benefit." Council Leader, Fran Wilson, is urging everyone to use the new services: "We have listened to the residents and we will be keeping a weekly collection for rubbish and kitchen waste. Residents should not feel forced into using the recycling collection but I am asking everyone to enthusiastically back the service they said they wanted and really start recycling and do their bit for the environment. There are those who say high recycling rates only come through moving to alternate weekly collections. I hope Maidstone Borough residents will help me prove those pundits wrong." Published and promoted by Maidstone & The Weald Lib Dems 56 Bower Mount Road Maidstone ME16 8AU. The views expressed are those of Maidstone & The Weald Lib Dems, not of the service provider. Printed (hosted) by Prater Raines Ltd, 98 Sandgate High Street, Folkestone CT20 3BY
• Sep 28, 2007:
  • Makeover for Maidstone Museum
    Maidstone Liberal Democrats would like to congratulate Officers for their hard work in securing a £1,999,000 grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund towards the development of the East Wing of the Maidstone Museum and Bentlif Art Gallery. Maidstone council leader, Fran Wilson, says the money will be put to very good use: "This is excellent news and a tribute to all the hard work put in by our bid team. We've got a fabulous collection and this will provide an exciting, modern setting to show off more of our exhibits to more people". The popular museum, which celebrates its 150th birthday next year, is one of the oldest museums in the UK. Today's news will help Maidstone Borough Council carry out Phase II of their work to showcase even more of the 600,000 objects in its collections and transform the visitor experience for the 83,000 people it attracts each year. Dan Daley, Cabinet Member for Culture is confident that visitor numbers will continue to grow: "The award comes at a time when the museum has been breaking all records for attendance with its fascinating range of new exhibitions. The grant will enable us to embark with confidence on an ambitious programme to make the Museum even more attractive in the coming years"; he said. Plans include the construction of two extensions to the museum, housing a new entrance and orientation area to welcome visitors. Facilities such as toilets, a shop, cloakrooms and a café providing visual access to a previously unseen Tudor façade of the building will also be developed. Maidstone's Tourist Information Centre will be relocated to the museum entrance. The extensions will also allow refurbishment and reorganisation of the galleries and storage areas to be undertaken. Combined with the creation of two new temporary exhibitions galleries, this will increase display space by 30% and enable many items to come out of the store cupboards. Objects to go on display thanks to the refurbishments include material from the most important collection of Japanese art held by a museum outside London. A rare Solomon Islands canoe, which is currently stored in the loading bay, will be used as an eye-catching centrepiece to the new museum entrance. The museum's education activities are currently over subscribed but the extensions will provide two new education spaces for schools and adult learners, allowing the education activities to grow. Access for visitors with disabilities or prams will be much improved with level access to the museum's facilities provided for the first time. Disabled toilets and a baby changing area will be introduced. The project forms Phase II of a larger master-plan for upgrading the museum. Phase I, the refurbishment of the West Wing, was completed with the help of a £253,000 HLF grant in 2003. Sustainability has been one of the main considerations. Tony Harwood, Maidstone's Cabinet Member for Environment explains: "The Museum is one of our landmark buildings. It demanded an exciting architectural design and we insisted upon cutting edge environmental technology, from a ground heat pump to solar panels in the roof the new wing will set the standard for energy conservation and sustainability. That ethos will be extended throughout the project. Landscaping will include native Cherry, Lime and Field Maple trees and a commemorative Oak, as a memorial to the last action of the Battle of Maidstone in the nearby St. Faith's churchyard in 1648." Maidstone has now received 53 HLF grant awards to date, totalling over £8.4million. Sheena Vick, Heritage Lottery Fund Manager for the South East, commented: "This popular museum houses a treasure trove of collections and today's news sets Maidstone Borough Council on their way to transforming the way history is brought to life for visitors." Simon Lace, Museums & Heritage Manager, said: "We're delighted that the Heritage Lottery Fund has chosen to support our project. Their help will be vital in allowing us to create 21st century facilities for the ever increasing number of people who visit our fantastic museum and wish to enjoy our outstanding collections." Published and promoted by Maidstone & The Weald Lib Dems 56 Bower Mount Road Maidstone ME16 8AU. The views expressed are those of Maidstone & The Weald Lib Dems, not of the service provider. Printed (hosted) by Prater Raines Ltd, 98 Sandgate High Street, Folkestone CT20 3BY
• Jul 30, 2007:
  • Call for a crack down on reckless licence holders
    Dan Daley calls for crack down on irresponsible and negligent licence holders In the debate on the Future of Public Health in Kent at County Hall, Dan Daley, Member for Maidstone Central called on Authorities to be tougher on those found guilty of supplying alcohol to under-age teens. He reported the recent withdrawal of an alcohol licence at his local Tesco Express. His concern is with the damage that young people are doing to their health which will lead to serious medical conditions in later life. "It is all very well having the good intentions shown in the document we are debating here today about promoting Good Health in our population, but unless there is a much stronger approach to the control of alcohol misuse in our young people then we shall all be paying an extremely high price in years to come". Dan was calling for the government, police, trading standards and licensing authorities to be far more pro-active in detecting the misuse of the licences held by Pubs / Clubs, Supermarkets and Garages. "Binge drinking is seen as the root cause of most of the anti-social behaviour problems being faced in many neighbourhoods. It is now far too easy to buy alcohol" Dan informed the Chamber. "We need more licences to be suspended when breaches have been detected as at Tesco in Allington this week. Failure now will inevitably mean more costs to the Health Service in a few years with liver failure, depression and drink addiction being at the forefront of the problems". Dan calls on members of the public and local community groups to be far more proactive in informing Licensing Authorities of any breaches witnessed to assist them in a crack down on irresponsible and negligent licence holders. Published and promoted by Maidstone & The Weald Lib Dems 56 Bower Mount Road Maidstone ME16 8AU. The views expressed are those of Maidstone & The Weald Lib Dems, not of the service provider. Printed (hosted) by Prater Raines Ltd, 98 Sandgate High Street, Folkestone CT20 3BY
• Jun 10, 2007:
  • Lib Dems back in control
    Following the hard fought Borough Council elections, Liberal Democrats have taken back control of the Council at the Annual General Meeting held on the 16th May. Fran Wilson, Borough Councillor for High Street Ward, has been elected both Leader of the Liberal Democrats and Leader of the Borough Council. Tony Harwood, Borough Councillor for North Ward, has been elected Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrat group and also Deputy Leader of the Council. Fran said, "It is a great honour and a big responsibility to be the new Leader of Maidstone Borough Council. I, together with my Cabinet team and all the elected Liberal Democrat Councillors, will be working hard to fulfil the expectations of residents who placed their confidence in us. The consultation period for the Core Strategy of the Local Development Framework has now ended. This will provide the blueprint for the Borough's future development and it will be our first priority to ensure that the final version is a document which will get the balance right between housing, economic development and the protection of our beautiful open spaces and countryside Our second priority will be to maintain a good waste collection service and achieve a real improvement to waste minimisation and recycling across the Borough. I am determined that we will put emphasis back on maintaining a clean and tidy Borough and continue the work to improve all our municipal parks and open spaces. We will also work closely with our partners, such as Kent County Council, the Police and the Health Service, to provide a safe environment and improve the health and prosperity of all our residents." Related Links About Fran Wilson Cabinet Members Published and promoted by Maidstone & The Weald Lib Dems 56 Bower Mount Road Maidstone ME16 8AU. The views expressed are those of Maidstone & The Weald Lib Dems, not of the service provider. Printed (hosted) by Prater Raines Ltd, 98 Sandgate High Street, Folkestone CT20 3BY
• May 25, 2007:
  • Environmental Awareness Scheme awarded grant
    Kent County Councillor, Dan Daley has opened the batting for Grants this year with a grant of £1140 to enable the startup of an environmental awareness scheme at Astor of Hever Community School Maidstone. The scheme, which is part of the BBC's 'Breathing Spaces' project will enable small green spaces on the school campus to be established for wildlife but also for people of all ages to sit and enjoy peaceful surroundings. The wildlife encouragement element will include bird nesting and bat boxes, butterfly and squirrel feeders, binoculars and books to identify the various species. Included in the grant is money to buy the necessary tools and equipment to start the work and for bushes, trees and compost. Dan Daley said "I believe that this is a very important way in which people, young and old, can get to enjoy the wide variety of wildlife that is really abundant in our urban areas. This is a first-class project, and I am pleased to be able to give it encouragement by providing the pump-priming money from my County Council devolved budget allocation". Published and promoted by Maidstone & The Weald Lib Dems 56 Bower Mount Road Maidstone ME16 8AU. The views expressed are those of Maidstone & The Weald Lib Dems, not of the service provider. Printed (hosted) by Prater Raines Ltd, 98 Sandgate High Street, Folkestone CT20 3BY
• Dec 8, 2006:
  • Parking on verges - more action needed
    Councillor Malcolm Robertson calls for existing Act to be enforced The issue of cars parking on grass verges in the borough was addressed by Councillor Malcolm Robertson at a meeting of the Joint Transportation Board. Councillor Robertson urged the use of an existing County of Kent Act to prosecute offenders. He said, "The way to prevent this problem is by embarrassing people by publicity. We have an act in place but nobody seems to know if there have been any prosecutions. We should use the tools we have got and take action." Published and promoted by Maidstone & The Weald Lib Dems 56 Bower Mount Road Maidstone ME16 8AU. The views expressed are those of Maidstone & The Weald Lib Dems, not of the service provider. Printed (hosted) by Prater Raines Ltd, 98 Sandgate High Street, Folkestone CT20 3BY