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