Maidstone Borough Council

You have until 5.00pm this Sunday, 23 March, to complete a survey about the future Lidsing development, which can be found on Let’s Talk Maidstone: https://lnkd.in/gvJTiYms Maidstone Borough Council is currently preparing a Supplementary Planning Document (SPD), which will provide more guidance to any future developers about how the Lidsing development should take place and key principles for how the site should be designed. The Council want to hear your views to help shape the document. These include your ideas about topics such as open spaces, recreation, the new local centre and roads. A draft SPD is then expected to be publicly consulted on this summer.

Maidstone Borough Council (MBC) has recently introduced a Private Sector Leasing (PSL) scheme and is looking for homes that it can lease from private sector landlords. The PSL scheme offers landlords a long-term lease with a guaranteed monthly income as well as a free professional property management service provided by the council. MBC will lease a property for between three and five years. During that time, the council will be responsible for the management of the property, take care of repairs, cover all Council Tax and utility bills, and provide landlords with a guaranteed rent. The homes leased to the council will be utilised as temporary accommodation, for households affected by homelessness. By joining the scheme, landlords will be assisting to meet the needs of the residents of Maidstone. To find out more about PSL please get in touch by emailing: psls@maidstone.gov.uk Read the full article: https://lnkd.in/esj-F2zD

Residents and businesses are being invited to Community Voice Sessions on Monday 10 March between 11am and 1pm. They will be held in Blacksmith’s Barn, Blacksmith’s Court in Bredhurst, ME7 3JU for people to share their ideas to help shape the planned new development in Lidsing. The Lidsing Garden Settlement is an area that has been identified for major new development in the Local Plan Review 2021-2038, which was adopted by Maidstone Borough Council (MBC) in March 2024. Work has started to prepare a Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) for the site, which will provide further guidance about how the new community should be developed. In addition to these local community sessions, there will be an online opportunity to share any ideas. Further engagement will then take place over the coming months. Some key topics for discussion for Lidsing will include: - Movement and transport in the local area - Creation of new open space and play provision - The new local centre and other key facilities and infrastructure If you are driving to the event, parking is available at The Bell Pub Restaurant. There is limited parking space available s at Blacksmith's Barn which will be reserved for blue badge holders. Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/e2XFtgby

Ahead of the National Day of Reflection to mark the fifth anniversary of the Covid-19 pandemic on Sunday 9 March 2025, Maidstone Borough Council (MBC) has created a digital Remembrance Memorial for residents to submit commemorations to their loved ones. Across the borough of Maidstone, 633 people sadly lost their lives to Covid, and the Council has created this free resource on its website to acknowledge those no longer among us and create a lasting legacy. he digital Book of Condolence is available here: https://lnkd.in/edxeh5pS and anyone can submit a memory dedicated to friends, family, colleagues and more. After submitting a commemoration or reflection, the messages will shortly appear on the website, subject to minor changes, and will form part of the permanent memorial. Read the full article: https://lnkd.in/eDF4Maxw

Ahead of the National Day of Reflection to mark the fifth anniversary of the Covid-19 pandemic on Sunday 9 March 2025, Maidstone Borough Council (MBC) has created a digital Remembrance Memorial for residents to submit commemorations to their loved ones. Across the borough of Maidstone, 633 people sadly lost their lives to Covid, and the Council has created this free resource on its website to acknowledge those no longer among us and create a lasting legacy. he digital Book of Condolence is available here: https://lnkd.in/edxeh5pS and anyone can submit a memory dedicated to friends, family, colleagues and more. After submitting a commemoration or reflection, the messages will shortly appear on the website, subject to minor changes, and will form part of the permanent memorial. Read the full article: https://lnkd.in/eDF4Maxw

Residents are being asked to take part in consultations giving their views on the Conservation Area appraisal and management plans for Detling, Otham and Bearsted. The identification of Conservation Areas helps to manage and protect the special architectural and historic interest of a place and the features that make it unique. MBC and the Parish Councils have considered the boundaries of Detling, Otham and Bearsted Conservation Areas and as part of the public consultation welcome views and comments. The three consultations are now open and close 9 March 2025, please visit Let’s Talk Maidstone to have your say on the following areas: https://lnkd.in/eqQfYr7i As part of the consultation, public exhibitions will be open to everyone. More details are available on Let's Talk Maidstone. Read the full article: https://lnkd.in/ev_PDwyb

Maidstone Borough Council (MBC) has awarded Honorary Freedom of the Borough to the critical key workers from the public, private and voluntary sectors that put their lives at risk during the Covid-19 pandemic to keep others safe. At an Extraordinary Meeting of the Council held last night, Thursday 6 March 2025, MBC Councillors approved the decision to bestow the honour, in recognition of the individuals who put their own lives at risk to help and support their communities during the pandemic. Representatives from Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust, @one-maidstone-business-improvement-district and @Involvekent were invited to the meeting to accept the award on behalf of the public, private and voluntary sectors, respectively. In Maidstone, 633 people sadly lost their lives as a result of Covid-19, and the UK Government has set-up the Covid Commemoration to remember and acknowledge those who were lost since the pandemic began, as well as paying tribute to the frontline workers and those who showed extraordinary acts of kindness during this unprecedented time. MBC is leading a series of events to recognise the legacies of those who died during the pandemic in the week leading up to the Day of Reflection on Sunday 9 March 2025, which marks the fifth anniversary of the lockdowns. The Freedom of the Borough has been awarded to give respect and thanks to the workers who made a difference during this significant period in global history. Read the full article: https://lnkd.in/eQtCuqKA

The beautiful Grade II listed Maidstone Cemetery Chapel has been restored to its former glory and has been officially reopened for services to take place. Extensive work has been carried out on the Gothic Style Chapel at the Sutton Road Cemetery over three years with repairs to the building and grounds. Maidstone Borough Council (MBC), has overseen the restoration work which included structural repairs to the spire, replacement of a cast iron girdle around the steeple, full rewiring of the building, installation of replacement furniture and the re-pointing elevations and repair of sculptures. Designed by Peck & Stephens the Chapel originally opened in 1858. Following several structural surveys identifying significant risks, it closed in 2006. These outlined the urgent need for repairs to the spire and roof with the main concerns around the stability of the steeple because of rusting ironworks. The last burial service was held in the Chapel on 27 January 2006. Since then, the MBC Bereavement Services team has been looking to reopen the Chapel to help families in difficult times of their lives. It reopened in August 2023. The Cemetery carries out approximately 130 burials per year and reopening the Chapel will allow mourners to hold services once again for their loved ones in Maidstone. Read the full article: https://bit.ly/41HCcqD

Residents and businesses are being invited to Community Voice Sessions on Thursday 6 March between 3pm and 9pm and Monday 10 March between 11am and 1pm. They will be held in Blacksmith’s Barn, Blacksmith’s Court in Bredhurst, ME7 3JU for people to share their ideas to help shape the planned new development in Lidsing. The Lidsing Garden Settlement is an area that has been identified for major new development in the Local Plan Review 2021-2038, which was adopted by Maidstone Borough Council (MBC) in March 2024. Work has started to prepare a Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) for the site, which will provide further guidance about how the new community should be developed. In addition to these local community sessions, there will be an online opportunity to share any ideas. Further engagement will then take place over the coming months. Some key topics for discussion for Lidsing will include: - Movement and transport in the local area - Creation of new open space and play provision - The new local centre and other key facilities and infrastructure If you are driving to the event, parking is available at The Bell Pub Restaurant. There is limited parking space available s at Blacksmith's Barn which will be reserved for blue badge holders. Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/e2XFtgby

Maidstone Borough Council (MBC), is planting 633 trees to commemorate the number of people who died across the Maidstone borough because of Covid as part of the national Day of Reflection, as a memorial to the people who lost their lives and anyone impacted as a result Covid-19. The trees include a combination of Oak, Birch, Hawthorn, Field Maple and are being planted in Allington Open Space. The memorial trees will be arranged in circles, to create a sense of endless remembrance and respect for those that sadly died. The national Day of Reflection will take place on Sunday 9 March when communities across the country have the opportunity to join together in commemoration of those who lost their lives during the pandemic. Read the full article: https://bit.ly/41s6P2c