MBC’s Strategic Planning Committee has agreed to adopt the Loose Neighbourhood Plan following the successful referendum held in Loose in August 2019 where 93.95% of the votes cast were "Yes" to accept the plan. The vote followed the committee’s decision to take the plan to referendum agreed in June.

Fourteen of the highest quality office buildings in Maidstone are to be protected through an "Article 4" directive, preventing their conversion to residential use through "permitted development" following a successful proposal made by Cllr Brian Clark and seconded by Cllr Clive English at Maidstone’s Strategic Planning Committee. An Article 4 directive prevents a building being converted under permitted development and ensures developer contributions are collected for local services through the planning process.

Hannah Perkin, a long standing community campaigner and leading Swale Borough Councillor has been elected by the Swale and Maidstone Liberal Democrats as Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for the Faversham and Mid Kent constituency at a packed meeting of local Liberal Democrats this weekend.

We are pleased to announce that James Willis has been selected as the prospective parliamentary candidate for the Maidstone and The Weald constituency at the Liberal Democrats members meeting on Friday, 6th September.

Today the KM published an abridged version of Rob Bird's letter regarding the refusal of Conservative Ministers and MPs to come clean about the future of Maidstone's Thameslink Service. Here is the letter in full.

This summer the Maidstone Mela, a community gathering with music, food and art from around the world celebrating the diversity of cultures that make up Maidstone’s population, was held in Whatman Park, attracting 3000 visitors. At the event, Cllr Derek Mortimer took to the stage to highlight the importance of one of the South East’s largest summer events, and the clear need to re-instate Mote Park as the annual location.

According to a recent report a disorderly Brexit has been given the highest possible risk rating by Kent County Council. It is the biggest single risk currently being addressed by the Council. Disruption is expected to last for at least 6 months and probably more following a no deal Brexit, with ‘significant long-term detrimental impact for Kent residents’.

The Thameslink service from Bearsted, Maidstone East and West Malling to Central London is long overdue. New Secretary of State for Transport, Grant Shapps, should ensure the service becomes operational in December, as promised by his predecessor, Chris Grayling, last October.

Construction on the site on Eclipse Park, off the Bearsted Road, is moving ahead rapidly with roofing due to start shortly.

Residents of Maidstone can now enjoy a touch of the countryside with nearly 10,000 square metres of wildflower sites planted.