News Have your say in The Mall on new look Bus Station
Maidstone Borough Council’s Economic Development Team are in The Mall every day this week from 10.30am to 2.30pm until Saturday 15 August gathering views on the proposed new look Town Centre Bus Station.
As part of the public consultation process, the team are asking locals for their thoughts around how they would like the new bus station to look and work for them.
John Foster, Head of Regeneration and Economic Development at Maidstone Borough Council said:
“In order to really gauge how people feel about these proposals we wanted to speak with them directly, whilst adhering to social distancing guidelines. We really encourage any residents and businesses to come along and see the plans for themselves and let us know their views if they are able to visit us.“If you can’t come along this week, the consultation is available online where you would need to complete a short survey.
“Currently, Maidstone’s main bus interchange is located at The Mall Chequers Shopping Centre and quite frankly is neither welcoming nor user-friendly. It is not well lit and is threatening in character; essentially, it’s like a tunnel under the Centre linking King Street and Romney Place.
“The proposed new look will modernise the area and help contribute to the vitality and viability of Maidstone by improving its overall image as a modern and well cared for place with excellent public transport facilities.”
Part of the Maidstone Borough Council Town Centre Bus Station proposed project includes:
- Cleaning of road and concourses
- Opening up the concourses to provide more light
- Replacement of lighting fixtures throughout the station with a new lighting system designed to make the station safer, brighter and to maximise efficiency
- New colour scheme throughout
- New flooring and soffits to the concourses
- Refurbished canopy to the east concourse
- Addition of new wayfinding signage and information systems across the station, including new signage at the north and south entrances
- Public Art
The proposed improvement work to the Bus Station reflects one of the Council’s Strategic Objectives - ‘A Thriving Place’. The identified action will be delivered between 2019 and 2024 to modernise the area in the County Town.
The Maidstone Town Centre Bus Station project has confirmed funding of £1,000,000 from Maidstone Borough Council, plus £30,000 each from KCC, Arriva and Capital and Regional (owners of The Mall shopping centre). The total budget is therefore £1,090,000.
The consultation was launched by The Council on Wednesday 22 July and will run until 16th September 2020. Anyone wishing to have their say can find full details of the proposed plan on the Maidstone Borough Council website, by searching ‘bus station consultation’, where people can complete a short online survey: https://www.maidstone.gov.uk/
Any questions regarding the consultation should be sent to: consultation@maidstone.gov.uk