News Official ground-breaking on Mote Park new café
The official ground-breaking of the brand-new Mote Park Café in Maidstone’s Mote Park took place yesterday Thursday 24 June.
Leading the event was the Mayor of Maidstone – Cllr Fay Gooch who was accompanied by the Leader of the Council – Cllr David Burton, and joined by members of BBS Construction Ltd who are carrying out the work on the new facility in the Park.
Visitors to the 440 acre Mote Park will benefit from the café which will include indoor and outdoor seating, Changing Places Facility, flexible space for learning, an educational and meeting area for local schools and community groups to hire and new larger modern toilet facilities. It will be surrounded by improved landscaping and new surfacing linking to the car park, where increased bicycle parking will be provided after the existing café, toilet block and estates office have been demolished opening up the view of the magnificent lake in the park. In addition, as part of the works a new Park Facilities and Estates Building will also be added close to the Leisure Centre.
Mayor of Maidstone, Cllr Gooch said:
“Mote Park is a jewel in our County Town and I am delighted to see the work officially now starting on this important new facility for visitors to enjoy.“I have spent so many wonderful days here in the park with family and friends over the years I have worked and lived in Maidstone and know only too well how important the new café and facilities will be for everyone visiting here.”
Cllr David Burton, Leader of Maidstone Borough Council added:
“I am excited to see the work at Mote Park actually underway. It’s time to start delivering the improvements that the residents of Maidstone want and need. This is the first of a number of schemes we have in the pipeline and we will be pushing hard to see them underway as soon as possible.“The past year has demonstrated just how vital our open spaces are to so many people and I know how important the new café will be in enabling more people to enjoy and spend time in Maidstone.”
Maidstone Borough Council (MBC) is organising and leading the work on the new café which is scheduled to be completed by summer 2022 and is being carried out by BBS Construction Ltd
Geoff Slee, Managing Director, BBS Construction Ltd commented:
“Being a Maidstone based contractor, the new Mote Park Café has allowed us to engage with our local community, not just in the construction of the project, but also with a new public art project and the opportunity to work with A-level art students at the nearby Valley Park School to design bespoke artwork based on the ‘four seasons in Mote Park’ which will soon be displayed on the main site hoarding for the public to enjoy.”
Maidstone Borough Council will be seeking a new operator over the coming weeks to run the café. Any interested parties or businesses should contact MBC’s agent - Fleurets by emailing: LondonAgency@fleurets.com
The build of the new flexible space, café, landscaping and toilets will cost £2.5m and is the second phase of the Council’s investment in the redevelopment and improvements of Mote Park. The work is expected to be completed and open to the public in summer 2022.