News Maidstone Mayor’s Inaugural Civic Parade – Saturday 21 May
This Saturday, residents are invited to join the incoming Mayor of Maidstone, Cllr Derek Mortimer, for his Mayoral parade in the town centre which will take place after the annual Mayor Making ceremony.
The Civic and Freedom of the Borough Parade incorporates the inauguration of the new Mayor of Maidstone and 36 Engineer Regiment and The Queen’s Gurkha Engineers exercising their rights as Honorary Freemen of the Borough to march through the town with bayonets fixed.
On the morning of Saturday, 21 May the military assemble in front of County Hall and civilian contingents assemble in Earl Street from 10.45. The Civic Parade steps off at 11.30 from Week Street and makes its way to All Saints Church for the civic service.
The Mayor and Mayoress of Maidstone, Cllr Derek Mortimer and Mrs Sally Mortimer will lead the procession in a horse drawn landau carriage, supplied by Acorn Carriage Hire. Derek previously served as Deputy Mayor from 2021/22.
Roads closures that will be put in place between 10.00am and 1pm, using rolling closures where possible, although roads will be reopened once the procession has passed, are:
- Sandling Road (junction with White Rabbit roundabout)
- Station Road
- St Faiths Street
- Week Street
- High Street
- King Street
- Wyke Manor Road (junction with King Street)
- Gabriels Hill (junction with High Street)
- Bank Street
- Pudding Lane (junction with High Street)
- Lower High Street (junction with High Street)
- Mill Street
- Bishops Way
- Knightrider Street
- College Road
- Old College Horseway - road closure from 06.00 to 13.00
- Jubilee Square and Bank Street - road closure from 09.00 to 13.00
Roads will only be closed to allow the formation and safe passage of the Parade and will not be closed for the full length of time. The road closures cover a longer time than we anticipate in order to allow for contingency time on the day. There are security implications with this event and parking restrictions along the route of the Parade will be tightly enforced.
As part of the event entertainment will be provided in Jubilee Square by one ofthe largest most versatile samba bands in Kent and the South East - Bloco Fogo who will be performing between 11.00am to 12.15pm.