News Maidstone Mayor's Inaugural Civic Parade Saturday 20 May
This Saturday – 20 May, residents are invited to join the incoming Mayor of Maidstone, Cllr Gordon Newton, 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 Saturday morning the military assemble in front of County Hall and civilian contingents assemble in Earl Street at 11am. The Civic Parade steps off at 11.30am from Week Street and makes its way to All Saints Church for the civic service.
The Mayor and Mayoress of Maidstone, Cllr Gordon Newton and Mrs Carol Newton will lead the procession in Sir Tyrwhitt Drake’s carriage from the Maidstone Carriage Museum. Gordon previously served as Deputy Mayor from 2022/23.
Roads closures to be put in place between 10am 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 6am to 1pm
- Jubilee Square and Bank Street - road closure from 9am to 1pm
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 of the largest most versatile samba bands in Kent and the South East - Bloco Fogo - who will be performing between 12noon and 1pm.