A NEW Maidstone chamber of commerce is to be run by Ashford after members consigned the old one to oblivion.

At a stormy meeting tinged with sadness, they voted by 24 votes to none, with 15 abstentions, to put the 70-year old Maidstone and Mid Kent Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Training and Enterprise into liquidation with debts of more than £40,000.

Non-preferential creditors, including several members, are unlikely to get a penny back.

The death of the old chamber paves the way for a new one as a division of the profitable Ashford chamber, with a local office in the county town.

Ashford chamber's chief executive Chris Capron promised events, special deals and networking opportunities.

"What we will do is put together a plan to take the chamber forward and hopefully make it just as successful as the Ashford organisation," he said.

He insisted it was not a takeover: "We are here for the long haul because the money we are investing is coming out of Ashford profitability and it's going to take us at least a year to get that money back. But we're not in for a quick kill. We're here to stay and help the business community in Maidstone."

For nearly three hours, the 30 or so members who turned up for the crucial meeting -- less than 10 per cent of the membership -- argued over who was to blame for the financial disaster and the best ways to get out of it.

There was criticism of the board's failure to produce a detailed financial statement for examination at the meeting. Eventually, bowing to relentless pressure, the board photocopied and distributed the latest management accounts.

Cllr Dan Daley, Maidstone council's cabinet member for regeneration, attended the meeting. He said the board was discredited.

"I've seen the difference between amateur and professional today," he said. "It's no good trying to run the chamber of commerce as a club. I think there has been incompetence and it's been allowed to drift."

He welcomed "regime change”. He accepted that some businesses did not want to be "taken over" by Ashford. "But is there a better offer and the answer is No."

Alan Reading, president of the doomed chamber, blamed losses of £35,000 in 1999, compounded by the alleged theft of £30,000. Police still want to interview former chief executive Bill Alder.

They had tried to trade their way out of the crisis but despite working long hours the financial situation remained much the same. Bad publicity over the Bill Alder affair had also cost the support of key sponsors.

Chamber member Frank Jagger defended the board against persistent criticism. "That is unfair," he said. "The fact they have not been successful is not their fault. These gentlemen and those before them have done their best. The result is unsatisfactory but I don't think we can condemn them because they have tried and not succeeded."

After the vote, Mr Reading said he was disappointed at the outcome but "we had to do what we had to do”.

"It's been a long haul and we're all very tired of it. What's gone on is over, it's finalised. There is a new Maidstone chamber backed by the successful Ashford chamber. I wish them every success."

Representatives of the breakaway Maidstone Voice for Business attended the meeting. They had earlier met Mr Capron and agreed not to "rock the boat”.

However, Elaine Craven, of Earl Street Employment in Maidstone -- a former chamber president and Voice founder -- said it would wait and see how the new arrangement worked.

"We are standing back and will be monitoring them," she said. "If members are not happy, you may well hear the Voice again. Watch this space!"

Other Voice supporters include Mark Baker, a former Chamber president, Maurice Cowling, Martin Weeks, Peter Edwards, Peter Smith, Mark Stott, Ruth Duncan, and Derek Nicholson.

Their next meeting will be in the boardroom of Earl Street Employment Consultancy at 3pm on December 8. Chamber members are welcome.