It may not be the jewel in Maidstone’s crown but a building in one of the most prominent spots in the County Town is set to finally get a proper facelift.

The Travelodge in St Peter’s Street – voted the town’s most ugly building in a poll of KM readers last year – has been beset by rust streaks pouring down its exterior since it was built in 2010.

Appalled by its state borough councillor Dan Daley (Lib Dem) led a one-man campaign to get it fixed.

He discovered steelwork within the structure had not been treated correctly so continual repainting over the rusty marks would not solve the issue.

It led the hotel company to admit it too was ‘frustrated’ with the outside appearance.
His campaign began in July 2014, and involved making a flurry of phone calls and sending a host of emails. But now Cllr Daley has finally won through.

The building’s owner – a pension fund that leases it to the hotel chain – is expected to start work this month with the job should be completed by Friday, June 12.

Cllr Daley said: “We can look forward to a brand spanking new Travelodge.

“It will be a 12-week project to treat the problem and at the end of it we should see a new hotel looking as pristine as when it was built and hopefully there will be no chance of a return to the rust.

“It is good news. They are doing it, and that is the important thing – we are on our way.”

When the KM polled readers on the town’s ugliest building 361 people – 75% of the vote – plumped for the Travelodge, a clear winner from second-placed Colman House with 39 votes.

Cllr Daley’s campaign included the tricky process of tracking down the original builders, who had gone bust, and the original building inspector. He ensured Maidstone council’s enforcement team wrote a letter urging action.

It took some months to find out who was the building’s owner and the original developer had sold it. The project is currently out to tender.