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More on KentOnline
This is heavy...
October 21, 2015, or Back to the Future Day, the day Marty McFly (Michael J Fox) and Doc Emmett Brown (Christopher Lloyd) travelled to in Part 2 of Robert Zemeckis' comedy sci-fi trilogy.
The film depicted America in the future, where Nike had self-lacing shoes, cars flew and there had been 19 Jaws films. But just how does life compare to the predictions in the movie? We take a look at how much Maidstone has changed in 30 years.
Since Fremlins brewery ceased business the town has secured a new shopping hub, which has seen Maidstone's fashion industry thrive in the county town.
The Earl Street brewery dominated the riverside until it closed in the late 1970s, the building remained closed and fermented until development to the shopping centre begun, opening in 2005 - pushing the town into top 50 destinations to shop in the UK.
Sadly, no stores stock self-drying or sizing jackets or self-lacing Nikes... yet...
There's no Cafe 80s, but a visit to the Rifle Volunteers, which has been under new management since March 6, is like taking a step back in time.
The quirky pub remains a hidden gem in Union Street, in charge now are Matt Bannerman and Gina Keohane, who took over on March 6.
Miss Keohane previously said: “It’s a very traditional pub - some people say it’s a bit like stepping into a time warp, but we like it.”
Segway tours have taken off at Leeds Castle, but more recently a ban on all wheel-based toys has been implemented at the attraction.
Hoverboards, however, would be allowed.
Since the town's football club disbanded in 1992 a new Maidstone United has formed, and the club have moved away from past glory and a former London Road ground, into a shiny new stadium in the form of the Gallagher.
You wouldn't have needed a Sports Almanac to know that was a good bet.
The Great Storm of 1987 battered the county, flattening trees and ripping tiles from roofs.
There were winds of up to 130mph - Great Scott - which caused widespread damage, leaving some areas without power for three weeks.
There are no flying cars, but it would help alleviate the traffic around the county town.
It won't help yet, but the £15.4 million grant to ease traffic congestion will see the gyratory system overhauled - sadly, we'll have to wait a few more years for that.
In the film antagonist Biff's grandson, Griff, and his crew accidentally smash their way into Hill Valley's court house, but Maidstone's courts have hit the headlines of late with prisoners escaping.
Earlier this month Daniel McAvoy sheepishly strolled out of Magistrates' Court and was on the run for four weeks - the violent criminal was found in Dartford last week and is now back behind bars.
Less than a week later another criminal was on the loose after running out of Crown Court.
What about the next 30 years? The Stones to win the Champions League? Operation Stack to take to the skies?
Well, equipment hire firm, Hewden, are among those who have predicted how the next few centuries could pan out.
Heavily populated areas are said to be the most likely to change, with space travel and development of new cities within cities some of the predicted major changes.
The firm said that by 2045 we could see construction of 30km tall buildings with spaceports, driverless vehicles and mini-cities in the skies.
Futurologist Ian Pearson said: "While we’re not all flying around in cars, there are a number of things, such as the use of drones, video conferencing and some of the physical structures that were portrayed very accurately in the movie.”
How do you remember life in Maidstone over the last 30 years? Let us know with a comment below.
