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Maidstone's new square is
officially opened

by Angela Cole

acole@thekmgroup.co.uk

History was made with the help of dozens of schoolchildren in
Maidstone today, when a new town square was opened
and a time capsule was buried.

There was a party atmosphere in the town centre when pupils from
three schools joined older people from around the borough for the
offical opening of the new square outside the town hall - named
Jubilee Square to mark the celebrations for the Queen's Diamond
Jubilee.

Unveiled by the Mayor of Maidstone, Cllr Rodd Nelson-Gracie, the
square has been completed as part of Maidstone council's High
Street £2m regeneration scheme.

As part of the festivities, Year 6 pupils from Brunswick
House Primary School, Oaks Academy and Molehill Copse Primary
School in Maidstone were made VIPs for the day, after winning a
competition to draw a picture of the Queen in a KM competition.

Cllr Malcolm Greer, cabinet member for Maidstone council
(Con), said the scheme had gone ahead despite tough economic times
and added: "It is great that we have been able to do this and if
you look at the ripple effect, it will benefit the
town."

Also on the agenda was the burying of a KM time capsule at the
entrance to the town hall, which included a selection of some of
the pictures sent in for the competition, and details of the High
Street project - plus, of course, a copy of this week's KM.

For full story and pictures, see next week's paper.