 The new H&T Pawnbrokers shop in Chatham High Street National chain H&T Pawnbrokers has opened its second shop in Chatham High Street.
The new store opposite TKMaxx buys and sells new and pre-owned items, as well as offering a wide range of financial services including travel money and cheque cashing. It coincides with H&T Pawnbrokers' announcement that it saw "really strong" retail, jewellery and watch sales in recent months, as it attempts to bounce back to pre-pandemic levels. The existing branch in the eastern end of Chatham High Street remains open for business as usual. H&T Pawnbrokers operates from more than 250 locations since its launch in 1897, making it one the oldest and leading pawnbrokers in the UK.  Road safety improvements in Luton Road have started Improvements aiming to reduce the amount of crashes along Luton Road are well underway, with the route closed to motorists and buses running on diversion for the next two weeks. Luton Road and Luton High Street between Castle Road and Street End Road remain shut to traffic until Friday, 27 August. The upgrades will see the pedestrian crossing outside Luton Primary School widened, as well as the construction of a new raised table traffic calming feature to slow down motorists. Other elements of the project include a new pedestrian crossing island near the junction with Upper Luton Road, relocated bus stops and improved street lighting.  The diversion route for motorists during the closure of Luton Road. Photo: Medway Council A diversion is in place that takes motorists along the A2 to Bowaters Roundabout, along Hoath Way to Hempstead Road and then back towards Luton down Pear Tree Lane and Capstone Road. Arriva buses are also running on diversion due to the road closure, which affects services 166, 169, 113, 177 and 179. Bus service 176 is not affected. Buses will not be able to pick up or drop off passengers between Street End Road and Castle Road in either direction.
This means that the Wayfield area of Chatham will not be served by buses for the duration of the closure.  The diversion routes for Arriva bus services during the closure of Luton Road. Photo: Arriva Following the road closure, temporary traffic lights will be in place at both Upper Luton Road and Ambrose Hill junctions from 7am to 7pm Monday to Saturday until Friday, 3 September.
The second phase of the project will see Luton Road close again for a week from Monday, 25 October - during the school half term - between 7am and 7pm for resurfacing. The improvements are being carried out due to a worrying number of crashes in Luton Road, which includes an 18-year-old who suffered serious injuries after being hit by a car driver in 2017. The project currently has a budget of £120,000 and is being completed by Medway Council's contractor VolkerHighways. Any questions or issues can be raised to the workforce on site or by calling Medway Council's Customer Contact Centre on 01634 333333.  An architect's impression of how the new climbing wall at Dockside Outlet Centre will look. Photo: Covell Matthews Architects Plans to install a climbing wall inside Chatham's Dockside Outlet Centre have been approved. The proposals will see the indoor leisure facility occupy space above the first floor of the shopping centre, which is currently blighted by disused mechanical plant and ductwork. The climbing centre will be accessible from the first floor by stairs and a new lift.  The climbing wall will occupy disused space above the first floor of Dockside Outlet Centre Covell Matthews Architects, on behalf of WD Limited who owns Dockside Outlet Centre, said: "This proposed development forms an appropriate exciting complimentary addition to the retail offer of the existing Dockside Outlet Centre.
"The fit out is expected to be a visually exciting colourful addition to the interior of the centre." It comes just months after proposals to open a dentist at Dockside Outlet Centre were approved, as part of a strategy by the owners to move away from a purely retail-led offering. Plans were also given the go-ahead by Medway Council last year to create a children's soft play facility in another part of the discount shopping centre. It is not known when construction work will begin or when the climbing wall will open to the public. |
