Improvements are underway at Chatham Railway Station as part of a £119,000 overhaul. The work involves redecorating the booking hall and stairwells, better lighting and CCTV, and the installation of new power-assisted doors into the booking hall. An intercom system is also being added to the platform side gates to allow station users to call for assistance from the car park. The latest upgrade follows the long-awaited installation of lifts at the station for the first time in September last year. The refurbishment is being delivered as part of a £4.4 million package of improvements to 21 stations in Kent and south east London, which was announced by Southeastern and Network Rail in March.
It's hoped that the project will improve customer information and enhance the condition of the station. Fiona Taylor, Network Rail's Kent route director, said: “We are delighted to be making a significant investment into improving a number of stations across Kent and south east London in partnership with our colleagues at Southeastern. “We are committed to improving the facilities at our stations and want our passengers to have the best possible experience when travelling by rail." The work is being designed and delivered by Southeastern on behalf of Network Rail, and is due for completion this year. British Heart Foundation has suddenly shut its charity shop on Chatham High Street. It's believed the decision was taken due to the lease expiring. Notices have been placed on the windows and staff have been seen emptying stock from the shop this week. Estate agent Harrisons Property is now marketing the store's lease for £19,500 per annum. The listing includes the ground floor shop, a rear office and staff kitchen area, and basement storage. June Tumilty, area manager at British Heart Foundation, said: “We would like to thank our wonderful staff, volunteers, customers and donors for all their amazing support over the years.
"We would urge the local community to still bear us in mind if they are having a clear-out in the coming weeks. "While our Chatham High Street shop may be closing, you can still donate pre-loved clothes, books and accessories at our Gillingham shop or call the shop to get a free collection service or via our new freepost service." It's understood that the charity's nearby furniture and electrical store in the Pentagon Centre will remain open as usual. A number of charity shops on Chatham High Street have closed in recent years, including PDSA last May and Age UK in September 2021. Italian restaurant chain Zizzi is believed to be opening a new restaurant at Chatham Dockside. It could give a new lease of life to the former Villagio and Chimichanga units, which closed in 2021 and 2018 respectively, opposite the Dockside Outlet Centre. This would be Medway's first Zizzi restaurant. The empty restaurant units were set to become a bowling alley operated by MFA Bowl, but those plans never materialised. Landlord Schroders Real Estate Fund recently submitted a planning application for external alterations to the units, which included drawings showing Zizzi's slogan "individually Italian" on the shopfront. However, a spokesperson for Schdroders Real Estate Fund said: "Unfortunately at the moment we are unable to share any information on possible new lettings at Chatham Maritime." The possible arrival of Zizzi follows the opening of a new Costa Coffee, Kaspa's Desserts and KFC at Chatham Dockside last year.
Currently, the closest Zizzi restaurant is in Maidstone. The chain has more than 130 branches across the UK and Ireland since launching in 1999. Zizzi did not respond to a request for comment. Retail chain Suit Direct has shut its store at Chatham's Dockside Outlet Centre. The men's suit store, which was its only branch in Medway, closed last Wednesday (31 May). A notice has been placed on the store window confirming the closure. It's not known how many jobs have been affected.
Suit Direct stocks suits designed by some of the UK's leading brands, including Ted Baker and Jack & Jones, as well as casualwear and accessories. The closest branches are located at Fremlin Walk, Maidstone, and Bluewater Shopping Centre, Dartford. |
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August 2023
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