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I’m not putting money on this result! 


IT’S always difficult to fore-


cast which political party will control closely-fought Maid- stone Council after local elec- tions. This May it is tougher than ever. Currently the Conservatives


have just a one seat majority giving them control over the LibDems and Independents. Eighteen seats will be up for


election on Thursday, May 5, with the Tories defending nine, LibDems seven and Inde- pendents two. Most Tory defences appear


to be in rock solid blue seats and it seems the LibDems would have to unseat a well- established cabinet member in Shepway North (Marion Ring) or take Loose to achieve their dream. But they will have to watch


their backs, too, as they defend in two wards (South and Fant) always difficult to read, espe- cially as the Labour Party has high hopes of being repre- sented on Maidstone Council


MailMarks


DENNIS FOWLE - President Kent Campaigning Journalist of the Year 2001 email: dfowle2011@aol.com


once again. There are so many tea leaves


to read this time both in na- tional and local politics. At a national level how


much damage has joining a coalition Government done among LibDem supporters? And how do voters see the work of the coalition – doing a tough job after a financial mess left by Labour or adopting poli- cies which are making matters worse? On top of that, how powerfully will each party’s supporters turn out at an elec- tion when most of the public- ity will centre around a highly controversial electoral reform proposal?


LETTERS TO THE EDITOR


Weightless bins Dear Sir – It is great to see the start of the new food waste col- lection. But one thing seems to have been forgotten by the council: the tiny black and or- ange bins weigh next to noth- ing, unlike the wheelie bins, so when Icame back after the first collection, there were bins scat- tered everywhere by the wind. At least the bright orange lids showed them up clearly, for the most part. Although my boyfriend did inadvertently re- verse over his, and wanted to know which other bin he should put the bits in! Iwas wondering if the coun-


cil could supply S hooks so we can all attach the food waste containers to our weekly rub- bish collection bins. It would seem to be the most cost-effec- tive solution.


Morag Gaherty Bearsted


Overdeveloped Dear Sir - Iwrite in reply to Bar- bara Skinner's letter (last month) about SHLAA (Strategic Housing Land Area Assess- ment) for development at Gat- land Lane/Farleigh Lane and the potential housing site for 300 units. Iam not surprised, as it seems


that most available land is being developed in Maidstone. I've lived in the area for only six years and in that time Ihave seen development after devel- opment being built in and around what we are supposed to know as the county town of Kent. We need to decide what we want for the future of our chil-


At a local level all councils


are facing the toughest finan- cial times, and budgeting for the Tories is more difficult than for years. Is their policy on partial


High Street regeneration the right one just now with capital funds so tight? And how are the local Lib-


Dems going to come through heavyweight criticism that they voted to set aside a demo- cratic public vote in favour of elections to be held every four years? They opted instead to retain the current system of three elections in each four- year period, with a one year gap in between.


I have tried to mix all this in


the melting pot – and my belief is the resilient Maidstone Lib- Dems will just miss out again on gaining council control. But Iam not putting any of my money on it!


paign hard enough there is al- ways the chance of a result. That has happened in East Far- leigh. A national 60mph speed


Keep right on to the 


limit on the narrow, winding stretch of Lower Road up to Dean Street was ridiculous – and KCC wanted 50mph. The locals knew that was still too fast, said so, and kept saying so with powerful evidence to back their case – but the stale- mate has gone on for years. Now KCC Highways have bowed to pressure – and a pro- posed 40mph limit is being ad- vertised. There is happiness and relief in Farleigh.


You can write to us at: Downs Mail, 2 Forge House, Bearsted Green Business Park, Bearsted, Maidstone, ME14 4DT or e-mail: info@downsmail.co.uk


dren – a town we can be proud of or a town that has no relation to the surrounding countryside and open space that we enjoy at the moment. Iwant space not a concrete


jungle, bring the petition around again and let’s get busy making sure that this and other unnecessary developments stop. Mark Burgess (via email)


Save this vital job Dear Sir – Iam writing to ex- press my dismay at hearing that Tony Gowers and the post of National Trails Officer on the North DownsWay will be made redundant in the next few weeks. As the former warden of the SSSIRanscombe Farm Reserve, former Medway Access Forum secretary and regular walker, I am appalled to learn that the vital support of this post is being withdrawn through lack of funding from the KCC. Iappreciate in this difficult climate it must consider all cost burdens, but Ibelieve the ma- jority of the overheads of this post are provided by Natural England and it is therefore a low match-funding cost to the coun- cil and a very high gain to the interests of rural tourism and economy. It is so important that people are encouraged to use these historic routes and the stunning countryside of the South East is preserved. This will be the only nation-


ally important trail without this essential officer support, and access will begin to degrade from the spring onwards – the very season when it is needed most. Once these ancient routes


and linear habitats are lost, they are gone forever. The council is fortunate to enjoy the support of Tony’s large network of unsung heroes, who help him maintain this demanding trail. Without his guidance and knowledge they will soon fall away. Years of work and investment will be wasted.


Helen Morley Upper Street, Leeds


Handyman search Dear Sir – Iwonder if anyone at your newspaper or your readers can help.


Iunderstand that the wife of


the late Mr Pastry (Richard Hearn), Mrs Yvonne Hearn, ei- ther lives in or lived in the Maidstone area. Iwould like to contact the lady (or her daugh- ters) in the hope of tracing a copy of the sketch "The Handy- man". Can anyone help? Terry Andrews Banbury


terryboxman@gmail.com Tel: 01295 730112


Looking for Heather Dear Sir – Iam from Africa but studying in England at the mo- ment. Iam helping a friend trace her English mother. Her name is Heather J Sharp,


born February 15, not sure about the year but maybe 1962. She has a brother Peter, a niece Emma, her young sister Pam and nephew Anthony. Her address in 1991 was 26 Queens Road, Maidstone. She used to work in a pub at that time and was once married to Graham Newman. Her friends included Jean Bennett. Anything your readers may know about these people will be


To contact Downs Mail just phone 01622 630330


greatly appreciated. Ican be contacted on 07538536371 or via email at tongaja87@yahoo.com Inonge Mutonga


Save these centres Dear Sir - Iam the local editor for the Netmums website in Kent and would like to urge your readers to take part in our Netmums Real Parenting Save Our Children’s Centre Cam- paign launched this month. All around the UK and right


here in Kent, children’s centres are under threat of closure or having to drastically reduce services and local families in our community will suffer the consequences of these cuts. We are offering parents in


Kent the chance to join up with other parents around the whole country via our website at www.netmums.com. Parents can visit the Save Our Children’s Centres Campaign Online HQ to share tips and ad- vice and we also have an easy to use step-by-step toolkit for wor- ried Kent families to take direct action locally. Jenny – Netmums Editor


Generous town Dear Sir – We held a street col- lection in Maidstone town cen- tre on February 5 in aid of the registered charity Greyhound RescueWest of England. The collection raised £426.81,


all of which goes directly to the dogs in our care, no expenses and no payment incurred. Our thanks go to the very generous people of Maidstone. RhianWilliams Event coordinator


Greyhound RescueWest of England (GRWE)


East 31


end ofthe road IF ENOUGH people cam-


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