LETTERS TO THE EDITOR


Don’t judge us gypsies Dear Sir-Iam writing following your article about the refusal of the gypsy planning appli- cation at The Chances,Lughorse Lane, Hunton (South – August). As a gypsy resident of plot No 9 for five


years, Iwould like to point out that neithermy grandchildren nor myself have ever been abu- sive to anyone. If people want to check the Hunton schools they will find out how polite my family are. I am a true Kent Romany and proud of it.


Being a gypsy didn’t stop my granddad from fighting for this country duringWorldWar II, and I would like someone to find one gypsy who destroyed London in the August riots. We have not burnt cars,wehave not runriot,


we have not abused anybody. The only things we drive around the field are horse and carts. There are some people so prejudiced that they can’t live or let live. Lena Smith, Lughorse Lane, Hunton


Give the pastors a chance Dear Sir - I am writing in response to Tony Frost's letter to you in last month’s edition (September, Town) of Downs Mail. In his letterhe talks at length about the won-


derfulwork that the youth service ofKCCpro- vides and the fact that unfortunately the council is seeing fit to cut this funding. I agree with a majority of his points. I do, however, want to comment on his point about the voluntary sector. He suggests that the voluntary sector does


nothave qualified and experienced staff. This is a falsehood. I am a local youth worker for MaidstoneBaptist Church, amnot only a qual- ified JNC level youth worker but have over 10


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


years of experience working in a variety of sit- uations with young people. Just because the term voluntary is used does not neccessarily mean understaffed or underqualified. At our churchwerun a number of very good quality young people’s groups, from our open youth club that runs on a Friday evening to our brigade companies that run everyWednes- day. We are also in close contact with a num- ber of local schools, aiding them in theirwork with the young people in their care. I would suggest that, actually, if they were allowed and enabled, the local churches could carry out amazing youth work across this town and county. Across Kent there are ahigh num- ber of qualified youth workers working in churches. For more information please feel free to contact me.


Alastair Middlemist Youth pastor, Maidstone Baptist Church


Why we stay wary of NHS Dear Sir – The latest debacle of hospital ma- ternity services in Kent shows how little we should trust statements made at the top of the NHS, driven by finance and political expedi- ency at several levels. We in Maidstone, fighting to retain consult- ant-led births in our hospital, sat through end- less spin sessions when managers from East Kent tried to sell us the endless benefits and safety of midwife-led birthing units, even though statistics showed one-third of patients would be transferred by ambulance in labour to a full hospital unit. A new birthing unit has now opened at Maidstone Hospital – but most women will have to make a journey of up to 20 miles to Pembury on very unsatisfactory country roads. We have been saying for years this whole arrangement isunsafe – butNHSmanagement


thinks it knows better. We now await proof that the Pembury op-


tion is seriouslywrong forMaidstone women. It will not take long. Dennis Fowle, chairmanMASH


(Maidstone Action forServices in Hospital)


Drastic action is needed Dear Sir - This is probably the most radical local plan that Maidstone Councilhas been in- volved in throughout its history.Mywife and I have lived on Madginford since 1970. Every time a major planning application is put for- ward the residents from the north of Bearsted say no, no, no. Well times have changed.We have just en-


tered the worst economic situation since WorldWarTwo.Manyyoung people are com- pelled to continue living athomebecause they either cannot afford to buy a property or there are not enough properties to rent. The number of unemployed in this country is growing and will continue to grow. We are in a critical sit- uation.


Bearsted and adjacent parishes have just es-


caped KIG by the skin of their teeth.The bor- ough council, which you elected, has put forward a strategy to increase employment and housing. It may allocate 11 hectares of land at M20 J8 for employment, this amounts to just 11% of the land which would have been allocated for KIG. My wife and I support the borough council wholeheartedly in creating this vision, which will benefit everyone particularly our children and grandchildren. ‘Nimbyism’ must not be allowed to com- promise economic growth. So move on Bearsted. This is the only way forward. Leslie Ethridge, Madginford,Bearsted


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