LETTERS TO THE EDITOR


Drastic action is needed Dear Sir - This is probably the most radical local plan that Maidstone Council has been involved in throughout its history. My wife and I have lived onMadginford since 1970. Every time a major planning application is put forward the residents from the north of Bearsted say no, no, no. Well times have changed. We have just entered the worst economic situation since World War Two. Many young people are compelled to continue living at home be- cause 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 situation. Bearsted and adjacent parishes have just escaped KIG by the skin of their teeth.The borough council, which you elected, has put forward a strategy to increase employ- ment 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 al- located for KIG. My wife and I support the borough coun-


cil 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


Ring road sounds familiar Dear Sir–Iamwriting in reference to the item in the Downs Mail (September, Town) calling for a a ring road around Maidstone. Iwrote to KCC some two and-a-half years


ago, having designed an outer ring road. My proposal was along the lines mentioned by Cllr Val Springett. My experience includes 10 years as young Conservative Maidstone councillor (between 1967 and 1980). I served seven years on the planning committee. I would like thought to be given to the


ring road idea if a major development is to take place. If so, conditions of approval should in-


clude a large donation for the Leeds bypass and a roundabout at the top of Linton Hill, which formed part of my ring road design. It should also include a complete road from Linton Hill to the M20.


Gordon Savage, Aldington Road, Bearsted


Protect the KIG land Dear Sir - I amwriting on behalf of my com- pany and eight residents regarding the Spe- cial Landscape Area land at the foot of the North Downs AONB, (former AXA/KIG site) and the area adjacent to M20, Junction 8.


We have written to Ms Flo Churchill (in-


terim head of Core Strategy development) at Maidstone Borough Council to express our deep concern that, if the present Core Strategy is adopted, the above land will lose its protected status. We urge your readers to do the same to flochurchill@maidstone.gov.uk. Informal consultations officially con- cluded on October 14, but I am told that views will be accepted until the spring of 2012. One would think that MBC is proud that


£1.7m spent fighting the AXA/KIG applica- tion was worthwhile. To then effectively waste our money by removing protected status from this land is illogical.


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


The unequivocal report from the appeal inspector, Andrew Phillipson - judging that this land is an important green area along- side the AONB - must not be ignored. With regard to the draft National Plan-


ning Policy Framework for rural England, ministers argue that the Green Belt, Na- tional Parks and AONBs will continue to enjoy protection, but this overlooks the fact that most of the countryside outside such designations lies unprotected, as does the site in question. Therefore, we have asked MBC to decide


that the protected SLA status for this land must be included in the Core Strategy to prevent further developer applications at Junction 8, such aswarehousing and distri- bution centres. These would not provide the quality of employment that MBC seeks and would mean an increase in heavy lorry traffic on our local village roads. Michael Ellis, Director, Old Corn Stores Management, The Street, Bearsted


Facing another land battle Dear Sir - "Here we go again" doesn't even begin to cover it. Is it me or don't all the reasons MBC gave


to fight the AXA development still stand? MBC should be spending its time looking


at appropriate employment sites. That said, this piece of land is probably cheaper for the developer to purchase. For sure, this is just the start of a much, much larger development. Let's hope I get a chance to vote soon.


Jo Heathfield, by email


Impressive new birth centre Dear Sir - I know you have had a lot of in- terest in the closure of the maternity unit at Maidstone and the moving of facilities to Pembury. I was due to give birth at Pembury but


had tomake a last minute detour to the new birth centre at Maidstone as I wouldn't have made the long journey there and would've given birth in the car. My daughter Ava Marie Hodges was born


on Thursday September 29 and was the first girl born at the new birth centre. I thought this could highlight the dangers


of moving facilities so far away and yet show how excellent the staff and facilities are at the birth centre in Maidstone. I had a fantastic experience there andmy daughter was delivered by the centre man- ager, who was excellent. I can't praise them enough and think they deserve positive publicity. Emma Hodges, CastleWay,West Malling


Disabled facilities for station Dear Sir - I am glad to see that the new bridge at Bearsted Station is finally open, and the old bridge has been completely de- molished. However, I find it hard to believe that the


new bridge still has no access for those with limitedmobility (people with buggies, people in wheelchairs and the fragile eld- erly), especially as it is a standard design for all new station bridges. On talking with Alan, the stationmaster, lift modules can apparently be added "if there is demand for it".


Well, of course there is demand! We just


need to show it. I have set up a web-based questionnaire


on this subject which can be found at http://www.petitiononline.co.uk/peti- tion/lifts-for-bearsted-stations-new- bridge/3579.


For those who have no access to the in-


ternet, there is a paper-based copy of the questionnaire on the station noticeboard, and for those who are housebound, please feel free to phone me on 01622 739034 to give me your details. Please pass on this information to as


many people as possible, so we can show there is real demand for the lift modules. Thank you.


Morag Gaherty, by email


Keep our A&E services Dear Sir - Retention of full A&E services at Maidstone Hospital is so important for local residents - they must not be pushed as far away as Pembury. I drove my husband direct to Maidstone


A&E last weekend with a toe problem and I was so impressed with the speed, attitude and skills of the staff. We were told there was a 90-minute wait and were seen in 60 minutes. It seems the best way of ensuring treat-


ment at Maidstone at the moment is by going there direct and avoid calling an am- bulance where possible. The stories coming out of an over-stretched Pembury A&E are very worrying for patients. How many Maidstone patients are going


to be isolated at distant Pembury after treat- ment with real problems getting home again, perhapswithout strong support from relatives or friends? Maidstone must al- ways have a full A&E department. Bearsted resident (name and full address supplied)


Parents should not dismiss Dear Sir - I am so angry at Bearsted parents’ attitude about their children being offered places at Swadelands school. I live near the school, and have no chil-


dren of mine going there. Why does every parent in Bearsted have


to assume their child will go to grammar school, because they have attended Roseacre? That is why they don't want Swadelands. Swadelands is a very up and coming school, and will only improvemore year on year. My 11 year-old son just started at Oak- wood Park Grammar, having attended Har- rietsham Primary School. Had he not passed his 11-plus exam, he would have been happy to attend Swadelands. Maybe the parents of 11-year-olds, when choosing a school for their children, should go and look at the school, rather than sim- ply dismiss it because it is not up to their criteria for their child, based on results of years ago. Parents should not assume, because they


live in Bearsted, their kids should go to Roseacre and Valley Park, or a grammar if they pass their 11-plus. Harrietsham resident (name and full address supplied)


You all did blooming well! Dear Sir - Harrietsham In Bloomwould like to thank all thosewho supported their table top sale on September 24. Much needed funds were raised to help


with the planting and upkeep of the flower beds and planters around the village. Ray Bastone, Harrietsham


Thanks for fall your help Dear Sir-Iwould like to thank the two kind gentlemen who stopped their cars in Madginford Road on Saturday October 1 and came to my assistance after my fall and called an ambulance. Shirley Griffiths, Madginford, Bearsted


You can e-mail the Downs Mail — info@downsmail.co.uk East 37


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