M20 noise campaign is launched
THE M20 Noise Action Group (M20NAG) has reformed to campaign for quieter road surfacing between junctions 8 and 9. The stretch between Hollingbourne and Ashford is one of the few parts ofmotorway in the country that has a cement surface. A quieter asphalt surface, which is used widely throughout the country and contains noise-absorbent holes, would cost between £7-10m.
M20NAG was formed in 2006 but has
been on the backburner in recent years. Campaigners now want to push the issue back up the agenda because: John Prescott, while Secretary of State for Transport under Labour, vowed that all cement surfaces should be covered with asphalt by 2010. In 2006, Dr Stephen Ladyman, one of Mr Prescott’s successors, declared
that resurfacing would not be required for at least the next five years. He added: “When resurfacing is carried out, a lower noise surface will be used.” Tory MPs Hugh Robertson and Damian Green, whose constituency boundaries cover the stretch of motorway, are senior ministers and may be able to wield some clout within the current Government The current Government policy is for no new roads to be surfaced with concrete. Richard Knox-Johnston, chairman of Pro-
tect Kent, helped advise campaigners in a public meeting that attracted almost 100 people. He said: “The timing is right for this to be moved up the priority list.” Sandway resident John Britt also spoke at
the meeting. He said: “The Kent Interna- tional Gateway campaign showed that something that appears to be a done deal can be changed. “If nobody does anything then nothing
RICHARD Knox-Johnston revealed that one of Protect Kent’s campaigns is to reduce traffic on theM20. The charity is campaigning to set up a ferry port near
the Dartford Crossing to ensure more traffic from conti- nental Europe bypasses Kent en route to London. He pointed out that a 44-tonne HGV causes 36,500 times more damage to a road than a single car.
Alan dies after contracting
E. coli bug on French holiday A BEARSTED community stalwart has died after contract- ing E. coli while on holiday in France. Alan Ferrell (76) spent six weeks in intensive care – the
first three weeks in Bordeaux, then in Maidstone Hospital. He was among the founders of Bearsted Tennis Club and
had strong connections with Holy Cross Church. His family, who described Alan as “kind, generous and sociable”, said he picked up the bug “randomly” during his holiday. He died of multi-organ failure, caused initially by E. coli-sepsis, the coroner confirmed. His family asked for donations to be made to Maidstone Intensive Care Unit Trust Fund, as he had received “amaz- ing care” from the ITU nurses and doctors. Full obituary, page 40.
will happen, so we need to see what ap- petite there is to force this issue. It is going to be quite a long and possibly pro- tracted process.” A steering group was set up and a further well-publicised public meet- ing is planned. One of the group’s early activities could be lobbying Maidstone and Ashford borough councils to set up a statutory air pol- lution-monitoring zone.
Curtain up on show THE Detling Players will be performing Joan Littlewood’s ‘Oh! What a Lovely War!’ on November 18 and 19. The show, at Detling Village
Hall, starts at 7.30pm on both evenings with tickets at £10 each. There will be a matinee on the Saturday at 2.30pm when tickets will cost £8 each. Contact 07842 169725.
Alan Ferrell on holiday in France a week before he was taken ill
Solar panels plan A SCHEME has been unveiled to site 16 solar panels on agri- cultural land at Knowle Hill House, Knowle Hill, Ulcombe.
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