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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR


Drastic action is needed Dear Sir - This is probably the most radical local plan that Maidstone Council has 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 arenot enough properties to rent. Thenumber 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 atM20J8 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


Protect the KIG land Dear Sir - I am writing on behalf of my com- pany and eight residents regarding the Spe- cial Landscape Area land at the foot of the North Downs AONB, (formerAXA/KIG site) and the area adjacent toM20, 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 Strat- egy 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 concluded on October 14, but I amtold 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 ourmoney by removing protected sta- tus from this land is illogical. The unequivocal report from the appeal


TRADERS, church leaders, resi- dents and councillors have united in their opposition against plans to sell off the Brunswick Street car park. Nearby businesses have protested to Maidstone Council that the 66-space site is needed for their customers and staff and a petition to save it has collected 1,000 signatures. Cabinet member Marion Ring approved an officer’s recommen- dation that the site is surplus to requirement but her decision was “called in” for further dis- cussion. Tory councillors Dave Burton


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


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 Planning Policy Framework for rural England, minis- ters argue that the Green Belt, National Parks and AONBs will continue to enjoy protection, but this overlooks the fact that most of the countryside outside such desig- nations 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 as warehousing 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


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 devel- opment. Let's hope I get a chance to vote soon. Jo Heathfield, by email


Ring road sounds familiar Dear Sir – I am writing in reference to the item in the Downs Mail (September, Town) calling for a a ring road around Maidstone. I wrote 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 (be- tween 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 include 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 com-


overspill parking. Building more flats would only exacerbate the issues on the street.” Lynne Harrisis of the Maid-


plete road from Linton Hill to the M20. Gordon Savage, Aldington Road, Bearsted


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 onveryunsatisfactory 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)


Keep our A&E Dear Sir - Retention of full A&E services at MaidstoneHospital 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 treatment atMaidstone 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. Howmany Maidstone patients are going to be isolated at distant Pembury after treatment with real problems getting home again, perhaps without strong sup- port from relatives or friends? Maidstone must always have a full A&E department.


Bearsted resident (name and full address supplied)


Save our car park, say traders and residents


stone Dance Studios in Brunswick Street East, said: “We have more than 500 pupils and the car park is essential for their parents. Without it they would have horrendous problems, es- pecially on Saturdays. “It would deter people from wanting to shop in the centre of Maidstone, which will kill off our lovely town.” Traders were angry that they


and Dennis Collins, who are both businessmen, have backed the opposition to the car park closure, which they say is “short- sighted”. Pauline Barcroft, who launched the petition, said resi- dents rely on the car park for


42 Town


had not been consulted and said the first they heard was when they read it in the Downs Mail. Lynne said: “We were very


angry that we received no con- sultation from the council. It was a big shock to everybody.” Neil Pattison and Keith Williamson from the Jubilee


Church were concerned that many members of their growing congregation relied on the car park. Neil said: “The regenera- tion of the area has got so behind that we don’t see how removing the car park will help that.” Around 300 people attend on Sundays with 100 on two or three nights during the week. Dave Till, landlord of The Pilot


public house in Upper Stone Street, said the closure would kill the regular lunch trade which he had worked hard to build as business people calling in for meals would have nowhere to park. He was also concerned about


more apartments being built nearby which would increase parking problems.


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


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