LETTERS TO THE EDITOR


Petty ambulance complaint Dear Sir - Having just read through my Downs Mail (February, East), I was ab- solutely appalled at the pettiness on the 'In Touch with your Parish' page. In Downswood Council it was reported how the ambulance crew were investigated and apologised for distress they caused with re- gards to their parking at an incident. The ambulance crew, one of many on the


scene alongwith two fire engines, many po- lice and various others, did themost superb job in the situation, which was a tragic ac- cident where a rolling car mounted a pave- ment and lady became stuck underneath. The emergency crews were, without a doubt, amazing in their jobs and, given the seriousness of the accident, I think people can appreciate their parking. The ambu- lance crew should not be apologising and I hope the person that sent in their complaint is feeling incredibly embarrassed with their pettiness.


Name and address supplied


No more Ware Street traffic Dear Sir - May I take advantage of your pub- lication, an excellent local forum, to ride a couple of my hobbyhorses at full tilt? Firstly, regarding the M20 J7 development


and also the possibility of Hillreed Homes building more houses along Ware Street, this road is already a nightmare. We have lived by Bell Bridge since 1972 and can no longer use the bottom half of our garden due to traffic noise along Ware Street, day and night. It is dreadful, especially as hardly anyone


seems to observe the 30mph speed limit, which is not helped by overgrown trees hid- ing the nearest speed sign. Most cars also accelerate as they exit Bell Bridge, whether going to or from the village. On rare moments, we get approximately


30 seconds of silence, at which timewe stop what we are doing to enjoy the moment of peace.Ware Street also appears to have be- come a route for emergency vehicles. I know of at least four households who have moved away from Hill Brow and Ware Street, primarily because of the traffic noise. Visitors ask if we are ever bothered by nearby train noise, to which we say: “What trains?” We hardly notice them and, if we do, it is because they are something inter- esting such as the occasional steam train or the Orient Express. No, it is traffic noise pollution that is the problem.We obviously have to drive along Ware Street ourselves, but at least we keep within the speed limit, which reduces the noise level we produce. Finally, pedestrians have to cross and re-cross this road at the most dangerous place, near the railway bridge, due to the lack of a continuous foot- path. Because of the speed and frequency of cars, you often have to run across the road despite having started crossing when the


House refused A PROPOSAL to build a house on land next to Barty House Nursing Home in Roundwell, Bearsted, has been refused by Maidstone Council. The council said the develop-


ment was contrary to its coun- tryside protection policy. Thurnham Parish Council


had raised an objection, saying that they feared the new home could have set a precedent, which might lead to further de- velopment.


34 East


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


road was clear. This is very dangerous for those with children or older persons. Please, can there be no traffic increases on


Ware Street? Secondly, I was very disappointed by the uncaring attitude of a local parish council- lor when we raised the issue of the bright yellow stencilled graffiti appearing along Ware Street and Averenches Road, and per- haps elsewhere, and also that bottles, cans etc of alcohol that are left on the steps at the side of our property practically daily, often still half full. We clear them up ourselves, as well as try-


ing to keep the steps tidy by weeding, re- moving leaves (after all, they are from our own trees), yet his response was: “Are you the person dumping garden rubbish over the wall at the bend in the steps?” In fact, we use our own garden rubbish bags, which are expensive. He appeared not at all concerned about broken bottles etc on steps, which many local children use to access two local schools. Yet just when the appointment of an excellent village handyman was begin- ning to make a difference, what happens? Among other issues, the same councillor starts a campaign against the number of hours he was working. If he is representa- tive of some of the parish council, perhaps a shake-up is not a bad idea. Jean Beaton, Hill Brow, Bearsted


Handyman works hard Dear Sir – In response to your article: ‘Handyman hits back at council claims’ (East, February), I would like to make clear the following points. For a start, it would be interesting to know


why I was singled out, when the letter that the handyman sent to the environment committee mentioned another councillor as well. I did notmake any reference to the handy-


man costing the council way beyond its al- lotted budget. The minutes of the parish council on Tuesday December 13 makes ref- erence on page 5 to “Mr Licence also com- mented that if the handyman’s hours continued at the present rate we would be paying over £30,000 per year and that over half the precept would be paid in wages”. As a result of my comments regarding weekend work, the council minutes record that the handyman would not generally be expected to work at weekends. This is when councillors do voluntary work. The minutes also record that the handy-


man’s work schedule should be planned in advance, with hours allocated to each task. It was not recorded but the following will also occur: A certain task may be allocated more than one day and there may be a need for a second person to be employed for health and safety reasons. The handyman has done some sterling


MAIDSTONE’S up-and-coming tennis star Gabrielle Paul has re- ceived £300 from the Kent County Playing Fields Association. Gabrielle (15), from Ulcombe, represents Kent U18s and hopes to play for Great Britain and at Wimbledon. The KCPFATrustees have given


her their ‘Maidstone’s Dream Award’ for 2012. KCPFA Secretary Paul Peacock said: “Gabrielle may be one to look out for, and we wish her every success.” Gabrielle is pictured with Cllr JohnWilson, cabinet minister for communities and leisure, and Paul Peacock, right.


Visit Downs Mail’s website — downsmail.co.uk


work within Bearsted and the parish office has received letters of appreciation. My comments at the meeting were raised


as we, as councillors, have £95,000 of tax- payers money (the parish precept) to spend and monitoring expenditure is an integral part of our work.


Cllr Richard Ash, Bearsted


Cricket is fine by us Dear Sir – I would like to put the record straight regarding Jean Murdoch’s letter (East, February) concerning cricket on Bearsted Green. Eylesden Court is a complex of properties


for retired folk and the residents here are 100% in support of Bearsted Cricket Club and the continuation of cricket on the vil- lage green. Bearsted House owners, on the other


hand, appear to have a contrary view. Only people unaware of the heritage of English village cricket, part of our country scene, could oppose such an activity. If they can’t stand the heat they should get out of the kitchen.


R. H Richards, Eylesden Court, The Green, Bearsted


Fencing is a bit much Dear Sir - I totally agree with the views in February (East) of Mark Rowe and JeanMur- doch. Why buy a property near an area that may cause you a headache? Mr and Mrs Chiappini must realise the heartaches they are causingwith the cricket on the green is- sues they have caused. Why should the cricket club put up fenc-


ing for £75,000, which they cannot afford, when John Chiappini gets the green light (same February addition) to erect two pairs of entrance gates following incidents of van- dalism? At least the club has offered organised re-


pairs if damage happens. If the couple are not careful, the people of Maidstone may boycott their two successful food and drink establishments in The Mall shopping cen- tre in town. Then where would they be? They may even have to sell up and move away!


ShaneAdams, by email


Please turn out the lights Dear Sir – May I please make a plea to all the people who light up their back gardens with several lights to remember that they can also beam into their neighbours’ houses, which include their bedrooms. Lights usually face away from the house


and my suggestion for those who like to light up at night is to place them at the bot- toms of the gardens towards theirwindows. They may then realise how much light pol- lution they are causing. Please think of your neighbours. A resident (name supplied) of Mallings Drive, Bearsted


Award for budding tennis star


Spring concert BEARSTED Choral Society will be performing its Spring Con- cert at Holy Cross Church, Church Lane, Bearsted, on Sat- urday, March 31, 2012. The concert starts at 7.30pm


and tickets are £8 (£4 for stu- dents) from 01634 666730 or from Music Matters at 114 Week Street, society members or on the night. For details call Christine Goodey on 01622 674384 or visit www.bearsted- choral.org.uk.


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56