LETTERS TO THE EDITOR


Cracks in congregation Dear Sir – The crack recently discovered at St Mary’s Church, Thurnham, and made much of by the vicar turned out not to be se- rious at all. The building has always been well-maintained and cared for. Attention cannot, however, be so easily deflected from much wider and deeper cracks that now need to be addressed. As the archdeacon observed: “These situ-


ations are usually about relationships, not about the building.” We were shocked to learn he “had been given the impression no- one was interested in St Mary’s”. A packed church at the open meeting


with the archdeacon on July 16, plus 300 signatures in support of the campaign to save StMary’s, disproved this. The vicar, Rev John Corbyn, described the


crisis and threatened closure as “a sudden death” (at theAGMon April 23). In truth, it has been more “death by a thousand cuts”. Popular services were dropped, with none offered there for Easter last year for the first time in living memory. Churchwardens have been left to conduct services, with the vicar turning up half way through – and so on. We have learned, in recent weeks, of


many who have given up and gone to other churches or stopped going to church. When asked why St Mary’s was not better


used, Rev Corbyn’s response was: “Wrong building, wrong place”. But surely the Pi- grimsWay,which runs to Canterbury, seems an altogether suitable location for a place of worship? Is it so surprising, in the face of untold difficulties, that the faithful few, resolutely trying to uphold standards, be gradually worn down and out? Now we have arrived at a breakdown in confidence and pastoral care. Significantly, six people raised concerns about leadership issues (on July 16) to the archdeacon. I would suggest Rev Corbyn has done nothing to encourage attendance and in- crease the congregation. There remains a vi- able congregation. Under effective, encouraging and inspiring leadership, that could flourish as in the past. I hope it may yet be given a fresh start to continue its 1,000-year history. A. Preece, worshipper


Support will save church Dear Sir – Regarding St Mary’s Church, Thurnham. My wife and I moved to East- bourne in February this year. Before thatwe lived in Bearsted and were bothmembers of St Mary’s Parochial Church Council for 40 years. I was treasurer of the PCC and/or church estate for 28 years. Comments have been made in the press


that most of the congregation of St Mary’s came from Bearsted parish. This is not sur- prising, as 90% of the original populated ec- clesiastical parish of Thurnham was transferred to Bearsted some years ago. The United Benefice of Thurnham with Bearsted was formed in 1976, when the then archdeacon attended a meeting of the St Mary’s PCC and said he hoped a curate could be appointed to the united benefice who could then apply himself largely to St Mary’s. This has not happened. Successive curates have been appointed but are shown in the parish magazine as curate of Holy Cross, Bearsted. The children of Thurnham C of E School


have never been encouraged to visit their mother church St Mary’s and the governors of the church school are not appointed from St Mary’s PCC or Thurnham Parish Council. My wife and I are sure St Mary’s can


38 East


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thrive again, given sufficient leadership. Finally, St Mary’s has the reputation of


being the best-kept churchyard in Kent. John Bowerman, Eastbourne, Sussex


Parking puts us off town Dear Sir - Having attended part of the Olympic Torch Community concert in Mote Park, it was a shame to discover that on re- turning to our car in the Mote Road pay and display car park, where my vehicle was parked correctly in a bay, that we had been issued with a penalty charge notice a mere six minutes after the expiry time on our ticket. Technically yes, we had “parked after the expiry of paid-for time”, but surely on an occasion such as this, where MBC was al- legedly keen to have the community cele- brating the Olympic torch arrival, a little leniency could have been applied? But then this is the council that allows the


major car park operator at Fremlin Walk to charge DOUBLE the amount for parking on a Saturday compared to a weekday,whenmany wish to shop, go to the theatre or dine out. This reinforces my belief that, despite


MBC’s spending ofmillions to create aHigh Street where people can enjoy such activi- ties, until they address the availability and cost of parking in the town, many, like me, will be staying away. Well done MBC – the Olympic celebra-


tionswill certainly be memorable for us, but not for the best reasons! Mrs C Rennison, by email


Wrong sort of shopping trip Dear Sir – What spoilsports Maidstone Bor- ough Council are. My husband and I spent many a lunch hour watching unsuspecting shoppers around Jubilee Square tripping over the new, expensive paving. We could easily reach double figures whilewe shared a sandwich and now it has been spoilt by some clumsily-painted yellow lines! We also witnessed several elderly unfor- tunates trying to get up on to the kerb by the junction of King Street and Week Street, only to realise it was far too high at one end. For Maidstone’s economic development manager John Foster to say: “There have only been a small number of trips and falls,” can only mean he inhabits a parallel uni- verse, where “emergency” works by UK Power networks dig up the new paving and then leave it for weeks, without actually doing anything and still allowing traffic through the new area. Canterbury manages to be a very success-


ful city with a bus station at one end and no through traffic, so why can’t Maidstone? I am also saddened on another issue, that several of Bearsted’s forward thinking and independent parish councillors have felt they had no alternative but to resign. Fabienne Hughes is correct that the parish council is supposed to be non-political, but with the majority of members being Conser- vative, this was never going to be a reality. Mrs Hughes and her husband, Jon, have worked tirelessly on events such as Music On The Green and, with others, provided a sensible,measured approach to community affairs in the village they clearly love. It seems that the protocols of running the parish council only apply when it suits some members, but can be set aside when inconvenient and, as such, is no wonder that new prospective councillors are reluc- tant to come forward. Thank you again for supplying us allwith


such an excellent publication Jeanne Gibson, Birling Avenue, Bearsted


New supermarket needed Dear Sir – I read in the Downs Mail’s letters page about the need for a new supermarket on the Sutton Road. I think the writer or yourselves should


start a petition for a new supermarket. Mor- risons is just too small to serve the area, the shelves are out of stock, the parking is busy and more competition would be a great thing for all the people who have to use the store. Not another Tesco,maybe Asda? They do food, clothes, and electrical items, which would be great. There are plans to build more houses near


the golf driving range on the Sutton Road, so maybe that area would be good? Rob Taylor, by email


Review these closures Dear Sir – I read with surprise the com- ments from the councillor regarding the clo- sures of Knightrider Street. Has this person ever attempted to drive around Maidstone during the peak hours? Since the closure, my journey to Maid-


stone West station takes 10 minutes longer in themorning and up to 30 minutes longer in the evening. This road needs to be re-opened as soon


as possible, and the whole one-way system reviewed, as it is a nightmare. S Street, Cayser Drive, Kingswood


Museum ‘is a carbuncle’


Dear Sir - I completely agree with Mike Muggridge regarding the appalling metal box and extension over the lovely original façade ofMaidstone Museum (Downs Mail, June). What a pity they didn’t ask HRH Prince Charles to officially open the building, he might have told them it was another “mon- strous carbuncle”. Brenda Brown, British Legion Village, Aylesford


Ancestor’s ferry legacy Dear Sir – I have just read your article in the Downs Mail about the ferry across the Med- way. My husband’s granddad operated this


ferry in the late 1930s until his death in 1942. He was always told that Jubilee George bought the ferry from his granddad. We know his granddad ran the ferry, be- cause we have been asked if we are related, and a district nurse who used to attend to my husband’s mother knew him. So why all about Jubilee and nothing about our Granddad?


Doreen Garrott, by email


A hat-trick for Mote Park? Dear Sir – I was delighted to read (Mail Marks, July) that there is a real chance of county cricket returning to Maidstone now that The Mote Cricket Club has major pro- posals to regenerate the fading 100-year-old pavilion and facilities at the ground. They are needed to match the splendour


of this magnificent ground as well as to meet Kent Cricket’s requirement to return to Maidstone for county games, which were first held there in 1859. Cricketers have a chance of completing a wonderful hat trick at Mote Park. The council’s recentmajor improvements to the park itself have added so much to this treas- ure, and the Audley restoration of Mote House and surroundings as a retirement vil- lage has brought back to life a very sad and neglected area.


Marion James, Bearsted Have you got news for us? Phone our News Desk on 01622 734735


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