LETTERS TO THE EDITOR


Farleigh bridge problems Dear Sir – I would like to bring your attention to the problems with the bridge at East Far- leigh. There is a very restricted view of on- coming traffic, which often results in one line of traffic having to reverse off the bridge. I have spoken to a local councillor, who


said the problem wasn’t too bad, but I suggest it is. Coming down from the Bull pub, you need to wait at the last entrance on the left, and thenmake a mad dash, hoping there are no cars coming from the blind corner on the other side. While waiting there, a large tree obscures


the view of traffic coming down the hill. This tree is situated alongside the signal box. If the owner could be persuaded to let it be cut back, the view of the hill would be opened and from our side we could judge when it is safe to enter the bridge. Another problem is oversized traffic trying


to cross the bridge. Recently, our residents’ association organised a trip out. They hired a coach from out of our area, andwewaited for it at the appointed time. He arrived 90 min- utes late, having tried to use the bridge and getting stuck. When I spoke to him of the no- tice about heavy traffic, he said he had not seen it. This is something else I spoke to our coun-


cillor about – the notice is at the junction of Tonbridge Road, and is situated on the right hand side. I feel it should be on the less ob- scure left side, as during the summer it is half hidden by a bush. Of course, the offending tree is free of


leaves in winter, giving the view Iwould like to see all year round.


Jack Hickey,Hartridge Farm, East Farleigh


No more building, please Dear Sir – I can only assume from Mr Rob Taylor’s comments about the need for a su- permarket (Downs Mail August issue) that he doesn’t live on the Sutton Road. If he did, he would not want another su- permarket, nor 600 houses, built at or near Langley. Living next to the Sutton Road is like liv-


ing next to a motorway – the traffic is ex- tremely heavy and is non-stop from the early hours of the morning. After Morrison’s was built, the traffic be-


came noticeably heavier and, with the advent of the housing on what was the police estate and the more recent development of over 350 houses on the old Senacre School site, the traffic noise has become unbearable. There are plans for another 100 or so houses at the back of police headquarters, which will only add more traffic. This area is already saturated with housing


and I can see a time when the Sutton Road will have to be developed into four lanes of traffic – just like the Loose Road is now. The only respite we get is on the two days a year when Morrison’s and the shops in town are closed (Easter Sunday and Christmas Day). I can only hope that a large supermarket,


600 houses and a 1,000-place park-and-ride in this area take years to become a reality, and that Iwill have moved away from the area to somewhere more peaceful long before that happens. Mrs J Fulton, Sutton Road,Maidstone


Food market is way forward Dear Sir – I am mildly irritated at Rob Tay- lor’s unimaginative claim that yet another su- permarket is needed. We do not need another one, as we already have Morrisons (usually very well stocked when I visit), Tesco, Aldi, Lidl, Sainbury’s and many, many conven- ience stores and Co-ops.


28 South


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


My suggestion is this; have a food market


area set up undercover. It can be used at weekends for a sheltered farmersmarket, giv- ing the opportunity to purchase quality prod- ucts, and then one, two or three times aweek a food market, covering all budgets but mainly concentrating on products such as fresh food. Once aweek, hold a night market – I've vis-


ited a wonderful one in the south of France. It had lots of stalls from local people, selling their produce such as cheese,wine of course, meat, and there were many stalls selling freshly prepared food; hog roasts, seafood, crepes, strawberry's and more. There were some interesting escargot stalls


but lets keep it relevant and local! There were also a few trinket and jewellery stalls, the place was buzzing with people and it was a community event. Lets get a bit more of a healthy choice on


offer inMaidstone. Let’s educate our children on how to shop and eat healthily, instead of another supermarket selling Pot Noodles, readymeals and cheap alcohol. Consider the area, low income tends to re-


sult in a poor diet, so let’s approach this from a different angle and see if we can provide some balance against the 24-hour McDonald’s and KFC on the Sutton Road. I amno “EarthMother” or such like; I take advantage of the deals in the supermarkets which I visit every week to provide for my family of five. I am on a limited budget and constantly


aim to buy healthywhen I can. But I’m bored by the fact that all supermarkets are practi- cally the same and I want some healthy and creative choices.


SusanWilliams, by email


Rationing NHS is a reality Dear Sir – I think you are right to express fears (Mail, August) that the new local GP CommissioningGroupwill be responsible for rationing NHS services to the serious detri- ment of patients. The pressure is really on GPs already. Almost every week we receive compli-


cated spreadsheets about our budgets and re- ferrals, stating we spend too much and we refer too many patients.When patients are re- ferred they can still be rejected – increasingly frequently. One of my patients is very angry with an


NHS administrator, who told her she had been taken off the list for a gall bladder re- moval as she “does not meet the criteria”. Only a few weeks ago a consultant surgeon told her she did need an operation. She re- mains in acute pain. This is blatant rationing and denying a vulnerable patient a core basic service. This disgrace is now widespread in West Kent. MPs bewarned; these problems are coming


yourway soon. Dr Paul Hobday, GP, Sutton Valence.


Parking dilemma for disabled Dear Sir – I read with interest the article in the August Downs Mail that “only buses and taxis are allowed to drive up the bottom end of the High Street”. Another story stated that “only buses and taxis are allowed at the top end of the High Street”. It would be very nice to know how drivers holding blue disabled badges are expected to reach the parking spots marked for their use in the different parts of the High Street. John Dickens,Wolfe Road,Maidstone


Thanks for returning purse Dear Sir – I moved to Maidstone from Dover in April 2011 to help to look after my great granddaughter.


Although I miss my family and friends, I


love Maidstone. I have great neighbours and I love the area where we live. Since being here I’ve seen the changes in


the town and Mote Park, both are wonderful – congratulations to everyone involved in the two projects. I findMaidstone people in general very po-


lite and friendly, they’ve made me feel very welcome here. Last night I found out how honest they are too. I managed to lose my purse in the The Mall shopping centre, but didn’t realise it wasmissing until tea time. I did the usual (cancelled bank card, phoned the police etc) and did not expect to see my purse again. Then at about 7pm a po- liceman knocked onmydoor and handedme mypurse,with everything intact. He said the information desk in the shopping centre had handed it in to the police. I’m not sure who handed it to the people at


the information desk, hopefully I will find out tomorrow, but I would like to say to the finder, the information desk and the police, thank you very very much, you are all very kind.


NickyMcCann, by email


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 theMote Road pay and display car park, where my vehicle was parked correctly in a bay, that we had been issuedwith 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 oc- casion such as this, whereMBCwas allegedly keen to have the community celebrating 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, when many wish to shop, go to the theatre or dine out.


This reinforces my belief that, despite


MBC’s spending of millions to create a High Street where people can enjoy such activities, until they address the availability and cost of parking in the town, many, like me, will be staying away. Well doneMBC– the Olympic celebrations


will certainly bememorable for us, but not for the best reasons!


Mrs C Rennison, by email


Poor choice of town shops Dear Sir –What has happened toMaidstone in the last few years? There are no decent shops in town; all mobile phone shops, restaurants, jewellers, discount shops, and all for the young. It is supposed to be the county town, but I would say this is Canterbury. J Abnett, Culpeper Close, Hollingbourne


Top facilities in ‘real’ library Dear Sir – I recently visited a “state-of-the- art” library. Itwas visually splendid, and con- tained a great range of books, tapes, videos, computers – the lot. There were even pictures on the walls and


a garden to sit in. It had a comprehensive col- lection of local histories and a reference li- brary with a dedicated room for quiet study. There were large notice boards for infor- mation on local events, societies and services. So this was Maidstone’s new Heritage li-


brary? Don’t make me laugh, This was at Gravesend – a real library!


David Bell, Loose You can e-mail the Downs Mail — info@downsmail.co.uk


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