LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Sports shop link Dear Sir – Following the article about the closure of Hubble and Freeman, may I just put straight the lengthy history of this fam- ily business, because in the article there was no mention of David Reader. David Reader, my husband and grandson
of JC Hubble, was an owner and partner in the business from 1960 to 2001. Originally, he joined HJ Hubble, and later was joined by P Ludgate. Over the years they opened eight other shops in Kent, and our three daughters worked in the shops too. The business thrived for many years within the sports trade. Thank you for the article. Zandra (Buzzie) Reader,
Fairbourne Court, Harrietsham
Parking signs confusing Dear Sir – I would like to add to the com- ments made by John Dickens in the Sep- tember Downs Mail story titled ‘Parking dilemma for disabled’. The signage in the High Street is inadequate, confusing and misplaced. If you drive from Fremlin Walk along Pudding Lane, there is a large clear sign stating that entry to the High Street is for buses, taxis and Blue Badge holders. At the entrance at King Street it only
states buses and taxis. At the bottom of the High Street, the sign also states only buses and taxis. This sign is also placed incorrectly, as
there are loading bays in Lower Stone Street andMill Street, so how are ordinary drivers supposed to access these? Surely this sign should be at the junction of High Street and Mill Street? I would also note that the disabled bays
in the High Street are loading bays during restricted times. I have, however, found that IhavebeenunabletoparkwithmyBlue Badge outside of loading times, due to the spaces being taken up by vans, but I have never seen one with a parking ticket. One final moan, and this one is about fel-
low Blue Badge holders. When parking in a Blue Badge area, please have a bit of consideration for other Blue Badge drivers. Why park half a car’s length from the end of the bay? Recently in the Wyke Manor Road dis-
abled bays, there would have been room for at least three more cars had drivers parked considerately. David GWoodcock,Willington Street, Maidstone
Car not always an option Dear Sir – Your letter to the editor from Mrs May, regarding the cost of school bus travel for pupils over 16, echoes all the feelings of people with children. The only point I would make is that not everyone, including my grandson, has the car as an alternative. If a car is not affordable or available,what happens?
R Page, Bearsted
Junction 7 views imbalanced Dear Sir–Iamwritingwith regard to Maid- stone Council’s strategic site proposals for the Local Development Framework, and in particular the proposal for junction 7. Local East and North ward Lib Dem coun-
cillors were particularly shocked by the im- balance of views expressed by officers to residents when we individually, throughout the day, visited the recent consultation exhi- bition at the Hilton Hotel in Bearsted Road. KCC also seems determined that the com- mercial site be moved from junction 8 to
32 Town
You can write to us at: Downs Mail, 2 Forge House, Bearsted Green Business Park, Bearsted, Maidstone, ME14 4DT or e-mail:
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junction 7. In its recent report in response to the consultation, there is no mention of the appalling traffic problems local residents al- ready have along New Cut at busy times, or the fact that junction 6 to 7 is already one of Maidstone’s hot spots for pollution, or its relationship to the Downs AONB, or the loss of countryside. I think also everyone is forgetting the po- tential loss to the area of Nottcuts, which is a well-loved local facility and would likely be replaced by large retail units which will be steel clad buildings with some glazing at the entrance. The approach of KCC is a bit like the ap- plication for the SBS building material re- cycling site in Tovil. They got it wrong there initially, as clearly stated by the Govern- ment planning inspector when the SBS site was finally rejected, and this feels the same. Ian Chittenden, Lib Dem member for South ward
Hospital repayments too high Dear Sir – I was interested to read in the Downs Mail that it will cost £1.7 million a month over the next 30 years to finance Pembury Hospital, after which it becomes public property. On the basis of the figures quoted in your report, including the construction cost of £228 million, I calculate this provides the PFI company with a 9.025% annual return on their investment. The present Bank of England base rate is
0.5%,most clearing banks do not offer more than 3% pa on deposits, and I can find no 30-year mortgage where the interest rate is anything like 9%pa. My instinct is that that local hospital serv-
ices are being put at risk by the fact that the PFI provider is simply overcharging the Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust. If this is correct,why cannot the PFI provider accept a more realistic rate of return so that jobs and medical services are not cut? John Cobbett, Foxgrove House, Hollingbourne
Bingo hall needs decorating Dear Sir – Reading your story, “Bingo hall is letting town down” in the Downs Mail in September, may I say I agree with every- thing Bill Moss says about the former Granada cinema in Lower Stone Street. I have passed it on several occasions, and,
like him, I think it badly needs decorating. I do not know who tried to smarten it up
with murals, which are an eyesore. In fact, I thought they were graffiti. I cannot comment on the state of the building inside as I never go there. It seems the Gala Coral Group have too much money and don’t want to part with it. JMArcher, Vinters Park,Maidstone
Facts on academy plans Dear Sir – I read with interest your article in September’s Downs Mail, headed “Acad- emy plans expansion”.As a resident of Oak- wood Road, opposite St Augustine’s Academy in Oakwood Park, I feel I should mention a few things the article does not. The proposed floodlit games areas over-
look the houses of Oakwood Road, and this games area is the size of one or probably two five-a-side football pitches, surrounded by floodlights. What the article omits to mention is the academy intends to let it out for non-school use in the evening, up to 9pm, all year round. Most of the residents of Oakwood Road
are elderly and retired – the noise and floodlights will be a nightmare for them. Also your article mentions: “It is only two
storeys high and appears low and flat.” Ground level is twometres above Oakwood Road to start with, so in fact the new build is three storeys high to us. This article had to have been written by
an estate agent! Keep up the good work. David Brown, Oakwood Road, Maidstone.
Give van drivers a break! Dear Sir – After reading your story entitled ‘Bridge traffic relief hope’ (DownsMail Town edition, October), I felt compelled to write to Cllr Fay Gooch, who was quoted as saying she thought it was fair game to pick out van drivers when a situation needed someone to blame. This is the letter I sent her: I share everybody’s concerns about the
old East Farleigh bridge, and agree that heavy goods vehicles are damaging this wonderful old river crossing. What I find distasteful, however, is your comment where you lament “we will never be able to prevent white van men from using Farleigh bridge”, like these people are some kind of low-life scum. When you require services to come to your house, like a plumber, electrician, washing machine engineer or double glazing fitters, they come to you in a van. When you take your car to be fixed, the parts are brought in a van.Whenyour elderly relative receives meals on wheels, they come in a van. So if you’re going to start singling out other
road users, why not pick on people who use a 4x4 to get to the office, ormumswhotake their kids to school in a car, for example. I’m a family man, not some yob or irrita-
tion to be despised. My van is smaller and lighter than most 4x4s, and it’s in a very roadworthy condition. Not all of us work in an office, and we all
need to use the roads. Please think twice when you put labels on people. Andy Holbrook,
name and address supplied
Park will benefit community Dear Sir–Iwould like to thankDennis Fowle for highlighting the improvements at Cobtree Park. This is the first of three phases, which will allow the community to benefit from the legacy left by our benefac- tor, Sir Garrard Trywhitt-Drake.We are con- fident the significant improvements will attract many new visitors to the park. Roger Hext, Trustee,
The Cobtree Charity Trust Ltd
Food market not the answer Dear Sir – In reply to Mrs J Fulton, I do live on the Sutton Road, but it is a long road and some of it is semi-rural with no amenities or frequent bus service. I sympathise with people who live in the
more built-up end of the road, but at least when they aren’t able to drive, they can still get to shops and town etc. I don’t think the idea of a food market is viable. Some peoplewould need to getmore than just food. I agree we don’t need more supermarkets, just a bigger one further away from Maidstone and a park and ride site. Rob Taylor, Sutton Road,Maidstone
Where is our shop? Dear Sir – Some time ago in Downs Mail it was reported that permission had been given for a convenience shop in Lyndean House, on Sittingbourne Road. This would have been excellent for local people who cannot walk far to get into town, but so far there is no sign of it coming. Is it still going to be built? Does anyone know?
L Curwood,Maidstone You can e-mail the Downs Mail —
info@downsmail.co.uk
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