AFTER years of turmoil the


Let us gain from extra housing MailMarks


Core Strategy for the future of Maidstone seems right back in the melting pot. Likely government insistence


that the borough’s housing allo- cation must be substantially in- creased beyond 10,080 for the 20-year period to 2026 comes as a shock, but may also assist in agreeing sensible solutions for the future of our borough. Siting many of the 10,080 houses is con- troversial, but even more difficult is setting policies forperceived future employment re- quirements and transport needs and infra- structure. This friction goes to a high level – between Maidstone Council and KCC. Government may even call on Maid-


stone to find room for something like 5,000 extra houses by 2026 (increasing the total in the Core Strategy period to about 15,000). Thiswill further emphasise the need for


more jobs and better infrastructure. Could it also revive the proposal for the South- East Maidstone Strategic Route (an up- grade on the old proposed Leeds/Langley bypass)? It was a high priority both forMaidstone


and Kent a few years back and the then KCC leader, Sir Sandy Bruce-Lockhart, made a firm commitment to fund it in the next budget – but unfortunately he moved on to other high office before he could be as good as his word. Since then, it has been on the back burner – although Maidstone Council did hope to find £25m/£30m with a chimney pot tax on about 5,000 new houses. More recently the Government also offered a new homes bonus, which brings in £1,000 a property. Linked to the new strategic road,with its entrance from theM20 J8 roundabout,was a Gallagher plan for a business park at the northern end to outdo all that has hap- pened at Kings Hill. One way or another Maidstone’s much-


A REAR window was forced at ahomeinKings Road, Head- corn, and an untidy search of the property made. A number of low-value items were stolen. A red VW Polo, registration number L491 DKO, was stolen from the car park in StationAp- proach, Staplehurst. Twenty pints of milk were


stolen from the doorstep of a home in Duke of York Way, Coxheath, over several weeks. A window of a static caravan


in George Street, Staplehurst, was forced and jewellery stolen. A blue and silver Mitsubishi


L200 pick-up was stolen from an outbuilding at Church Farm, Marden Road, Marden, but was later recovered.Abattery stolen from a Seat Inca was also re- covered. A farm unit in Gallants Lane,


East Farleigh,was burgled, and items stolen included a trailer, an Iseki ride-on petrol mower and a red Honda petrol lawn- mower. The front and rear number


plates were among items stolen from a vehicle, registration


DENNIS FOWLE - President Kent Campaigning Journalist of the Year 2001 email: dfowle2011@aol.com


debated Core Strategy is again in trouble – and the time seems to have arrived for bold thinking again. It looks as though we will have to have


the houses.We shall therefore need many new jobs and require an improved trans- port infrastructure. KCC has a poor record on helping to


keep traffic moving in and around Maid- stone. It is time for these two councils to work together to make up for so many years of neglect, which threaten to bring town centre traffic to a standstill and jam up many other parts of the borough. We may not welcome government insis-


tence on more new houses in Maidstone – but if we have to take the pain let us look now at ensuring some major gain as well.


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MPs’ balancing act IAMalways pleased when a localMP is elevated to government office. It happened forMid KentMPHugh Robertsonwhen he became minister for sport and now Maid- stone and the Weald MP Helen Grant has been given two junior but significant gov- ernment roles in justice and women & equalities. But these government duties can be challenging and time consuming and the MP has to ration precious time. The bal- ancing act to satisfy needs at both ends must be very testing. MPs know they can- not afford to fall short in their real power base – their local constituency.





Good luck Ann I THINK the low election turnout indi-


cates most of us are mystified about the appointment of police commissioners. I


hope it all works out andwe come to appreciate the significance of this new role and enjoy the bene- fits of decisions our Kent com- missioner will be making. I have a feeling this is an impor-


tant new office, and by the time we get to the next election inter- est and confidence will be much higher.We have to suck it and see.


I am also pleased Kent appointed an In- dependent commissioner not politically linked to one of the main parties. I do not want to see our police unduly politicised. I know many see it that way. Ann Barnes has a long track record working closely with police as chair of Kent Police Authority. I wish her well with her new responsibilities.


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Get the economy moving MY BIG wish for 2013 is to see real evi-


dence that our economy is on the turn and things are getting better. Sadly, confidence does not run high just now. The years of economic strife and reces-


sion hit so many very hard, especially those most in need of help. The world around us is changing fast –


this came home tome when I saw on tele- vision the heart-wrenching day of protest staged by residents living in many Euro- pean countries. Other parts of the world increasingly enjoy the benefits and stan- dard of living being lost to Europeans. My belief is that the days of the euro and


the European Government are numbered. I liked the trade agreement between Euro- pean countries, but I abhor how Europe has since developed. I think, and hope, muchwill be undone in the coming years. Watch for the return of the franc, lira, pe-


seta and drachma – and the independence of these great countries. I think they are best standing on their own feet and rising to their own responsibilities. The European gravy train has stopped running – and I think that may be best for us all.


Beat the criminals IF YOU CAN HELP, PLEASE PHONE: Police: 101 Crimestoppers: 0800 555 111


number GL07 EJV, in Spring- wood Road, Barming. Intruders got in to a work-


shop at Bletchingley Farm, Pristling Lane, Staplehurst,and si- phoned diesel from three double-decker buses. Five hundred litres


of heating oil were stolen from a garden in Heath Road,


Boughton


Monchelsea. About 1,250 litres of heating


oil were stolen from a tank in the front garden of a home in Claygate, Marden. The doors to a shed and wagon in the car park at New Claygate Lakes, Claygate, were forced and cigarettes and food- stuffs were stolen. About 3,000 used Kent peg


tiles were stolen from a garage in Green Lane, Marden, where they were being stored. Approximately 500 litres of diesel were stolen from a commer- cial premises in Twyford Court, Hampstead Lane,


Yalding. There was an at-


tempted theft at a caravan


at Bletchingley Farm, Pristling Lane, Staplehurst. An attempted theft took place behind Sutton Valence village hall, North Street, Sutton Va- lence. The lock was cut off a shed in


the rear garden of a property in Well Street, Loose. The rear window was forced


at a home in Heath Road, East Farleigh. An untidy search was


Visit Downs Mail’s website — downsmail.co.uk South 25


made, and jewellery and Christ- mas presents were stolen. Heating oil was stolen from a


tank in the garden of a home in Goudhurst Road, Marden. There was an attempted bur-


glary at a home in Pagehurst Road, Staplehurst. Burglars got in to a garden


shed in Maidstone Road, Mar- den, and stole an electric gar- den strimmer and a petrol-powered hedge trimmer, both made by Steele. Four Christmas trees were cut


down and stolen from a planta- tion in Gravelly Bottom Road, Kingswood.


PROTECT YOUR HOME


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