LETTERS TO THE EDITOR


No ‘kindness’ over sick pay Dear Sir – I must dispute Mail Marks (Feb- ruary) that “kindness” is significant in the wayMaidstone andWeald MP Helen Grant handles the sick pay issue inmy contract of employment as her constituency and par- liamentary assistant. Until now, I have not responded publicly,


but now feel I must to Dennis Fowle’s arti- cle headlined: ‘My belief in Helen stands firm’. It is also stated Mrs Grant extended “an el-


ement of “kindness” when she offered me work. This is not true. Following a chance meeting in 2010, she offered to provide me with a reference. Her husband Simon Grant requested my CV. He later phoned saying: “You are just the per- son we are looking for. Would you like to work for Helen?” It was a business decision. My permanent contract of employment


stated I was entitled to two weeks’ sick pay. After a heart attack I needed medical tests, and as a part-timer these were on my day off. Mr Grant wrote to indicate Iwas not entitled to sick pay. I responded that my contract stated I was entitled to two weeks’ sick pay. He later acknowledged this and apologised. When I needed an operation I contacted


the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA) about sick pay entitle- ment. It became clear that the standard em- ployment contract had been significantly changed to my detriment. IPSA ordered Mrs Grant to issue a correct contract – with 26 weeks’ sick leave on full pay, followed by 26 weeks on half pay. Of three permanent staff employed byMrs


Grant, her husband was her senior advisor. His contract was the only one not detri- mentally changed. He subsequently said this was “an unfortunate oversight” and re- signed his employment. Sadly Dennis Fowle was misinformed. TonyWilliams, Maidstone.


Centre a lifeline for elderly Dear Sir – I read with interest the amazing amount of services Age UK (formerly Age Concern Maidstone) now offers. I only became aware of the Goodman Cen-


tre when I needed to use their befriending service for my mum, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2011. Then, she just needed a bit of extra company to pop in during the week. As her condition worsened and she seemed so down when family weren’t visit- ing, we tried the Goodman Centre. This en- sured that twice perweek,Mumgoes to her club, where the atmosphere is like a house party. I would liken it to a fun trip down memory lane. They sing, have lunch, do song bingo and more and the change in mum on these days is amazing. The KCC used to support families finan-


cially who appreciate what an outing does for our relatives. I have no idea why policy changes have


now stopped financial help, but it’s worth every penny out of my pocket to know my mum has two days with a group of people who might not remember much day to day, but have a laugh for at least six hours. It’s priceless, and the star of the Goodman Centre is the manager Louise. Thanks Age UK!


The centre is a hidden treasure – passing


this on just may relieve someone to know their loved one can enjoy a brilliant day out where they aren’t treated as people to ig- nore.


Julie Anderson 46 Town


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


Letter – junction 8 plan Dear Sir – I’m writing about the proposed warehousing and office development at Junction 8 of the M20 (Downs Mail East, February 2013). Mr Yandle, of the Gallagher Group, is en-


titled to his thoughts about the 42 acres of warehousing and offices that his company wishes to build at junction 8, but there are powerful planning objections to such de- velopment and it is strongly opposed by local people and by all local politicians, from the parish councils to our MP, Hugh Robertson. The land is within attractive and unspoilt countryside – a key consideration in theGov- ernment’s decision on KIG just two years ago – and in a totally unsustainable rural location more than two miles from Maidstone. Mr Yandle appears to realise this by claiming that the proposed development – to be called Waterside Park – would be screened by trees to the south, east and west in an attempt to convince us that we just won’t see it once it’s there. But we will know it’s there, because peo-


plewill suffermassively increased traffic on nearby roads and, as he confirms, the offices will be seen. Mr Yandle claimsWaterside Park will not


be able to grow into a KIG-type develop- ment because it is surrounded by physical boundaries, but we all know that other de- velopers are still interested in the KIG site and other land around junction 8. IfWater- side Park is permitted, it is inevitable that they, too, will seek to develop their land. KIG was emphatically rejected by the Government for the sound planning reasons that the site was within open, attractive and unspoilt countryside essential to the rural setting of Bearsted and the Kent Downs AONB. A 42-acre warehousing and office devel- opment within this unspoilt countryside will severely damage its landscape value and compromise its continued protection. IfWaterside Park is permitted, itwill open


up the floodgates for other developers to submit further planning applications for yet more warehousing and office developments on other land around junction 8 and on the KIG site. Bearsted Parish Council remains res- olutely opposed to any development at junction 8 and is confident that proposals like Waterside Park will, like KIG, be op- posed by local people and organisations with a most formidable resolve. Denis Spooner, vice chairman, Bearsted Parish Council


Lockmeadow ‘rip-off’ Dear Sir – I hope thiswill be a timely warn- ing to readers who park on the river side of Lockmeadow car park. I parked my car in a corner position on a


Tuesday afternoon, noting that the bay markings were worn away to nothing at all in places. Having parked alongside another car, I paid my £1.60 fee andwent to the cin- ema.


When I returned I found a penalty notice, saying I had parked outside the bay mark- ings. I challenged the notice, supplying a photo


of the worn-away markings, but to no avail. I was informed that not only was I outside the bay markings but Iwas also in a turning circle!


Neither I nor my three passengers (all


with 40 years plus driving experience and normally quite capable of recognising a turning circlewhenwe see one) had noticed


this fact. Not wishing to discover I was guilty of yet more parking crimes I paid my £25 penalty, but I did have the satisfaction of saving a fellow motorist the following week from the same expense – he had parked in exactly the same position for ex- actly the same reason. Peter Packham, Bearsted


Store first - but what Next? Dear Sir – Much has been made of a recent planning application to Maidstone Borough Council by Gallagher Properties Ltd and Next Group Plc for retail development at Eclipse Park. In order for this to be approved, the bor-


ough council will have to change the land use, which is presently designated as ex- clusively office and high-tech uses, to retail and business uses. Taken in isolation, there is little to object


to in the development of a Next superstore on the site. However, once the land use has been changed, it will be very difficult for the borough council to object to other retail outlets also applying to develop on the other vacant sites at Eclipse Park. It has been suggested that major fast food chains and supermarkets might vie for the opportunity to expand there, especially as it is near a motorway access. Such develop- ment would need 24hr servicing by delivery vehicles and of course would generate con- siderable associated traffic. I’m sure guests at the Hilton Hotel would appreciate that. No doubt arguments will be put forward to demonstrate Maidstone has sufficient office space and therefore the vacant plots should be used for retail purposes. Equally, a counter argument could show that such a develop- ment would be contrary to existing “Town Centre First” policy, and also, the fact that some retailers are already vacating desig- nated retail parks such as Aylesford indicate that there are existing areas that could be oc- cupied by large retail organisations. The case for the development of Eclipse Park as a retail park is therefore unproven. In the present economic climate it is dif-


ficult for any non-retail organisation to in- vest in prestigious offices, but times will change. The development of a specific of- fice and high-tech park is sound. More jobs can be created in such a development than in the equivalent area if used for retail pur- poses, and this will benefit Maidstone. The borough council should stick to its original concept and not buckle to veiled threats from interested parties to develop in other towns, if their wish to impose them- selves on Maidstone is not met. As more residents in Eastward realise the


wider implications of such a planning ap- plication, the more they are rejecting this development. It is totally erroneous to say this proposal has their full support. JimWilson, Shaw Close, Maidstone


Road markings confusion Dear Sir – The road markings around the one way bridges in Maidstone seem to be causing confusion. People are not reading the signs for Chatham, Tonbridge Road and London Road and there have been several incidents as a result. This is making me increasingly annoyed. Emily Crocker, Arlott Close, Maidstone


Tovil tip staff so helpful Dear Sir – Has anyone else noticed how helpful the staff are at the Tovil Household Waste Disposal Site (that is, the dump)? I have found everyone unfailingly polite


and pleasant and always eager to advise in which section the rubbish should be put.


You can e-mail the Downs Mail — info@downsmail.co.uk


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