LETTERS TO THE EDITOR


Roundabout a big help Dear Sir–Iwould like to point out to the people complaining about the new round- about at Notcutts that the person who planned it is far from an idiot! I live inWeavering, and it has previously


been a nightmare when trying to get on to theM20 London-bound motorway. From the Notcutts direction, once round


the roundabout, you have had to either cut in front of the traffic coming along the slip- road from the Sittingbourne Road direction, or rely on somebody letting you in, enabling you to join theM20. With the speed of the traffic and not too


many courteous drivers these days, this has been a “take your life in your hands” situa- tion for many years. Now, when you come round the round-


about, you are in the correct left hand lane to join the motorway. I feel sure that if those complaining were


to approach the roundabout from the Not- cutts direction, theywould see what a great improvement this is. Slip roads are fine if all the traffic is going in the same direction, but if you have to cross the inner lane to join another road, it is not at all good. I do agree that at the moment, approach-


ing the roundabout from either direction, with the extra lanes, it is a little confusing, but as with anything new, it will not take long to get used to it.


David Berry,Weavering


Bring cannon back to town Dear Sir – I was shockedwhen the bus Iwas on rounded the corner from the one-way bridge system into the High Street, only to see that the cannon was no longer there. I have lived in Maidstone all my life, and


have spent many a wait for the bus sitting on the cannon’s plinth. I have read the in- scription surrounding it, but cannot recall what it said. I think it was gifted to Maid- stone after being captured from the Rus- sians. Iwonderwhether itwill be returned to its rightful spot? Or will it be exhibited in the museum? I wanted to put my point across as I am saddened that such a landmark has gone. I hope that it will be returned. Vicky Simmons, Edmund Close, Maidstone


Editor’s note: As reported in May’s Downs Mail, the cannon is being repositioned into a new paved open space as part of Maid- stone Council’s High Street regeneration scheme. This will involve its temporary re- moval and demolition and reconstruction of the stone plinth, using the existingmate- rials wherever possible. The cannon will then be re-sited on the reinstated plinth.


More parking is vital Dear Sir – Ever sinceHeathside House, Cox- heath, re-opened with inadequate on-site parking, drivers have been forced to park on Heath Road itself. Now I read that plans to enlarge their off-road parking have been dropped. It is bad enough that we still have to nav-


igate the many build-outs on Heath Road, with no indication when they are to be modified and part removed, whilst each car parked on the road becomes the equivalent of a build-out. Three or four cars parked to- gether outside Heathfield House causes havoc on this busy road, whilst we also find cars parking just outside the double yellow- lined area west of the shops. Parking for the shops at busy times is also becoming impossible, particularly when


34 East


commercial lorries are unloading, so Iwon- derwhatwillhappenwhenthe newen- larged shop opens on the corner with Stockett Lane? Extra off-road parking is needed for Coxheath shoppers. In addition, the resurfacing of Heath Road


is due, despite the modification to traffic control in the village. The thought process of the parish, plan-


ners and KCC roads people leaves me cold! Brian Richardson, Heath Road, East Farleigh


Park a beautiful place Dear Sir – I first started going to Cobtree Park just four months ago, after being told about it by another dogwalker. I now go al- most daily – my dog loves it and so do I. I have found it free from dog mess and lit-


ter. Talking to other people using the park, both young and old, they love the place as I do. I also wish the children’s adventure play area had been there when my grand- children were young. I suppose it’s like the saying, you can’t please all of the people all of the time – but for me it’s a beautiful place. Molly Greenslade, Allington


Dog mess in Downswood Dear Sir – As a walker living in Downswood, I am absolutely disgusted with the amount of irresponsible dog own- ers in the area who do not clear up after their dogs. The footpaths around Downswood are al-


most a no-go area, particularly at the top of Foxden Drive play area (the footpath along the back of the houses. There is at least one owner from Foxden


Drive who takes their dog up there just to poo! But there are more owners who do not clear up after their dogs. Across the field opposite the church to Otham is another area that is littered with faeces and plastic bags - disgusting people! They need to be named and shamed and punished with a fine. L Colman, Foxden Drive, Downswood


The real state of our park Dear Sir – Re the letter of M Luxton, his comments could not be further from reality. The letter he critically refers to in last month’s Downs Mail is more in keeping with what I and many others consider a re- alistic state of affairs in CobtreeManor Park. I have visited the park two to three times


a day for the past 12 years or so. Contrary to Mr Luxton’s opinion, the park is not “very large” in proportion to the number of visi- tors now (Mote Park is large). Cobtree can- not accommodate the influx of people without it being detrimental to the beauty


You can write to us at: Downs Mail, Forge House, Bearsted Green Business Park, Bearsted, Maidstone, ME14 4DT or e-mail: stephen@downsmail.co.uk


Grass-cutting change not for the better


Dear Sir - Thequalityof grass cuttingonthe Grove Green estate provided by KCC and their contractors is dire to say the least. The section of theestatewhere this service is provided by Maidstone Council is always much tidier and neat. However, having read in last month’s


Downs Mail that grass-cutting issues in Madginfordwere due to be resolved, Iwas hoping for an improvementinGrove Green. How wrong can you be? The KCC grass


cutters cametoCamomileDriveonbin col- lection day and cut around awheely bin! Is this health and safety gone even mad-


der, or ridiculous laziness? Steve Salter, Camomile Drive, Weavering


that was so appealing in this park prior to development. Far from “rundown”, it was what a coun-


try park should be; prior to being trashed by totally “out of character features” and an in- creasing number of undesirable visitors. Dog walkers are unfortunately now hav-


ing expensive vet’s bills as a result of their dogs having consumed human excrement, which is so disgusting. This has never hap- pened until this influx of visitors. We have some very large children in the


play area late evening after the gates are locked – I would say some are over 18. I would not expect an “occasional user”


of the park to appreciate the true situation. I witness daily the results of the night be- fore, when I walk early in the morning. The litter in the woods; poo bags in the trees; polystyrene cups and fruit juice cartons and other remnants from the café. Incidentally the café prices have increased some 20%on certain items and much more on others so yes, they are somewhat exorbitant now. Fur- ther proof can be obtained from the taxi drivers and other people who used to call in for a quick cuppa. Recently, rotted old tree trunks and branches were dragged out of the wood on to the grass area and assembled in some pecu- liar form. Barbecue trays are left on the grassed area, and dog mess is not being picked up. Sadly, now the park is becoming popular,


it has attracted dog walkers who do not clear up after their dogs. The long-awaited poo bins (promised in phase 2) are not forthcom- ing but the new seating and litter bins are all in position – all a priority, no doubt. This is just the tip of the iceberg; the real-


ity is, given time, this park will deteriorate quicker than the time necessary for it to re- cover. The local people who once had a unique park, which was not well known and still in a natural state, are left to mourn its loss. It used to be so beautiful, but now sadly it is becoming yet another abused park like so many others, all thanks to Maidstone Council. S Thompson, Hilary Road, Maidstone


Praise after hospital stay Dear Sir–Ihave just had to spend six days in Maidstone Hospital. I was treated by everyone there with the utmost courtesy and consideration. The food was appetising and the whole building gleamed with cleanliness. Some bad things have been said about our hospital, but I felt I had to write to say that my experience was as good as it could have been.


JoyceWinning, Howard Drive,Maidstone Visit Downs Mail’s website — downsmail.co.uk


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