MEP backs action call on road pollution


SOUTH East MEP Catherine Bearder is on the trail of vehicles using the Loose Road in and out of Maidstone. Maidstone councillors Sue Grigg and Derek Mortimer are so concerned at the levels of pollution that they have sent the results of traffic surveys, along with scientific evi- dence, to the MEP, showing her how pollu- tion levels in the road break EU regulations. She is to table a question about it in the Eu- ropean Parliament and has agreed to visit Maidstone to see the situation for herself. She is due to meet with Lib Dem parlia- mentary campaigner Jasper Gerard and Sean Carter from SMART (South Maidstone Ac- tion on Roads and Transport), and the two ward councillors, on site, on November 13. SMART was set up by Mr Carter when the council proposed introducing a bus lane in


Solar farm dropped


A SOLAR farm planned for Linton that would have powered 4,500 homes has been scuppered, due to high costs. German company Belectric Solar submit-


ted a screening opinion toMaidstone Coun- cil, stating it wished to construct a solar park on land at Linton Park Estate in Linton Hill.


The purpose of the submission was to


find out whether an Environmental Impact Assessment would be needed before a full planning application could be submitted. But the company, which claimed the solar


park would produce an output of 15MW of energy per year, later said the project was “commercially unviable” due to high grid connection cost estimates.


Loose Road, and is made up of representa- tives from the North Loose Residents Associ- ation, Loose Parish Council, Loose Amenities and Valley Conservation Society (VCS). The group is just finalising its first report,


which will be submitted toMaidstone Coun- cil, KCC officers and councillors soon. The report aims to identify problems that


cause traffic congestion and suggest some simple cost effective solutions which would ease traffic the A229. SMART is also looking at alternative transport solutions and possi- ble new routes for the south of Maidstone. Cllr Grigg, said: “The research proves pol-


lution levels in south Maidstone are unac- ceptably high and break EUpollution levels.” Mr Gerard said: “If the council insists on shoe-horning vast numbers of extra houses into villages such as Coxheath, Staplehurst


and Marden, all the extra traffic will be fun- nelled along one road into Maidstone. This road is already gridlocked and polluted.How much worse will it be after 14,800 houses have been built, each one producing an aver- age of six car journeys a day?” The Maidstone Town Air Quality Action


Plan 2010 said Upper Stone Street and the Loose Road/Sutton Road junction exceeded the nitrogen dioxide annual average, and the hourly target. While Upper Stone Street needs a 40-88% reduction across the area, Loose Road needs a 51% reduction. The EU targetswere due to be achieved by January 1 2010 –more than three years ago. Cllr Grigg said: “Residents should not have


to suffer this impact on their quality of life - and the quality of air that they breathe. A remedy is long overdue.”


Pub regulars’ prize


onions boost charity REGULARSat The Lord Raglan pub, ChartSutton, certainlyknowtheir onionswhenitcomesto rais- ing money. The Staplehurst Onion Committee held its an-


nual weigh-in at the pub, in Chart Hill Road, with funds going towards the West Farleigh-based charity Dandelion Time. A massive £1,000 was raised – almost as big as some of the prize onion specimens. Dandelion Time’sAnyesReading said: “Thiswas


awonderful amount–and a great daywas had by all.”


The charity recently held a harvest festival and


10th anniversary celebration at its headquarters in Elmscroft.


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