LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Notcutts forecast inaccurate THE story in the Maidstone October edition of Downs Mail needs to be read and under- stood in the cold light of day and we need to appreciate the real facts and not necessarily those as spouted by the developers. At an exhibition arranged by the develop-
ers and tenants of the proposed development at Notcutts, some of the information pro- vided was, to say the least, disingenuous. The “map and diagram” of the proposed development gives the impression of a stand-alone rural development. There is no indication of the next door developments, KIMS and Maidstone Medical Centre, both of which will massively increase the traffic flow. The latter wants car parking spaces for 1,200 vehicles, while Notcutts is proposing 900 such spaces. The roads in that area can- not currently cope during rush hour. The proposals include adding traffic lights
and pedestrian crossings at various points which will add even longer queues to traffic trying to leave theM20 at J7. All of this is without the agreed develop- ment of over 140 dwellings on land in the
Newsletter a waste of money Dear Sir – As a Leybourne resident, I took notice of your article on the parish council's concern about the £7,000 election costs. At the same time the “Spotlight on Leybourne” parish newsletter came through the door. I really can’t see the point of this four-
page glossy publication, with the important front-page news that the parish question- naire has revealed that local kids want less homework! Leybourne is a great place to live, but stop wasting money producing this and use the savings to offset the £7,000 (or find some- thing worthwhile to publish). Clive Astall, by email
Mall victim of council plan Dear Sir – The front cover of your October issue says that the £8 million plan proposed
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
TV studios grounds. Jason Lewis is quoted in the article as saying: “We expect to not only keep traffic flows as they are, but to im- prove them”. You really do have to wonder about the logic being used to support such a statement. As for Land Securities development direc-
tor Chris Ward’s comments that the devel- opment would “complement, rather than compete with” Maidstone town centre, you
“The proposals also include dualling the road between the KIMS and Bearsted Road round- abouts. Where will this extra landcome from? The protected nature reserve or the cremato- rium grounds as the opposite side of the road is a steep bank?”
need to read that comment in conjunction with the story in the same edition of Downs Mail that an £8m refurbishment of The Mall Shopping Centre in the town has been post- poned as a result of Next’s plan for a super- store on the site next to the A249/Bearsted Road roundabout adjacent to Notcutts. Ward adds that improved bus and park and ride facilities will enable shoppers to
for the Mall development will probably be scrapped . They (the council) blame the Next Home development at Eclipse Park. But I thought the council approved that
plan? I despair! I enjoy your paper though, and find it very informative. Thank you. Barbara Gilbert, Poplar Grove, Maidstone
Editor’s note: Our story stated that The Mall shopping centre was opposed to the Next store, not Maidstone Council
I welcome shopping village Dear Sir – I amsick of the whining town cen- tre vested interests complaining about the J7 retail development. I live in Bearsted and I welcome it. The town centre is a disgrace – costly and
stay in Maidstone to spend more money after shopping at Notcutts. If someone goes to the shopping village they are not then going to get on a bus into the town before re- turning to their car at the shopping village. There is nothing in the development about
noise levels and how these will be abated for those of us living oppositeWeaveringHeath. Then there is the light pollution. By sending all the traffic to the New Cut roundabout, noise levels will increase and last for many more hours of the day. Speaking to one of the developer's representatives at the above ex- hibition he said there was nothing in the plans to alleviate the noise levels. When it comes to the formal planning ap- plication I will of course be objecting. De- spite Eric Pickles' localism legislation, I expectMBCto totally ignore any objections. When are the next local elections? The
local MPs were very vociferous when in op- position to the proposed M20 J8 KIG devel- opment and successfully prevented it once they came to power.Will they act in a simi- lar vein when this application hits MBC's desk? I amnot holding my breath. Ian Stuart, Coppice View,Weavering
inadequate parking, jobsworths fining you for staying a minute too long or stalking you in case you drop a crumb, pound and charity shops everywhere, old-fashioned opening hours still rife, grotty pubs and clubs leaving stinking rubbish around, a useless riverfront blocked off by a dual carriageway and, in- sultingly, councillors talking as if we are lucky to be allowed to visit. Well get this. I don't have to go there, I go
where they try to please me - Bluewater and the new J7 development, places where PC anti-car councillors can't play their childish games, where I'm welcome. More of these please and shut up the town centre, learn what being customer friendly re- ally means or become another Gravesend. Frankly, it’s what you deserve. StephenWilliams,Ware Street, Bearsted
DownsMail In touch with your parish
Aylesford Council Life-saving gift
THE chairman reported on the Aylesford Bulls Rugby Club lunch atwhich the formal pres- entation of the defibrillator by the parish council in memory of the late clerk Andrew Flindell was made. The club expressed gratitude for the do- nation and made the represen- tatives of the council and Mr Flindell’s family very welcome. The parish’s two PCSOs had
given their assurance that all crimes were included in their report apart from those of a per- sonal nature or for which re- porting details may affect on-going investigations. The clerk referred to the parish council’s mobile CCTV camera, currently situated at The Hollow. This was paid for by the parish council but in- stalled andmanaged by the po- lice. A laptop was required to monitor the camera but this
was last in the hands of the po- lice and the parish office staff were not aware of where it was now. The PCSOs were investi- gating if the police still had the laptop and also whether the current camera was the most appropriate and up-to-date de- sign, together with appropriate costs. Consideration would be given on whether to bring the existing camera back into use or obtain an upgrade. Kent Highways had agreed to repaint the Hall Road zebra crossing lines. Borough Cllr Dave Davis re-
ferred to the parish council’s discussions relating to parking in Belgrave Street and sur- rounding roads in Eccles. He was aware of the potential dan- gers relating to emergency ve- hicles being unable to gain access, but the borough was not proposing any changes to the yellow lines until the new car park was open. Although KCC’s consultation document of cycling strategy
had not been circulated to parish councils for comment, Cllr Davis considered it was important that Aylesford had an opportunity to support ad- ditional routes for inclusion, as any proposals for the future not included were unlikely to at- tract funding. It was agreed to request for inclusion registra- tion of the proposal by Trenport to include cycle routes in its Peters Village development, as well as routes at Rochester Road, Bull Lane and Stokes Way.
There were still flooding is-
sues in Mackenders Lane and Bull Lane. KCC was dealing with problems on the A20 (Homebase bus stop area) and Hall Road. The clerk had also reported flooding in Station Road (opposite the Brassey Centre) and Firs Close. Some non-urgent major
works were required to play equipment at Forstal Road recreation ground within the next 12-18 months, at a cost of
around £7,000. This would be considered in more detail and an alternative quote would be sought. It was agreed to site the multi-
use games area at Ferryfield, between the fenced play equip- ment and the rail line. The large willow tree at Old Bridge Gardens split and fell during heavy rain and wind. There were reports of an ambu- lance being called to a person under the tree at the time but no further information was available. Debris had been cleared and the tree pollarded by a tree surgeon. Following this incident there
had been repeated requests by neighbours for a bollard key to enable emergency vehicle ac- cess to their properties and Old Bridge Gardens. Localmembers considered this was not appro- priate as the distance from the Millgate entrance recess to their entrances was minimal and would make no significant dif- ference but would make the
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