LETTERS TO THE EDITOR


A cyclist’s horror show Dear Sir – I have just read the article re- garding Maidstone being named the most dangerous place in Kent for cycling. I am a regular cyclist and I also own a


50cc moped, and I felt compelled to write to you and give you a first hand account of how bad travelling around Maidstone on two wheels actually is. I must point out that I amalso a car driver and have been for 23 years. I either cycle or ride my moped to work


every day, and the selfishness and care- lessness of Maidstone drivers is shocking. Much more needs to be done to educate road users about reckless driving and dis- regard for cyclists. The Think Bike in Maidstone is mainly on the backs of buses and not anywhere in the vicinity of traffic island or bike paths. It is weak and doesn’t work. Spot Lane – The absolute worst place I ex- perience every day is Spot Lane with the give way islands. It would seem that car and van drivers abide by the give way signs ONLY with regard to other cars. Every day I experience a situation that forces me to break, swerve to avoid being hit and on more than one occasion I have been forced onto the footpath to avoid going through someone’s windscreen. To make matters worse, the verbal abuse


ture members, who are concerned to pro- mote the best interests of the borough. This seems set to continue. FranWilson has now been given a vote of confidence by members of her group and her experience would have been missed by her party and the council. Cllr Brian Moss, cabinet member for cor- porate services, Maidstone Council


Lib Dems boost recovery Dear Sir – Having knocked on thousands of doors in the constituency, I am well aware how the recession has shattered lives. That is why I am so heartened by signs that the local economy is mending. Unemployment is down to 2% in Maid-


stone, and fresh GDP figures show the coali- tion Government has made the right calls to put us back on track. There is plenty of work left to do. But make no mistake, this recovery would


not be happening without the Lib Dems. The Conservatives would not have given us a fair recovery. More than 1,600 apprenticeships for our borough and a £700 cut for taxpay- ers would not have happened with the To- ries alone at the tiller. People saidwe wouldn’t have the stomach


for the fight, they said we couldn’t take big decisions; they were wrong. Because of that I am proud to say we are delivering a stronger economy and a fairer society. Jasper Gerard, Liberal Democrat parliamentary campaigner, Maidstone and theWeald


Homeless offered shelter Dear Editor – Your readers will understand how painful it is forme to read in the Octo- ber edition of Downs Mail about “the des- perate plight of people in Maidstone forced to sleep rough in freezing conditions”. This is not true – everyone has been of-


fered shelter in cold weather and Maidstone Christian Care has managed the process with Porchlight. This is only possible as a result of the gen- erosity of the people of Maidstone, their churches and schools.


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


from drivers is staggering, especially as it’s the perpetrator who is in the wrong 100% of the time. Obviously, the drivers are far too impor-


tant to wait the three seconds itwould take to let a cyclist or motorcyclist through when it’s their right of way and therefore take the attitude that a car will easily win the battle against a cyclist. It’s probably an obvious assumption to


say that school runs are particularly treach- erous. Only on Monday I witnessed an- other mum actually speed up to “beat me” through the island, even though it was my right of way. In the process she nearly hit a mother with two children who was cross- ing the road. Then she actually gave me the finger and slammed her horn at the woman crossing. Three seconds was all she would have needed to wait for me to pass her.


Ashford Road - The bright pink cycle path along Ashford Road opposite Turkey Mill has bike icons and blue signs depicting walkers on one side and cyclists on the other, but it isn’t enough for some people. To cycle along this supposed bike path is an absolute nightmare, for fear of running into a pedestrian who is ignoring the obvi- ous.


This forces cyclists into the road, where


it really is a game of chance. Cars deliber- ately drive close to you or swerve in front


If there are clients out there, they must be directed to the day centre. No one has been forced to stay out. The day centre will continue to ensure the homeless and vulnerable are being cared for all year round and respond to their needs. We support the winter shelter pilot and


are passionate about ensuring the day and night shelter provides a seamless provision for the homeless and needy in our county town.


Through the year, the day centre provides breakfast, a shower, a chance to wash and dry clothes, a hot dinner, and support to re- view benefits, employment housing or debt. We also provide an address for homeless people so they can access these services, in- cluding bidding for accommodation, as fail- ure to do this can mean their benefits being taken away. Clients always leave with a pack-up, and we have the benefit of our Food for Thought daily service. Longer term, we are looking to acquire ac- commodation so that permanent emergency shelter is available to serve the homeless and vulnerable people throughout the year. I recognise the huge effort made by part-


ners to ensure we respond to individual need.We are blessed to have so many caring people in Maidstone. Thank you. Mike FitzGerald, chairman, Homeless Care The Day Centre Charity.


Littering is an awful habit Dear Sir – I am writing to inform you that the area where I live is covered in litter. Fizzy drinks cans lie in the grass and pack- ets of crisps are stuck in bushes and trees. The litter makes the environment look


awful and I don’t understand why people litter the very place where they live. Sometimes, my dad and I go out with plas-


tic bags and tidy up our neighbourhood. When we have finished, we are shocked to see so much rubbish in our bags.Most of the rubbish consists of cans. However, some of it is plastic bags, sweet wrappers, cardboard boxes and plastic bottles. It is a shame when Kent is such a beautiful county that people litter it in the way they


of you for their own amusement because, as I have had drivers shout out to me on many occasions, “there’s a bike path there, use it!”. And finally the... One-way system in town - The signs in the road depicting what lanes lead where are obviously deciphered by drivers as “use whatever lane you like, it’s a race, have fun!”


ConsideringMaidstone town is normally


at crawling pace anyway, the sight of a cy- clist or moped rider who has the audacity to be in front of them is toomuch for some drivers to bear. I can almost hear them say: “Ohmy days, that cyclist is going the same speed as me in this traffic jam. I must over- take them at all costs because they may delay me when the roads become clearer just up ahead!” Around Maidstone, whether I am on my


bike or moped, I have had drivers overtake me just to do a left turn 20 yards in front, had people race past me and swerve across me just to get in front of me at a red traffic light and had cars overtake me even though it’s a 30mph zone and they risk a head-on accident. PerhapsIshouldstrapacameratomy


bike helmet and send you the footage... it’s an absolute horror show. Matthew Fillery, Grove Green


do. I feel the council should start to place more bins around, or at least try to clean up more often. My family have informed the council many times, but they often don’t reply. My house is right next to Cuckoo Wood,


nearWoodcut, and in the forest, dogs leave their mess everywhere, and people some- times dump their litter in there. It is not so bad if this is purely organic waste, but we are often pulling out plastic containers and plastic sheeting, as well as household items. Hopefully, by writing to you, some of the people who read this will understand that littering is an awful habit and because they litter, their own environment gets dirtier. Maria Bragin (year 6, Sandling Primary School),Woodcut, Maidstone


Mall victim of council plan Dear Sir – The front cover of your October issue says that the £8 million plan proposed 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


We need a new theatre Dear Sir – Dennis Fowle says in Mail Marks (October) that the main obstacle to a big new theatre for Maidstone is financial. To many residents of Maidstone this does not always ring true. The Hazlitt Theatre is not large enough to


take bigger shows ormore famous entertain- ers. It is easy to say there are other theatres in Kent – and London is only an hour away. But that puts up the cost of a good evening out. Let’s get others coming to Maidstone to boost our economy.


To contact Downs Mail just phone 01622 630330


Lena Simmons – by email. East 43


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