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neighbourhood and I have already heard much praise for the efforts of villagers and voluntary organisations to support those worst affected. Unfortunately, the response of the Environment Agencywas lile beer than in 2000, andworse in some respects. On the aernoon of December 23, they put the rivers Beult and Teise on the intermediate flood warning status; the Medwaywas put on flood warning status on the morning of December 24. At no timewas the status of these rivers raised to the highest severe floodwarning level. This gave residents the mistaken impression that the floodingwould be less than that experienced in 2000, when the highest level of floodwarningwas issued. In fact, the floodingwas farworse than 2000, withwater levels some nine inches higher in our house. Fortunately,wewere told what to expect by one of our neighbours, whowas in direct contact with the operators of the Leigh flood barrier. Those who relied on the Floodline information servicewere not so fortunate, and the coastguardwas later forced to call in helicopter support to evacuate residents from the nearby caravan park. The failure of Floodline did not stop there. Subsequent status reports suggested that the riverswould peak during the early hours of December 25. In the endwater levels did not peak until just aer 5pm. Yet again the Environment Agency seems to have been overwhelmed by events. Thewater flows far exceeded the design capacity of the Leigh flood barrier. The barrier may buy a few hours for Tonbridge residents to be evacuated, but seems to do lile to prevent or limit the extent of the flooding. If the barrier is to be an effective flood prevention mechanism, its capacity needs to be increased significantly. This comes at a cost, but continued inaction by the authorities also comes at a very heavy cost to the householders and businesses in the Medway Valley. Rob Bird, Parsonage Farmhouse, Yalding.


Contact our team ...


Stephen Eighteen Editor stephen@downsmail.co.uk 01622 734735 ext 231


More homes at pub A SCHEME has been unveiled to de-


velop the site of a disused pub in the High Street in Staplehurst. In November last year, Maidstone Council’s planning committee gave Richard Scutt the go-ahead to convert the former Bell Inn and outbuildings into one four-bedroom house, one two- bed house and two one-bed flats. A new scheme by Nissen Richards


now seeks to build a further six dwellings (four of three beds and two of four beds) on land that was previ- ously the pub car park and beer garden. Staplehurst Parish Council felt the


five off-street parking spaces offered in Mr Scutt’s scheme were inadequate. The Nissen Richards proposal is for two per unit, plus one visitor space. Maidstone Council will determine the planning application.


Diane Nicholls


Assistant editor diane@downsmail.co.uk 01622 734735 ext 232


Jane Shotliff Journalist


jane@downsmail.co.uk 01622 734735 ext 233


Church services cut


THE number of church services held in Langley and Otham has been cut. Rector Steve Hughes says this is necessary because the united parish no longer has a curate and no licensed lay readers.


There are nowtwo fewer services over the course of amonth across the joint parish, with services slightly earlier in Langley and a lit- tle later at Otham.


Mr Hughes said not everyonewas happywith the changes, adding: “One or two comments have tended towards being hostile, but they are in the minority and, overall, people accept that the process is a genuine attempt, bymyself andwardens, to move the church forwards.”


He added: “We don’t claim that our proposals are perfect and ac- cept that further tweaking may be necessary. However, the sim- ple truth is that doing nothing is not an option.”


Mr Hughes said he hoped the parish day in the spring would pro- vide another opportunity to review the changes and their impact, if necessary.


Dawn Kingsford


Journalist dawn@downsmail.co.uk 01622 734735 ext 233


Caravans proposal A PROPOSAL has been submitted for eight caravans to be used by four gypsy families at Udene Barn Stud, Marden Road, Staplehurst. Michael Adams’ planning applica-


tion, which will be determined by Maidstone Council, also asks for two amenity buildings and hardstanding. Two of the four caravan pitches


would be provided within the gravel- surfaced stableyard,with the other two through the redevelopment of an area to the south, formerly occupied by polytunnels. A supporting statement says the de- velopment would be screened from Marden Road by existing roadside veg- etation, buildings and boundary fences. There would be a new hedgerow planted around the southern and eastern boundaries of the site.


Maidstone South January 2014 21


I entirely agree, Rob. Yet again the residents of Yalding and the surrounding villages were the sacrificial lambs as the Environment Agency endeavoured to save Tonbridge from a tsunami. Many residents who bought homes in Yalding aer the 2000 flood were assured that flooding was a “once in 100 years” occurrence. How shallow and meaningless those words appear now. Although warnings would not have prevented the flooding at Christmas, they would at least have given homeowners a beer chance of saving their treasured possessions and raising valued items of furniture above floor level. There is absolutely no question that something must be done to increase the capacity of the Leigh flood defence; indeed, in view of our increasingly- bizarre weather paerns, more measures need to be instigated closer to home to prevent flooding from the Teise and the Beult when water levels rise. The villagers of Yalding have once again shown their remarkable community spirit, which is one reason why it is such a popular and exceptional place to live. It is quite unacceptable that people such as yourself should be penalised by insurers and have their homes blighted and devalued by the risk of flood – as well as having to live in constant fear. Let us hope that David Cameron’s visit proves its worth – and was more than just a social call. Response by Jane


More money for prevention


Dear Sir–Iwas so very saddened to see the reports of flooding in Maidstone at Christmas. I cannot even begin to comprehend the distress this must have caused to those who were affected, particularly at this time of the year. News reports also referred to how people in the area received lile or no help from the local authorities. Thiswas disgraceful. In addition to my sadness, Iwas angry that thiswas permied to even happen. Each year, residents pay a considerable amount of money to the KCC and Maidstone Council and yet adequate flood prevention is clearly not in place.


May I suggest that some of the very large amount of money paid to KCC and Maidstone Council is spent on flood defences and other essential services, rather than the fabulous salaries and expenses paid to council staff and councillors, who now seem to have become wholly detached from the community they are meant to serve. Hopefully then, there will be no repetition of the sorry sceneswe have witnessed thisweek in Maidstone and nearby. Michael Holmes, Gorham Drive, Maidstone


Thanks for your kind words, Michael, especially as I was one of those personally affected. The responsibility for the flood defences lies primarily with the Government and the Environment Agency, both of which carried out extensive surveys following the floods in 2000. However, each time a proposal was put forward, it was shelved on the grounds of cost. There was also a suggestion that KCC should add a levy to help fund improvements, but this would have meant an increase in council tax. The River Medway strategy was concluded some 10 years ago, but sadly no action has ever been taken, because funding has always been an issue. While any action now will be too late for those who have been so badly affected, hopefully a second instance of serious flooding in 14 years means the powers that be will finally do something about it. Response by Jane


Silt raisingwater level


Dear Sir – I used to live in Maidstone and recall the Medway flooding to some degree before Tovil Mill closed. While the millwas in production, the Medwaywas dredged to enable barges of raw materials to navigate to the mill. It seems tome the river is now silted up resulting in higher flood levels. I may be wrong, but it'sworth investigating. Happy new year to you all. Bill Young, 15 Kentisworth Road, Marnhull, Dorset


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