downsmail.co.uk MailMarks
DENNISFOWLE President
dfowle2011@aol.com
NIMBYs must take a back seat
It’s an odd battle of Torywords
between the leaders of Maidstone Council and Kent County Council on the number of houses Maidstone must plan. And “dishonest” statements still emerge from some more extreme Lib Dems. KCC’s Paul Carter sticks adamantly with the long-established South East Plan figure. Thatwas 11,080 for the Government plan period of 2006-26. KCC produced new forecasts in 2012 for the subsequent plan period of 2001-2031 and this interim figure was 14,800. But Maidstone Council, determined to get a Government-approved local plan in place, has been researching current requirements in a fast-evolving scene. Government determination for many more houses nationwide grows, and local authorities not producing evidence-based projections for 2011-2031 are having draft local plans rejected. That gives developers a much freer hand beyond full local controls. Maidstone has commissioned the detailed evidence, which shows a need for 19,600 homes. The evidence is based on a growing population, people living longer, new jobs created and national and international immigration. Maidstonewould like to see this reduced (after identifying current potential) to 17,100. Not all development allocations around the borough will be popular in the communities.We are all NIMBYs (Not In My Back Yard), but that argument will be given short shrift, as will the principle of not using greenfields, given there are so few brownfield sites remaining. Both Maidstone’s Conservative leader, Cllr Chris Garland, and Lib Dem leader Cllr FranWilson know some greenfield sites will be built on. Their political task now is making the right choices – tough enough without silly electioneering. When shewas given recently a huge vote of confidence as Lib Dem leader, CllrWilson warned a few of her more militant colleagues that campaigning against greenfield usewas dishonest. I amnot sure the message has got through fully to prospective parliamentary candidate Jasper Gerard, who likes to see himself as our omnipresent saviour. She has already warned him “he should understand local people and local politics”.
Getting planning right I agonised with other England cricket
supporters for two Ashes Tests while enjoying Australia – but also trying towork out why their large communities operate better than many of ours. Two features stood out: Many towns are surrounded by well- defined large housing areas linked to the centre by excellent public transport (buses, trams, trains) and good roads. Free regular buses and trams run the length of the town centres and so many use them. Iwas a convert for threeweeks.
26 Maidstone Town February 2014 Search for kind ladies
Dear Sir – On July 24, 2012, at around 2pm, I had a fall in Maidstone High Street outside the NatWest bank. Iwas one of those who fell foul to the High Street regenerationworks and spent two weeks in hospital, where I had major surgery. I have been trying to locate the two ladies who came to my aid at the time and looked aer me sowell and stayed with me until the ambulance came. One of the ladies put her jacket under my le arm because the groundwas so hot. I really want them to come forward so I can thank them personally. Linda Jones, Lunsford Lane, Larkfield
If anybody would like to come forward, please email me and I will pass on your details. Response by Stephen
‘Link trips’ a nonsense
Dear Sir – Regarding the article on Page 19 of the January edition of Downs Mail, I would like to call into question the comments made by Land Securities spokesman Simon Hoare, specifically to ask what planet he lives on. The following comment attributed to him calls into serious question his ability to understand shoppers and their habits. He says: “Proposals for a bus service would encourage shoppers to make ‘link trips’ into town.” This was part of the planning application and is only one of many examples within that application as to why this application must be rejected. Who is going to shop at Newnham Court and then traipse into town with their shopping by bus to do more shopping and then get the bus back to wherever? If he feels that after shopping at say, Waitrose, shoppers can leave their purchases in their cars, assuming they arrived by car in the first place, (and of course pay the necessary car parking fees at town centre rates that are part of the planning application) and get the link bus into town, do some more shopping and return by bus to their cars, just how does he expect frozen food that may have been purchased at Waitrose to remain frozen? Also, what do the police have to say about this idea, as the site would become a haven for thieves? Even if goods are in the boot and out of sight, thieves will know that some cars may contain expensive clothing etc from Debenhams. Ian Stuart, Coppice View,Weavering
I had to laugh when I read your letter, Ian. The notion that a great number of people would park up atWaitrose, buy their food and then board a bus into Maidstone is indeed highly unrealistic. The suggestion that shoppers will make link trips into town is an example of a developer “playing the game” and coming up with something to make planners happy. One would hope that Maidstone Council does not use this suggestion as a ground for its decision. I would like to think you are being a little paranoid about the link trips attracting thieves, however, but perhaps the criminal mind does think in such ways. Response from Stephen
Balance to be applauded
Dear Sir – The Downs Mail’s drive for editorial political balance at election times
(Mail Marks) is to be applauded. If only all local newspapers were so balanced – I have now given up on local newspapers, who are suckers for blatant and unending political propaganda. Martin James, Maidstone (by email)
Thanks Martin. Unlike most of the national newspapers, we don’t ‘back’ any political party but simply lay out the positions of political parties and allow voters to decide. Response by Stephen
No hope for cricket festival?
Dear Sir –WillMaidstone Rugby Club’s decision not to relinquish its lease before expiry in 2016 now mean the much-loved annual Kent cricket festival will not return to TheMote? What a huge gap this leaves in Maidstone’s social life. Roger Love, Loose.
Kent Cricket Club still says its wish is to return to The Mote if ground facilities are modernised. TheMote CC says the rugby decision will cause a delay – but the club hopes to modernise facilities by 2017. Response by Dennis Fowle
More money for prevention
Dear Sir – I was 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. News reports also referred to how people in the area received little or no help from the local authorities. This was disgraceful. In addition to my sadness, I was angry that this was permitted 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 scenes we have witnessed this week 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
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