downsmail.co.uk
Conservatives Chris Garland
WE believe the Conservatives provide strong leadership in dif- ficult times, and we're proud of our record in Maidstone sincewe took control in 2008. The borough is now independ-
ently rated one of the most suc- cessful economies in the UK. The council has been run effi- ciently and effectively, with in- vestment in the town centre, Mote Park and the museum, despite vast Government funding cuts. Thousands of new jobs have
been established in Maidstone, in- cluding the Maidstone Medical Campus and KIMS private hospi- tal at M20 Junction 7. Importantly, the recycling rate
has improved from a paltry 14% in 2008, to over 50% today (in- cluding a pioneering approach to food waste recycling, which is now being copied across the country). We are getting sound planning policies in place to protect valued
UKIP James Rosier
UKIP candidates are ready to work for the people of Maidstone. UKIP's localmanifesto, which is accessible online, aims to ensure all local councillors are empow- ered to implement what the Maidstone peoplewant. UKIP's national policy is to cre-
ate local democracy by providing local referendums on major greenfield housing developments and key service provision deci- sions. Our candidates will ensure that hard-earned money is spent efficiently by reducing waste and bureaucracy. UKIP will strive to reduce coun-
cil tax by challenging highly paid executives, not front-line staff and services. Our candidates will be prepared to take necessary and hard decisions to resolve Maid- stone's traffic congestion, improve bus services and increase employ- ment opportunities. Our candi- dates will strive to protect local businesses and jobs. UKIP is the only party whose
Labour Malcolm McKay
EVERYONE knows times are tough at the moment. Prices are going up and family budgets are being squeezed. But the Tory-led Government is pressing ahead with reckless cuts, which will put more pres- sure on families and hit the serv- ices run by local councils on which people rely. Our area needs councillors who
will stand up against these plans – not councillors from the Con- servatives and Liberal Democ- rats, whose leaders are taking these decisions. The Conservative-led Govern-
ment’s choice to make the deep- est cuts in the first two years means that some of the toughest decisions have to be taken this year and next. We need to make sure that the
most important frontline services in our area are put first, by peo- ple who understand local needs. That is why every Labour coun-
cillor you elect will be your com- munity’s first line of defence against the damage being done by a Conservative-led Govern- ment and their Liberal Democrat allies. If you can help us, please email
sec@maidstonelabour.org.uk.
Maidstone Town May 2014 27
Independents Fay Gooch
INDEPENDENT councillors are exactly what we say we are: free of party politics, free to challenge and to ask the difficult questions. We focus on local issues, lis-
countryside – while providing a suitable mix of homes and infra- structure to meet the needs of a growing population. Streets are cleaner, services leaner and tough decisions are being taken to keep Maidstone a great place to live. The local elections this year co-
incide with European elections, where UKIP is expected to do well. Our message is simple: your local Conservatives have worked very hard for you over the past six years – don't lose them to a Euro- pean protest vote.
ten closely to residents’ con- cerns and truly represent your views. Our aim is to safeguard and promote the interests of the local community and to do what is right for the borough of Maidstone. It’s about people, not politics. Our commonsense and practi-
cal approach to decision-mak- ing enables us to actively take the administration to task with- out the constraints of party lines.
Independents have been in- strumental in challenging the borough council’s use of wind- fall sites in the five-year supply of housing land, and in strongly resisting development at M20 Junctions 7 and 8. Independents care deeply about our green spaces and we
Lib Dems FranWilson
MAIDSTONE borough is at a crossroads. We can either take the Conser-
policies will enable our candi- dates to stand up for the people of Maidstone and protect your schools and hospitals from over- crowding, stop wages being driven down and tackle the hous- ing crisis with a first step by con- trolling immigration. We stand for common sense –
not political correctness and red tape. UKIP is the people’s party – We want people to have a say as to how their money is spent. Contact us on enquiries@ukip-
maidstone.co.uk / 07449 330 669
orwww.ukipmaidstone.co.uk.
vative road of over-development, with its bloated housing target of 19,600 homes (generating 117,600 extra traffic movements every day) or the local Liberal Democ- rat vision of less (but higher quality) development, which re- sponds to local, rather than re- gional, housing need. We will deliver quality new homes and decent jobs but strictly on our terms. This is be- cause we understand that Maid- stone Council is the custodian of local quality of life and of our fi- nite natural resources If we continue on our current disastrous course we will turn our precious corner of the garden of England into a traffic-choked concrete jungle. We will work harmoniously
with KCC, parishes, community associations and other partners, and really listen to residents
Local elections | News
actively support our parish councils. We enthusiastically believe in the important role of independent retailers and the vital contribution they make to the success of the town centre and to the wider visitor econ- omy. I ask Downs Mail readers to
put aside any frustration with mainstream parties, and instead to use your vote and come out in force to elect your Independ- ent candidate, the only credible alternative at this year’s bor- ough council elections.
across town and country. Maidstone Liberal Democrats understand why our citizens are sick of politics with a capital P and of expensive municipal proj- ects while other frontline serv- ices suffer.We are determined to introduce tough and common- sense leadership to protect local quality of life. In short our three priorities are: quality of life, fairness and a sus- tainable economy. Read more about them at
www.maid.lib.dem.
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