downsmail.co.uk More bungalows please


Dear Sir –With consultation about to start on how our borough will expand its housing, Iwas interested to see that a recent discussion has highlighted the needs of an ageing population. While I can understand the building industry being keen to maximise profits by cramming as many units as possible onto land, itwould also be good to consider the needs of people who may wish to move into a bungalow. There is a reasonable view that when


older people move from a large family home to a bungalow, it releases that larger home for families. However, itwould also be wrong to assume that two bedrooms suffice, as many couples in the older age groups have families who visit/stay and the third bedroom is oen a place where access to computers and the other parts of our modernworld take place, more akin to an office than a room described as a bedroom. There is also the point that bungalows are


not necessarily solely for older people – many people of all ages like the idea of a single-level property and this needs to have enough space to include families. It seems to me that nowwould be a good


time for our planning authorities and our councillors to give consideration to ensuring that the needs of all of us are provided for when new housing schemes are planned and built. Roger Hurst, Kewlands, Maidstone


Population control needed


Dear Sir –Well said, Derek Gould (Downs Mail April 2014) Instead of this constant wrangling about


the number of new homes, isn't it timewe looked at the need for population control? “Only when the last tree is cut down, the


last fish eaten, and the last stream poisoned, will you realise that you cannot eat money” (old North American saying?). Jill Hinde, The Boatyard, Maidstone


It would appear, Jill, that the quote does indeed have North American origins but has been popularised by Greenpeace in recent decades. Yes, overpopulation is a big problem globally,


and is becoming an increasing one locally. Forecasters predict that this country will experience food and water shortages through climate change, political upheaval and population growth this century. With this in mind, the ease in which agricultural land is being easily sacrificed for housing mainly in the pursuit of political and short-term economic gain is a short-sighted and potentially dangerous Government policy. Response by Stephen


Clean up roundabouts


Dear Sir – The state of roundabouts in Maidstone is an issue that is really bugging me, and the new roundabout near the Vinters Park Crematorium has set me off


Contact our team ...


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


30 Maidstone Town May 2014 Diane Nicholls


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


Jane Shotliff Journalist


jane@downsmail.co.uk 01622 734735 ext 233


Dawn Kingsford


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


afresh. It has a gleaming white-tiled trim with mock “arrows”, just like all the others around Maidstone. But just look at the state of these – the tiles have all turned black because they are not kept clean or maintained. So why repeat this failed design, or why not clean them? I rang KCC andwas told “there is no funding for this”. So, what about the prestige of the county town? Arewe really going to sit back and sele for such a disgusting state of neglect? Compare this with what you see in places


in France. There you see roundabouts that local people can be proud of. The genius who came up with the toilet


tile design has much to answer for and so will KCC if they are not maintained and allowed to become a continuing eyesore that is blighting the town. Patrick Clarke, by email


Patrick, I contacted KCC but it declined to comment. Response by Dawn


The Mall name confusion


Dear Sir – Regarding a story in the Downs Mail March edition, Iwas born in Maidstone and have lived in the area since 1935. Iwas a Maidstone councillor for about 10 years, starting in 1967. Iwas on the planning commiee of Maidstone Council when the River Lenwas covered by a development thatwe now have. The planning commiee took about half an hour to discuss the naming of the proposed development, and itwas decided to use Maidstone Borough as a source for the name. The planning approvalwas made with a condition that itwas called “The Stone Borough Centre”. Subsequently, under a Liberal-controlled council itwas given the name of the Chequers Centre. I wrote to the owners of the site some


time ago as I queried the name. Iwas told in a leer that The Mallwas the name of the street contained in the now Chequers Centre. Perhaps you could let me know your comments. If you are correct in calling it The Mall perhaps you could let me know the dates of approval of the subsequent names you specified. Before you use names in thisway you should check the legal aspect of them before you publish an article. Many of the local residents I know still refer to the development as The Stone Borough Centre and this is the legal name of the development, unless you can prove otherwise. I look forward to your comment. Gordon Savage, Aldington Road, Bearsted


Gordon, the shopping centre is one of a chain of six, with the others in Blackburn, Camberley, Luton,Walthamstow andWood Green. These are all called The Mall, which replaced The Chequers in Maidstone when current owner Capital&General took it over in September


2004. Response by Stephen


Let us speak our minds Dear Sir –We have to agree with Jean and Malcolm Beaton (“Comments not welcome”). We have always been happy to read Mr


Fowle’s comments in his Mail Marks column, even thoughwe might not agree with them. It is a mark of a free press that we are all allowed to express our opinions. However, the new leers page format allows the editorial team to commandeer this forum in addition to the Mail Marks facility andwe do not feel it is a progressive step. Your readership is an intelligent bunch,well able towork out what is going on andwe are afraid your responses do belile the valid views of those who take the trouble to write to you. For example: Response to Peter Edwards: “Your definition of an irresponsible councillor differs to mine.” Response to James Colle: “I expect the thinking behind the conversion of The Lime Tree to residentialwas that there are other places to eat nearby.” Response to Ian Stuart:well, all of it. All of the abovewere printed in the same column as Mr and Mrs Beaton’s leer. Maidstone Council does not listen to its electorate and publications like Downs Mail offer an opportunity to let other readers know they are not alone in theirworries. In the past, any responses by the editorial


team have been limited to a single sentence, possibly expanded in an actual column in the main body of the paper. Please restore this to the previous format. The public likes to read the public’s opinions in the Comment section; you have the whole paper to voice yours. Steve and Jeanne Gibson, Birling Avenue, Bearsted


Why was event allowed?


Dear Sir – Iwould like to enquire whether you will be reporting on the Loaded 2014 event at the Millennium Park. I live in Kerry HillWay and our liveswere


made a misery by the loud music and vibration. Numerous residents logged noise complaints, although it can take up to 10 days for a response. I and over 1,000 other people contacted


the police, only to be told the eventwas licensed and Iwould need to take it up with the council. This surely does not allow them to play


music at intolerable levels? It is a public park in a residential area. Residents in Allington and Barming le complaints on the council’s blog and there was concern for the impact on wildlife, with many nesting birds in the area. Sharon Thomas, Kerry HillWay.


Sharon, we have covered this event in our story on page 7 Response by Stephen


Comment


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