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 with 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


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


Contact our team ...


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


44 Maidstone East 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


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


Play area questions Dear Sir –As an ex parish councillor, I am regularly asked by residents of Bearsted “when is the play area going to reopen?” I find myself at a loss to answer. I resigned from the parish council aer


being harassed by vexatious code of conduct complaints – although nothing was ever found against me. Up to that point, I had been on the environment commiee and quite clearly remember quotes of around £30,000 being obtained to revamp the play area. That is more than a year ago. The surface had been poorly laid and


there were serious concerns about the uneven consistency of the play surface. However, parish council chairman and Conservative borough Cllr Richard Ash assured the council that he “regularly used the play area with his grandson and could see no problem”. Why, then, has it been closed, on the


advice from Maidstone Borough Council, for such an extended period? Because of surface failure. One excuse for the delaywas that the councilwaswaiting for a new clerk to try


and find a grant. Surely a grant just comes from another


tax? What, then, is the difference between the parish precept and another fund? It is aer all our taxes. We, the public, would just like to see this facility reinstated without bureaucracy. That is aer all whywe pay a precept – or premium – to live here. Could the play area be repaired soon? Is


an election due?Would this look good on an election flyer? I amtold several panels have been


kicked out from the back of the area and parents oen let their children play there anyway. The parish council is there as custodian


of our village. They have published a report stating the marvellous news that there is now £200,000 in the accounts. This is because nothing has been done in the village. I amsure Cllr Ash can show me my


errors – but having wrien e-mails to the now-in-place clerk and received no answer, I cannot be sure. Jon Hughes, Bearsted


Jon, this issue is covered on page 24, which is sponsored by Bearsted Parish Council. Response by Stephen


Thanks for bench work


Dear Sir – Iwas pleasantly surprised to see that some benches had been painted on Bearsted Green. Thiswas not a parish council project, though we might have done this eventually, so I assume that somebody has taken it upon themselves to paint the benches. It is nice to see people using their initiative and Iwould like to thank whoever did thiswork. Richard Ash, Bearsted Parish Council chairman


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, along with many 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 25. Response by Stephen


Comment


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