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I won’t be betting on election MailMarks


MAIDSTONE faces most unpredictable


elections on Thursday, May 22 – and I look for some clues. The headline is that opposition parties


need to win probably four seats from the ruling Conservatives to deprive them of overall control. In a town historically not given to major changes it is a big task, with only 20 of 55 seats up for election. UKIP will be a major player in Maidstone elections for the first time, especially as they are held on the same day as European elections. How many residents will place a double UKIP vote? I expect a strong protest vote favouring UKIP in the European elections – but feel a vote for them in local elections is awaste. UKIP performed strongly in last year’s


KCC elections and is now the official opposition. Could this happen in Maidstone? It is very unlikely – but Maidstone could have its first UKIP councillor or two. Their votes could also decide the outcome in manywards. The Labour flag is also flying more strongly again in Maidstone. The party had no seats at all until one victory in 2012. The group will hope to add another one or two in May. The Greens make lile impact, but they too aract votes that could sway at least one seat. The Lib Dems will be defending nine


seats and must make gains if they are to be in a position to win control of a council via


cope with developing these areas? Can we please have some common sense in the issues raised above instead of negative comments?


There are so many solutions to problems, but politics appears to get in the way of sensible progress. Is progress about geing more council taxpayers into a given area or is it about creating a more comfortable and peaceful life for all? Stewart Harding, Parkway, Coxheath


ACULTIVATOR for a red combine harvester was stolen from a field in Headcorn Place Farm,Water Lane, Headcorn. Apetrol-driven go-kart was stolen from


the outbuilding of a property in Maidstone Road, Marden. Ared Peugeot 306 car was stolen from


the unofficial car park at Staplehurst Station, Station Approach, Staplehurst.At about the same time at the same location, there was an attempted theft of or from a Cherokee Jeep. The previous day there was an attempted theft of or from a Daewoo Matiz parked in this car park. Afence panel was stolen from the garden of a property in Herts Crescent, Loose. An attempt was made to illegally enter a


home in Friday Street, East Sutton. Agrinder, socket set, sander and a gas


torch were stolen from a workshop in Couchman Green Lane, Staplehurst. Apetrol lawn mower and petrol strimmer/brush cutter were stolen from a residential garden in Maidstone Road, Sutton Valence.


DENNIS FOWLE President dfowle2011@aol.com


coalition deals. They have been campaigning hard and believe there is enough discontent with theway the local plan is evolving to see them home. But they did themselves no favours by puing politics ahead of their responsibilities to residents by boycoing scrutiny of the local plan. The Lib Dems now really struggle in national polling forecasts and they will hope their past ability to punch above their weight in Maidstone still holds good. They have an experienced and popular leader in FranWilson, who has challenged some rebellious campaigners andwon a massive vote of confidence from her group. But would she have a dependable, responsible team shewould wish to try to hold together as the cabinet? The UKIP/Labour impact will alsoworry the Lib Dems. The Conservatives know they are in a


real bale. They too will be veryworried about the UKIP/Labour impact. They would prefer not to be involved in the election run-in with a difficult local plan with a massive housing number driven by Government policies. But they feel they have met a difficult and vital challenge to


Plan was no threat to tree


Dear Sir – Regarding a story in the April edition of the Downs Mail headed Tree protected, I live at Dolly Bees and submied a planning application last year. and the lime tree was never under any threat.


It sits on a grass verge, and is not even on my property. It’s important to state that Cllr Roger Levi and I were the only two who spoke


progress our desperately-needed local plan and publish considered proposals for public consultation. That tough buck has currently passed to us. They point to their record in a cash- strapped recession and claim with sound leadership they have achieved major economies while retaining quality local services. And in that depressing period they have achieved major Maidstone improvements such as upper and lower High Street, Mote Park and Cobtree Manor Park and a new King Street car park. If they did lose controlwouldwe notice


any major changes in Maidstone? It is the way of theworld that the parties vary lile on the vast majority of decisions the council must make. The Lib Dems believe they can cut the


local plan housing number by almost a half – dangerous thinking not supported by evidence at a time when the need to get the Government to authorise a local plan is much more important to Maidstone’s future than this form of politicising. We need the Tories, Lib Dems and KCC


towork diligently together to try to persuade a more modest decrease in that 19,600 evidence-based figure, probably on major infrastructure problems. I forecast through all this uncertainty


and turmoil the Tories will scrape home, perhaps via a coalition. But I will not risk your money on it – let alone mine!


in favour of a permanent protection order being placed on the tree. The parish wanted the tree protection


order to obstruct the development of my large garden. It has never and will never be removed now Cllr Levi and I have got the permanent TPO. We have resubmied the same plans with a full arboriculturalist report to protect the tree.This tree was never ever under any threat from us. Graham Pick, Malling Road


NeighbourhoodWatch Working to reduce crime. Call Crimestoppers 0800 555 111 or local police Garden tools and a brown Canon cooker


were stolen from a back garden shed in South Road, Marden. There was an attempt to steal an Ifor


Williams trailer from a driveway in Smarden Road, Headcorn. There were five suspects, all males, who drove off towards Headcorn village in a Mitsubishi Shogun. Apetrol lawn mower and a Bosch strimmer were stolen from the shed in a rear garden in Hurst Close, Staplehurst. Cash was stolen from a home in Love


Lane, Headcorn. An attempt was made to enter a home


in Vicarage Road, Yalding, causing damage. One of the suspects was described as male, 16-20yrs, 5ft 6ins tall, stocky, wearing a stripy black hoodie with hood up and grey tracksuit bottoms. The other was described as male, 16-20 years-


old, 5ft 5ins tall, slim with hood up. Awhite Astra car was stolen from an allocated parking space in Chantry Road, Marden. It was later recovered, but a child seat and mobile phone were stolen. Ahome was illegally entered and searched in Bankfields, Headcorn. Nothing was reported stolen. An attempt was made to gain entry to a


barn in Lees Road, Laddingford, causing damage.


PROTECT YOUR HOME


ALARMS FROM £495


+VAT Maidstone South May 2014 37


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