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Hugh has much more to give MailMarks


IWAS disappointed to see the ministerial career of localMPfor Mid Kent, Hugh Robertson, coming to an end with his resignation aer nine months in his foreign office position. But Maidstone and Weald’s Helen Grant has been given a vote of confidence in the big reshuffle and continues as minister for sport, tourism and equalities. Hugh shone in his position as minister


for sport, which he held for three years and seemed to fit him like a glove. Quite rightly Prime Minister David Cameron now praises him for his dedicatedwork with Sebastian Coe to ensure the success of the London Olympic Games. It seems a knighthood is in the offing. Iwas surprised last October when Hugh


was reshuffled to a very different job as minister of state at the foreign and Commonwealth office. His responsibilities included minister for the Middle East, North Africa and counter terrorism. Hugh is high on charm and diplomacy – how he needed them in that daunting post! Hugh (52)was electedMPfor


Faversham and Mid Kent in 2001 and aer 13 years he has informed the Prime Minister (they entered Parliament together) “it now feels the right time to take stock with my family”. He is a very popular localMPand built


up a huge Conservative majority.He has still to make a decision about standing at next year’s General Election. Many locally


Roundabout is dangerous


Dear Sir –My concern is about the new road markings on the Running Horse roundabout at M20 Junction 6. These were altered in the first week of


April. This roundabout was quite dodgy before, but is now even more dangerous. Now the inside lane is signed left only


to Maidstone, leaving the right hand lane for all other routes. Most people completely ignore this sign, cutting across the road, usually at speed, and causing the drivers in the correct lane to brake. There have been some knocks already


and I don’t want a fatality to happen before something is done. We really need traffic lights here; also


the same problem occurs on the other side, coming fromAylesford, left hand only to M20, which is also ignored and people use it to go further round, causing great confusion. In addition, this right hand lane is restricted by a “keep left” bollard, just outside the Village Hotel, so this then causes a tailback here. If not traffic lights I’m sure a couple of cameras, and a few hundred pounds fine, would help considerably. Shirley Miller, by email


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26 Maidstone Town August 2014 Diane Nicholls


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DENNISFOWLE President dfowle2011@aol.com


will echo David Cameron’s comments: “I know you have much more to give in terms of public service – not least in continuing to represent your constituents.” Helen Grant has not been given an easy


ride by some elements of the press as she gains experience in her wide-reaching ministerial role. But her wisdom and energy have obviously impressed in Government. She has learnt a lot quickly about handling the media aer falling early on for a TV interview that turned into a quiz to test sport buffs. When they tried it on again aer England’s early demise at the footballWorld Cup she gave them very short shri. As an experienced journalist I know there are times you do not feed mischievous reporters. Iworked closely with Helen on the big campaign to try to preservewomen’s and children’s services in Maidstone Hospital. She showed remarkable qualities: devotion, energy and courage – talents that serve herwell now.


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Immigration impact I have joined the army of people who are


The work was aimed at improving safety because the Running Horse roundabout had been identified as the highest rated in Kent in terms of its crash record, with 27 injury accidents over a three-year period. This work included creating a new


road-marking scheme on the roundabout and its approaches; replacing and improving the approach road signs; and resurfacing the roundabout and immediate approaches, to completely remove the existing lines and extend the life of the roundabout. The work was to reduce circulating speeds


and reinforce lane discipline on the roundabout and its approaches, to make the roundabout safer and reduce the number of crashes. We will be regularly reviewing the


roundabout with our police colleagues to see whether further changes are necessary. Response by a KCC spokesperson


Footpath needs repair


Dear Sir –As a local resident and avid environmental campaigner I write to express my concern at the continued lack of action by the Environment Agency over the ongoing problems on the footpath between Teston and Barming Bridge.


increasinglyworried about the impact of immigration.Aclose friend bent my ear on concerns for Maidstone. He said hewalked up Gabriels Hill on a


busy shopping day and did not once hear English spoken or used in a mobile phone conversation. He had his hair cut by a charming young lady – but for the first time he could not converse in English with his hairdresser. He is awell-travelledworldly person


who has played and followed sport with many nationalities – certainly not a racist. I see myself in the sameway. I know I have chosen to live and stay in


one of the most overcrowded areas of Europe. Iwould never leave – but how muchworse will the problems grow? I see the 19,600 target for new homes in Maidstone between 2011 and 2031 as ridiculous, but it seems this is an evidence- based figure for Government needs. Immigration and free movement


dictated by the EU create much of this need. The impact on our lives is enormous in so manyways – andwe are increasingly seeing in Kent what has been evident in many other parts of England. The message to politicians now seems to


be coming over very strongly in Britain – and can no longer be ignored. The Parliamentarians once fought a big


and successful bale on Gabriels Hill. It is strange that my friend’s comments should be centred on that same hill.


The footpath was made accessible to all


and a new path laid to create part of the Millennium walk between Teston Country Park and the Millennium Park in 2000. This once-nice walk has been turned into an unusable and dangerous path due to the damage caused to the footpath bridges during the New Year floods. While the floods subsided many months ago, the Environment Agency doesn’t seem to have any plans to repair the footpath and bridges, making the path inaccessible to the elderly,


children and disabled who all previously enjoyed this scenic route. The concerns of local people who are disgusted about the state of the current footpath seem to have been ignored for the sake of saving a few pounds. I and many others are willing to work


with the Environment Agency to return this footpath to its previous state by helping to put the footpath


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