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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 and his knighthood is richly deserved. 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


Lights are embarrassing


Dear Sir – Does anybody else feel that the traffic lights at the junction of Madginford Road andWillington Street in Bearsted are an embarrassment? Does KCC honestly believe that they are ef- ficient? They are the opposite; they totally fail to have proficient use to us, the public. They cause unbelievable delays and back-


ups onto the A20 to the north, and to the south past well past School Lane – and not only in the rush hour. The Madginford lights are totally responsi-


ble for very unacceptable delays; let’s not hear excuses about the road in Leeds, which came after their installation. Would it not be beyond the realms of com-


mon sense to quickly remove the lights? I sug- gest reshaping the corners on the Mote Park side of the Madginford junction and build a simple offset roundabout, slightly to thewest, with two pedestrian crossings. This would not only be safer but would fa-


cilitate the future increase in traffic and allow free-flowing traffic locally as well. The subsequent efficient southbound traffic


would create a possible problem at the junc- tion of Willington Street and Deringwood Drive, but the answer would be similar to the above: create space for the roundabout on the


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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 IHAVE joined the army of people who


Deringwood Drive side of the road, of which there is ample for a roundabout. Both of these remedies would not only cre-


ate a smoother flow of traffic but provide a traffic-calming safer environment. This should be paid for by recent mistakes


made by the original “expert planners” (I use the term loosely) who have stuffed up. They have made, recently, a rather large


basic mistake and should have the good grace to admit it. Peter N. Smith, Downswood


No time for music?


Dear Sir – Regarding Cllr Geoff Licence and his wife making complaints about other members of the parish council at a cost of £25,000 to taxpayers so far, was he too busy making complaints that he didn’t have time to organise the annual Music on the Green? Lovers of this event remembered this


when he stood for election to Maidstone Council and voted accordingly. George Trotter, Mynn Crescent, Bearsted


George, you may recall our story from April 2014 that Bearsted Parish Council voted to abandon the 2014 show after its community


are 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.


committee, chaired by Cllr Geoff Licence, failed to organise it in time for the expected event date of the late May bank holiday weekend. The parish council is hopeful the event can


take place next year. Response by Stephen


Council complaints


Dear Sir – In the article about code of conduct costs in Bearsted (July 2014), you state that three of the code of conduct complaintswere thrown out. This is not true, as the monitoring officer,


in consultation with an independent person, “decided to resolve them by other action”. Your article also states that Paul Fisher,


the monitoring officer, “does not believe that there has been a breach of the code of conduct”. Again, this is untrue. You have also reported that the complaints are only about the fireworks display in 2013. Again, this is untrue, as the complaintwas also in relation to Music on the Green and theway in which some councillors have behaved. My hope is that councillors will adhere to the code of conduct and


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