downsmail.co.uk
Tunstall and Bredgar, near Sittingbourne have introduced very successful speed calming measures (humps, road markings etc) that don't even hinder agricultural traffic. These could be easily applied in this part of the lane. Surely, it can only benefit road users,
walkers and horse-riders who are in real danger. Or do we wait for a serious accident to happen before something is done? TPC has the following entry on its
action plan (available on its website) marked as high priority: “There should be a maximum 20mph speed limit on all roads in the parish apart from a 40mph maximum on the A20 and a 50mph limit on the A249 through Thurnham.” I’ve raised this issue several times to the councils – each time there has been no reply and no action. TPC seems impotent to act and would rather sit by and refer to other agencies. I invite the council to meet me, or perhaps sit and monitor the traffic in the lane, especially from 6am to 9am and 4pm to 9pm each evening. Perhaps they'll understand my real concern for people's safety. Lee Richardson, by email
Housing target myths
Dear Sir – Cllr Val Springett (September edition) quotes past omissions and mistakes of previous planners as justification for repeating the urban sprawl of Maidstone from Bearsted to Harrietsham and on to Lenham. Maidstone Council is being led by its unelected officials and is ignoring the duty of individual members to instruct the officers on housing targets. The council repeats the myth that central Government is dictating numbers, despite a clear letter from communities secretary Eric Pickles, and letters and a video from Sir Hugh Robertson stating this is not the case. These letters are published in full at
www.savelenham.org. Maidstone Council has ignored the comments of KCC about its original draft plan, which argues that “the housing target should be lowered to a figure of approximately 14,500. “Taking into consideration already approved/completed sites, and an appropriate allowance for windfall sites, a revised target for new sites would be a more realistic 8,640.” The document adds: “As urban settlements have grown larger, ‘edge of urban area’ extensions such as those proposed in north west and south east Maidstone are now located a significant distance from the town centre. KCC’s view is that this approach is unsust`ainable in infrastructure and planning terms.” Also, it has become apparent to KCC
that Maidstone Council has not listened to the parish councils concerning the development of housing allocations in the draft local plan. Parish and town councils, as well as residents’ groups and other similar organisations, can play a key role in developing the local plan. These groups are often best placed to know the issues relating to their area/village/settlements. Readers are urged to make up their own
minds on the evidence and not perpetuate myths. Mike Cockett, Save Lenham campaign
Mike, Maidstone Council’s housing target – previously 19,600, now 18,600 – was based on findings from consultant GL Hearn, which was employed by the borough to help produce its local plan. KCC leader Paul Carter disputed this figure
and commissioned a report from Peter Brett Associates to prove him correct. Despite a cost of £15,000, this report was never completed, although former Maidstone Council leader Chris Garland claims to have seen some of its contents, and that they agree with the GL Hearn figure. At the same time, there is a strong view that
the Government’s National Planning Policy Framework has effectively forced local authorities into allocating greenfield land for new housing. This is all worth remembering when politicians and authorities from the outside round on the borough council. If it was so easy to prevent housing on greenfield land, then perhaps Sir Hugh Robertson, who was a senior minister until recently, would like to explain why 27,000 houses on greenfield land have been given the go-ahead on appeal by Government-appointed planning inspectors in the past two years. Response by Stephen
Better routes for cyclists
Dear Sir – I am writing in response to the report in October’s Downs Mail report on September’s Joint Transportation Board meeting.
Unfortunately, the report was not entirely accurate and failed to include an essential part of my contribution to the discussion. Maidstone town centre is frequently crippled by traffic gridlock and suffers from excessive levels of air pollution. As more and more vehicles pass through, getting into the town has become increasingly difficult and unpleasant for pedestrians and cyclists. At the meeting we were presented with
a proposal to improve traffic flows through the town centre by eliminating the existing bridge gyratory. This new road scheme may reduce congestion but, as it stands, it does nothing for pedestrians and cyclists. At the meeting Cllr FranWilson and I stressed the need for the scheme to be refined to provide enhanced provision for pedestrians and cyclists to get into the town from the west. The subways are awkward to maintain, flood-prone and difficult to clear afterwards. They are not pleasant to use although I am pleased some refurbishment has recently been undertaken. Nonetheless many people, especially those with wheelchairs and buggies, find it easier or prefer to cross the roads at street level. In my view, the subways are not fit for purpose; we need to find better ways for pedestrians to get into the town centre. There is a dedicated eastbound cycleway on St Peter’s Bridge; this should be retained. However, there is no such provision for cyclists travelling westwards. At the meeting I noted that there are wide footpaths on both sides of the Broadway bridge. The southern side of
the bridge is the main thoroughfare for pedestrians, but the northern side is hardly used and doesn't need such a wide footpath. If this footway was reduced and the
roadways realigned it might be possible to create the space for a dedicated westbound cycle lane on the southern side of Broadway. If we can find the means to improve the provision for pedestrians and cyclists, then perhaps we really can reunite our “divided” town. Rob Bird, KCC member for Maidstone Central
Don’t ignore Lib Dems
Dear Sir – Attempts by the Downs Mail to downplay the Liberal Democrat challenge to Helen Grant would be comical if they were not so misleading. So Jasper Gerard, objectively the only candidate who can beat MP Helen Grant, is presented in your coverage almost as an afterthought. Meanwhile fringe candidates unlikely to muster more than a handful of votes are given huge prominence. At the last general election the Lib Dems received 36% of the vote in the constituency, coming a close second. Next was Labour in third on just under 10%. Ukip hardly even registered and still don't have a single councillor in the constituency. In Maidstone and theWeald the party
which came out on top by a clear 10% in May’s local elections was the Lib Dems. Since then they have beaten the Conservatives in the previously safe Tory council seat of Staplehurst. With Jasper Gerard working full time in
the constituency for two and a half years it would be refreshing if the Downs Mail recognised his commitment and chances. The Downs Mail enjoyed a hard-fought reputation for thoroughness and fairness. It would be a great shame if it were to sacrifice public trust purely because of an inexplicable admiration for Mrs Grant. BWGodding, East Farleigh
Mr Godding, the article you are referring to appeared in October (Election candidates announced) as information on the candidates for next May’s vote whom we had not previously covered. Because we had been informing our readers
about Jasper Gerard’s candidacy almost on a monthly basis since February last year, when he was chosen to represent the Lib Dems for Maidstone and TheWeald, it was deemed unnecessary to go into too much depth about his policies in this article. The same is true of Helen Grant, the Conservative incumbent. Once we are on the eve of the election, we
will invite the main candidates to outline their policies across an even spread of space for each of them. I try to ensure that all of our stories are politically balanced, so I am not sure which news article(s) you believe highlights an “inexplicable admiration” for Mrs Grant any more than any other politician. It is also worth noting that current national opinion polls suggest Ukip and Labour could be just as dangerous as the Lib Dems in challenging the 5,889 majority Mrs Grant achieved when she first contested the seat in 2010.
Response by Stephen Maidstone East November 2014 39
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