downsmail.co.uk


there is so much to test electors just now in our very troubled worldwithout irrelevant nonsense. MrsMPatel, Maidstone, by email


Stagger school times


Dear Sir – I have four children – twowalk to Maplesden Noakes and I take two to school at StAugustine Academy because they have special needs and cannotwalk a great distance. As a parent, I think it is so much beer for schools to stagger their start and finish times as it would be chaotic if all schools finished at the same time. What about school clubs and homework clubs?We are not talking about a great time difference and would it not benefit the bus services to have a staggered service, so as to avoid distress for our children who are trying to get on an overfilled bus due to demand? This would be like trying to get on the London underground during busy rush hour times. The system works. I do not feel that the


bus company has a right to complain and why should parents challenge the schools? Perhaps they are looking at their profit margins and trying to disguise it as caring about the children'swelfare. Mychildren do not rely on a bus service


More houses proposed for


rural location A PLANNING application has been submitted to build 13 homes on land south of Lenham Road, Headcorn. The proposal for land east of Thatch


Barn Road includes amenity space and a new footpath along Lenham Road to the junctionwith KnightsWay. The scheme is in outline form, but


only its landscapingmeritswill not be determined by Maidstone Council. Asupporting statement said: “Public footpathKH606crosses the site andthe proposal is to retain this link between Lenham Road and Grigg Lane, but in amore direct and beneficialmanner. “A new footpath will be created on


the southern side of Lenham Road, di- rectly opposite footpath KH587 which runs north of Lenham Road. The new footpath will run through an open amenity area through the application site and linkwith the woodland at the rear of the recently built two new houses (formerly Kent Cottage). “This link will form part of an open


buffer between the village and new housing development as proposed by SLK Ltd andWealden Homes..”


Crime meetings TWO crime prevention events were held inYalding in November to advise residents on how they could protect their homes. Officers provided advice and handed out crime prevention leaflets and propertymarking kits. PCSONicola Morris said: “Last year


Yalding experienced heavy flooding and although crime remained low there was concern locally about the safety of residents’ properties.”


but I regularly drive past a chaotic bus stop filled up by one school on a daily basis. Jo Cates, by email


Bus boss’s eye on profit


Dear Sir – I fundamentally disagree with Norman Kemp’s assertion that all schools should finish at the same time. The only logic behind his claim appears to be increased profit for himself. Varying school times ease some of the congestion on our roads and availability of car parking spaces – especially where there are several educational establishments in one area, such as the Oakwood Park complex, or the area around Maidstone Girls Grammar School, Maplesden Noakes and Brunswick House Primary School. Julia Ba, Charlton Street, Fant


Work with schools


Dear Sir - In response to the bus companies’ complaints about varied school times, I think the buses would be even less reliable if the schoolswere all the same. There would need to be a lot more buses running at exactly the same time to accommodate all passengers. Even now, children are unable to sit for large parts of


the journey and I know of several examples where children have been told they cannot get on a bus because it is full. My daughter’s bus has driven past her without stopping and is often so late that she has had to give upwaiting and return home for a lift to school. Sometimes the buses are a lot earlier than their stated time but they neverwait at the stop until the time they should depart, so anyone who has not arrived early misses their bus. Instead of whining about the schools, the bus companies should be working with them to provide a public transport service that is reliable for all users. I don't think bus companies could cope with the volume of passengers if all schools needed a bus at the same time. Jackie Dixon, by email


All on the road together


Dear Sir – It makes sense for all school times to be the same so that everybody knows where they stand. People travelling at school opening and closing times will then change their times if possible to avoid making the buses even more crowded. TonyWilson, Larkfield


Team won’t be shouting about award


MAIDSTONE Council’s enforcement team has been highly commended in the John Connell Awards, run by the Noise Abatement Society. The national awards recognise


those judged to have been outstanding in their efforts to reduce noise nuisance. The teamwas entered into the


local authority category for the Cares (Community Aware Responsible Establishment Scheme) project – a voluntary scheme for licensees that gives them the means to regulate themselves, to avoid any unnecessary visits fromthe local authority about noise, and to manage their establishments in a responsibleway. The council’s cabinet member for


the environment, Cllr Marion Ring, said: “This iswell-deserved recognition for their hardwork with establishments in Maidstone to keep noise pollution to aminimum, and to reassure residents that the


Maidstone Council staff with their John Connell award


establishments involved are not just thinking about their business but also their community.” Some 35 bars and clubs in Maidstone borough have signed up to Cares. Each business is provided with amanagement toolkit, containing a noise management


plan and guidance on reducing the risk of complaints. Any businesses that would like to


sign up to Cares or that would like more information should call 01622 602202 or send an email to enforcementoperations@maidstone. gov.uk.


Village homes plan ‘too suburban’


ALL 11 members of Maidstone Council’s planning committee voted to refuse a proposal for three four-bedroom detached houses on land west of Eastwells, Kenward Road, Yalding. The development would have led


to the removal of 12 trees, including a 10m lime and 6m golden birch. Cllr Steve McLoughlin, a local bor- ough member, said building on this location could set a dangerous precedent, as itwas outside the vil- lage envelope. He added: “We will be getting


applications in for homes near any rural villages and we will be pres- sured to accept.” Cllr Tony Harwood, a member of


the committee, said: “I am very concerned that this project into open countryside is very suburban in style. If it were being built in GroveGreen it would be acceptable but on the edge of a historic village is very different. “Hedgerows will be removed, hardstanding, cars and other para- phernalia will be introduced and it will change the type of landscape.


The land is as flat as a pancake and you will be able to see it from a dis- tance day and night. I am sure we could achieve development here, but I amnot sure it’s this one.” Cllr Paulina Stockell, another member of the committee, agreed. “It’s overbearing and quite big in- your-face housing.” Councillors voted unanimously


to refuse due to concerns about mass, design and layout as well as the loss of hedgerows, trees and other natural features, all causing harm to the open countryside.


Maidstone South December 2014 33


Comment


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