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raising the possibility of congestion or accidents. Since the new KIMS roundabout has been


in place, the traffic flow along Bearsted Road to the M20 or New Cut Road has improved significantly and to say by openingAverenches Road there would be a great saving in fuel consumption is questionable. Is it a beer environmental option to increase the traffic flow through a residential estate as opposed to a road with very few houses on it? By opening upAverenches Road it would


create a second option for residents of Grove Green wishing to travel to Ashford via Bearsted Green. I believe this would increase traffic alongWare Street even more. John Norman, Bearsted Park


Walking is the answer


Dear Sir – I am strongly opposed to Jean Beaton's idea of openingAverenches Road. I have lived in Fulbert Drive since 1987,


and am more than happy to drive along Ware Street and Bearsted Road to the New Cut roundabout. I tend towalk when shopping at Tesco


Grove Green, as it takes less than 10 mins. Mike Judson, Fulbert Drive


Make safety a priority


Dear Sir – Whilst I sympathise with Jean Beaton, I see the issue around opening Averenches as secondary to the use ofWare Street as a cut-through. I agree that the time has come for a review of traffic levels in Ware Street . The road from Roundwell into The Street


and thenWare Streetwas designed to take local traffic. Surely the debate should centre on this


road being for residents and visitors only, and not as a cut through to the M20. The solution could be to close the road at


the junction ofWare Street and Hog Hill. This would cause some inconvenience, but this would need to beweighed up in terms of commercial and local impact. It would, however, solve the traffic volume issue. Terry McGinty, Bearsted


Don’t put children at risk


Dear Sir – I am assuming that Mrs Beaton has also done a survey of the children who crossAverenches Road and Grovewood Drive North to get to infant and junior schools in Thurnham and Grove Green, and those travelling to the train station or bus stops for secondary schools. This is before adding in those families


wanting to cross the road to the playgrounds. I agree that traffic needs to be slowed on


the main roads, but am at a complete loss as to how this will be achieved by opening up Averenches Road. The one-sided argument presented in


your article is a disappointment to me as a long time reader of the Downs Mail. Just what exactly is your and Mrs Beaton’s real angle on this? Name and address withheld


Contact our team ...


Stephen Eighteen Editor stephen@downsmail.co.uk 01622 734735 ext 231


Diane Nicholls


Assistant editor diane@downsmail.co.uk 01622 734735 ext 232


Jane Shotliff


Journalist jane@downsmail.co.uk 01622 734735 ext 233


Dawn Kingsford


Journalist dawn@downsmail.co.uk 01622 734735 ext 233


Maidstone East April 2015 37


I requested reader’s views on this story to ensure that other sides of the argument were aired. Thank you for your contribution. Response by Stephen


Music festivalwelcome


Dear Sir – In response to Mr Hacke’s leer in the Downs Mail regarding the Ramblin’ Man Festival in July, I have to disagree. I also live near Mote Park and am very


happy to have this festival on my doorstep. As for the noise, I do not believe it is an outrage to have these events once or twice a year. In fact, it is a great opportunity to put Maidstone on the map. These festivals bring benefits to the town. We are very lucky to have this great park


close to us. I believe it is importantwe make the most of it. Perhaps all the events and gatherings that take place in Mote Park do not suit everybody’s tastes, and I amsure that during the year there are more non- festival events that do generate a high level of noise. But this is a park where individuals, groups and families gather together and have a good time, and this festival will not disappoint on that maer. Brian Penaloza,Weavering


Commercial collaboration


Dear Sir – In the February Downs Mail you printed a quote from Feria Urbanism refuting the suggestion it had a commercial relationship with Hillreed, the developer whichwants to build 80 homes in Court Lodge Road – a very sensitive site in the Harrietsham Neighbourhood Plan. Feria is working with Harrietsham Parish Council to produce the neighbourhood plan. Perhaps Feria’s Richard Eastham could explain why Hillreed is listed on hiswebsite as a “client and collaborator”. We are also expected to believe that when


Mr Eastham and Hillreed's planning consultant, Alister Hume, spent a day at another Hillreed site in Sussex they did not discuss the Court Lodge Road site. Finally, on the inside front cover of the neighbourhood plan consultation there is a supportive statement from Alister Hume. Glenda Dean, Harrietsham Glenda, Mr Eastham insists that the only collaboration between the two companies was a day spent working together in Sussex, and not in relation to the Court Lodge Road site. Response by Stephen


Kims coverage an advert


Dear Sir – Iwas confused when reading the February issue regarding the amount of space given to the private hospital (Kims). Awhole page of free advertising seems extremely generous on the part of the Downs Mail. Everyone should have a choice of where/how to receive medical treatment but I feel promoting a private hospital in this way is biased. As far as I amaware this is a private hospital, the purpose of which is to recoup


the original investment and make profit for the investors and therefore not a facility which is available to a large proportion of the population and free at point of treatment. EMGreenwood, by email


Our feature led on an item of news: the announcement that Maidstone could be the first place in Britain to have the new neuro rehabilitation village. It was also felt timely to include an update on


Kims, given that lile had been wrien about it since the official opening last spring. This coincided with the hospital’s own announcement that it had just carried out its first open heart surgery – again, a legitimate news item. It is not true to say that Kims is purely a


private hospital. The hospital has gradually extended the scope of its provision and, from April, will become part of the NHS “choose and book” service, available to all. These articles were in keeping with the comprehensive coverage we give to NHS maers. Response by Stephen


Speed camera not for safety


Dear Sir – The speed camera inWillington Street, near the Church Lane junction, is not there for safety. It is set after passing the School Lane junction, not approaching it. Situated at the top of the hill, drivers slow


down and once past, they increase their speed and on approaching the boom of the hill speed up. I contacted KCC, the police and Maidstone Council about three years ago and suggested that if the speed camerawas set near the boom of the hill, all traffic would slow down to 30mph. I have heard nothing. I ammore than willing to have a site meeting to explain my reason for concern. David Bolton, Tichborne Close, Maidstone


Event should be protected


Dear Sir – Sadly, and yet again, the community of Bearsted is reminded of the parish council’s incompetence. We have been informed by the parish council that it is incapable of staging Music on the Green. While this decision is not a surprise to many, it is incredible that councillors have ignored offers of free help from a local community events company in staging the event. This would have benefited the people of Bearsted and saved the council’s admission of incompetence. It has also been stated that local people did


notwant Music on the Green. There has been no aempt to consult the community. This is a unique community event that needs to be protected. The fact that other councils do not offer


such a fantastic event is not a valid reason to cancel Music on the Green yet again. Maybe councillors should consider whether their contribution on the council is in the best interest of the community or themselves. Graham Farrow, The Street, Bearsted


Comment


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