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Get on with our local plan MailMarks


WITH just a few days until the


elections on May 7, I stick to my forecast that no one party will have control of Maidstone Council. Myfervent hope is that all councillors


will bring a new determination of co- operation to Maidstone’s greatest need – agreeing a local plan. National government, whatever the political colour, will insist on a massive growth in residential development throughout the country and Maidstone will have no option but to meet a set target. Currently the evidence-based figure is 18,600 for a period up to 2031.A Government inspector willwant to see where those houses will go – or acceptable evidence for a lower total – before approving Maidstone’s local plan. And KCC is saying it cannot, in any case, provide much of the additional vital infrastructure to support this growth. Maidstone’s local plan has been a mess


for such a long time. Policy has proved largely impossible to set due to these pressures, and when individual applications come before Maidstone’s planning commiee, national policy-based recommendations from planning officers are often overturned by politicians.


We were lied to about road


Dear Sir – I have the right not to be intimidated regarding theAverenches ransom strip. Wewere misled and lied to, despite promises made before the houseswere ever built.Wewere still being lied to when Weavering Street was quite correctly closed off, aswewere still under the impression thatAverenches Road would be fully opened.


Concerns regarding pedestrian safety


would be easily addressed by crossings. BothAverenches Road and Grovewood Drive have pavements on both sides, plus wide grassed verges. They have clear visibility in both directions. You could have a dozen safe crossings without affecting local housing. Regarding the small play area next to the ransom strip, in the five years I have frequently walked past it, including three times thisweek, I can count on one hand the times I have seen children playing there. Regarding "significant improvements" at the New Cut/Kims roundabout, none of the drivers I have spoken to agree with this statement. Exactly the opposite in fact. One even said he would like to bulldoze the ransom strip one night rather than use that roundabout. As to the pollution of a residential area, I am sure the residents of The Landway and many other areas of Bearsted would love to know how your area alone apparently achieved the status of being a designated


Contact our team ...


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


34 Maidstone East May 2015 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


DENNISFOWLE President dfowle2011@aol.com


The cost to us taxpayers of expensive planning appeals can be massive – and without an agreed local plan in place developers will expect many victories. Maidstone Council now reverts from the cabinet system to commiees. I believe this is more to do with politics than speed and efficiency and I amnot sure the perceived greater democracy for all elected councillors will speed up the local plan procedures. I fear not. I hope there will be real urgency among


both Maidstone Council and KCC to take the tough decisions which will lead to real progress before the end of this year. Mywish is to see evidence to reduce that


18,600 figure and perhaps KCC can be influential due to massive problems of providing infrastructure. But I thinkwe are only talking around the margins. The one significant answer is a new sustainable North Downs community close to Maidstone’s key transportation structures – the M20 and the main rail line.


pollution-free zone. I amdelighted so many agree with a radical, immediate, and dire need for traffic/speed control/pedestrian safety issues along Bearsted Road and particularlyWare Street to be addressed immediately. Jean Beaton, Hill Brow, Bearsted


Keep to leads rule


Dear Sir - Bearsted Woodland Trust provides a fantastic resource for the local community andwe should all be grateful for the hard work the volunteers put in to maintain it.


Unfortunately, the actions of a small minority of dog owners prevent many of us from enjoying it. The trust has put a lot of thought into its new “dog zones” policy, which provides areas where dogs can be walked off lead and somewhere they must be kept on the lead. Having the “dogs on leads” area is intended to allow everyone to visit without the fear of a bad experience with dogs. I ama dog owner, but I know from my


own experience that some dogs just don't reactwell to others, and many small children, elderly and infirm people, find even awell-behaved dog bounding up to them very frightening. So this is a plea to all dog owners –


please be considerate towards other dog owners, children and the elderly. Even if you think you have awell-behaved dog, not everyone loves him or her as much as


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Sporting successes 


I think a big new parish of “Downsview” could be a very popular place to live.


Deplorable dirt IALWAYS feared the general election


for Maidstone and TheWeald would be one of the dirtiest around. Some of it has been very devious – but recognisable. I stick to my forecasts – the Tories to hold Maidstone and TheWeald and Faversham and Mid Kent – and another hung Maidstone Council.


IT has been a good winter for top Maidstone sports clubs. Pride of place must go to Maidstone United for topping the Ryman League and winning promotion to National League South (currently Conference South). The turnaround in the past three years has been magnificent and the folk of Maidstone have turned out so strongly in support. Could Football League soccer ever return? It is a mighty challenge but the dream lives on. How good too to see Maidstone Rugby Club climbing back. They won promotion after an unbeaten season in London 2 South East. It is a long haul back for a return to the National League – but what a promising stride.


you do, so please keep your dog on a lead in the zoned areas – there is plenty of space allocated for off-leadwalking. Barbara Dunford, Cross Keys, Bearsted


Decision not incompetent


Dear Sir – I resent the claim made by Graham Farrow in last month’s Downs Mail that Bearsted Parish Council is incompetent. Its decision not to hold Music on the Green this yearwaswell considered and very practical and sensible in the circumstances. We have very limited resources. There is


so much else that Bearsted Parish Council is legally required to do and does in a highly competent manner, as evidenced by what is regularly reported in the Downs Mail. The council has always stated it would


be happy to work with volunteers prepared to organise such an event in the sameway that the Bearsted and Thurnham Fayre Commiee runs the annual fayre. If the parish council wished to appoint a commercial event management company to organise Music on the Green, local government rules require that it could only be done through an open and fair tendering process or that such a company comes forward with a request to hire The Green at a commercial rate. The parish council has never received such a proposal. Mr Farrow should get his facts right. Richard Ash, chairman, Bearsted Parish Council


Comment


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