downsmail.co.uk Less talk, more action


Dear Sir – The ladies of Kent fulfil an important role in society, maintaining an administrative competence in the political arena with dignity and tenacity. The real challenges of Maidstone revolve around transport into and out of the town rather than just housing. The planning appeal process appears to delay progress rather than stop it; local political parties have no real final say. House-builders and developers have the


law on their side but the legal and consultation process adds costs which must be passed on to customers. It is a ludicrous system that slows our economy. Prey fields stretch across the country,


not just Kent; our county has few unique natural contours/landscapes that can save our land from the developers. There must be someone in politics that can think outside the box. The ladies in Kent don’t appear to be those femalewarriors to drive up standards across the region and county. The Conservatives are seeking to remove


the annual state current account deficit by 2020, but if our national cumulative debt continues to increase at the rate it has over the past five years, the nation will be seeking to reduce a boom line close to two trillion pounds on the balance sheet. House-building will generate income, employment and tax collection that is essential to our national survival. Perhaps Cllr Tony Harwood has missed


the point that the closure of the Russell Hotel reduces income into Maidstone. The Royal Star Hotel had the right location for a retail shopping experience but closed a generation ago. Where are the first-class hotels in Maidstone? Kent has Leeds Castle and Mote Park, neither of which come from the great political minds in this county. If the people of Kent oppose solar farms


Contact our team ...


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


A TABLE and two chairswere stolen from the front of a pub in Dean Street, East Farleigh. Garden furniture was stolen from a busi-


ness premises in Heath Road, Coxheath. Cherries were stolen from a farm in Gal-


lants Lane, East Farleigh. Oilwas stolen from a tank at a property in


Linton Hill, Linton. Roofing materialswere taken from a build-


ing site in Kings Road, Headcorn. Awindowwas smashed at a home in Lin-


ton Road, Loose. The spare wheelwas stolen from aMini in


Forge Lane, Headcorn, by a man who ex- pressed interest in buying the car. He was said to be white, in his 50s, about 5ft 10in tall, overweight and with amoustache. He had a South African accent. A window was smashed in a break-in at-


tempt at a home inMaidstone Road,Yalding. Amaple tree was damaged by a car being


driven across the garden of a property in Oak Lane, Headcorn. The rear number platewas taken from a car


in Hampstead Lane, Nelestead. A boat baery was taken from the marina


in Hampstead Lane, Yalding. A fence at the back of a home in Alen Square, Staplehurstwas damaged. An outbuilding in Lees Road, Yalding was damaged but nothingwas taken. A mobile phone was stolen from a van parked in Goudhurst Road, Marden. Wood was stolen in a break-in at an out- building in Lees Road, Yalding. A green N-registration Land Rover De-


fender was stolen from a car park in Station Approach, Staplehurst. Scrap metal was taken from a garden in Pikefish Lane,Yalding.Awhite vanwas seen in the area. Damagewas caused to a resident’s fence in Maidstone Road, Staplehurst. A shed was broken into on allotments in North Street, Suon Valence and a can of


petrolwas stolen. Items were stolen from a car parked on a


driveway in Grasslands, Langley. Intruders got into a car in Captains Close,


SuonValence but nothing appeared to have been taken. Acarwas broken into in a car park in Gul-


lands, Langley and stereo equipment was stolen.


ALARM NOT WORKING? WE SERVICE ALL MAKES & MODELS


CALL 01622 880751 ALARMS & SECURITY LTD


Maidstone South August 2015 33 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


NeighbourhoodWatch Working to reduce crime. Call Crimestoppers 0800 555 111 or local police


becausewe don’t like the reflection or they look ugly, what will help to pay the national debt?We moan about everything and do nothing but preserve the ordinary. We stifle business rather than encourage it. Maidstone remains in a permanent gridlock – the traffic jam oozes throughout the morning and the evening bumper-to- bumper period grows. The county and the nation require revolution. The revolution is in thinking, rather than just saying no. Compliance of the status quo will not do


if you have to breathe the air in the town centre; discussions on the state of the local NHS will not fix the problem. House- building needs more thought than objection. Ifwe accept austerity, perhapswe only


need one MP for Kent; perhapswe only need 325 MPs in the House of Commons. We have an extortionately-expensive political system. Perhaps the politicians need to look at themselves before culling every government department and worker outsideWestminster. Shouldwe sell the BBC?Will that cover our NHS deficit?We are all responsible for the deficit. Iwish the ladieswell in Parliament, but I


doubt any of today’s issues will be addressed to the satisfaction of the people of Maidstone. They are the same issueswe had in 2010.We will just have to grin and bear it. Richard Maryan, Coxheath


Cows are theway forward


Dear Sir –I note your front page story about solar farms. I amcertain Boughton Beefsteak would


be a very acceptable alternative! We are keeping Limousin, Charolais and Belgian Blue cale, all with very large double-muscled hind quarters. FergusWilson, Boughton Monchelsea


More chaos on the way


Dear Sir –Maidstone has only one bridge in the town and that results in traffic chaos. It is no one’s fault, but what do Maidstone Council’s planners do? Agree to huge housing developments in


the Hermitage Lane area of Barming, as well as Coxheath and Park Wood. Reaching Maidstone hospital in a hurry


for ambulances will be a miracle. As it is, Hermitage Lane is usually jammed from 3.30pm until 6pm and the additional homes in Coxheath will create a far heavier strain on East Farleigh bridge as drivers try to avoid the town centre. More traffic at Coxheath will also filter


down, adding to problems at the Linton crossroads and the Wheatsheaf junction, which will also have to deal with the extra vehicles from Park Wood. There doesn’t seem to be any practical solution, but you have to wonder whether the planners considered the impact that more construction will have, a few hundred yards along the line? Part of the Hermitage Lane area comes


under Tonbridge and Malling and it would appear that as it is in a pocket, well away from its main centres but will attract extra rates for that council, it really does not care about the traffic implications for Maidstone. In such a crowded place isn’t it time for councils to talk to one another? Ron Stubbs, Maidstone


It is not just on traffic where Maidstone could do with the help of other councils. The borough’s 18,560 housing target


between 2011 and 2031 could be reduced if another nearby local authority agrees to make up the shortfall by allowing additional homes. Good luck with that one! Response by Stephen


Comment


Crime reports


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56