downsmail.co.uk


next few words it says “except for guide dogs”. What can an ordinary pet bring in from outside that guide dogs can’t? People whowalk their dogs regularly


make sure they are properly trained and are clean andwell-behaved. I would never leavemy dog outside. I


used to go on holidays with her and most seaside cafes would let her in and she would always sit under my chair. P Durant, Flood Hatch, Tovil


Push for a bypass


Dear Sir – I read with disbelief comments made by KCC leader Paul Carter, who complains that Maidstone is one of the most congested towns in the South East, and is building too many houses and states that it sometimes takes him 15 minutes to get off his drive! Is this the same Cllr Paul Carter who is supposed to have Kent Highway Services under his control? KHS never seems to object to any planning application for housing in Maidstone and its lack of objectionwas recently stated by a government inspector as one of the reasons for allowing housing off Cripple Street (overlooking the Loose Valley), despite this area of South Maidstone suffering from appalling traffic congestion. If Cllr Carter really thinks that housing


development in Maidstone should slow down, he should exercise proper control over his own officers and also push for the construction of the long-awaited Leeds/Langley bypass. Malcolm Luxton, Chestnut Street, Borden


Parking at park a done deal


Dear Sir –A documentwas placed in my mailbox thisweek entitled "Consultation on a proposal to introduce car park charges in Mote Park". After reading, itwas clear that this is not a consultation document or a proposal. The document is a missive stating what Maidstone Council has already decided will happen, what the parking fees will be, the times they will apply and when they will come into operation, without council tax payer consultation in any form whatsoever. I believe Maidstone Council is again looking to use the motorist as a cash cow, using every excuse in the book to try to justify the charge.


Needless to say, I amagainst parking fees


of any kind in Mote Park. The park is there for the enjoyment of all townspeople, paid for in their council tax. Regarding town centre parking and the


park and ride, Maidstone town centre shops and restaurants are always complaining about loss of business to out-of-town malls. May I suggest that Maidstone Council seriously investigates scrapping parking fees in the town and park and ride fees? This will then offer shoppers what the out- of-town malls offer their customers. It could be tried for a period of say, one


year, and if successful, extended. I amof the belief that the additional shoppers it would aract would more than compensate for the loss of fees. Maidstone Council would aract more business rates and the empty shops in the town centre would disappear – a win-win situation.


Michael Lilewood, by email We will ensure your views are taken into account in our consideration of the introduction of parking charges for Mote Park – both in your view of the process that we are undertaking and the principle of charging. Response from Alison Broom, chief executive of Maidstone Council


Sacrifice remembered


Dear Sir – In a world which once again is in turmoil and unrestwe should, at the 100th anniversary of her death, pause and reflect on the life and work of nurse Edith Cavell. We should remember her heroic sacrifice,


her heroism, her fortitude and her humanity in her work and life. She, with many others, fought the typhoid epidemic that came to Maidstone in the summer of 1897. In 1915 she again rose to the challenge


and worked tirelessly for the wounded from all sides, during what is now known as the GreatWar (WorldWar I) and paid for her duty with her life. At a memorial service in London itwas


said: ”The crowning horror of the treatment of womanhood is the atrocious murder of this woman, who lived to alleviate suffering and who only did what any one of us would have done in saving the lives of refugees who sought shelter of a home.” Aswe commemorate the anniversary of


her deathwe should remember her supreme sacrifice and how she has set the world an example of howwe should bear ourselves in a crisis. We should remember and reflect on her


words given in the few hours before her execution. “Patriotism is not enough – I must have


no hatred or bierness towards anyone.“ Cllr David Picke, Bower Street


Town losing identity


Dear Sir – The concern of Maidstone people over the mass housing projects now under way and the astonishing neglect of the inevitable infrastructure problems which will follow is verywell-founded. In addition, Maidstone is visibly losing its unique identity as a real county town and the ancient capital of Kent. If it is not to become just another suburban mass of housing, cars, choked roads and mile-long traffic jams, central government pressure for yet more and more bricks and mortar must be resisted. If it is not, real places like Otham, Bearsted, Boughton Monchelsea and Loose will exist only in memory. GFrench, Marion Crescent, Maidstone


Not my words


Dear Sir – Regarding your front page story “New challenge to M20 J8 snub”. It is a prey good summary of my telephone discussion following a call from your reporter. There is, however, one detail that is incorrect. Itwas not me who, to use your term, “labelled” Cllr Tony Harwood “a self- confessed enthusiastic amateur”. I merely mentioned something thatwas covered in the public inquiry in explaining to your reporter one aspect of whywewere appealing the decision, ie the inspector appearing to putweight on Cllr Harwood’s


Supporting Mencap


Dear Sir – One of the pleasures of being an MPis that I get the chance to see for myself the work of local charities, and when needed, lend support. Lastweek, I visited Maidstone Mencap,


which supports people with learning disabilities and is itself in need of support from the community. I turned up in the middle of morning playgroup andwas invited to join in with a Christmas card-making session. Squeezing into one of those lile nursery chairs, I helped an enthusiastic three-year-old assemble her card. Therewere felt-tip pens, fluff, glue and googly eyes, but just like my own daughter, her favourite thingwas the glier. My visit coincided with playgroup, but Maidstone Mencap provides services for individuals of all ages who have special needs. There’s also a youth club with table football, pool and a summer barbecue for teenagers; and regular bingo nights, quizzes and outings for seniors. They have special equipment including a sensory room and expert staff, aswell as commied volunteers. The volunteers do brilliant work and the service gives carers a much-needed break. One mother toldme her child had loved the playgroup when shewas younger and had thrived as a result. Although her child is now at a mainstream school, she continues to volunteer for the charity as away of giving back. Mencap’s building, Cobtree Hall, is an old church on the edge of Mote Park. It’s a lovely spot, particularly in summer when the children can play outside, but the building is in desperate need of repair. The lift is broken and the roof needs to be fixed. AndrewWells, the charity’s president,


told me the repairs will cost about £100,000. I’ll be supporting the charity in its campaign to raise the money, and I encourage you to get involved too. Visit maidstonemencap.org to find out how you can help. Helen Whately,MPfor Faversham and Mid Kent


Maidstone Town Xmas 2015 29


opinion whilst seemingly ignoring expert evidence. The subject of Tony’s experience and qualificationswas covered during his cross- examination at the inquiry. Tonywas asked whether hewas an “enthusiastic amateur” without formal qualifications in a particular subject and he agreed that hewas. I would appreciate it if you would put the


record straight in the next edition as your article rather unfairly suggests rudeness on my part. Nick Yandle, chief executive, Gallagher Group


Comment


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