downsmail.co.uk


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


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 that was covered in the public inquiry in explaining to your reporter one aspect of whywewere appealing the decision, ie the inspector appearing to put weight on Cllr Harwood’s 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 he was. 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


Congestion no surprise


Dear Sir – Iwas not in the least bit surprised to read that Maidstone has one of the highest single-occupancy car usage rates in Kent. Is it Maidstone Council’s and KCC’s intention therefore, with the proposed construction of 842 new homes south of Tovil, to make the town’s roads so congested that no-one has any alternative


A pleasure to support Mencap


Dear Sir – One of the pleasures of being an MP is that I get the chance to see formyself the work of local charities, and when needed, lend support. Recently, 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 and was invited to join in with a Christmas card-making session. Squeezing into one of those little nursery chairs, I helped an enthusiastic three-year-old assemble her card. There were felt-tip pens, fluff, glue and googly eyes, but just likemy own daughter, her favourite thing was the glitter. 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, as well as committed volunteers. The volunteers do brilliant work and the


service gives carers amuch-needed break. One mother told me her child had loved the playgroup when she was younger and had


but towalk or cycle? But, in Tovil at least, with its one road


into town, no cycling infrastructure whatsoever, woefully inadequate bus service and no train station, what do they expect? Simon Goodwin, Farleigh Hill, Tovil


Road news such a relief


Dear Sir – I recently aended the Maidstone JTB meeting, witnessing politics as it should be. Therewas a mix of tough talking, factual statistics and people power. But most welcoming of allwas a unanimous vote to proceed without delay, work on the long- promised, long-overdue Leeds-Langley relief road. Therewas a unanimous vote to work together and source the funds to build it – this, after over 30 years of campaigning, is wonderful news for all who have suffered, residents and road- users alike. KCC and Maidstone Council have


proved it is possible to work together for their shareholders, the electorate. Nowwe must all continue to ensure these promises materialise with our planning and highway authorities working in union. The residents of our county town deserve nothing less. Jenny Suon,Willington Street


Truckers’ parking must stop


Dear Sir –With regard to your article on lorry parks for HGVs, Paul Carter’s statement about truckers having nowhere to go when their tacho time runs out is totally unacceptable and misses the point. These people should be adequately planning their journey so their time doesn’t run out when they are on a motorway or trunk road and then just simply stop on the


thrived as a result. Although her child is now at amainstream school, she continues to volunteer for the charity as a way 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, MP for Faversham and Mid Kent


emergency hard shoulder for overnight parking. These people are not stupid, as no action


is taken. It has become all too easy for them to just pull up and park illegally in this way. Kent then becomes a very convenient jumping-off point for their onward cross- channel journey. I have had communication with the Chief Constable of Kent Police andwas told they are turning a blind eye to this illegal parking. How can that be right? It is widely recognised by various authorities that the emergency hard shoulder is a dangerous place to be and yet this parking practice is being allowed to flourish and indeed is spiralling out of control. On a journey late yesterday evening I counted 34 HGVs parked nose to tail on the hard shoulder and this did not include others parked on the slip road entrance and exit to the road Iwas travelling on. It doesn’t leave much imagination to


work out what they do with all their waste in the morning before they set off – imagine the build-up night after night after night. I shudder to think what would happen in


cases like this if therewas a major multi- lane accident – how would the emergency services get through? I amsure many of you will recall a few


years ago, in the Midlands, a lady stopped on the hard shoulder for a few minutes to read her map as shewas confused about the junction ahead. The police arrived and prosecuted her because she had stopped on the hard shoulder and they deemed it wasn’t an emergency. How can the authorities square that incident with the illegal HGV hard shoulder overnight parking currently widespread in Kent? Eric Pennington, Whitchurch Close, Maidstone


Maidstone East January 2016 35


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