downsmail.co.uk
Starting with the leisure centre and Maidstone Bowls Club premises all built on part of the park, not to mention the retirement village and the park and ride, Maidstone has more than enough restaurants, coffee shops and cafes. Every time you go into town there’s a new one opened. We need the park, a green open space. I
think certain things are good ideas such as the adventure playground and a new cafe, which could be built near where the old one is by razing all the buildings in that area.
However, the park can be enjoyed by simplywalking round it. Why is it people seem to need things to occupy themselves with? There is nothing as pleasant and refreshing as awalk in a green open space. S Johnson,West Park Road, Maidstone
Leave Mote Park alone
Dear Sir – In the recent edition of Downs Mail you asked for readers’ comments about Mote Park. Having lived in Maidstone all my life I
have seen Mote Park change, but I’m afraid a lot of the recent changes have not been for the beer. Many of us appreciate the peace and tranquillity of the park and the nature which makes its home there and would like it to remain that way, without the need for even more building and commercialisation. Yes, perhaps it does need a new cafe, but
only because the present onewas built with such a definite lack of forethought and planning and one of the biggest problems has always been the lack of management control. I have been in the cafe at least three times only to be told I couldn't have a cup of tea as they had no milk. On another occasion during the school holidays the only ice creams they
A BRIDLE and other items were stolen from a shed in Dean Street, East Farleigh. A white Reliant Robin was taken from outside a property in Lower Road,West Farleigh. A lighting bar was stolen from a van on
the driveway of a property in Linden Road, Coxheath. A vehicle was scratched while parked in
Oak Lane, Headcorn. A fence at a mobile phone site in Vanity
Lane, Coxheath was damaged and cable was stolen. Fuel was siphoned from two vehicles in Maidstone Road, Headcorn. A bag was stolen from an unlocked van
in Chegworth Road, Ulcombe. A garage was broken into at a house in Shenley Park, Headcorn and various items were stolen. The padlock and chain securing an area out-
side a block of flats in John Day Close, Cox- heath was cut to gain entry. Hanging basketswere taken from the gar-
den of a property in Palmers Yard, Head- corn. A Ford Transit van parked in Meades
Close, Marden was broken into and an aempt was made to steal it. Nothing appeared to have been taken. A Vauxhall Astra parked in Chaplin
Drive, Headcorn was scratched. A van parked in Holmesdale Close, Loose was broken into and tools were
Mote Park - keep the peace
hadwere the very expensive ones. Needless to say, a lot of the mothers weren’t too impressed with this and none of this is hard to sort, but unfortunately that is the way it always seems to be. Even when the tickets for the free Party
in the Park were being distributed they got the postcodes wrong and, although itwas paid for by the people of Maidstone, most of the tickets actually went to people living in Medway. In this modern stressful world, a lot of people love to escape to the peace of the park and do notwant this interrupted by Segways, noisy model boats etc. There are already too many cars in the park and one has to be very careful when taking small children or dogs over there. Less environmental damage might also
give the nature of the park a chance to recover. I know there has been a lot of talk about provision for nature but most of us long-term residents have sadly seen it all decline over the years. Ifwe don’t all help protect it, unfortunately it will disappear altogether. This is one of the few places in Maidstone wherewe can make a difference and I definitely think we ought to limit the damage. Whilst I do not agree with the car- parking charge, this is only because I do not feel it is fair that car owners are being expected to contribute towards the cost of a
new cafe and toilets whilst the huge number of people whowalk to the park make no contribution.Will they not use the loos? Unfortunately as I live just too far from the park towalk there, I do feel unfairly penalised. I do love Mote Park and care passionately about its future. I resent all these commercial ventures. I met a number of mothers at Gillingham Strand last year and they were moaning about the fact that they couldn’t come to Mote Park during the summer as they had several small children and didn'twant to spend the entire day being pestered by their children to be allowed in the fair! I did complete the survey when asked at
the park, but let’s face it, the questions were worded to get the answers they wanted – not to get honest answers and opinions. Mote Park is not a London park and I for
one, whilst I do appreciate the path round the lake, would suggest hands off everything else. Leave us to enjoy it just as it is. Jean Howland, by email
Council tax error
Dear Sir – Your story on council tax in the recent edition of Downs Mail quotes that the average council tax bill for a band D property in the current year is £1,089.99 This is wrong – that is just the Kent County Council portion and is not the total of what people have to pay at the moment. Added to this are precepts for Kent
Police, Kent Fire and Rescue, Maidstone Council and the local parish council. So, as an example, my bill for a band D property (just an average three-bedroom semi) in Coxheath is £1,584.28 this year. I do think you should make this clear
and quote the correct total figures. PeterWelfare, by email
NeighbourhoodWatch Working to reduce crime. Call Crimestoppers 0800 555 111 or local police taken. Fencing panels were taken and damage
was caused at a premises in Lenham Road, Headcorn. There was a break-in at a caravan outside a home in Barrel Arch Close, Marden.A list of stolen property was awaited. A quad bike and tools were taken from
an outbuilding at a property in Shingle Barn Lane, Yalding. Various items were stolen in a break-in
at a home in Church Green, Marden. A window was damaged at a property
in Maidstone Road, Yalding. Tools were taken from a shed at a property in Haviker Street, Collier Street. A vehicle was broken into in North Down, Staplehurst. A vehicle was scratched in Orchard Crescent, Nelestead. Items were stolen from a property in Couchman Green, Staplehurst. The number plates were stolen from a
VW Polo in North Street, Suon Valence. Three chickens, a Bell cement mixer and a Honda generator were stolen from a
farm yard in Clapper Lane, Staplehurst. Items were stolen from a car in North
Street, Suon Valence. A property in Chart Hill Road, Chart Suon was broken into and electrical items were stolen. A shed was broken into at a home in
Lower Road, East Farleigh but nothing appeared to have been taken. Cables and wires were damaged on a
car parked in Cobfields, Chart Suon. A shed in Dean Street, East Farleigh was
broken into and items were stolen. Heating oil was taken from a premises in Bishops Lane, Hunton. Graffiti was painted on a property and cars inWilberforce Road, Coxheath.
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+VAT Maidstone South March 2016 31
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