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the district, together with the new school at Langley Park due to open in September 2016. This will support capacity for the large amount of housing already being built in the area, together with potential further expansion subject to planning consent. However, the continued indigenous growth and inwardmigration will continue to present challenges and speculative planning applications will continue to be submied, which as we are witnessing, can be challenging and require solutions not only in education but in the provision of wider infrastructure needs. Gary Cooke, Kent County Council, (Maidstone South East)


See our education coverage on pages 4, 5 and 6 of this edition.


Many thanks to voters


I WOULD like to thank all those who voted for me in the Maidstone Borough Council elections. In addition I am pleased to be able to thank publicly all those who help so effectively inmy election campaign. For the next four years that I represent Bearsted, I will remember that I have: - been elected as a Conservative, holding Conservative values; - to reflect the opinions and views of the residents; - to check the quality of services provided by the council; - to check that the money provided by local taxpayers is wisely and effectively utilised. Thank you. Cllr Mike Revell Borough Councillor, Bearsted


Why we’re stronger as one


I RESPECT the views of local residents and encourage them to exercise their decision at the ballot box on June 23, for what will be I'm sure a very personal choice. For me, personally, there is a positive, patriotic case to be made for why Britain is beer off in Europe. Together we are stronger fighting cross-border global problems like climate change and terrorism. It is by no means perfect, but working together we have delivered decades of peace and prosperity and created the world's largest ever trading area, benefiting local businesses across Maidstone and our county. Cllr Emily Fermor Borough Councillor, Coxheath & Hunton


Let’s get it over with


PERHAPS I am in aminority but I am totally fed up with listening to the EU debate and the sooner the blasted thing is out of the way the beer, inmy view. The uncertainty of a possible Brexit is probably causing more damage than we realise as many businesses seem to have put everything on hold while the issue is still to be resolved. Allmy instincts are to say that we should


leave, as the EU appears to be amassive club for people with vested interests and lile interest in the people to whom their rules will eventually affect. Sadly, I can’t help thinking that, if the polling is broadly correct and 30 per cent


or so remain to be convinced one way or another, the vote is more than likely to swing towards remain as undecided voters are inclined to stick with the status quo rather than take a leap into the unknown. And that will be a terrible shame and a golden opportunity gone to throw off the shackles of an organisation so vast and so enmeshed with its own self-interest. Another referendum is highly unlikely to come along again any time soon. Somake your vote count. Phil Simms, via email


Liering a disgrace


REFERENCE Downs Mail May edition, regarding Terance Turner’s praise for the parish council and the state of the Madginford shop fronts. EitherMr Turner or the council cannot


have looked beyond the immediate shop fronts. If they had, they would have seen just how unswept are the guers thereabouts. The build-up of mess plus thousands of cigaree bus demonstrates how infrequently it is swept. It’s not the first time that I have wrien


to complain of this unsightly shortfall and it is no use complaining that cars are always parked thereabouts. If only the cleansing department could


get its finger out and learn when the area when the area is not so congested, because it is not always congested. Roy FWilsher, Blenheim Close, Bearsted


Dog owners a menace


IAMfully aware that the vast majority of dog owners love and care for their dogs, train them and keep them under control, clean up after them and dispose of their waste properly. However, there are irresponsible dog owners who – when the clocks go back – sneak out under the cover of darkness and allow their dogs to poop around the village and leave the mess where it lands. Often an unsuspected pedestrian will tread in it. Disgusting. Others allow their dogs to run free, chase


other dogs, jump up at people going for a quiet walk and sniff anybody who happens to be passing – usually in areas where they are not wanted – and they traumatise children and adults who are afraid of dogs. In Mote Park, where I often walk, dogs are amenace, running all over the place and geing under my feet. I have also come close to tripping over those stupid extending leads. The law is, however, on our side and


everyone should make themselves aware of the rules. J Richards, The Landway, Bearsted


Become a heart runner


I AM writing to invite your readers to sign up to be a British Heart Foundation (BHF) Heart Runner and help fight back against heart and circulatory disease. I signed up to become a Heart Runner last


year as I have such a close link to the BHF. I have a history of heart conditions in my family. My grandmother died from a ruptured aorta, my uncle had a double heart bypass surgery, and my dadwas diagnosed with aweak heart muscle in 2006.


My dad and uncle are just two out of


seven million people living with heart and circulatory disease in the UK today. In the south east, there are an estimated 920,000 people living with heart and circulatory disease and it is responsible for nearly 22,000 deaths each year. But the BHF is fighting back through its


life saving research. The BHF has funded decades of research to make sure more people survive heart surgery. I was so proud to run the London Marathon in 2015 to help the BHF push the fight against heart disease onwards Alongside thousands of amazing Heart Runners, who either ran for the BHF or took part in a BHF running event, we helped raise around £3.5 million for the BHF’s vital research into heart and circulatory disease. The BHF has a wide range of events for


you to choose from, whether it’s a 5k, 10k, half marathon or marathon, so you can easily find a challenge to suit you. By becoming a Heart Runner, you can feel proud to know that with everymile you run, you are helping fund the BHF’s life saving research. To find your perfect running challenge


and run for research this year, visit bhf.org.uk/runs or call the events team on 0845 130 8663. Oliver Proudlock, by email


Park and ride concern


IWAS dumbfounded to read in your paper that the council may spend ratepayers' money to improve traffic flows at Willington Street. Surely the decision to move the north


east park and ride toWillington Street must have been wrong, as that will have made the level of traffic increase? This smacks of "sequential decision- making". What will be the fallout of this expense decision?Answer: another problem that requires more expense and higher council tax.


David Prosser,Walderslade


Come on you Stones! MANY congratulations to Maidstone United on their promotion to the Conference or whatever it is being called these days. I cannot imagine the experience for the players let alone the fans for what was a very, very tense experience. I had to feel sorry for the Ebbsfleet fans as most football supporters will have experieinced that crushing disappointment from time to time. Personally, I was glued to BBC Radio Kent. Credit where it is due, the commentary team got across each and every twist and turn of what must have been a really exciting sporting spectacle. Now that the Stones are within touching distance of league status once again, let’s hope they have a blinder of a season. I understand the club has hopes of expanding the Gallagher Stadium to accommodate the many more fans who will be travelling to Kent for matches and perhaps bring a bit of a boost to the town and local businesses. Anyway, it is all good news.


Come on you Stones!


G Carter, Stones fan, Maidstone, via email


Maidstone Town June 2016 31


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