downsmail.co.uk Adual carriageway bypass from M20


Leeds via Langley, Loose, Barming and finishing at the M20 will alleviate the problem within the town and villages like Leeds and Langley. There even seems to be enough farmland to do it without disrupting residential areas. It is up to the KCC to organise and fund


this and not put it off for another 44 years. The longer it takes the more difficult and disruptive it will be. The borough council has stopped granting planning permission south of Maidstone to avoid adding to the traffic congestion. Too lile too late. Let us see how the new gyratory system improves things. If not, would the money have been beer spent on a bypass? Christopher Smith, via email


Immigration not the issue


IHAVE been canvassing on the EU referendum for the last twoweekends and feel that Dennis Fowle’s views and the correspondence he chose to use in his column do not reflect the debate that is currently happening. I have found that the Leaves and Remains


are very even, with the “don't knows” and “don't cares” being in the vast majority.My experience seems to be borne out in the local and national opinion polls. Mr Fowle’s correspondents seem to think


this is a referendum about immigration – it’s not, it’s about our place in Europe. However, a lot of people are talking about immigration. The last figures for immigration I saw gave a net figure of 300,000 per annum. Half that figurewas for non-EU migrants, who are either refugees or economic migrants. Our government could stop this immigration tomorrow, but it doesn't.


Stopping or slowing this immigration is


harder than you think, but it is aUK government issue, not an EU one. What about the other half? They come following the jobs, because that’s part of being in the single market. You can't have a single market without the free movement of capital and labour. If people are thinking of voting Leave to


reduce immigration, are they sure they are going to get that? I feel it is unlikely. Michael Gove says leave the EU and single market, but he is the only one saying it because the single marketwas our idea and we do verywell out of it. Ifwewere out of the single marketwe


could still buyBMWcars and Bosch tools, but the single market would become a more difficult place forUKplants like Toyota, Mini and their suppliers to sell their products and in years to come they would probably move their plants inside the single market to avoid the tariffs. Would the older generation care? Maybe


not, but the younger generation does care and it's not a surprise that younger people tend towards Remain, because they have more to gain. We are pensioners who have worked hard


and paid our dues. The moneywe paid in has gone to pay the previous generation's pensions. It's nice to think the free movement of labour is paying its share for our pensions. Now is the time for the younger generation's voice to be heard, so I hope they vote on June 23. Bill Banks, via email


The end for Cameron?


IAMa definite Leave voter, but a Tory supporter too. I can see trouble ahead for Prime Minister David Cameron. He took a gamble on the rise of UKIP by


calling the referendum in the first place and felt sure he could win. He knows if he loses, he is out, no question. But if he wins, he is left with the party split


over the single most toxic issue possible: Europe. He’ll have to go. Maybe not immediately but sometime soon. And that leaves us with another scramble


to find someone who can reunite the party after the divisions over Europe. Let’s hope they don’t choose someone like John Major for hewas the kiss of death. The smart money seems to be on Boris Johnson, whose charisma and ambition are not in doubt. But I’m not sure. The lustre around the jovial fellow seems to be fading somewhat. Perhaps the party should been looking to


the backbenches for its next leader. Anyone got any suggestions? PWarren, via email


Let’s get it over with


PERHAPS I amin a minority, 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, in my view. The uncertainty of a possible Brexit is probably causing more damage thanwe realise as many businesses seem to have put everything on hold while the issue is still to be resolved. All my instincts are to say thatwe should


leave, as the EU appears to be a massive 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 oneway 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. So make your vote count. Phil Simms, via email


Whywe’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. Togetherwe are stronger fighting cross-border global problems like climate change and terrorism. It is by no means perfect, but working togetherwe 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


Many thanks to voters


IWOULDlike to thank all those who voted for me in the Maidstone Borough Council elections. In addition I ampleased to be able


to thank publicly all those who help so effectively in my 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


Great care at hospital


DUE to all the bad press Maidstone Hospital gets, I would just like to tell you what fantastic care I received at Maidstone Hospital in the cardiac unit and Culpepper ward after I had a heart aack recently. The care I received whilst in hospital, and


at home, by the cardiac nurses could not have been beered anywhere else. JillWellbelove, 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. Either Mr 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 quietwalk and sniff anybody who happens to be passing – usually in areas where they are notwanted – and they traumatise children and adults who are afraid of dogs. In Mote Park, where I oftenwalk, dogs are a menace, 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


Maidstone South June 2016 31


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