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Bite the bullet on local plan MailMarks


 AFTER years of prolonged agony and


painful controversy a Government inspector is now able to work at last on putting Maid- stone’s highly significant local plan to bed. Let’s hope he is successful. Because the


most dangerous reason for rejection is that Maidstone has set a target for residential de- velopment too low. Neighbouring Swale has learned how devastating that can be, as it goes back to the drawing board to find more hous- ing sites.


Maidstone needs this plan agreed urgently.


It helps put Maidstone Council in control of future development and is a defence against construction businesses wishing to build in areas not acceptable to us. The inquiry will be long and lively. There


are many pressure groups unhappy with Maidstone Council’s consultations and deci- sions mainly on housing, business growth and local transport. The council has spent many very difficult


years on this final draft and has had to balance local objections against its requirement to meet evidence-based needs. There are now many objectors hoping and expecting they will be able to present a case for major changes in the draft. The inspector will give them fair opportunity – but I amnot expecting many to be successful when the final decision is announced. This is, after all, aGovernment inspector en-


gaged by a Government very intent on in- creasing massively the nation’s housing supply. It is not even a party political issue.


Protect our countryside


ON Friday, September 30, Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council opened public consultation on its proposed Local Plan – the document that will guide development in the Borough for the next 15 years. Kent, indeed the whole of south east England, faces huge development pressures, particularly for housing. The Government-imposed Call for Sites exercise has identified more than 250 sites across the borough, put forward by landowners and developers. The Council’s initial assessment is that about half of these could be developed for housing and other uses. The developers of Kings Hill are proposing a massive expansion (possibly 3,000 to 4,000 houses) north across farmlands and orchards that threatens the seing ofWest Malling and East Malling, including three conservation areas and Manor Country Park. Developing a disused airfield for housing and employment made sense, but Kings Hill should not be allowed to expand over greenfield land simply because it is already there! This expansion is almost certainly contrary to assurances


Contact our team ...


Got something to say? Write to The Editor, 2 Forge House, Bearsted Green Business Park, Maidstone ME14 4DT or email simon.finlay@downsmail.co.uk


32 Malling October 2016 Simon Finlay


Editor simon.finlay@downsmail.co.uk 01622 734735 ext 231


Diane Nicholls


Assistant editor diane@downsmail.co.uk 01622 734735 ext 232


Dawn Kingsford


Journalist dawn@downsmail.co.uk 01622 734735 ext 233


DENNISFOWLE President dfowle2011@aol.com


Just about every MP agrees the country’s housing stock must grow massively. Locally we may not all agree with the out-


come of this inquiry and dislike decisions about to be made, but this inspector will be very conscious of Government demands – and we must expect most of his decisions will meet them.





Pay up for NHS THE top health authorities across Kent


currently look very hard at the NHS and say they want to make it beer and more cost effective. We all wish themwell – but I fear now they face an impossible task. There will be steps they can take. We are


likely to see much more work performed out- side expensive hospital environments and closer to our homes by NHS staff and social services. The danger is these professionals (such as our GPs) are often working under great pressure. We are also likely to see more hospital de- partments centralised – the old reconfigura- tions which caused so much anger in Maidstone when we lost women’s and chil- dren’s services (including maternity) and


given to local people at the time. Given the type and price of houses likely


to be built, it’s also unlikely to contribute much to solving local housing problems. My understanding is that borough planners are proposing that the Green Belt be extended east to the line of theWest Malling bypass – this is welcome but inadequate. Protection should be given to all the land between East Malling,West Malling and Larkfield to prevent these communities joining up in one large urban sprawl. I urge people who care about our countryside, nature, rural lanes and footpaths, as well as the housing needs of local communities, to scrutinise these proposals and make your views known. You can be sure that developers and other interested parties will be doing just that! Richard Bya, Police Station Road,West Malling


Time to move festival


I HAVE just found out through the Downs Mail that the Ramblin’ Man rock festival on the weekend July 23/24 was over the sound limit on five occasions on the Saturday.


major trauma and orthopaedic work to Tun- bridgeWells. We do not know yet what is in the minds of


the NHS budget-holders, but it seems the stroke unit in Maidstone Hospital is a target. Speed is now at the centre of stroke treatments and this must be a major factor. It could be that an extra 30 minutes of journey time makes sense if the specialist equipment and expertise is immediately available to all pa- tients. That is a debate ahead of us. After many years working closely as a jour-


nalist with local health authorities, I have come to the sad conclusion that the Govern- ment must now make some very brave (and unpopular) political decisions. We all value our NHS.We expect it to meet


our growing demands and support us in to a grand and healthy old age. But these expecta- tions come at an increasingly great cost at a time when the national budget is under im- mense pressures. There are those who will saywe must pour


our national funds in to the NHS at almost any cost. But there are so many demands on the national exchequer this just cannot go on. One way or another, a Government will


have to raise from us financial contributions if our demands are to be met. The NHS is NOT totally free now. We pay for dentistry, opticians, prescriptions.We are going to have to pay more or the NHS will continue to face massive problems which impact seriously on patients. We all have to understand this un- palatable truth.


As a resident of Grove Green,


Weavering, this can be really frustrating to listen to all weekend. Even with the windows closed, I could still hear the music. I enjoy going to concerts and I love live


music, but Mote Park is surrounded by houses and there is no sound-proofing, so the music can be heard from afar. I think it would be a good idea to move


this festival to the Detling Showground as this an ideal venue for parking, camping etc. I know the Social has been held at the showground for the last couple of years – yet I haven’t heard anyone moan or complain about the noise locally about that festival. Natasha Bastone,Weavering


Local news a click away


I HAD not realised all four latest editions of Downs Mail are now so easily and quickly accessible on the Downs Mail website. It saves me a fortune in postage to


relatives in USA,Australia and New Zealand. Josie Smith, Bearsted


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