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A camera onworrying times MailMarks
I AM sad and worried that Maidstone
Council is now looking at another major fi- nancial saving by cutting back seriously on the number of CCTV cameras covering the town centre. They werealongtimecoming–notwith-
out controversy over ‘spying’ – and their sub- sequent expansion and operation were carefully considered. But they were quickly accepted, especially
after several early successes. Nowthe council, facedwith having tomake
yetmore savings as Government support con- tinues to diminish, is targeting many of the cameras. Some may produce less results than others – but it is impossible to judge which ones will really hit the jackpots. I feel Maidstone is a much more secure
place by day and night with these cameras watching over us. It is yet another sad episode in the long
story of financial difficulties and severe cuts since the last Labour Chancellor of the Ex-
Roads just can’t cope
FURTHER to the articles on pages 8 and 38 of the November 2016 Downs Mail, can I point out that KCC Highways have created a Leeds & Langley bypass by upgrading Willington Street road surface, from C road status to anA road status and placing a weight restriction on the B2163 – a cheap fix in comparison to a full bypass. The increase in traffic between the A20
and the A274 in both directions has risen dramatically since completion of the upgrade. At rush hour, it is not unusual for the tailback of traffic to stretch from the Madginford traffic lights back to the A274. I asked KCC Highways when they were upgradingWillington Street, if they were proposing to alter the road layout at the Madginford/Mote House traffic lights, by introducing a second lane northbound to release the traffic queuing behind traffic turning right into Madginford andwas told there have been no accidents at this location to justify alterations. It can take 20 minutes to get from Northumberland Road to the A20 Ashford Road in the morning or afternoon rush hours, a journey that takes approximately four minutes in normal circumstances. With the two housing developments on
the A274 at Park Wood, and there are other developments to follow which will link Langley to Maidstone, the traffic flow can
DENNISFOWLE President
dfowle2011@aol.com
chequer left the note that the country’s money had run out. I will never forgive Gordon Brown and his Labour government for finan- cial mismanagement. The pain for some is still growing and for
most there is a fall in quality of life. I increas- ingly feel this in and around Maidstone and it is getting tougher. Very worrying times.
Soldiers’ farewell I have very mixed emotions about the
news Maidstone will lose our military pres- ence in about 10 years. There is a long and proud history (229
years) includingmore recently the RoyalWest Kents, Royal Engineers and Gurkhas. I have
only increase. How long will it be before the last two
park and rides are closed for housing developments? Is it not time that Maidstone Borough Council took their heads out of the sand and looked at the overall picture and realised that the town’s infrastructure can't cope with all the proposed housing developments? Rob Leach, via email
Why not bypass the town?
REFERENCE the Leeds-Langley bypass – why stop there? Go all the way, past Coxheath and re-join the M20 somewhere. This may (no, would) upset a lot of people, as would Maidstone with a mono-rail network with sufficient park and rides and no bus lanes. I’ve just found a book of Maidstone 1949,
and a celebration of its town charter. It spoke of an 18-hole golf course and an open-air swimming pool for Mote Park – we didn’t get either of these. David Green, Eddington Close, Maidstone
Rays of light in prison
RECENT reports of prison violence have reminded us that prisons can be very dark and harrowing places. Thankfully this despair and violence has not pervaded all prisons.
very fond memories of all the tremendous support given as the finishing point for the massive Kent Messenger 50-mile overnight walks in the 1960s. In so manyways they will be missed. But their departurewill open new opportu-
nities for valuable land so close to the town centre and I suspect this will lead to a more prosperous and socially-cohesiveMaidstone. Maidstone Council has had its eye on this
site for some time as a development area. That wish will come true.
Thank you Tony Our thanks are due to Tony Jones who
took over the really hot seat as chairman of Maidstone and TunbridgeWellsNHShospital trust not too long after the C-difficile infection scandal saw the death of around 100 patients and the demise of the former chairman and chief executive Rose Gibb. He led the team which restored faith in our local hospitals - no easy task.
A couple ofweeks ago Iwas privileged
to be invited to aend the carol service at Maidstone Prison. Itwas an enlightening experience which overturned many preconceptions of prison life. Aswewere taken through the countless
locked doors and gates,wewere reminded of the grim reality of being incarcerated behind bars. But once the multi-national, multi-lingual service began, bright rays of light shone throughout the Chapel of the Good Shepherd. The choir performed with passion, originality and no lile skill; the inmates in the congregation joined in with gusto and commitment; and Bishop Trevor gave an inspiring address. Itwas a genuinely heart-warming and
truly memorable service but the best was yet to come. Afterwardswewere allowed to mingle with the inmates. Itwas such a joy to meet so many of these men, all good humoured, all appreciative of a few words of friendship and all with a remarkably positive perspective on life. Earlier the Bishop had reminded us that,
even in the despair of being stuck in prison over Christmas, there is a ray of light. These gentlemen showed that there are indeed some bright lights shining in the dark recesses of Maidstone Prison. Let’s hope that these lights continue to
shine. Rob Bird, Liberal Democrat County Councillor for Maidstone Central
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