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Medway merger on cards? MailMarks


 IF our borough of Maidstone, faced with


devolution challenges, decided itmust be part of a local authority merger which direction would you choose? Your options could be:  SOUTH/WEST – with TunbridgeWells, Sevenoaks, Tonbridge and Malling.  NORTH – with Medway, Swale, Grave- sham, Dartford.  EAST – with Ashford, Canterbury, Thanet, Shepway, Dover. Sadly, this is no hypothetical question.Gov- ernment is set on a nationwide devolution programme and supports in many ways (in- cluding increasing financial support and local powers) Local Enterprise Partnerships based on “functional economic areas”. Maidstone, with its population of about 160,000, is likely to be too small, and opinions grow that we will have to seek neighbouring partners. Talk across Kent iswell-advanced. Many Kent district councils are already suf-


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 has not pervaded all prisons. Iwas privileged to be invited to aend


the carol service at Maidstone Prison. It was an enlightening experience which overturned many preconceptions of prison life.


The choir performed with passion and no


lile skill; the inmates in the congregation joined in with gusto and Bishop Trevor Willmo gave an inspiring address. Itwas a heart-warming and memorable service. Afterwards,wewere allowed to mingle with the inmates. Itwas a joy to meet these men, all good-humoured, all appreciative of a few words of friendship and all with a 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. Rob Bird, Liberal Democrat County Councillor for Maidstone Central


Blame the bankers


I SYMPATHISE entirely with Dennis Fowle’s concerns that Maidstone Borough Council is being forced to make more savings as a result of government cutbacks. However, I ampuzzled as to why he believes the economic problems are the


DENNISFOWLE President dfowle2011@aol.com


fering seriously frommajor reductions in gov- ernment grants. Maidstone is among them, and as our coun-


cil faces the challenges of the grant soon dis- appearing altogether – at a time when it cannot increase its share of the council tax above 2%– the cuts are becoming very painful and affecting our standard of life. Things will get worse. Government says: “It is for places to deter-


mine how best to grow their local economies and government to devolve freedoms and flexibilities.” That is what Kent is trying to do now. Our


fault of former prime minister Gordon Brown. The financial crashwas caused by rampant greed and incompetence of the banks and Gordon Brown played a major role in preventing a financial meltdown. Itwas bailing out the banks that depleted


our finances, not any mismanagement by Mr Brown. If there is criticism, it is that they followed Conservative Party policies by failing to regulate the financial institutions. Since then, the Conservatives – aided for


a while by the Liberal Democrats – have taken the view that our public services should be starved of funds in order to finance the road to recovery. Instead, perhaps they should stop


rewarding banks with big tax breaks and put an end to the huge levels of tax avoidance by multi-nationals and big businesses and those crooks who have not only avoided paying taxes but also steal the pensions and livelihoods of their employees. JackAtkins, Maidstone


NHSwaste scandal


THE economies in the NHS are just more smoke and mirrors to cover up the appalling waste and mismanagement. Recent reports have shown £182m spent


on “birth tourism” alone, not counting other treatment meted out to other health tourists” – £300millionwasted on drugs and £700mn on temporary staff for A&E. There’s £1bn on agency staff, equipment


historical towns are reluctant to give up their independence and old enmities and jealousies with neighbours come to the fore. But most accept that the status quo is not really avail- able – and their taxpayers and towns are likely to lose out seriously if they dig in their heels. Sadly, there has been little love lost over the


years between Tonbridge and Malling and Maidstone and this could be a barrier in Maid- stone lookingwest and south. Tonbridge worries about Maidstone’s


claims on Aylesford, Ditton, Larkfield, Her- mitage Lane and Coldharbour etc. They are so obviously linked to Maidstone


– and Tonbridge development right on our boundary is not going down at allwell, espe- cially off Hermitage Lane. The choice facing towns is trying to form fully-governing unitary authorities or linking in other approvedways while retaining some powers and identity.


bought at top prices, unnecessary operations and managers on top salaries with golden hellos and goodbyes, payment for failure, fat pensions, bonuses, etc. We can't afford to be a world health service, orwaste money making up for incompetence, laziness and greed. Why aren't the highly-paid managers controlling thiswaste? Why the conspiracy of silence and the inaction? Sadly, there are none amongst the “great pretenders” inWestminster with the guts, the wit, or the will to stop this criminal waste robbing patients of proper care. Phil Granger,West Malling


History could inspire pride


IT IS possible that the defacing of the memorial to Captain Louis Nolan – who died during the ill-fated Charge of the Light Brigade – in Maidstonewas perpetrated by feral youngsters ignorant of the life and times of this brave soldier or of the other Maidstone notables who influenced our country by their talents, intellect and character? William Hazli andWilliam Alexander


come to mind. If such local historywas taught in schools it would surely go a long way to providing that sense of pride which is the antidote to yobbery and social disaffection and would certainly be a contrast to the steady diet of football “celebrity” and sexual pap relentlessly fed to them by the media. Anne Clarke, Maidstone


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