downsmail.co.uk
Phoneywar build-up to Brexit MailMarks
I SEE the short build up to the snap
general election on June 8 as rather akin to a previous “phoneywar”. It has some similarities to 1939/40, when our country was quietly preparing for an even bigger challenge in Europe. Iwas surprised when Theresa May announced her election plan. But on reflection, I think she is spot-on. She has made a lot of astute Brexit decisions and statements – this may be the trump card. I agreewe wish to try to retain good, friendly relations with our European neighbours and continue to co-operate on significant mutually beneficial issues. What I deplore is the direction of the
EU sincewe guardedly voted for the Common Market. Now Iwant total British sovereignty, control over our own national business and borders and the exit our nation has voted for from an undemocratic, expensive andweakening EU. I think our Prime Minister identifies
panic at the top of the EU, will withstand aempts of crass bullying and will be astute in difficult negotiations to get the best for Britain. The bulk of British voters appear to see it that way too. This is a key reason pollsters forecast a hugely increased Conservative majority in the Commons – a massive vote of confidence she needs to carry to Europe. Locally, it is difficult to forecast anything but continued Conservative
Educate on lier issues
I OFTEN spendweekendswalking the public footpaths around Kent and, in recent, months have become aware and appalled at the seemingly ever-increasing amount of lier being casually tossed into the hedgerows and ditches. Chief among these cast-offs are wrappings
from awell-known chain of burger purveyors. In fact, I saw a group of young people driving along a country road outside Langley recently throwing the stuff from the windows as theywent. In your newspaper, I often see articles
about lier-picks and the like. These are performed by community-minded folk who justwant the best for their areas. The whole borough would be a mess without them. But, surely, more can and must be done to educate our primary schoolchildren and those at the secondaries about this practice. Keep Britain Tidy! B Barne, via email
DENNISFOWLE President
dfowle2011@aol.com
strength in Maidstone and rest of Kent. The four Maidstone/Malling MPs –
Helen Grant, Helen Whately, Tracey Crouch and Tom Tugendhat – have huge majorities and, with solid constituency track records, I cannot see realistic threats.
Newspaper sadness These are worrying and sad times in
local newspapers and now it has come to our doorstep, with the sale of troubled KMMedia Group to Iliffe Media Ltd, based in Cambridge. With so many local papers now closing
or in deep trouble, we must be thankful this sale should bring greater financial security to a wide range of local newspapers throughout Kent, radio, TV and online services. The Kent Messenger started its life as Maidstone Telegraph in 1859 and around the turn of that century, Barham Pra Boorman began the family’s proud ownership/leadership, which continued through his son Roy, grandson Edwin and now finally great-granddaughter Geraldine Allinson. Maidstone has reason
More rubbish bins, please
HAVING read your Mail Marks column regarding lier in Maidstone, I draw your aention to the section of the towpath from the Malta Inn to the town centre. My wife and I live next to the towpath
andwalk along it daily into town. Thewalk is wonderful, but could be a lot beer without the drink cans and detritus left in the bushes, or around the seating. Whilst I commend the council for the
works they are currently carrying out, it is beyond belief that along the routewewalk there is not one singlewaste bin. Where are walkers expected to deposit their rubbish? My wife and I are now in the habit of taking a black sack out whenwe go into town, and collecting the rubbish on our way back home, whichwe should not have to do. So come on council, a fewwaste bins along theway could make all the difference to a beautiful walk. Steve Medcalf, via email
to be very grateful for their generosity and support during the good years. Times have changed dramatically, largely due to growth of the internet. National and local news is just a click away, and paid-for newspaper circulations still plummet disastrously. Worse still, most younger people are not buying. Much advertising has moved to the internet too, especially mainstays of local newspapers such as property, cars and jobs. Revenue has been decimated and cost-cuing is very painful. TheKM found its final salary pension scheme very testing. Loss of “the local” on communities and democracy can be devastating. My first 20 years in journalismwere with theKM Group (10 years editing the Kent Messenger) and the current situation brings much sadness. I amencouraged by promised new investment, but can this surging tide ever be turned? They havemy best wishes – and this
comes from a friendly competitor. I am relievedwe at Downs Mail have been largely sheltered from this newspaper tempest.We are very different as our readers receive a FREE family newspaper delivered FREE, now to more than 80,000 homes. This keeps readers and advertisers happy. The formula has worked for 20 years – but we continue to evolve in this fast-changing world.
Dogma before our welfare
I CAME from quite a poor family, but thanks to the 11 plus, ended up at a technical school, which led me to college and a career as an electronics engineer. Our politicians have now moved so far to
the left and are so ashamed of excellence among their own people, that they prefer to import thousands of skilled people from countries where they are needed more. Meanwhile, they pay 1.6 million people
here, to sit on their backsides and claim unemployment benefit. Those whom the Gods would destroy,
they first make mad! As always, political dogma is put before
the good of the citizens and the good of the country. A good example is the selling-off of
school playing fields, so children could all be cut down to the same level, ie all must win prizes! Phil Granger,West Malling
The five editions of the Downs Mail are delivered to 90% of households in the Maidstone and Malling area, reaching over 190, 000 readers every month.
Maidstone North Maidstone South Maidstone East Maidstone Weald Malling Current and archived editions are also free to read online at
www.downsmail.co.uk
Contact our
teams…
Editorial Editor: Simon Finlay
Simon.finlay@
downsmail.co.uk 01622 734735 Assistant Editor: Diane Nicholls
diane@downsmail.co.uk 01622 630330 ext. 232
32 Malling June 2017 Sales
Sales Manager: Bill Brett
Bill.brett@
downsmail.co.uk 01622 630330 ext. 221 Advertising Sales Enquiry: 01622 630330 option 1
Accounts Dept.
accounts@downsmail.co.uk 01622 630330 ext 229
Mail Publications Ltd Forge House
Bearsted Green Business Park Bearsted, Maidstone ME14 4DT
Comment
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48