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despite eight years of planning andmajor engineeringworks, the experts are unsure whether the newsystemwill be capable of handling the increase in traffic by December 2019. The report fromthe NationalAudit


Office and the spin put out by the Department for Transport do not explain why local bodieswere being advised that theworkwas on target, even up to the last fewweeks. Nor do they explainwhy the experts have been sowrong. What guarantee do the people of


Maidstone have that the fast Thameslink servicewill be in operation in December 2019? It is time for thewaiting to stop. Rob Bird, Ian Chienden and Dan Daley, Liberal Democrat County Councillors for Maidstone


Help ease refugee plight


RIGHT now, in the Home Office rules, the government doesn’t recognise the close family of refugee children beyond their parents. Thismeans thatmany children escapingwar and violence can’t be safely reunitedwith their family in the UK without firstmaking a deadly journey to Europe. As the UK governmentworks on


updating its rules as a result of leaving the EU, an amendment to the European Union (Withdrawal) Bill NewClause 53would make sure the UK’s rules are fixed to stop this needless risk to children’s safety.As this comes forward in Parliamentwe hope thatMPswillwork together to fix this problem. Lily Caprani, deputy executive director, Unicef UK at NAHT


Riverwalk notwhat itwas


IWAS astounded to read in the December issue of DownsMail thatMr Fowle, in his paragraph dealingwith his riverwalk, found his experience a delight. Some 50 years ago, at least part of this


stretch of theMedwaywas a delight to traverse. The riverbank of the river (Maidstone LockMeadowto Teston), where I spent somany childhood hours, was, indeed, a tranquil and delightful location.Alas, in recent years, it has been desecrated;water voles and kingfishers have long since gone andwildlife generally, is diminished. The old towpath (established, I think, by


theMedway Navigation Company in the late 18th century)was still in place inmy youth and hugged the river's edge and the bankswere free of trees overhanging the river on the towpath side. The newpath has diverged fromthe


bank and, in places, has become disassociated fromthe river. This has been further exacerbated by barge dwellers,who have not only occupied several stretches of the bank fromTovil to Farleigh, but have also appropriated (perhaps a be�erword would bemisappropriated – probably with the connivance ofMaidstone Council) land between the path and the river,which is nowfenced off. They have also turned the watermeadows, that once lay between the river and the railway line, into vegetable gardens and recreational areas. Just onemonth ago, Iwalked fromTovil


to East Farleigh andwas so struckwith the despoilment of the area, that I have vowed never to go there again. In places, the footpath has beenwidened and covered with tarmac,which nowallows vehicular access to the bargesmoored on this stretch of river. Unicumbes Lane, that once provided access for quarrymen delivering ragstone fromFant to barges on the river, is already becoming awell-used motorway. The remnants of the small wharf that existed at the bo�omof the lane is derelict and obscured to view, to the extent that even localswould not nowbe aware of its existence or former utility. Forme, the changes are too sad to


contemplate and,with the continued population growth in Kent, I suspect that further degradation is inevitable. Ray Town, via email


Towpath gives access to all


I FELT compelled towrite to DownsMail after reading Ray Town’s le�er (printed above and first published in January’s Maidstone South edition of this paper), as I fundamentally disagreewith him. I live in a flat overlooking theMedway


and I didwonderwhy, lastwinter, the towpathwas closed for so long. Imissed being able towalk into town by


a quieter route than beside themain roads. Once the towpathwas reopened and I walked along to Barming, I could seewhy it had taken so long – the path had been surfaced so itwas suitable for allweathers. Surely access to theMedway is one of


Maidstone’s assets and anything that improves this and opens up the river to


more people to enjoy has to be applauded. The fact that the path can bewalked in


allweatherswithout ge�ingmuddy or having tomind the ne�les is a positive a�ribute. The only potential downside I can see is that the path has a�ractedmore cyclists, so perhaps thought should be given to separating the path between pedestrians and cyclists. I nowlearn that the towpath has been


surfaced as far asAylesford, so I look forward to exploring that direction as the last time Iwalked on fromtheMalta Inn, the path became increasingly dangerous. Sally Suiers (Ms), via email


Entry fee objection


IAMwriting to say I strongly object to having had to pay £1 to go on The Green in Bearsted for the Christmas Fair on November 25. As someonewhowas born in Bearsted,


65 years ago, and lived here allmy life, The Green should be kept as a public place for the use of local people. The reason Bearsted Parish Council gavewas that the stallholderswould have had to pay £30 per stall toMaidstone Borough Council for a street trading licence. But as the stallholders are running


businesses andmakingmoney, surely they could pay this themselves but if Bearsted Parish Councilwanted to help them, I don’t think anyonewould haveminded if 50%went to themand 50%to a local charity.About £3,500was probably taken sowhere has themoney gone? What next? Charging to to on The Green


for the summer fair and carnival? Iwould also like to saymy Dad (Bernie Hirst)will be turning in his grave in Bearsted churchyard at the thought of people having to pay to go there. Hewas born in Tower Lane, in 1917, and


lived in the village all his life until his death in 2000. So, I considermyself very local. I knowitwas only £1 but itwas the principle - not themoney. Mrs J Stewart, Bearsted


Editor’s note: Bearsted Parish Council points out that it felt the street trading licence was an “inapporopriate fee” and members agreed by democratic vote to make the charge. This was publicised well in advance and entrance feemoney has gone towards the cost of the event. The Bearsted Fair is not hosted by the parish council.


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