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increase in council tax fromApril but if our quality of life is not to diminish further, it has to happen. Our local councils (Maidstone,


Tax bullet wemust all bite MailMarks


VERY fewwillwelcome a heftier


Tonbridge &Malling and Kent County plus Kent PoliceAuthority) have been severely restricted by government since 2012 on increases and they have cut back services and expenditure to the bone (and beyond). In addition, they have been starved of


much traditional government funding and expected tomeetmore costs, especially on social care. When theywere limited to only 2%


increases in 2012, councils trimmed off mostly the fatwe hardlymissed. But over the next five years the restrictionswere almost as severe and very significant cuts have beenmade in vital services. Nowcouncilswill be able to raise our


bills by up to 6%but as 2%is ring-fenced to help governmentmeet costs of seriously underfunded local social care, andwith inflation running around 3%, do not expect to see a big improvement in local services. The Local Government Association saysmany councils are at breaking point and the planned increase is nowhere near enough. The UK is reputed to be among the


wealthiest countries in theworld – yet increasingly I get a third-world feeling aboutmany local services, such as quality of our roads, uncleared li�er, hedgerows runningwild, lack of sensible school


EUcheeky to demandmore


READING your newspaper, Iwas dismayed to read that themeeting betweenMaidstoine Borough Council and Kent County Council over the relief road has nowbeen delayed formonths. Dismayed but not surprised! Judging by


the apparent unwillingness to engage in any kind ofmeangful dialogue since November 2 goes to prove they have absolutely no intention of sorting out their issues beforemoving forward. They are more concernedwith pe�y point scoring than representing the peoplewho have voted themin. Therewas precious li�le to celebrate


after the publicmeeting on November 2 except theMPs banging the council leaders’ heads together. Noweven that glimmer of hope fades as


the politicians decide that party politics comes, once again, before the people! SMillar, email


No choice overWoodcut IN LIGHT of the controversial nature of


theWoodcut Farmapplication, I thought it worthwhile placing into contextmy decision to frame andmove themotion which sawapproval granted for outline planning permission for up to 45,295m2


of 46 Maidstone Weald February 2018


DENNISFOWLE President dfowle2011@aol.com


places, diminishing library services, reducing rural bus services, lack of council staff, shortage of police.Add to these, deteriorating national services on the likes of the NHS, the nation’s infrastructure, and support for those in greatest need. It is not a happy picture. Those in Band F propertieswill see


council tax bills rise fromaround £2,300 to about £2,450 and Band G fromabout £2,650 to around £2,820. The increases are rightly less for smaller properties. Formany, the increasewill be painful –


but it is a local tax bulletwe nowhave to bite.





Woodcut Farm NOW it has been carefully


considered and accepted by a government inspector as a significant feature ofMaidstone Local Plan, I see no prospect of success for on-going protestors against the business park now scheduled forWoodcut Farmat J8 of the M20. It has themassive advantage of the


easiest-possible access to our key motorway for lorries and cars and this


commercial development on farmland between theA20 andM20, close to J8. A planning commi�eemust determine


all applications in conformitywith the development plan. To stray fromthis quasi-judicial straight-jacket and refuse a policy compliant application invites an expensive planning appeal, an overturn of its decision and hefty costs award. For a big application likeWoodcut Farm,


such an award of costswould totalmany hundreds of thousands of pounds, resulting in further cuts to council services. The planning commi�ee cannotmake or


amend the policies bywhich it is bound. It wasMaidstone council’s strategic planning commi�ee (and the full council) which democratically agreed the Local Plan, including its allocation of 49,000m2


commercial floor space atWoodcut Farm. All responsiblemembers of our


planning commi�ee understood that they had no choice but to permit this application. Despitemy ownmisgivings over


development atWoodcut Farm(and having never personally voted for the Local Plan), I understood that this allocation enjoyedmajority support at Maidstone Borough Council, and therefore sought to play a constructive role. This included negotiating design parameter


downsmail.co.uk


had gone too far to reverse. Government had by then introduced


should keepmost of themoff our overcrowded local roads. It is the type of location businesses demand and I believe itwill quickly prove an economic boom to our town. What I do not buy is that itwill be an


unseemly distraction for our lovely Leeds Castle. They are far enough removed. I also disregard suggestions this should


be linkedwith the huge and successful KIG ba�les. KIGwas a rail/warehouses monstrosity proposed from Hollingbourne through Thurnhamto the centre of Bearsted. Some fear the newbusiness park is just


the first step in KIG No. 2. I see no evidence of this andwelcomeMaidstone Council statements that land between Woodcut Farmand Bearstedwill be safeguarded. The business parkwill require quality


design and good landscaping to ensure that its prominent position viewing from theA20 is not unduly harmful in this se�ing close to anArea of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). I amstill not convinced, however, that


Maidstone Borough Council chose the right site for this park. I preferred the Gallagher proposal on


the opposite side of theA20,with its natural visual shielding. Itwould have also been the starting point for the Leeds/Langley bypass running to Five Wents, Langley,with a good chunk of funding to support the newroad.


enhancements and a binding legal agreementwhich ensures that the applicantmust providemore than 22 acres of newwoodland nature reserve (in perpetuity), thus conferring big gains for wildlife and landscape and, crucially, providing a buffer against any future westward expansion. Cllr Tony Harwood, Liberal Democrat member,Maidstone Borough Council


Urban sprawl admission of


THE admission of responsibility for our ferociously pro-development Local Plan by the Conservative planning commi�ee member, CllrMa� Boughton, in Downs Mail is awelcome intervention. His surprisingly open admission shines a light onwhere true blame lies for this depressing blueprint for urban sprawl and gridlock. Conservatives ranMaidstone council


between 2008 and 2014when the ‘call for sites’ exercisewas undertaken,which spawned a raft of controversial developments, such as those in Su�on Road and Hermitage Lane, and sawlocal landscape protection deleted or diluted. By the time the Conservatives lost


control, largely as a result of public anger at their development choices, the process


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Malling


punitive rules for councils without a Local Plan, which had made them prey to speculative development. The urgency of agreeing a Local Plan


further intensified when Sajid Javid, Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, announced plans to increase housebuilding by 40%. With a plan in place MBC can (hopefully)


fend off this increase until 2021. There are two visions for the future of our still beautiful borough. Cllr Boughton’s words make it clear the Conservatives intend to implement “their” Local Plan in full, while local Liberal Democrats intend to make big changes at an early review. Tackling gridlock and pollution, and re-


introducing the tough policies vital to protect local quality of life, landscape and biodiversity all inform the Lib Dem vision for a reset Local Plan. Clive English, member of Maidstone Borough Council’s Liberal Democrat Group


Noxious fumes concern


MOST, if not all, local motorists will have no doubt experienced the frustration Dennis Fowle expresses at being routinely caught up in heavy traffic congestion afflicting Maidstone every day. One might add that it is not very pleasant


for the many pedestrians making their way to and from the town, either – inhaling nox- ious and health-damaging fumes all the while. Air quality is a real issue here as, in- deed, it is elsewhere. Yes, building more roads, as your


commentator suggests, would, I fear, only generate more traffic – and more pollution. What is really needed is a much better


public transport system – and in this case, buses – than currently exists as a way of dis- suading drivers from using their cars. Safe lanes for cylists would be an added


bonus. KG Banks, Maidstone


Thanks for hospitality


MORE than 60 pensioners a�ended the Bearsted Community Luncheon on December 9 at the Madginford community centre. This was a huge success and, on behalf of everyone, we should like to thank all the local businesses who supplied the food and drink to the many volunteers before and during the afternoon. Pat Grimes, Bearsted


Towpath walk still lovely


IN RESPONSE to Ray Town’s recent le�er – “River walk not what it was” – I regularly cycle along the river path and the kingfishers have not gone. In addition, there are li�le egrets, green woodpeckers, nuthatches, kestrels, cormorants, and others besides. An abundance of wild flowers – orchids, kingcups and red campions, to name a few – can be seen beyond Allington Lock. The barge dwellers have all lawfully obtained their land beside the river and are making it very a�ractive. I am sorry that Mr Town no longer uses


the path, because he is missing out on so much peace and joy. Margaret Tate, Maidstone


Walking is such a pleasure


I DO find my Downs Mail very informative on what is happening/has happened in the local area - so, keep up the good work. I have never before wri�en to yourselves,


but I felt compelled to do so after reading the le�er from Ray Town in the January edition, as I fundamentally disagree with what he’s wri�en. I live in a flat which overlooks the


Medway and I did wonder over last winter quite why the towpath was closed for so long. I missed the opportunity to walk into town along a quieter route rather than beside the main roads. Once the towpath was re-opened and I walked along to Barming, I could see why it had taken so long as the path had been surfaced so it was suitable for all weathers. Surely access to the Medway is one of Maidstone’s assets and anything that


improves this and opens up the river to more people to enjoy has to be a good thing. The fact that the path can be walked in all weathers without ge�ing muddy or having to mind the ne�les is a positive a�ribute. The only potential downside is that the path has a�racted more cyclists, so perhaps thought has to be given to separating the path between pedestrians and cyclists. Now I learn that the towpath has been


surfaced as far as Aylesford. I look forward to exploring that direction as the last time I tried to walk on from the Malta Inn, the path became increasingly dangerous. Sally Suiers, via email


‘Mast year’ for the oak


I WAS wondering if any of your readers has been as staggered as I have been by the sheer number of acorns which fell in the autumn. There is one tree in the King’s Wood near Broomfield where literally tens of thousands dropped to the floor. And virtually every other oak I have come across this year has been the same. At one oak, I disturbed five jays as they


did their best to work their way through the masses of seeds on the ground. It is not uncommon to see a pair of jays


but I have never seen five in one place at one time. It must say something about how abundant the feedingwas in Kent. Still, even as I write, in mid-December,


thousands of acorns under the Broomfield oak remain. I have noticed, however, that quite a few


have started the process of germination. This event is known as a “mast year”


when the sheer scale of the fruit harvest ef- fectively means there will be enough spare seeds to germinate and bring on the next generation. In other years, the oak fruiting will fluctu-


ate massively. What causes the “mast” is not something I


have been able to get a definitive answer to in my own researches. Some suggest it is weather-related, others


that it is a natural check for the tree or there are messages spread from tree to tree via funghi roots deep underground.


Mrs I McIlrath, via email


Comment


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