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


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, deep in mid-winter,


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


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