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members who had similar misgivings and were prepared to stand up and be counted for what they believed in, by actually voting against the plan. Cllr John Perry, ward member for Staplehurst at Maidstone Borough Council


Park playing field proposals


ON Thursday, January 25, the Oakwood Park Community Group held a public meeting at Oakwood Park Grammar School to present outline proposals to restore community access to the Oakwood Park playing fields. The meeting was very well a�ended by


residents and the school hall was full with about 100 people present. Over the last six months, the group has


been talking to the Oakwood Park Grammar School and St Augustine Academy about restoring community access to the Oakwood Park playing fields. The Oakwood Park Community Group


and Oakwood Grammar and St Augustine Schools have now reached an outline proposal, which was presented to the meeting by Oakwood Park Community Group trustees Brian Flinders and Cllr Paul Harper. The proposal in outline is:


 The fence around the playing fields will remain;  There will be access for the community out of school hours, including spring and summer evenings, weekends and school holidays; Access will be through the gates (which will be self-closing) in the fence nearest to Oakwood Road and Queen’s Road; Access will be by an electronic key fob system, fobs obtainable from the Oakwood Park Community Group on payment of a annual subscription, possibly £20, with trustees’ discretion for any household in financial stress; A dog walking path will be created around the periphery of the site which will initially be demarcated by chestnut rail fencing, and a wildlife hedge, once it grows up;  The community group will encourage residents to take part in wildlife activities and other activities such as li�er picking.  The community group will now work to


raise £12,000 to pay for the fob key system, and initial chestnut fencing for the dog path;  The two schools and Kent County Council have agreed that plans to put in place protective covenants over the playing fields for the freeholders of properties in Oakwood Road, will provide a long-term guarantee that the fields will not be developed for housing; they will be designated for education use only. The meeting unanimously voted to


support the community group trustees to continue working up the solution with the schools. Cllr Paul Harper and Brian Flinders, Oakwood Park Community Group


The big homes squeeze


I READ with interest an article in your edition regarding the future of the Otham valley and a possible 5,000 social homes being placed there as part of the increased housing allocation imposed on Maidstone by central government, over and above the ridiculous 17,600 we’re trying to shoehorn into this crowded borough. I was amused and alarmed by the subtle


sophistry of the language employed by Golding Homes and Maidstone Borough Council in trying to play down the likelihood of such a major development, yet saying it might very well happen! As opposed as I was to such a high level


of housing without the local authorities sorting out the roads that will be needed to cope with the traffic, we are where we are with the whole ro�en business. One fears that this type of story with


similar statements is likely to be more and more commonplace as the council tries to find the space to put all the extra homes government has foisted on us. K Kennedy, via email


Improving the environment


I AM encouraging residents to respond to a government consultation to push for new slip roads at J5 of the M25. At the moment, the 18 miles between J2a


of the M26 and J6 of the M25 is the longest distance in the country without an exit. Building slip roads here would ease


congestion throughout west Kent, particularly on the busy A25 through Pla�, Borough Green and Ightham. Building much-needed slip roads at J5 of


the M25 would help substantially reduce congestion along the A25 through Pla� and Borough Green. It would also improve air quality and enjoyment of the environment. That is why I am encouraging everyone to respond to this important government consultation. It gives us the opportunity to make the Department for Transport aware of the positive impact this could have on all our lives and environment. You can email your response to


RISFuture.consultation@dft.gsi.gov.uk, write to SRN Initial Report Consultation, Department for Transport, 3/24 Minister House, 33 Horseferry Road, London, SW1P 4DR, or complete the online survey at h�p://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/UFY77/ Tom Tugendhat MP, Tonbridge & Malling


Geing priorities right


AS A Bearsted resident, I read with interest the article regarding Virgin Media's contractors having to remedy the (allegedly) poor reinstatement to ‘our’ roads. However, there is another side to this story. When Kent County Council inspectors


came to our road to examine the work done by the contractors, they marked several areas for 'improvement. Myself and another resident approached these inspectors and commented that it seemed very odd that they were making these assessments to areas that were actually now be�er than the condition of the rest of the road surface already in place. We were told that a report would be


made to the appropriate people. Anyone using Roseacre Lane or Yeoman


Lane will testify to the absolutely appalling condition of these roads and the surrounding ones are no be�er. It seems highly inappropriate that the


relevant authorities are criticising the work being done by the contractors (even if some of it is sub-standard), when they do nothing to improve the totally awful condition they have allowed their roads in this area to get to. Edward Paul, via email


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