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consult Maidstone Borough Council (MBC) and try to devise a “modal shift” solution to the issue of impending traffic chaos – say, ask the freight companies to use buses, hop on a bike or walk. If MBC reckons it can work for 17,600 new


homes (and possibly 7,000 more) with no new roads, surely it can be an option for the predicted 17-mile tailbacks and carnage on the A roads after March 30, 2019. S Deering, via email


Job losses are the reality


THE “huge Brexit vote” to which Dennis Fowle refers, when looked at nationally rather than locally, amounted to 37% of the electorate voting to leave the EU. Hardly the most resounding mandate for such far- reaching change. At the time of the referendum, Britain had


one of the most rapidly growing economies in Europe. Now it is one of the slowest. EU laws for cleaner air and water or be�er


workers’ rights are ignored in that piece. His Guardian-reading friends need to


remember that, over the years, immigrants have contributed to economic and cultural life in the UK. Meanwhile, Tata has already relocated


production of the Discovery to Slovakia and BMW, Nissan Airbus as well as various American pharmaceutical companies, have expressed misgivings about their continuing commitment to a post-Brexit Britain. Thousands of livelihoods remain at risk


and, while it is true that none of these companies operate in Maidstone, no town can be an island unto itself. After the referendum, Boris Johnson said


the country should not pay a penny to the EU coffers in the final se�lement. The exact bill turned out to be £39 billion. And there you have it – the posturing and the reality. K G Banks, Maidstone


What’s in a village name?


FOLLOWING the recent annual meeting of Bearsted Parish Council, the clerk received an anonymous email from a resident criticising the chairman’s pronunciation of the name Bearsted. When she tried to respond, the email account had been


deleted. Not only is this a cowardly and unwarranted a�ack from someone who isn’t prepared to stand up and be counted, but it’s also a classic case of elitist snobbery, without any foundation in fact. Some people say “Beersted”, others say


“Barestead”. Neither is correct – or incorrect. It’s a simple case of semantics. Who is to say if it is scon or scawn, bath or barth, book or buwk, cook or cuwk? It all depends in which part of the country you live – and which bit of history you believe. The email was clearly sent from someone


who does not appreciate the beauty of the English language, along with its li�le idiosyncrasies, which most of us embrace as part of its charm. It might make it a nightmare for other nationalities to learn – but, hey, it doesn’t stop them trying! No scholar has ever been able to se�le the


argument as to whether it should be scone or scoooone, so I think it highly unlikely anyone could make a case for an alcoholic Bearsted – or a naked one. Commuters will have noted that


Southeastern trains announcers favour the beery one; personally, I’m in favour of the naked version. English is a rich and diverse language


which has evolved over centuries. Thurnham began life as Thornham. Should we revert to that, perhaps? Nobody should be allowed to take the


moral high ground, particularly when they leave no right of reply. Instead of criticising the chairman for his pronunciation of the title of his home village, perhaps they might like to congratulate him and his peers for the work they do to keep our village the lovely place that it is to live – whatever it might be called. Jon Hughes, Bearsted


Muntjac on the golf course?


I READ with interest the Downs Mail report of the muntjac deer sightings in the area. Although, I can’t be sure of the exact type,


I and my playing partners, did see a small deer several weeks ago, on the Tudor Park golf course, near Caring Lane. My first thought was that it was a large


dog, but when it ran across a fairway from woodland to woodland, directly in front of


me, it was clearly a deer. I have played golf at Tudor Park for 20


years, and this is the first sighting of a deer in the grounds that I’m aware of, so there has to be a possibility of this being another sighting of a muntjac. Murray Pennells, via email


Strange sounds explained


I HAVE just read an article in the Downs Mail that has answered my question …what is that sound? Over the last couple of months, my


husband and I have been spending longer in our garden in the evening. When we first heard the sounds, around dusk, we were a li�le freaked out. I did record them on my phone but have since deleted them. In the first instance, I Googled fox and bat


sounds, but to no avail. Now having listened to muntjac sounds on YouTube, I am 100% positive that is what we heard. Liz Quinnell, Headcorn


Building scaering deer


I SAW your article on the muntjac deer in Maidstone. Has anyone seen them in the grounds of Palace Wood School and also in the grounds of Allington Castle? I’m in Allington and the general opinion


is that the building on Hermitage Lane is unse�ling and sca�ering them. Feelings are running high in this area and there have been postings on social media to that effect. These deer have been living quietly in the


woods for many years, and now seem to be finding quieter places to live. Maureen Nash, Maidstone


Help us help youngsters


THE Salvation Army in Maidstone is trying to raise funds to take 40 “referred” children to a summer camp for a five-day break. These children would not otherwise have a holiday or a break away from home. The camp will be from August 13-17, but


we would be grateful for any donations as soon as possible, for details email vinceandmandyfuller@outlook.com. Many thanks in advance. Mandy Fuller, via email


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