News
I’ll stand as independent over relief road, saysTory
A CONSERVATIVE is to stand as an independent next year over a policy disagreement about the Leeds-Langley relief road. While Paul Wooding (59), a for-
mer Ukip member concedes his more ambitious transport ideas are at oddswith fellowTories. Royal Mail driver Mr Wooding,
who failed to beat popular Liberal DemocratDerekMortimer in South ward in May, claims to have been wooed by Labour, Lib Dems and the Green Party to join their ranks. But the former soldier has not
said where he will stand but will do so before Christmas. Mr Wooding, who remains a
Conservative member, is not con- vinced a Leeds-Langley bypass will work on its own, but sees a four-phase ring road as the answer toMaidstone’s traffic problems. He warned: “I am not going to
sell my soul in order to climb the political ladder – I won’t compro- mise on that. It’smy red line. “And if thatmeansmy not being
selected, then so be it.” Mr Wooding was prepared to
discuss his candidature further if the party saw the relief road as “phase one” of a bigger transport strategy. One Tory colleague told Downs
Mail: “I find Paul a pretty antago- nistic kind of individual, who sees things verymuch his ownway. “He’s probably got a point about
the ring road, but a relief road is more achievable if the Tories can get control of the borough council. The Lib Dems want ‘modal shift’ where people ride bikes, walk or catch a bus, but cannot see it is to- tally inadequate.” Lib Dem council leader Martin
Cox has admitted to this newspa- per that he is not 100% certain modal shift can work, despite it being the cornerstone of its traffic mitigation against traffic created by 17,600 newhouses. The Tories are numerically supe-
rior in the chamber than any other party, but the Lib Dems were able to stitch together a coalition with the Labour Party and various inde- pendents. The Tories feel they can hold
their seats nextMay andwill target a number of other seats, mostly held by the Lib Dems.
Gun alert at M20 services
ARMED police descended on the junction 8 M20 service station at Maidstone after a “gun”was drawn by a lorry driver during a fight. TheHGVdriverwas later arrested
on theM25at theCobhamservices, where an imitation firearm was found. AKent Police statement said: “We
were called at12.53amonTuesday, August 7, 2018, to reports of an as- sault at M20 services, off junction eight. “Itwas alleged the suspectwas in
possession of aweapon. “Officers attended and subse-
quent enquiries led to the suspect’s vehicle being located at Cobham Services on the A2, London-bound. “An imitation firearmwas located
within the vehicle and a 38-year-old manwas arrested. “He remains in custody.”
downsmail.co.uk
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Maidstone East September 2018 13
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