downsmail.co.uk IF YOUare one of the 58%andmore in


Maidstone andMallingwho voted for Brexit,what sort of job do you think British negotiators are doing on your behalf? Not too good, throughmy sounding


post of thisDownsMail column. I receive many emails and other contacts and the feeling of frustration at times progresses nowto anger. There is awide belief that Remain


MPs/civil servants have dominated tactics as theymake tortuously slowprogress, have conceded toomuch to the EU throughout negotiations and nowpay the price as the EUtakes very tough stances as we approach the endgame. I amnot aware of a single supporter


among Brexiteers (and nowadays even amongmany Remainers) of the Chequers proposal “Brexit in name only”) and there is relief that the EUtoo nowwants it kicked into the long grass. It ties us too closely still to the EUand


threatens our key objectives: a real Brexit aswe leave aweakened, troubled and expensive EUbringing true sovereignty, total control of our borders and immigration; unfe�eredworld-wide trade, UK jurisdiction only… Howmany inMaidstone do not now


believe our lives have been seriously damaged, especially bymassive over- crowding in recent years? Somany ToryMP Brexiteers are


adamant that if Chequers is ever put before Parliament, theywill vote against and thatwill almost certainly put it out of itsmisery. Boris Johnson claims Chequersmeans


that unlesswe can satisfy the EUon the Irish border, thewhole of theUKmust remain effectively in the customs union and large parts of the singlemarket until Brussels says otherwise.


Object to homes scheme


COMMUNITIES inKent face the threat of opportunistic, unplanned development. Landowners and developers are exploiting


the fact that it takes time to prepare, consult on and get approval for a newLocal Plan, to bring forward applications for housing development on unsuitable sites. Additionally,where a local authority does


not have a five-year “housing supply” (an arbitrary figure and a rather nebulous concept as the number of houses in the pipeline fluctuates continually) the new National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) dictates that councilsmust grant permission, unless there are overriding reasons to refuse. WestMalling is a smallmarket townwith


a 12th century abbey at its heart. It has managed tomaintain its rural character, distinct fromneighbouring communities. It is a popular place to live and to visit precisely because of this. But the very things thatmakeWest


42 Malling October 2018


So what will Brexit look like? MailMarks


DENNISFOWLE President dennisfowle28@gmail.com


He also says theUKwill become a rules-


taker, not just in goods and agri-foods but almost certainly in environment and social policy, and the European Court of Justice would be back in charge. With no voice of our own in the EU, theUKwould become a vassal state. Many in this strong group of BrexitMPs


are pushing for a Canada-Plus-free-trade deal,which appears to have support from the EU. Objectors say this does not properly address businessworries on frictionless trade; does not properly safeguard the City of London as Europe’s main financial centre; and does not resolve the Irish border issue. It seems the “Plus” element in this deal becomes very significant. So, afterwell over two years,we are li�le


nearer to knowingwhat Brexitwill look like.All that seems clear just nowis that most politicians of both leading political parties say that the democratic vote to leavewill be respected.We shall soon see. Belowwhatmay seemto be a fairly calm


public surface at themoment there are manywith very strong feelings. Voters can do li�lemore thanmake their views known – and keep a very closewatch on complex negotiations and perceived intentions of our leaders. There is no knowing yetwhere all thiswill end – and what themany repercussionswill be.





Hospital parking fees INEVER begrudge paying to park at


MaidstoneHospital. I look at it asmore of


Malling special are threatened by unplanned development proposals.Most recently, BellwayHomes has submi�ed an outline application for up to 80 houses on a green field outside the village envelope and next to a designatedQuiet Lane. This fieldwas not included in the “call for


sites” exercisewhich preceded the drafting of the Local Plan. It is not included in the Local Plan recently approved by Tonbridge &Malling BoroughCouncil after public consultation and is not required tomeet the borough’s housing targets. Indeed, the new plan proposes that this land be included in an extension of theGreen Belt to protect the integrity ofWestMalling, including the se�ing of theAbbey. The average house price inWestMalling is


£414,000. Building newhouses for the market, even so called “affordable” ones, at 80%ofmarket rates,will not solve local housing problems.Adevelopment of 80 houses at this sitewould put unsupportable pressure on local roads and services, particularly theGP surgery.


if it is to continue tomeet thewide and quality serviceswe expect of it. Oneway or anotherwe are going to


have to paymore, probably through taxation.National surveys suggest the majority support this. I ampleased tomakemy small


contributions toMaidstoneHospital every time I park there. For some users, it is a financial strain – and I amrelieved that the hospital trust has a schemewhere help can be considered in some circumstances. Parking at the hospital is regularly


expanded tomeet demand. If itwere free, the problemswould quickly escalate due to freeloaderswho don’t use the hospital.





Cricketing glory returns KENT has long been (since 1870) a


powerful cricketing county, but supporters have sufferedmany disappointments since TheGlory Years of the 1970s. Therewere deep concerns before the


start of this seasonwith departures of the popular chairman, chief executive, captain and a fewstar players. Newplaying andmanagement leaders


took over, two excellent overseas players recruited – and just about everyone has risenmagnificently to the challenges. The results: Kent reached the big Lord’s


one-day cup final; qualified for the quarter-finals of the 20/20 competition and, best of all,won promotion back toDivision One of the County Championship after a magnificent first-class season,which thrilled the big army of devoted but starved Kent supporters. What a lovely buzz around the county as


this exciting andmemorable season comes to an end – and there are nownewhopes for a bright future.


Asurvey of local opinion found 77%of


people did not support development on this site andWestMalling ParishCouncil is opposing it. Iwould urge all thosewhowish to seeWestMalling protected to lodge their commentswith TMBCas soon as possible. For details of howto do this go to the parish councilwebsite,www.westmallingpc.org Richard Bya, planning commiee chairman,WestMalling Parish Council


Restaurant din a real issue


AT LAST!Agrown-up, sensible person has spoken up! I refer toDennis Fowle’s itemon noisy restaurants (DownsMail, issue 258). I have beenwhingeing (quietly, of course)


about this really big problem. Whilst I rarely eat out inMaidstone, the


problemis nationwide. I found on a recent visit to London that the café in theGlobe Theatrewas the only place in that entire area where you could hear yourselves talk. And let’s notmention screaming kids,


making a charitable contribution. We all knowtheNHS needsmore funds


Comment


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