downsmail.co.uk


DVLA. If I used one of these overseas-registered


cars to race past every speed camera in town, where would my fine be sent to? How would you find me if I commi�ed a hit and run? Jayne Harris, via email


No voice for Remainers


FURTHER to the email from your correspondent in the March issue of Downs Mail, I must agree wholeheartedly that the leader on your editorial page has become a sounding board for the Brexit cause, but there seems no platform available to offer any alternative view. Based on the usual rhetoric and


argument about the so-called “will of the people”, these politically-based opinions should really have no place in a local informative news publication, at least not without any alternative view published. David Purll, via email


Brexit making us poorer


A RECENT Goldman Sachs report stated that there had been a staggering £600million weekly loss to the British economy since the 2016 Referendum, a 1.5% reduction in National Income. A clear picture is emerging of Britain


becoming a poorer nation. This is not what people voted for, of course, but this is what everyone is ge�ing. Unlike your columnist Dennis Fowle, I


thought the EU representatives were remarkably patient with a dithering Britain during the lengthy, drawn-out talks. The “massive democratic vote” to which


he refers was a closely-run thing and the wishes of those on the losing side need to be acknowledged if there is to be any prospect of national cohesion ever being restored. He adds that there is “li�le faith in


future trade deal negotiations”, which might read as an unintended slur on the skills of Dr Liam Fox, the politician who reassured us that leaving the EU was “the easiest trade deal in history”.


The intrepid Mr Fowle has discovered


that Bearsted Golf Club is a redoubt of Brexiters. I would never have guessed that! K.G Banks, Maidstone


Stick to referendum vow


SOME Maidstone “remainers” do not enjoy reading Dennis Fowle’s very welcome column in support of the 58% locally and 52% nationally who voted in favour of Brexit. The referendum had to produce a


winner, and both the main political parties powerfully supported this democratic decision. Many of us are very angry with those


MPs reneging now. Marion James, Maidstone


Taxpayers’ cash wasted


WITH regard to the Judicial Review which has now been dropped, how dare Alison Broom just dismiss the disgusting waste of public money without any explanation? Just saying “negotiations were


concluded” is flippant. Who does she think she is? On top of this, there is no answer to the


question of cost. It’s our money they are using and wasting. Maidstone is choking, Maidstone is


jammed, Maidstone is dying, and its shops are leaving or closing. Mothercare, Jessops, Ho�ershoes, and others are still open for business, but not in Maidstone, the (laugh out loud) county town. We have to travel to Tonbridge Wells or


Canterbury to get a decent selection of shops in a pleasant environment. We do, however, have pre�y blocks


being laid in the town centre, which, by the way, are replacing perfectly good condition blocks already in situ. I wonder how long before a utility company has to destroy them in order to carry out work? What this mess has managed to achieve


is a council tax rise of 5.4% for every resident (thank you)which is more than twice the national average of 2.48%.


Still, seeing as the council has doubled


the bill rise this year, along with all the new council tax bills created through new housing and development, we won’t need a rise in tax next year…will we? J G White, via email


Infrastructure is vital


I READ the Mail Marks article in April Downs Mail with interest and your concerns are justified, Maidstone Council should be in no position to encourage new development without supporting infrastructure. There is no thought for the


environment because they generate substantial revenue for council tax (this cost increases each year). I live in Grafty Green, an unspoilt area


for now, but the Headcorn road which links Lenham and Headcorn has become much busier. The area of major concern for me is Harriestsham and Lenham. Development has moved at such a


rapid pace within the last five years, the former villages, as I now call them, are merging into one suburb of Maidstone… I have nicknamed it Lensham. The A20 can now be so busy leading


onto the M20 junction, traffic can back up past Lenham, and will only become worse as more development is planned for the area. The other areas which have exploded


are between Headcorn and up the Su�on Road into Maidstone, with all side roads gridlocked as traffic tries to move around. It really is unbelievable to see so much


development with no thought for infrastructure. The area between Downswood, Otham to Parkwood and Langley was, until six months ago, open woodland and fields. Now massive developments are emerging (Bicknor Woods), with yet more traffic creating more pollution and mayhem on our roads. I can’t see an end to this and I have


raised concerns with the council, as have others, but this is no concern to them. David Jenkins, Grafty Green


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