downsmail.co.uk WITH much local disappointment –


and also some fury – over the Brexit debacle,what impact can be expected onMaidstone and Kent elections? For years Iwas reasonably accurate


forecasting themain thrust of these elections. NowI haven’t a clue! On top of the borough council


elections onMay 2, there could be, at the time ofwriting, EU elections and may be a general election. The Conservatives had high hopes of


winning back control of the local council fromthe Lib Dems by gaining a couple of seats to add to their existing 24, targeting Coxheath, North, Loose and Downswood. Confidencewas high – until


canvassers hit a Brexit stormon the doorsteps among voters.Maidstone voted 58%for Brexit and, according to local canvassers, the fury is nowaimed at the PrimeMinister for the poverty of her negotiationswith the EU and then turning to Jeremy Corbyn and Labour to offset opposition among her own MPs.Many lost confidencemonths ago in her ability to conduct themost important UK negotiations sinceWorld War II – and this has risen to a groundswell. Local elections are usually decided


more on local issues and popularity of candidates, and thismay still hold now. But so disenchanted are voters with national politicians of all colours – and someMaidstone political decisions – there is a danger of a very poor turnout. UKIPwill see a chance of amajor


Abypass reminder


KENT County CouncillorGary Cooke is good at spli�ing hairs.He is not so good at rememberingwhich authority is responsible for a Leeds/Langley relief road. He keeps forge�ing that a


Leeds/Langley bypasswas being proposed bymany in the 1980s, but KCC procrastinated,with councillors choosing to sit on their hands instead of looking to the future. They preferred to “kick the can down the road”, to use current political parlance. Maidstone's historical southern road


problems, and leaving theWrens Cross and Lower Stone Street area to be blighted formany years, are the direct result of KCC Tory politicians’ indecisiveness. Steve Russell,Maidstone


Howwill bin rules apply?


WITHregards to the newTonbridge and Malling bin collection rules, Iwould like to ask the councilwhat people are expected


46 Maidstone East May 2019


Brexit impacts on local elections MailMarks


DENNISFOWLE President dennisfowle28@gmail.com


revival, locally and nationally.And Nigel Farage’s newBrexit party could makemassive inroads, even if formed too late for the borough elections. But if the UK takes part in EU


elections, UKIP/Brexit could clean up in Maidstonewith somany voters proclaiming their determination for revenge onMPs – and the EU. Maidstone’s two ToryMPs – Helen


Grant and HelenWhately – have huge majorities, but will notwelcome a general election just now. Bothwere originally remainers, but nowsay the democratic decision to leavemust be respected.Maidstonewatches them closely in Parliament – itwill not accept a benign “Brexit in Name Only”, leaving the UK subservient to an EUwe voted to depart. Manywere pleased to see retired


MaidstoneMPAnnWiddecombe fighting again the Brexit ba�le on television. She has always been a dedicated Brexiteer and described our PrimeMinister as theworst since Sir Anthony Eden. I felt thiswas very insulting – to SirAnthony. Howwill all this end? I fear


repercussionswill last a long time. 


Thank you, Fran I ADMIRE councillorswho have


to dowhen they put their bins out before going towork at 5amand do not return until 8pm? Also, I havemy bin cleaned by the


WheelieWashers, so I can’t bringmy bin in until after it has been cleaned. Your comments on that please, TMBC. Finally, the binmen should return bins


to the place theywere picked up from. AngelaHill, EastMalling


My own bin back please


HAVINGread your article about bin emptying by Tonbridge andMalling council. I agreewith all that has been said about the vagaries of the binmen, but I would like to add the fact that I rarely, if ever, havemy bin returned, nor do Iwant other people’s dirty and ba�ered bins. MrsHRankin,WestMalling


Clampdown on illegal cars


REFERRINGtoDownsMailMaidstone North edition on the subject of “Uninsured cars seized”. I read this articlewith extreme


talent and become deeply involved serving their town. It is increasingly challenging and demandsmuch dedication. We owe our thanks to Cllr Fran


Wilson,who is retiring after 24 years as a Lib Demmember ofMaidstone Council. Twice she has been leader of the council, a daunting commitment. Shewas always on top of her portfolio, only possible by spending hours reading long and often complex reports and being thoroughly involved.May she and husband John nowenjoy a more relaxed life.





Crem‘embarrassing’ IAMpleased improvements are


underway atMaidstone Cemetery, includingmajor repairs to the lovely old, but faded chapel. But I fearMaidstone Council’s


priorities arewrong and should have been given to expanding the chapel seating at the busyMaidstone Crematorium. The chapel can seat only about 80,


totally inadequate for bigger funerals when at times 100 ormoremourners are left standing around the chapel or listening to the service and tributes fromoutside. It is embarrassing to see elderly and


disabledmourners standing for the best part of an hour. I nowhear of families saying the


crematoriumis unfit for large funerals and that the bigger gathering should be at awake.


frustration. It states that eight cars have been seized since the beginning of the year to improve the safety of residents. Only eight. Iwas a civil enforcement


officer for eight years and during that time I became increasingly frustratedwith the police’s disinterest in illegal cars. I recently leftmy job and contacted Kent


Police for an explanation as towhy, despite pointing out cars that have tens and even hundreds of outstanding penalty charge notices, they do not seize cars. I was told it is not a priority and cars registered overseas cannot be dealtwith. As enforcement officers,we issue to the


same cars over and over again.Most of the repeat offenders have overseas plates. If you use the Freedomof InformationAct to get exact figures relating to the number of paid parking fines, youwill find only about 50%actually get paid, andmost of the unpaid ones are not pursued because the cars are not registeredwith theDVLA. Your report claims uninsured drivers


were found to have commi�ed additional driving offences.Again, you are only referring to those cars registeredwith the


Comment


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