downsmail.co.uk ITWAS interesting to note how the


Brexit debacle impacted on theMay 2 local elections. There was little change inMaidstone and Tories lost ground (but not control) in Tonbridge and Malling For years, I was reasonably accurate


forecasting the main thrust of these elections. Now it is very difficult. On top of the borough council


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


winning back control of the local council from the Lib Dems by gaining a couple of seats to add to their existing 24, targeting Coxheath, North, Loose and Downswood.All but North eluded them. Confidence was high – until


canvassers hit a Brexit storm on the doorsteps among voters. Maidstone voted 58% for Brexit and,


according to local canvassers, the fury is now aimed at the PrimeMinister for the poverty of her negotiations with the EU and then turning to Jeremy Corbyn and Labour to offset opposition among her ownMPs. Many lost confidence months ago in


her ability to conduct the most important UK negotiations since WorldWar II – and this has risen to a groundswell. Local elections are usually decided


more on local issues and popularity of candidates. But so disenchanted were voters with national politicians of all colours


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


34 Malling April 2019


Brexit impacts on local elections MailMarks 


Thank you, Fran IADMIRE councillorswho have


DENNISFOWLE President dennisfowle28@gmail.com


– and someMaidstone political decisions – there was a danger of a very poor turnout. It was just 32% in Maidstone. If the UK takes part in EU elections,


UKIP/Brexit Party could clean up in Maidstone with so many voters proclaiming their determination for revenge onMPs – and the EU. Maidstone’s two ToryMPs – Helen


Grant and HelenWhately – have huge majorities, but will not welcome a general election just now. Both were originally remainers, but


now say the democratic decision to leave must be respected.Maidstone watches them closely in Parliament – it will not accept a benign “Brexit in Name Only”, leaving the UK subservient to an EU we voted to depart. Many were pleased to see retired


MaidstoneMP AnnWiddecombe fighting again the Brexit battle on television. She has always been a dedicated


Brexiteer and described our Prime Minister as the worst since Sir Anthony Eden. I felt this was very insulting – to Sir Anthony. How will all this end? I fear


repercussions will last a long time.


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 FranWilson,who is retiring after 24 years as a LibDemmember ofMaidstone Council. Twice she has been leader of the council, a daunting commitment. She was always on top of her portfolio, only possible by spending hours reading complex reports and being thoroughly involved.May she and husband John nowenjoy amore 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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