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process are filtered out, measured and overseen by the Environment Agency. The flies he refers to have been shown to


come from farmland spread with manure. There is a residents’ liaison commi�ee


which meets regularly, and Mr Brooks could apply to join it so that he can see the strong procedures which are the modus operandi of the plant. There are also tours for those who want


to see what happens inside the plant. I do hope he will take advantage of one


or other of these opportunities and thus change his outlook on this difficult but essential part of life. Dan Daley, KCC, member for Maidstone Central


Planning criticism unfair


I AND other members of the planning commi�ee on Maidstone Borough Council do not object to criticism of our decisions, when it is factually based. However, your correspondent Peter


Mitchell should have checked a few facts. Firstly, the Ombudsman does not overturn planning decisions at appeal, this is done by to the Planning Inspectorate. Secondly, he seems to be under the


impression that there is a right of appeal against the granting of planning permission, when no such right exists. Beyond that, I am at a loss as to the


nature of his argument. On the one hand, he accuses us of


approving too many applications against Government guidance, particularly in relation to garden developments, and on the other, he celebrates the fact that the council has lost appeals when upholding Government and local policies, sometimes on the exact type of sites he says we should be protecting. The planning commi�ee does not


disregard planning policies and guidelines and our concern over some recent inspector’s decisions was precisely because inspectors had overturned refusals that seemed in line with Local Plan and Government policies. These refusals were also supported by


parish councils and residents. I would have thought he should share


our concern at the inconsistency of the Planning Inspectorate in upholding the Government’s policies, but clearly that is not the case. Cllr Clive English, Chairman Planning Commiee, MBC


Labour not backing women


I ADMIRE K G Banks’ audacity when he claims that “the Labour Party has done more than the others to encourage women to pursue political careers and, providing the right candidate emerges, a new Shirley Williams say, or a Barbara Castle, it can only be a ma�er of time before a woman takes full control”. Try telling that to Luciana Berger or


Margaret Hodge, both of whom are being driven out of Labour because they are Jewish. Mike Ka�, the national chair of the


Jewish Labour Movement said “Margaret Hodge has been a steadfast campaigner against racism, fascism and intolerance throughout her political life”. She saw off the BNP in Barking, but is


now being de-selected by Momentum for complaining about anti-Semitism in the Labour Party. Luciana Berger had to take a bodyguard


to the previous Labour party conference and, according to The Times of Israel, she “resigned from Jeremy Corbyn’s Labour Party in the face of Jew-hate”. Chris Leslie and Chuka Umunna


resigned saying that they couldn’t remain in a party that they now regard as racist and anti-Semitic. K G Banks had to scrape the bo�om of


the barrel to find examples of women faring well in the Labour Party, but again, he becomes unstuck. Most readers will be too young to have


heard of Barbara Castle, who left parliament 40 years ago. I read online in the Guardian’s obituary


for her that Labour women had to insist that one woman candidate be chosen to join the three men selected to contest the Blackburn seat!


The other example of Shirley Williams


is also classic spin. She resigned from the Labour Party in 1981 with four others due to the influence of the extreme left. Most people realise that the Labour


Party of their youth has become a racist, bigoted party and its MPs free-loaders who’ll turn a blind eye to any intolerance or racism just to keep their big salaries and expense accounts. Mike Wardle, Walderslade.


Fast food plan a health risk


IAM writing on behalf of the Snodland residents who are opposed to the fast food development planned at the bo�om of Hollow Lane in Snodland. We have expressed our main concern


regarding public health. Linked to obesity, diabetes, cancer, the


fried food offered in these restaurants contributes to a deadly amount of salt and saturated fats in our diet. We should be particularly concerned


that our youth is going to be more exposed to unhealthy eating. Surely this new development is not


going to help central Government’s targets of lowering obesity amongst the young? With eight takeaways in Snodland, a


McDonalds planned on the A228 opposite the M&S garage, and now the new KFC development planned at the bo�om of the town, this community is being targeted by the fast food industry, the residents being obviously easy prey and falling in the category of population inclined to go to fast food restaurants. More particularly, we feel that KFC is


unethical: with an estimated 850 million chickens slaughtered every year, KFC has donated much funding to charity in a pledge to help fight cancer. Instead of plaguing the residents of


Snodland with yet more fast food, Snodland Council and Tonbridge and Malling Council should have the courage to say NO to a development which presents no real benefits and certain negative outcomes. Annick West, Malling Road, Snodland


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