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Houses nightmare is killing us MailMarks


THE crises caused by massive housing development in and around Maidstone are killing us – both literally and metaphorically.


The huge rise in population and serious shortage of NHS staff not now attracted to Maidstone (see separate story in our news pages) increasingly threatens the health of our worried population. Many, unable to make an urgent GP appointment, are going to A&E as the “faster alternative”. This increases pressures on already-overstretched hospitals also facing serious staff shortages, at a time of 12% growth in emergency attendances (6,456) in November. Emergency department performance has been below target for four months.


The NHS will not readily admit patient harm, but it is inconceivable this is not occurring with so many problems. Maidstone suffers among the most serious shortage of GPs in the country, leaving some remaining practices very overworked as they struggle to meet growing demands. GP appointments may be offered weeks ahead and then the 10-minute or so appointment can leave doctors short of time for proper full investigation and consideration. Patients happy with regular medications serving them well for years find they are changed without notice due to national shortages, and now there may be no adequate follow-up assessments. There is strong local NHS determination to improve – but challenges are too great. The other growing risk to our health is increasing traffic chaos across Maidstone. In parts of the town, notably in Upper Stone Street (fifth highest in UK outside of London), toxic air from vehicle fumes still exceeds World Health Organisation guidelines. The biggest health danger is blood clots.


All this is arising with just about a quarter built of the 28,000 new houses demanded by Government in our Local Plan up to 2037. The people’s rebellion has grown, forcing Maidstone borough councillors and our MPs really to listen. Our council is challenging Government, saying Maidstone calculations are wrong


Residents sick of speeding


I REFER to your recent coverage of traffic issues in Roseacre Lane in Bearsted. If the speed limit signs and large 20mph notices painted on the road are failing to slow traffic, I suggest stickers on wheelie bins are unlikely to have any effect. As a resident of the lane, I and many neighbours, now find that our wheelie bins are moved by motorists who cannot pass each other and resort to using our driveways as a lay-by or passing place. I have experienced lorries using my


34 Malling March 2020


DENNIS FOWLE President dennisfowle28@gmail.com


and demand cannot sensibly be met without causing immense further damage and dangers. Maidstone’s ancient road structure presents huge problems for major improvements – but Government figures seem to suggest one size fits all. The council is supported by MP Helen Grant, who says housing targets must be fair, balanced and achievable – “and at the moment they are not”. She needs strong support from all MPs for angry South East constituencies to force Government to listen and act when it wants to ignore us – and now bullying to strip unco-operative councils of planning powers. This is not really a party political issue. The strong drive for many more houses is policy for Conservatives, Labour and Liberal Democrats. Criticism of Government policy is aimed at how it determines the number of houses demanded on a town-by-town basis. In Maidstone, criticism of the ruling Lib Dems is based on where and how housing is being planned to meet outrageous national demands. It has become a political very hot potato, especially with local elections planned for May and the Tories pressing to regain control. But who would now want to handle this potato? There are very angry councillors, especially in some hard-hit rural wards, and as protests grow, Maidstone Council’s strategies now seem to be getting into a real mess.


The council’s last call for local land offers for around 10,500 houses attracted many hopeful speculators, totalling 60,000 houses. These offers caused widespread alarm in the borough and, to end appalling uncertainties, the council said it would quickly dismiss no hopers. Now it has added to fervent anger by saying it must fully assess all 334 offers and decisions may not be announced for a year. What will that do for residents


driveway to execute a three-point turn. We have suffered abuse from motorists


if we remonstrate with them for using our private land. We have even been abused by motorists for slowing down to drive on to our own driveways. Without access to driveways, the traffic would be unable to flow. A recent survey in Roseacre Lane


revealed that a large percentage of traffic is speeding in excess of 20mph.


The enormous number of houses being built in the Sutton Road area seems to


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needing to make decisions, especially buying or selling a house? Could this unwelcome latest policy change be linked to opposition and challenges it faces creating its own 5,000- houses garden village at Lenham Heath? It is an appalling situation for residents whose quality of life has been so very seriously harmed in many ways and who now face a bleak and uncertain future. I hear of long-term Maidstone residents giving up and moving to other parts of the country for a happier life and future. YES – MAIDSTONE IS BEING KILLED.


Who’s in charge? DO you think decisions on Maidstone


Council are made by your elected councillors or unelected officers? Several top councillors now say the council is increasingly officer-led. I fear they are right.


In almost 70 years in journalism, I have worked very closely with three Kent local authorities and became personal friends with many superb, dedicated councillors. I knew how vital they were to proper operation of their council and gave them as much editorial backing as possible. They needed support of good officers – but had to lead and control them. I felt confident about Maidstone a few


years back, especially when the cabinet system was introduced. The council leader appointed four or five councillors to his cabinet with specific portfolios. All significant council decisions were made at formal meetings by the full cabinet or individual members – and if other councillors did not like a decision they could call it in for further consideration at a meeting all interested councillors could attend. Final decision rested with cabinet. When Lib Dems last regained council control, they sadly reverted to council committee meetings so all councillors had greater involvement to speak and vote. These meetings are not held with anything like the frequency of cabinet meetings and it becomes more likely officers will provide the urgency council work often needs.


From these seeds, officer power and control grow. IT IS THE WRONG WAY ROUND.


have resulted in a huge increase in traffic using Roseacre Lane as a shortcut to and from the motorway. These motorists have little regard for residents and pedestrians. Roseacre Lane does not have a footpath and is only wide enough for one car. Bearsted Parish Council is powerless to do anything. It would appear that Maidstone Borough Council is also unable or unwilling to listen to our concerns. Kent County Council has indicated that it will need a serious accident or a death before something can be done to slow or


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