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unelected officials at Maidstone Borough Council on July 13, when Bellway Homes’ hated Otham proposal was rejected so overwhelmingly. What is becoming clear also, through reading this newspaper, is that this council is increasingly in the grip of officers who think they know best. They often do know beer, by virtue of their skill sets, but they do not make the decisions, the elected members of all parties do. The officers are there to advise. Too often local government is riven by left/right splits, internal factions and warring cliques who overwhelm the common good. What is going on in this borough, with the threat of housing we are simply not equipped to handle, is too serious to be turned into a political toy to be snatched by civil servants. The Otham appeal should be contested by the best legal representation available. And, in future, officers should not be


tempted to send through recommendations simply expedient to them, and not the tax-payers. R Young, via email


Right decision finally


I HAVE followed all three Maidstone Borough Council planning meetings online relating to the Bellway Homes plan for 421 new houses next to Otham Church – and it was like a record playing the same tune over and over again. The planning commiee first rejected the plan, it was forced to think again and made the same decision and then it was forced to the policy and resources commiee for the same very decisive outcome. I reckon I spent 10 hours watching and listening – what a waste of everybody’s time. The first meeting should have been decisive. Council rules must be changed – and


elected councillors’ voices are much more important than those of council officers. The right decision has now been


reached for this lovely piece of Otham countryside locked in by inadequate roads. KCC Highways oppose the development due to safety issues for


Church Road and further serious congestion problems for Willington Street and Deringwood Drive. It should never have been included in the Local Plan for housing. I now expect the planning inspector at any appeal to see it that way, too. James Crossley, via email


Consultation pointless


HAVING reviewed results for Kent County Council’s Keep Maidstone Moving public consultation, it is no surprise KCC officers have decided largely to ignore views of the majority of the 502 responders who took the trouble to submit comments on six various proposed road schemes. Only 7% of responders agreed with the


proposals. The report says: “Although the


consultation results appear to be negative, it is the recommendation of officers to proceed with the proposals.” The consultation exercise was a total


waste of time and money. Although they are considering a few


minor changes to their plans, KCC show they have total contempt for the views of the majority of responders. From a detailed review of each of the


six proposed so-called highways “improvement schemes” shown in the council’s consultation document, it could be that three do not have any merit in improving the desired aims of reducing congestion, travel times and pollution. Three have some merit, but with


reservations that they will have the reverse effect in the short, medium and long term. Some of the plans are ill- conceived and ill thought-out in practical terms which, in some cases, although appearing to look feasible on paper, will not necessarily work in practice. It should be noted that software


modelling has been used to assist in the design of various schemes, as opposed to in some cases applying common sense or understanding of the full extent of the implications. Should all these proposals be implemented, then it may be more appropriate to change the title to:


THIS is what Downs Mail readers said on our Facebook page about the decision to reject Bellway Homes plan for 421 houses near Otham Church…


Catherine Nolan: So sad to think it could be swamped by houses. I got married there in 1977 and it looked just as it does in the photo. What is happen- ing to our green and pleasant land?


Jackie Read: Well done to the op- position group who saved Otham church from being swallowed up by more housing.


Peter Lane: It is good, but they will probably win the appeal. These big firms seem to be able to bully their way to the result they want.


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“Continue to Keep Maidstone from Moving”. Brian Shingleton, Loose


Get behind NHS heroes


THE staff at Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust have always gone above and beyond when it comes to providing outstanding care for patients. But the coronavirus pandemic has really helped the local community to see them for what they truly are – real life heroes. They’ve gone the distance for us


during this challenging time. Now it’s time for us to do the same for them. Show your support for our wonderful


staff by signing up to the new “Go the Distance” campaign in aid of Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Charitable Fund. All funds raised will go to the charity’s dedicated Covid-19 response appeal to help support staff health and wellbeing as they help in the fight against the virus. Participants can either walk, run or


cycle either 5km, 10km, a half marathon or full marathon in a maximum of 30 days in return for sponsorship to the appeal. Double Olympic gold medallist Dame Kelly Holmes has got behind the campaign, and MTW NHS Trust’s CEO Miles Sco has signed up to run a marathon. The route will see him start at Crowborough Birthing Centre and end at Maidstone Hospital. Participants are encouraged to set up


their own fundraising page and everyone who raises £10 or more will receive a medal. A £10 donation can be made by texting


MTWGTD to 70085 (texts cost £10 plus one standard rate message) or via justgiving.com/fundraising/mtw- fundraisinggothedistance. To sign up to the event you can either


visit hps://bit.ly/2020Gothedistance or register your interest via mtw- tr.gtd@nhs.net. Entries close on Friday, July 31, so what are you waiting for? Laura Kennedy, Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Charitable Fund


I hope it is thrown out forever and a clause is put in that no more large developments can go on that land or any other land around Church Road and Gore Court Road.


Cynthia Rosser: Just wish all our beautiful villages, with proposed housing, had the same strong opposition.


Rob Gardner: Good, now to stop the Lenham Heath development.


Duncan Fairley: Strange that a gang of unelected "officers" do not have to declare any sort of personal, fa-


milial, or financial interest in the process. Nor do they have to say what area they live in. Councillors do, yet the "officers" seem to have more power at times.


Comment


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