News | Local elections


downsmail.co.uk Postal surge in COVID fears


ELECTIONS scheduled for May 6 are likely to go ahead, despite the current lockdown restrictions and continued concern over the COVID-19 pandemic.


Seats on Maidstone Borough Council and Kent County Council are up for grabs. The Coronavirus crisis is likely to spark a surge in in- terest to vote by post. The Government’s decision to press ahead with a spring election, having resisted calls to hold the polls in the autumn, will have con- sequences for everyone involved, not least the voters.


Those in vulnerable categories may be unwilling or too fearful to


Taking a break LIBERAL Democrat opposition


leader at County Hall Rob Bird will step down at the next election. As one of only seven councillors


in his party’s group, Cllr Bird de- cided to “take a break” from Tory- led Kent County Council. He said: “As opposition leader, you have to be on top of every- thing. After eight and a half years as a councillor, I’ve decided to take a break.”


Cllr Bird endorsed Chris Pass-


more, who will contest the Maid- stone central division alongside Cllr Dan Daley.


Bryan back


BRYAN Vizzard, right, Lib Dem borough council- lor for Heath, has been re-selected to fight on May 6. Cllr Vizzard has been on the coun- cil for 13 years as


part of the ruling Lib Dem group. He will face Tory Peter Holmes.


Green hope DONNA Greenan will fight the


Bridge ward on Maidstone Bor- ough Council on May 6.


The seat is held by Lib Dem Georgia Harvey. The Greens will call for better public transport, a 20mph speed limit on residentials streets, action on air pollution and the council’s house-building pro- gramme.


Labour switch


LABOUR’S borough councillor Keith Adkinson will not stand again in Fant. The candidate is likely to be Patrick Coates, of Allington, who has a long associa- tion with Fant Wildlife Group.


22 Campaigner joins battle


ANTI-housing campaigner Claudine Russell is to stand for the Conserva- tives at the borough council elections on May 6. Mrs Russell, who led the successful crusade to prevent 2,000 homes


being built in Marden, has decided to join the Tories to take advantage of the party machinery. The farmer has stepped aside from the chairmanship of the Marden Planning Opposition Group. She said: "I have always been conservative with a small 'c' but now I have decided to make it a capital 'C'." Mrs Russell will contest the Marden and Yalding ward left vacant by the


resignation last year of Tory stalwart Steve McLoughlin. Cllr McLoughlin chalked up 47% of the votes, despite a strong UKIP vote. The Conservatives must win the seat if they have any chance of remov-


ing from office the Liberal Democrats and Labour, who run MBC. Husband Tristan will step in to chair the MPOG.


go to a polling station, despite raised levels of public protection. Experts say voters will consider


a postal vote rather than losing out. Elections were cancelled last year and the Prime Minister is thought to be reluctant to lose the opportu- nity of cashing in on a feelgood fac- tor of mass vaccinations and a return to near-normal life. Those who visit the borough’s 70-plus polling stations will have to wear a mask and bring a pencil.


The delicate balance of power at MBC could shift from the ruling Liberal Democrats/Labour/inde- pendent alliance to the Tories by gaining a few seats.


The officers and MBC leader-


ship’s record on planning, meeting housing quotas and proposed clo- sure of the Hazlitt Theatre may sway votes either way. The spend- ing of tens of millions of pounds of public money on properties (in- cluding £19m on the Lockmeadow


complex, which is currently shut) may also come into play. An online poll carried out by Downs Mail showed 87% of re- spondents said the proposed Ha- zlitt Theatre closure issue would affect the way they voted.


To get your postal vote, call MBC on 01622 602000, and ask for reg- istration services. When con- nected choose option 2 for postal and proxy voting. Your local bor- ough or county councillor can as-


Simon picked


for tight seat COMMUNITY campaigner Simon Webb has been selected by the Conservatives to fight the borough council seat in Coxheath and Hunton on May 6. Mr Webb, who spent most of his career in teaching and educational roles, will contest the seat held by Lib Dem Emily Fermor. Mr Webb (66), of Hunton, has spoken out on speeding, over- development and flytipping. His campaign theme is “Keep Our Vil- lages Special”.


Former Invicta Grammar School


pupil and Oxford University grad- uate Miss Fermor won the seat by one vote five years ago. Mr Webb is also standing in the KCC elections in the Maidstone rural west division and believes having a foot in each camp will be effective. But he will be up against popular borough councillor Ash- leigh Kimmance (Lib Dem). Mr Webb said: “People are sens- ing there needs to be a change at the borough council.”


Suspended Tories back in the fold


CONSERVATIVE county council- lors Gary Cooke and Paul Cooper were suspended by their party for refusing to back a 5% increase in the council tax.


Kent County Council intends to set a budget with the inflation- busting rise, which sees band C homes hit by an annual £60 hike. They had the whip withdrawn temporarily early last month after stating their opposition to the rise.


The councillors made their feel- ings clear in the last edition of Downs Mail when they said: “COVID-19 has affected us all ... but for some it has been devastat- ing and we are aware of the hard- ship caused to the families we represent. We’ll always put the in- terests of our residents first and with so many families facing hardship, we have concluded a 5% increase in KCC’s rates is too


much and we are unable to sup- port it.”


The pair represent some de-


prived areas in south and south- east Maidstone and temporarily sat as independents.


Their loss in the run-up to the election will not harm the Tories as they still hold three quarters of the seats at county hall.The sus- pension ran for 21 days, but both members were later reinstated.


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48