Homes are root of air pollution

I noticed, reading the latest KM, that readers are still showing an interest in the pollution problem in Maidstone. I have previously written about this and attended a MBC focus group on the subject to discuss means of reducing pollution, mainly caused by traffic. After so many previous studies and recommendations the latest, no doubt expensive, study again shows a serious problem particularly along the north/ south route, particularly in the town centre near to the river and at the junction with the M20. Sadly I started to lose my initial enthusiasm at an early stage when I learnt that even with such a serious problem the County Town can amazingly only afford to share their senior pollution officer with two other authorities, getting just over 1.5 officer-days per week.

Along with this there is a current consultation on reductions to the Park and Ride scheme.

I started to wonder what the real purpose of the focus group was, as the problem basically is connected with the dramatic need for increased housing and corresponding increase in traffic and the need to divert as much traffic as possible away from the town centre.

A further question concerns the reason for so much housing need in the south east. In my opinion none of these were properly discussed.

At the end of the meeting another participant showed me a copy of the MBC 1989 Local Plan which placed great emphasis on the reduction traffic in the town centre.

Dare I ask what has happened since then, other than more housing and traffic and an “improved” road system to encourage even more traffic through the centre.

This along with the three millionplus migrants to the UK since 2004, all of whom require housing. Are we all wasting our time and money? Tony Monk Westerhill Road, Coxheath