A cost-effective way of reducing town traffic
Editor News editor Assistant news editor Senior reporter Senior reporter causing uncertainly and anxiety.
I think hard working people and those who rely on public services deserve better than this. It is right we redouble our efforts and highlight the many short-comings of privately run public services.
In Maidstone the Leisure Centre, Cobtree Golf Course, the bin collection, the Park and Ride, council owned cafes and the Hazlitt Theatre are among the public services run by private companies. Cllr Paul Harper, Fant Ward Senior Reporter Senior Reporter I totally disagree with the comment made by Clr John Perry that the Park and Ride is an expensive luxury when in fact it is a cost-effective solution to reduce traffic travelling into Maidstone town centre.
Many people who work in the town use the Park and Ride for their daily commute. If it did not exist, there would be an urgent need to build more parking spaces for those vehicles normally parked at the Willington Street terminal.
However, I doubt that many of the Park and Ride travellers could afford to use the council owned sites. Many other residents and out-of-town visitors use the Park and Ride for shopping. I suspect if this service was not in force, quite a few shoppers would go outside of Maidstone where parking is free and available to spend their money. I for one would look at places such as Hempstead Valley and Bluewater as an alternative.
This government is obviously intending to follow the American model, which is the most expensive in cost per patient in the world and not necessarily the best.
Many treatment services have disappeared over the last seven years. Many doctors, nurses and experienced back-up staff have been dismissed or harried into resignation.
The UK was the best but now we are heading for Third World status.
On February 1, I attended a meeting at the KCC building in Maidstone which was discussing the future of stroke treatment for Kent. It was very difficult for the public to find out where and when it was to take place.
Entry was by a ticket issued Reporter Villages editor
I did wonder if Clr Perry has actually been to the Park and Ride site to see how many people use it. I for one have been in many a queue to fill a packed bus. I agree during certain periods of the core day, travel can be light, perhaps between the hours of noon and 3pm, but either side, the bus has more than enough customers to warrant the service.
A possible cost-cutting exercise worth considering is to reduce the service to every 30 minutes from 20 minutes during the times I have indicated.
Another suggestion is to follow the example of the Canterbury Park and Ride and charge a flat rate of £2.50 to park at the two sites in Willingdon Street and London Road instead of a bus fare charge. Whatever is decided, don’t cancel this service, it will have an adverse effect the town. Bernard Dunn Willington Street, Maidstone. online and despite it being labelled a ‘public consultation in some quarters’ it was anything but. It was a caucus of people, I never found out what they called themselves, who had obviously discussed all points beforehand, the computerised presentation was difficult to follow and questions by the public were not accepted. It was a scheduled three-hour meeting, where the chairman was hardly audible despite having a microphone, speakers and questions were limited to the chosen few.
Basically the idea is to have three ‘super equipped’ stroke hospitals, which can be accessed by ambulance within 45 mins of getting a call from anywhere in government and more informed decision making.
This is as true nationally as it is locally, so I would encourage women across Maidstone and the Weald who are passionate about our communities to consider standing for office. Not only will you improve where you live, but it can be very rewarding and you never know where it might lead.
Perhaps we can all learn from the Pankhursts’ motto, “Deeds, not words”.