Monday, November 20, 2006
IMPROVING LIFE FOR PEDESTRIANS AND ENCOURAGING US ALL TO REDUCE OUR CAR USAGE.
In 2003, a survey was done by the Maidstone Urban Forum, on this subject and as far as I know the results were never made public.
Myself and six other people conducted this survey, two out of the seven are Labour Party members, and as this subject seems to be coming to the political for again, I thought I would share with you how we can all improve things, both pedestrians and car users in Maidstone.
Patrick Coates
Environment Correspondant.
Nine Ideas/Subjects were looked at, and questionnaires received from schools, community organisations and individuals.
I would welcome your input on this subject to see if there is more or a better way to tackle this important subject.
· 1st - with a score of 72 was Home Zones - these are roads/groups of roads with pedestrian and cycle priority with low traffic speeds say 10mph/ road calming
· 2nd with 67 was 20 mph roads.
· 3rd with 56 was Safe Routes to Schools.
· 4th with 37 was Outer ring lorry parks and town centre van delivery only.
· Joint 5th with 26 was Improving signing for pedestrians, cycles and cars and Non petrol vechicles for local organisations.
· 7th with 18 was Car sharing schemes: for journeys to/ from Maidstone and the villages.
· 8th with 15 was Home delivery collection centres.
· 9th with 13 was ‘TravelSmart’ this is individual marketing to change travel.
The Solutions to the above with others will be published only on this Web Site, depending on the reaction, as far as I know no other in-depth survey has been done in Maidstone before or since.
Solutions will be posted here over the coming months to these very important questions for all of us who live and work in Maidstone .
Myself and six other people conducted this survey, two out of the seven are Labour Party members, and as this subject seems to be coming to the political for again, I thought I would share with you how we can all improve things, both pedestrians and car users in Maidstone.
Patrick Coates
Environment Correspondant.
Nine Ideas/Subjects were looked at, and questionnaires received from schools, community organisations and individuals.
I would welcome your input on this subject to see if there is more or a better way to tackle this important subject.
· 1st - with a score of 72 was Home Zones - these are roads/groups of roads with pedestrian and cycle priority with low traffic speeds say 10mph/ road calming
· 2nd with 67 was 20 mph roads.
· 3rd with 56 was Safe Routes to Schools.
· 4th with 37 was Outer ring lorry parks and town centre van delivery only.
· Joint 5th with 26 was Improving signing for pedestrians, cycles and cars and Non petrol vechicles for local organisations.
· 7th with 18 was Car sharing schemes: for journeys to/ from Maidstone and the villages.
· 8th with 15 was Home delivery collection centres.
· 9th with 13 was ‘TravelSmart’ this is individual marketing to change travel.
The Solutions to the above with others will be published only on this Web Site, depending on the reaction, as far as I know no other in-depth survey has been done in Maidstone before or since.
Solutions will be posted here over the coming months to these very important questions for all of us who live and work in Maidstone .
Thursday, November 16, 2006
PROTECTING AND ENHANCING BIODIVERSITY IN DEVELOPMENT
1. Legislation and policy exists to protect our precious biodiversity.
2. Various bodies including English Nature, KWT, RSBP. Environment Agency and Local Authorities use the existing legislation and policy to get the best outcome for Kent's biodiversity.
3. Through the planning process records can be used to help inform decision makers of the species that exist at a site.
4. Biodiversity can be protected during development by using special measures on site, moving species to more suitable locations, or creating new wildlife areas.
5. Measures should be monitored in to the future to ensure they are successful.
6. Government policy encourages enhancement of biodivesity through planning. This can include simple measures such as including bird boxes, bat boxes, pond creation and native vegetation planting in new developments or creating larger areas for wildlife to thrive.
Patrick Coates
Environment Correspondent
2. Various bodies including English Nature, KWT, RSBP. Environment Agency and Local Authorities use the existing legislation and policy to get the best outcome for Kent's biodiversity.
3. Through the planning process records can be used to help inform decision makers of the species that exist at a site.
4. Biodiversity can be protected during development by using special measures on site, moving species to more suitable locations, or creating new wildlife areas.
5. Measures should be monitored in to the future to ensure they are successful.
6. Government policy encourages enhancement of biodivesity through planning. This can include simple measures such as including bird boxes, bat boxes, pond creation and native vegetation planting in new developments or creating larger areas for wildlife to thrive.
Patrick Coates
Environment Correspondent
“WHY ARE THE MANY POOR”
Many who have belonged to the Labour Party have done so because they have had in mind that the Party is a way of achieving an understanding of, and action about, the age old and universal question 'Why are the many poor?”; no doubt because it was as cogent then as it is now, the question was posed specifically by the newly formed Fabian Society in the first of the Fabian Tracts in 1884 written by W.L.Phillips. It may well be that members have not found an answer to the question or having glimpsed an answer are still looking for solutions to the implication that has been stated in biblical terms 'You have the poor among you always' (Matt.26.11) but you have doubts that it need be so. To find that solution has been the task of many generations of socialists of many varieties and even when they have found to their own satisfaction what they regard as an answer, there is then the problem of implementing it ; that is what the Labour Party has historically been about and the day-to-day solutions are indicated in the perplexities of policies and opinions. It comes as no surprise to hear that there is still a problem here; there is an answer in the Fabian Tract in the first paragraph of it : “We live is a competitive society with Capital in the hands of individuals.. What are the results? A few are very rich, some well off, the majority in poverty, and a vast number in misery” - if this is taken today, to be a world-wide assessment, then it is still true today 122 years later, and the statistics clearly show it. Even if it be so, even if you make a judgement that such a situation is not just, there is still the conundrum about doing something curative about it or accepting it as a phenomenon of nature...........or indeed of accepting policies of amelioration and living with that.
So is there enough wealth for all? Is so where is all the wealth going? Can it be redirected? Much for discussion here especially if you opine that this is not a task for our Party.
P.S.. "In The Guardian 14th Nov 06 Polly Toynbee writes : "If ever there was a moment for Labour Ministers to open the debate on gross inequality, Farepak is it. Instead, silence from them all - again"
Leslie Turner 10 Nov 06
So is there enough wealth for all? Is so where is all the wealth going? Can it be redirected? Much for discussion here especially if you opine that this is not a task for our Party.
P.S.. "In The Guardian 14th Nov 06 Polly Toynbee writes : "If ever there was a moment for Labour Ministers to open the debate on gross inequality, Farepak is it. Instead, silence from them all - again"
Leslie Turner 10 Nov 06
Monday, November 13, 2006
Fant-astic Clare Park
Clare Park in Tonbridge Road is over 80 years old. Provided for the people of Maidstone in 1923 by Sir Edward Sharp of Sharp’s Toffees and named after his wife, the Park has since been a place of leisure activities for young and old. It has facilities for bowling, tennis and ball games, and a play area for children.
Friends of Clare Park is a group of local residents and Park users committed to creating and maintaining a quality environment in Clare Park, working in partnership and supported by Maidstone Borough Council.
The membership is open to anyone who is interested in Clare Park, Tonbridge Road, and who broadly agrees with the aims and philosophy of the group.
As a Friend, you will have an opportunity to:
¨ lend a hand with practical tasks in the Park,
¨ give the Council the feedback as a Park user,
¨ advise on the management and maintenance,
¨ help raise funds for the Friends and for the Park.
And last, but not least – how about meeting like-minded people and getting some healthy exercise! We are also looking for people who have information on the history of Clare Park, Tonbridge Road. Our next meeting will be held on Thursday 18th January 2007 at the Admiral Gordon Public House, Milton Street, Maidstone starting at 7pm.
Please contact Julia Brundish, Friends of Clare Park Chairperson on 01622 72 82 94
Friends of Clare Park is a group of local residents and Park users committed to creating and maintaining a quality environment in Clare Park, working in partnership and supported by Maidstone Borough Council.
The membership is open to anyone who is interested in Clare Park, Tonbridge Road, and who broadly agrees with the aims and philosophy of the group.
As a Friend, you will have an opportunity to:
¨ lend a hand with practical tasks in the Park,
¨ give the Council the feedback as a Park user,
¨ advise on the management and maintenance,
¨ help raise funds for the Friends and for the Park.
And last, but not least – how about meeting like-minded people and getting some healthy exercise! We are also looking for people who have information on the history of Clare Park, Tonbridge Road. Our next meeting will be held on Thursday 18th January 2007 at the Admiral Gordon Public House, Milton Street, Maidstone starting at 7pm.
Please contact Julia Brundish, Friends of Clare Park Chairperson on 01622 72 82 94
