Demographic Discursive

Bring Housing Back into Use Ashford!

2011-01-10T06:16:00.001-08:00

It's time to stop crying out about council housing lists and start lobbying Ashford Borough Council to bring empty homes up to standard.

In recent weeks, I have been contacted by a number of residents in Ashford complaining of overcrowding in Council Accommodation. One woman, a widow of a Gurkha Veteran, resides with her two children in a house with 8 other people.This is a four bedroom house.

I know a couple in a neighbouring ward who live in a one bed flat with their child who is over a year old.

Yet opposite me, there is a two bedroom house which stands empty and has done for the three years I have resided here.

Ashford Borough Council consider that housing is overcrowded if there are children present over the age of 1 year without a bedroom.

Yet these people are living in overcrowded conditions due to insufficient housing resources in Ashford. This is in spite of Ashford having a large portfolio of 5000 homes. Unfortunately, the large borough indicates they also have around 2 years of waiting lists for accommodations.

Yet figures from government's Communities and Local Government Department show Ashford has 1160 properties which are empty because of disrepair.

This is unbelievable when we have a huge population of 112,000. In light of job cuts and austerity measures, it is now more important than ever to get these 1160 properties up to scratch for those in dire housing.

I welcome Communities Minister Andrew Stunell's news showing more money is now available for bringing these properties into use again.

Ashford Borough Council can no longer claim financial hardship as an excuse for poor housing maintenance and to justify empty properties around the borough.

Lorry Park Protest Success for LPA

2011-01-05T10:37:00.000-08:00

The Lorry Park Alliance must be delighted with the response to funding a potential Lorry Park at junctiom 10 of the M20 at Aldington.

Kent Online reports that Ministers rejected a bid to fund the project from the Sustainable Community Fund, due to the likely rising costs of the project.

The Campaign Group formed specifically to protest against the building of a 70 acre site to house lorries during increasingly frequent bouts of Operation Stack. The campaign attracted many high profile supporters, including Campaign to Protect Rural England and Ashford Liberal Democrats Parliamentary Spokesperson Chris Took.

Inspite of the negative response to the proposals, Kent County Council have been determined to push the development of the park through, still inviting signatures on their website now.

However, KCC have lost their battle to have the Government foot the bill for their proposal, unless they fund it themselves.

However, with the implementation of the Localism Bill, a new form of public consultation could significantly marr KCC's plans to build the park themselves, if they could afford to undertake the project.

But there is still the necessity to reduce the misery that Operation Stack causes on Kent's Motorways. As residents of Ashford are well aware, every time the Police cordon off the M20, the surrounding A roads become stodged with traffic, having a significantly negative effect on the roads and the county as a whole.

The M2, not designed to bear the weight of traffic with only two lanes, usually comes to a grinding halt and the usual gridlock of rush hour is extended at every turn.

Any suggestions that would not impact on the environment, but allow the county to be relatively unscathed, would be greatly appreciated!

Open Letter: Political Quote of the Year

2011-01-03T14:24:00.000-08:00

Dear Sirs,

The Kentish Express (30th December 2010) provides a political review of the year, but they appear to leave out a significant quote from Ashford Borough Council. Paul Carter had the temerity to call Ashford's rating as the worst council in the country for recycling “a good thing”.

We are in an age where our carbon foot prints are growing, the damage to the environment is striking, and every school child is educated on fuel conservation, yet Ashford's current administration consider recycling to be a non-essential part of borough services, and that, when rated the most abysmal council in the country, respond with smirks and a lack of seriousness.

I would like to see a stronger commitment to recycling services in the future, especially as this is the second time Ashford Borough Council have let us down; first by opting out of the free recycling service that Shepway and Canterbury use, and now through failing to reassure residents recycling and rubbish collection is a priority.

Kind regards,

Kelly-Marie Blundell

The Cost of Church Protest

2011-01-03T14:23:00.000-08:00

Campaigning Campanologist Chris Cooper, I do adore that alliteration, is back in the press this Christmas with the results from a Freedom of Information Request on the cost of Church Protest.

The figure, an alarming £52,000 does make one wonder where our council tax goes in Ashford.

The majority of public bodies have their own legal department, as Ashford Borough Council do. Therefore the justification of an additional solicitor's annual salary is nothing short of bizarre.

The revelations of figures on the redevelopment alone are concerning. Working Lunches have been denounced by the central government as wastes of money in the face of austerity. However, those involved in the redevelopment need not show such parsimony, with £161 for a sandwich lunch. How many people did this feed, one asks?

The cost of cutting down a tree is an unfortunate addition to the figures at £1200 is a shocking introduction into the allegedly cost effective commissioning of outside agencies to conduct the work.

Of course, the bonus for councils in the commissioning of outside bodies, is those bodies are not covered by the Freedom of Information Act and such contracts cannot be scrutinised by the Public to ascertain cost effective and legitimate spending.

Let us hope that with a move towards Mutualism with the current national government, we will not see such squandering of resources in the future.

Ashford Borough Council Accountancy Errors 2010

2011-01-03T14:20:00.001-08:00

Ashford Borough Council seems unable to clarify what they spent in 2010.

The Kentish Express reports that figures provided by Ashford Borough Council are extraordinarily inaccurate as to account for their spending.

Not only did they list £5,000 spent on Homoeopathy, but they miscalculated train fare expenses by a staggering £945,179.

I have to admit, it gives me little faith in accounting for where my council tax is going.

Considering the Council is looking to inherit some of the public health schemes from the dissolution of the Primary Care Trust, £5,000 on homoeopathy could be seen as a sweetener and forward thinking. Of course, if Homoeopathy was real health care and not just a placebo. But to discover that the Council's record keeping is so inaccurate as to misrepresent a landlord for a private health business is nothing short of shocking.

One has to wonder what else they may have misrepresented when listing incomings and outgoings.

The misrepresentation of travel expenses is far more concerning. By making such an error, Ashford Borough Council is insinuating that £960,000 is an acceptable amount to spend on trains for their staff.

That this money is, in fact, going towards the station forecourt is an interesting revelation. At Council Meetings in 2010, the Conservative Party refuted claims they would be able to have any input in the design and renovation of the station forecourt. Even when faced with breaches of Hackney Carriage Licence Law, breaches of the Equality Act and accessibility regulations, the leading party asserted they had no say in the matter.

So we can deduce they either (a) have willingly given £945,179 to South Eastern as a gift and not a contract, thereby the council have no say, (b) they do not consider that the equivalent council tax for three wards in the borough is enough money to have a say in such a project they are co-funding, or, (c) they denied responsibility when it did in fact exist.

None of which are particularly positive reflection of the current administration.

Is Ashford Truly the Definition of Middle Class?

2011-01-02T13:16:00.000-08:00

Much fun has been had over the definition of "middle class" in recent politics and news.

Ed Milliband provided us with seven different definitions in one recent BBC Radio 4 interview.

But whether you see "middle class" as "the social class between the upper and lower classes" or whether you prefer to enter debate about blue collar versus white collar, The Telegraph has decided that Ashford is the pinnacle of middle class.

Naturally, this is in a negative context.

In Ashford we are being subjected to higher rail fares for 2011, at a shocking 12.8%, which accounts for much of the rise in outgoings for this fictional middle class family.

Therefore, the article cannot be used to generalise the affect on every family of four in the UK living on £50,000 per year.

But, as ever, The Telegraph doesn't let that get in the way of a good headline, as this article demonstrates.

Further to this, the article quite abhorrently mixes theories to scaremonger, citing that the fictional family would see an increase of £562.

Given that house price averages in Kent in 2010 were £226,778 for a semi detached, it is hard to imagine where our fictional middle class family of four would reside for £150,000.

However you look at it, Ashford residents will suffer as the cuts bite next year.

Police Warnings for Ashford in The Herald

2010-11-21T11:17:00.000-08:00

The Ashford Herald, 18th November 2010, contains many warnings to the public this Christmas.

Bizarre Thefts

A nurse seemingly suffered a strange theft attempt in Willesborough, where two women approached her in tears, claiming their mother had died. They then put costume jewellery around her neck and by sleight of hand removed her own 22ct gold necklace. When she pushed them away,and went to call the police, the women threw her necklace at her.

This is clearly an odd case of attempted theft, but it would be advisable to be on your guard when comforting unknown women in the street?

Christmas Crimes

We should all raise our awareness at christmas, when expensive items are generally purchased and carried around.

Kent Police are drawing attention to the risks of putting shopping bags on view in the rears of your cars, in case it leads to theft.

Also, be aware of what boxes you put outside your house for the bin men to collect. There is no point in needlessly advertising your new telly, camera and stereo to the whole neighbourhood.

Please also ensure your sheds and garages are locked, as the spate of thefts accross Ashford show no sign of stopping.

Saddening News

2010-11-12T15:57:00.000-08:00

I was saddened to hear of the death of Cllr John Kemp of Kennington Ward today.

Cllr John Kemp was a good councillor who was highly regarded in the ward and borough as a whole.

Fantastic Response from Kent Police

2010-11-12T15:10:00.001-08:00

I want to commend Kent Police on their response to an incident that happened this evening.

This evening my husband went to the shop.

On his way down Faversham Road, innocuously committing that crime of walking on the pavement, he was surprised to hear some commotion and a revving engine.

A car then swerved behind him on to the pavement as it's occupants, rowdy males, yelled "get out of the f-ing way".

Understandably my husband felt very threatened. He was then subject to abusive comments along the lines of "yeah you'd better carry on walking" and "we'll be waiting for you boyo" and "we're gonna get you".

I am pleased to say my husband carried on walking, didn't turn around or respond in any way. To do so, as many know, would have provoked confrontation.

He did have the forethought to check which house, car colour and registration on his way back, however.

He put in a phone call to Kent Police and they responded, sending two officers round within 30 minutes.

They were concerned the people who threatened him may know where he lived (good thinking), and went to the property to check out the occupants.

I am really delighted they took something which may have just been ASB but could equally have been quite a dangerous incident, so seriously.

Lateral Thinking Friday on Local News

2010-10-15T10:27:00.000-07:00

I have recently subscribed to Kent Online News Updates. This allows me to keep up with the news.

In true "Friday" mode this afternoon, when an alert popped up on my blackberry, I thought the title "Mum of 13: I'm not a scrounger" was worth a look.

The story is pretty meek all things considering. A woman objecting to being misrepresented as a person who wastes all of her benefits on televisions and swimmingpools. Fair enough.

But then I cast my eye over the comments.

Delightfully, and predictably, an small debate was being exercised on the rights to claim benefits.

Phrases such as "what is the world coming to" reared out at me in true Daily Fail fashion. But interestingly, the following correspondence caught my eye;

Neil Boyo wrote:

Oi Lynn, shut ya mouf.

my mums got 14 kids and lives off benefits. so wot.

if someones gonna giv it why work for it. i think your all mugs for workin.

my mums the best, she can llok after the kids and still box you up down

Followed by

MECH SEALS BOI wrote:

WELL DONE NEIL BOYO FOR STANDING UP FOR WHAT YOU BELIEVE IN AND NOT CONFORMING TO THE MASSES. I ONLY HAVE 6 CHAVIES AT THE MO BUT HOPE TO ONE DAY HAVE SOME MORE IF THE GOVERMENTS STOPS BEING TIGHT. TIL THEN I'LL HAVE TO USE MY DISSABILITY BENIFITS AS A TOP UP

Now, here's some lateral thinking for you

What is wrong with that statement?

No?

Try this one;

Mech Seals Boi wrote:

Stop all havin a pop at Neil boyo! I think your all jellous as he has more time off than you and probably more extra cash at the end of the month therefore a better life style. your all like crying children, grow up and sort you own lifes out. If you cant bet them join them, you all have the option to live the easy life like neil and myself. and as for the big man DJ, your threats dont worry us, we all know your not gonna turn up down the doll so do one mug

Got it yet?

No?

Let's give you a highlight;

See it now?

For people that cannot spell "benefits", I have admit my sceptical surprise at the use of the word "conforming".

How about the next one?

Perhaps there is a slight wind up / egging on going on here to encourage more comments and controversy?

PS I find lanugage analysis fascinating, see the Lindbergh Kidnapping for some interesting examples.

Open Letter: Introduction of Charges For Local Businesses

2010-10-10T11:47:00.001-07:00

Dear Sirs,

I was absolutely appalled to read the introduction of charges for local businesses to display an A board on the high street outside their premises. It seems that this is Ashford Borough Council's answer to their inability to raise council tax next year.

To quote the economic deficit as a reason for an introduction of such a charge, and to mention removing the clutter in the high street, when local businesses are failing, is simply an atrocious misunderstanding of the situation.

Or perhaps the true reason is some ludicrous health and safety policy incase someone is injured. In which case, local businesses are covered by employee liability, and there is no need for funding to be added to this pot by the council.

In addition to the 50%-100% rise for market stall rents, and the ongoing reduction of services that residents see in Ashford, I do wonder where all of this "stealth" funding is going.

Campanologist Chris Cooper raised some serious questions in his protest at St Mary's Church about local government spending and the allocation of finances. As I'm sure most residents would agree, we would prefer to maintain levels of crime prevention, rubbish services and court services than invest in design schemes such as forecourt stations, shared space and converted churches.

Sadly, with the removal of the State of the Borough Debate, one of the last few remaining democratic processes in the area, means this question cannot be raised easily.

With empty premises in Ashford, the greatly reducing footfall since the isolation of the town centre and numerous empty business premises around the borough, I would think the Ashford Borough Council would be more inclined to promote local community rather than ban them from increasing trade.

Yours faithfully,

Kelly-Marie Blundell

Ashford's "Stealth Taxes" For Local Businesses

2010-10-10T11:31:00.000-07:00

I was absolutely horrified to read the Ashford Borough Council intends to charge businesses for putting a board in the street.

This appears to be another stealth tax introduction by the borough council, alongside increasing market rental by 50% (per hour), charging for leafleting and advertising and a significant increase in parking charges.

I do intend to conduct a Freedom of Information request to find out exactly where all this new revenue accrued is going.

We do not see it in the provision of services as residents, I can assure you of that.

I am an Ashfordian born and ,and in the last three years have seen my council tax rise, the allocation of police community resource officers changed from one ward to one to four wards, the loss of the custody suite and subsequent jobs within the police station, the introduction of significantly higher parking prices, the destruction of buildings to build car parks and further isolate the town centre, the introduction of an expensive high-speed rail service but no investment in local services.

We have had the wonderful stories of people making their own warning signs about potholes within the borough, we have had green waste collection removed, I regularly support residents whose wardens have been removed from their housing, I am now campaigning against the introduction of charges for the Lifeline system for elderly residents which has replaced the wardens.

I have watched the market be forced from Elwick Road to Bank Street, then away from the bandstand and down to the lower area of the high Street where is reduced often to three or four stalls on a week day and five or six at a weekend.

There were rumours of local community centre at Bybrook being closed, buses do not provide disability access, and more land is being used for more houses when there is no community infrastructures as a supporter let alone council services.

I'm terrified of the day when Ashford Borough Council will decide to follow in the footsteps of Barnett and provide an "EasyJet" no-frills council service for seemingly more money than we had paid before.

One Passionate Campanologist (Pun Intended) and Ashford's Public Sector Finances

2010-10-10T09:35:00.000-07:00

Following the national press interest process of bellringer Chris Cooper in his tent at St Mary's Church, I feel that such passion and dedication to the cause merits comment.

I went round to the churchyard on Friday to see if I could get the opportunity to speak to him. However, having been round three times, I realised that he must have indeed been moved on.

Given that the front page on the Kentish Express identified he will impending him on a hunger strike, I was naturally concerned.

It seems that Mr Cooper was moved on on Thursday following the groundbreaking ceremony (no pun intended).

There are a lot of pertinent points to be raised from about the redevelopment of St Mary's Church.

Firstly, the development has an integral selling point to The Church, as it will mean that any damage to the 12th century property will be repaired by money from the grants and Ashford Borough Council rather than the Dioceses having to foot the bill. After all, they've just hosted the Pope coming to the UK, they couldn't possibly have the money to make minor structural repairs.

Secondly, it is worth noting that the money allocated to the churchyard is ring fenced for creative arts development. Therefore, in spite of Mr Cooper's valiant protest, the money could not be used to save the magistrates and county courts within the town. Nor could it be used to install CCTV camera or fund extra presence roles of the churchyard to help mitigate antisocial behaviour levels. This is the legacy you may or may not agree, with but ultimately it is hard to overthrow.

Thirdly as fellow Liberal Democrat campaigner Jeremy Adby points out, the redevelopment of St Mary's Church is already costed a terrifying £191,000 and that was without the ground being broken.

When facing a significant public sector deficit, ludicrous introductions of charges for advertising on the high street and regularly soaring council tax, it is shocking that so much money could be invested into something that hasn't happened yet.

Chris Cooper is quite right to question where our public finances go, our council tax has been rising above inflation levels for a significant number of years, and in addition to localise "stealth taxes", we do not seem to be reaping many benefits in Ashford.

In the last two years we have lost our custody suites, we may soon lose police station, our PCSO budgets have been halved so the number of community support officers on the street has been affected accordingly, potholes have worsened, our green waste collection has been withdrawn,wardens have been removed from older people's accommodation and the council are now charging for Lifeline and high street notice boards. If all of this is going to fund the development of the church, I would rather they paid more attention to the fundamentals of society.

We may have low expectations of what Borough councils are meant to provide, but it has to be agreed that rubbish collection, community safety, housing, and care for older and younger people is integral to the services they have. I would prefer to see the council concentrating on fulfilling these services to the highest quality before investing vast amounts of money in something that has raised so much controversy, passion and debate, especially when other services are so greatly needed.

Kennington Community Forum Update

2010-10-02T15:31:00.000-07:00

I became an executive committee member of the Kennington Community Forum at the Annual General Meeting in July 2010.

Our last meeting was held on Tuesday 28th September 2010 at St Mary's Church, Kennington.

Local Crime and Community Issues

PC Mandy Surgeoner identified a rise in motor vehicle theft. Please be aware of what you leave on display in your car and notify your neighbours of the impending risks.

"No Trick or Treat" signs are now available from Kent Police to protect people during the Halloween season. KCF will be posting one on their website for people to print off.

Following complaints of speeding on Faversham Road, Trinity Road and Canterbury Road, police have carried out covert average speed checks.

Canterbury Road identified average speed checks of 33.3mph AM, 33.7mph at noon and 35mph PM

Trinity Road identifies an average speed of 34mph AM, 35mph noon and 34mph PM

Faversham Road identifies an average speed of 31mph AM, 31mph noon and 32mph PM.

While this does not seem excessive,top speeds were recorded at 47mph on all three roads at various times.

As a resident of Faversham Road myself, I hear vehicles speeding a lot, and I am aware of the constant flow of young and older people that are most at risk. I look forward to the return of speed check camera and an increase in visits from the Hawkeye Police Vehicle.

Members of the public raised issues with traffic on Ball Lane, going the wrong way in the evenings. Kent Police are to send vehicles down there periodically to prevent this happening.

Health Walks Initiative

Natural England and NHS Eastern and Coastal Kent are working in partnership to promote the positive health benefits of regular walks.

Martin Jordan is coordinating the project for Ashford and wishes to draw residents attention to walks leaving from the Sure Start Centre in boxing and from New Hayesbank Surgery on a regular basis. Further information can be found on the Kennington website and they are actively seeking volunteer walk coordinator and leaders.

Kennington Hockey Club

Much debate has been found over potential developments at the hockey club. The hockey club desperately need to relocate to expand and develop their premises, and the proposed selling their property to Provis developers who would then put 600 houses on the site.

Regular readers of the Kentish express will be aware of the issues surrounding this development, including the lateral effect that such development will lead to the reintroduction of the Link Road and Kennington North Proposals.

Residents in Kennington are presented with a catch 22.

The development of the hockey club would have significant benefits for sports in Kent, including rehousing cricket, football and hockey teams in more suitable facilities away from residential accommodation.

However, there is an indication that the majority of residents are against the development of the link road, which cannot be built without housing in Kennington North to justify the cost.

Bovis homes and Hockey Club will be hosting an exhibition on Friday the 1st October and Saturday on 2nd October for residents to visit and comment.

Planning Applications

Objections have been raised regarding the demolition of a property and replacing with six bungalows on Grovesnor Road.

Following the rejection of the application for 11 houses on The Street, a new application has been proposed for six houses and the rejection is being appealed.

There is a proposal for Warren Lane to build 66 sheltered houses and an office block by Pentland homes

Further information can be found on the Ashford Borough Council website.

Public Consultation

Ashford Borough Council has finally agreed to open public consultation on the licensing of "lapdancing" premises in the borough. Currently, there is no requirement to these premises to be licensed but there is the option to the council to consider licensing by the magistrates courts. I will post a link as soon as this is available.

Tea and Coffee FOI is Farcical in Light of Other ABC Spends

2010-09-27T14:53:00.000-07:00

Labour Campaigner Brendan Chitton is aghast at money spent by Ashford Borough Council on Tea and Coffee in the last three years.

I suggest he applied his Freedom of Information Act Legislation more vigourouslly to his own party and makes a note of Liam Byrne's letter left in the Treasury at the end of the Labour Government.

However, it is prudent to point out that Ashford Borough Council has circa 500 employees, working circa 350 days per year. Therefore the response provided identifies Ashford Borough Councill only spent 2p per employee per day in the three year period.

Perhaps Mr Chitton has only covered Local Government in his Politics studies so far, and would greatly benefit from full investigation into the remits of excessive spending in local government before launching such a meagre campaign again.

May I suggest he begins with the Audit Commission, Commercial Sensitivity and Local Enterprise Partnerships?

Open Letter: Proactive Response Needed to Rise in Hare Coursing

2010-09-27T14:46:00.000-07:00

Dear Sirs,

Hare Coursing is a barbaric sport, and it is a shame to see a rise in this illegal activity in Ashford and Tenterden (Ashford Herald 23.9.10).

Cruelty to animals should never be justified and I am pleased to see Kent Police taking the crime seriously.

However, I would like to see strategic and proactive action taken in future years.

Asking locals to report is all very well, but when members of the public are assaulted for interfering, the old adage "prevent is better than cure" would be well applied.

Kind regards,

Kelly-Marie Blundell
Ashford Liberal Democrats
Kennington

Open Letter: Ashford Herald 23.9.10

2010-09-27T14:24:00.000-07:00

Dear Sirs

While it is wonderful that Ashford's Future is investing in the Skate Park at last, it is regrettable and indicative of a lack of foresight that this decision comes after the summer holidays.

The school children were therefore presented with inferior replacements and a lack of discussion for the duration of the summer.

Teenagers I spoke to at Ashford Skate Park in July were prepared to fund raise themselves to help repair and maintain the park. This perhaps would have helped empower the community more and contributed to national agendas on Big Society.

We ought to be engaging with communities, not just swooping in and out and dictating behaviour.

Kind regards,

Kelly-Marie Blundell
Ashford Liberal Democrats
Kennington

Response on Skate Park Letter

2010-08-07T13:31:00.000-07:00

Further to Cllr Jim Wedgebury's letter in the Kentish Express (5th August 2010), I decided to test his theories and speak to a number of skateboarders at the skate park on Tannery Lane.

Those of you who didn't see the letter, Councillor Wedgebury implies that he has a great knowledge of skateboarding, apparently gained from YouTube, that is far superior to my own experience.

He then goes on to insinuate that skateboarders simply use designated sites to “train and home” their skills before indulging on dangerous and new sites.

Playing on Dangerous Sites

It is a rather strange response to my letter,, and given that I raised the issues of the danger of alternative sites now that the skate park is closed rather than the skate park directly contributing to this behaviour.

The teenagers were quick to inform me today that they have nowhere else to go and they come to skate at the designated site, because they genuinely enjoy skating. They prefer to do this than at other sites, and while a small minority will always choose to be heedless of the dangers of other areas, the majority simply want their skate park back.

Further to my warning in my letter, the manager of Wreckless informed me that she'd had two boys in with broken bones due to finding other locations which are not elected Skating areas.

Illogic al Strategic Planning

Seeing as I also pointed out the illogical strategic planning of Ashford Borough Council by removing the facilities at the beginning of the summer holidays and the importance of community engagement for all ages, I resent the comment that my argument is both populist and undermines the situation. Ashford Borough Council are quick to promote their “Saved A Million”, the need for community funding and maintenance of facilities, it seems strange they would chose such a time to change the Skate Park.

The Ashford Borough Council Website Is quick to announce that they “co-ordinate the Ashford Youth Forum Trust [to] better understand the needs of young people”.

Perhaps instead of wasting resources on a variety of “strategies” and “websites” for the young people, they should start by actually talking to them.

Gathering Users Opinion

Those present at the skate park today, all teenage males, were quick to point out that when the skate park was closed off they had nothing to do and nowhere to go. Short of spending vast amounts of money travelling to one of the nearby towns where the facilities are present, they have felt victimised without any explanation is why their facilities were withdrawn.

The frequent users of the Skate Park have been informed that they will only be without resources for three months and that the structures were unsafe.

Instead, those on skateboards, BMX's, scooters and rollerblades, have been provided with plywood structures that are full of the splinters, and, it appears, will have to wait until Christmas for any more facilities.

Although, according to Councillor Wedgebury's letter, they may not receive these facilities at all, if people don't vote for the money to be spent on this.

Danger to Local businesses

There is also a lateral effect of the closures skate park facilities.

Instead of being the thriving skate park it once was, a lot of residents have already moved to other towns. As Wreckless business owner Jacqueline said to me today, she has been unable to organise the annual skate competition and is already losing business as the skaters go to other towns.

And Finally

In view of the National government's proposals on Big Society, we can only hope that funding can be found to replace the facilities that have now gone.

Genuine community facilities are integral to the sustainability of any town, whether they serve the old, the young or the elected, they still ought to reflect the needs and desires of that community.

PS: As a disabled person, I am unable to partake in Skateboarding, but am keen to support all physical sports in spite of my inability to perform in them.

Open Letter: Protecting the Churchyard

2010-08-01T14:13:00.000-07:00

Dear Sirs,

Ashford Borough Council's proposal to invest in bouncers to monitor the churchyard passageways nothing short of ludicrous (Kentish Express July 29, 2010).

As I wrote in the letters page in September 2009, the Conservative administration of Ashford Borough Council failed to support proposals for further street lighting or CCTV and furthermore have failed to respond fully to a petition submitted for better security measures in the churchyard in 2008.

This ongoing saga may make good news fodder, but the suffering of Jeremy Adby and co-residents is beyond a joke. As the Kentish Express states, residents had a meeting in March and only at the end of July to the Council decide to put into new street lights.

Employing bouncers is simply ridiculous when a quarter of our council tax money goes to policing the Borough. When the council can spend vast amounts of money on street lighting, consultants to discuss parking in a shared space and swimming facilities that are not usable for residents, one has to wonder how the budget is managed.

Kind regards,

Kelly-Marie Blundell

Ashford Liberal Democrats
Kennington

Now Notorious rather than Famous: Ashford's Shared Space

2010-08-01T14:08:00.001-07:00

The shared space has become a laughing stock with the introduction of parking restrictions on Bank Street (Kentish Express 29 July 2010).

The shared space, where people are meant to be able to walk, drive and cycle is now subject to (a) pedestrian crossings, (b) parking spaces, (c) pedestrian walkway allocation, (d) bus lanes and (e) cycle lanes, The only thing that it appears to be lacking to make it a road is dividing lines at the centre.

Far from being a famous landmark, residents of Ashford now considered a shared space to be a notorious waste of money, time and resources by the borough council.

Perhaps with Sir Terry Farrell's desired implementation of an entire ring-road of “shared space”, we can fully embrace the renaming of public spaces to do exactly what the previous public spaces did in the first place. Alongside, of course, designed superseding functionality.

Older Persons Consultation

2010-08-01T12:27:00.000-07:00

Older Persons' care is a bug bear for me.

I tend to think the care provided is significantly lacking for Older People, from Sheltered Accomodation to Care Homes accross the county.

Kent County COuncil is currently consulting on Older Persons Care.

This consultation is open until first of November 2010.

I think the consultation is integral to democratic process and everyone should take the opportunity to think about the needs of older people.

Kent has a significantly ageing demographic, especially around the coastal areas and by 2012 the UK will have more than 50% of people aged 65 or over.

In spite of this, we do not have resident wardens/scheme managers in Sheltered Housing, we have a Primary care Trusts where 60% of the people they treat are Older Persons yet they only commission 25% of Older Persons services and we have a society that generally prefers to ignore older people.

Society is judged by the way in which it treats its older people, and at the moment the level of services allocated to them by public services is nothing short of deplorable.

Everybody has a grandparent or a relative who is likely to need more care in the future. Everyone will become an older person needing more care.

Please exercise your democratic right to comment and probe the main providers of these services, Kent County Council. It's like the lottery, you have to be in it to influence it.

Even if we move to the proposed Big Society Scheme by the Coalition Government, we want to ensure that the bodies that Kent County Council commission to run and maintain the care services for Older People are not driven by the need for profits and margins, is not incentivised or held to account by a bonus culture, but there to provide the care that is needed, wanted and protected to ensure that the human rights of the current residents and the residents to come are protected.

Open Letter: Removal of Skating Facilities

2010-07-25T14:44:00.000-07:00

Dear Sirs,

The closing down of the skateboarding site on Tannery Lane must come as a disappointment to many young residents.

The site forms part of core activities for youth engagement in Ashford that do not involve paying to enter, and has played a significant part in reducing perceived youth antisocial behaviour In the town.

It is clear that the closing down is due to some form of health and safety issue, and I hope that such a descision does not form part of the over-zealous health and safety culture seen nationwide. Alongside issues with restoring Victoria Park playing facilities, we are in danger of telling children they must not run in case they hurt themselves.

Ashford are seeing a significant reduction in recreational facilities for residents for the summer as it is, with the Stour Centre on limited availablity.

The far larger risk with the the reduction of access to free resources is the young people will utilise other, potentially dangerous sights to skate and experiement with parkour such as the town centre.

Yours faithfully

Kelly-Marie Blundell
Ashford Liberal Democrats

Open Letter: State of the Borough Debate

2010-07-25T14:43:00.001-07:00

Dear Sirs,

I was concerned to read that the Ashford Borough Council Executive have decided that the “State of the Borough Debate” is no longer needed (Kentish Express, 22nd July 2010).

At a time when residents are so concerned about potential planning developments that additional seating needs to be provided at council meetings, the comments that not enough people attend seems invalid.

While only 40 people were able to attend last year, Ashford Borough Council cannot deny that they received so many submissions for questions, they were forced to limit the number heard to 25.

In spite of the decision to remove the debate, it is still currently listed on the council website. I find it saddening that the local government do not have the same faith in democracy that their national counterparts hold, and as a result they are not prepared to listen to genuine concerns and encourage debate and community engagement.

Planning is not the only issue that residents in Ashford are concerned about, but the decision to delay Ashford Futures proposed development plans until September would ensure a good attendance at the November debate, not to mention the ongoing dispute with antisocial behaviour, fly tipping and inadequate waste collection and appropriate allocation of public funded resources.

I hope that the Kentish Express will campaign to return this debate to Ashford Borough Council as my local party will be.

Yours faithfully

Kelly-Marie Blundell
Ashford Liberal Democrats

Open Letter: Save Our Courts

2010-07-04T14:53:00.000-07:00

Dear Sir

The Kentish Express this week identifies the proposed public sector saving cuts leave Ashford Magistrate Court and Ashford County court are threatened with closure.

In making the decisions as to what courts to close, it is likely that government will consider that the lack of custody suite is reasonable justification. This is because it will save money and demand on police and court staff time by simply using courts which already have immediate access from police cells.

Before the closure of Ashford Police Station's Custody suite, people who warned that this would lead to the closure of the magistrates court where accused of scaremongering.

we are now at risk of not only losing significant resources for community policing and community safety, but also the resources to prosecute those criminals. This is likely to lower people's feelings of safety within the borough on the whole not to mention their faith in announcements made by public services.

Assurances were made by Kent Police that the custody suite loss would not lead to the losing of the Magistrates Court. However, whether disingenuous or simply an unfortunate coincidence, this is likely to have a direct impact on whether Ashford can sustain the Magistrate Court.

We have already seen significant job losses as a result of the movement of the custody suite, and now we face more along with the double-edged sword of risks to public safety.

To lose the County Court would also be a significant blow to Ashford. This undermines the principles of Civil Law by denying those the opportunity to seek recompense and justice at a convenient location. Travelling to Canterbury County Court, where it is a significant difference from the West station and with no direct bus route, would not make it easy for people to pursue litigation.

I wholeheartedly support the Kentish Express campaign to Save Our Courts, but I am concerned that their fate is already sealed by past decisions.

Kind regards

--
Kelly-Marie Blundell
Ashford Liberal Democrats
Kennington

Ashford to Bear Weight of Criminal Justice Cuts

2010-07-04T14:19:00.000-07:00

The Kentish Express this week identifies the proposed public sector saving cuts leave Ashford Magistrate Court and Ashford County court are threatened with closure.

In making the decisions as to what courts to close, it is likely that government will consider That the lack of custody suite is reasonable justification. This is because it will save money and demand on police and court staff time by simply using courts which already have immediate access from police cells.

Before the closure of Ashford Police Station's Custody suite, people who warned that this would lead to the closure of the magistrates court where accused of scaremongering.

Now, those of us who were accused of being cynical look on as proposals to close Ashford Magistrate Court gets underway.

Further Implications of the Closure of Custody Suite

As well as losing the jobs of those recruited to manage the custody suite, further jobs have been transferred to Folkestone within the Criminal Justice Unit as case working staff cannot work at such a distance.

One has to ask what is the cost to the public sector of paying both redeployee fees to those staff no longer needed within the police service, as well as travel fees for those relocated.

If spending cuts as proposed in the budget must be so severe, perhaps challenging current decisions to chop up and move around public services should be done in the first instance with the schedule of future losses, as would be normal in the private sector.

To narrow the argument, it can be seen as the least 60 jobs will have now gone from Ashford police station, to be followed by the staff of the magistrate court and potentially the County Court.

Therefore residents in Ashford lose both employment opportunities and public protection.

I do not wish to see this happen, and if you do not either, please take part in the consultation.

Portfolio Holder Councillor Michael Claughton is quoted as saying Communities must come first. Why did he not campaign in the first instance to prevent the removal of both the custody suite and the levels of community policing in Ashford town centre?

The Potential Real Cost of the Development of St Mary's Church

2010-07-04T14:12:00.001-07:00

This week's Nuts and Bolt column in the Kentish Express identifies feckless fly tipping in the churchyard in the town centre.

The disposal of a post-modern pink Christmas tree may amuse people, but the implications are more wide reaching.

While the Church of England has agreed to the development may go ahead and will fund the disinterring of the graves, if residents cannot respect both the integrity of the graveyard or the residents who suffer from regular antisocial behaviour, in the surrounding area,one must ask if they will ever respect or act responsibly towards the proposed development.

As the column identifies, equipment and work will be impossible to protect from the three fair of rowdy weekend revellers who already cause much distress in this area.

Is the development of the Church worth (in addition to the proposed spending plan of one million) the legal costs of people suing for falling down holes, or the cost of security guards to patrol the area?

Open Letter: Sir Terry Farrell's Proposed Design Plans for Ashford

2010-07-04T14:02:00.000-07:00

Dear Sirs,

Sir Terry Farrell's presentation for Ashford cites transport as being at the “heart of vision for the future” (Your Ashford, June 9th 2010).

The architect may wish to more fully understand Ashford's heritage before he decides on railway being the single most important piece of Ashford's history.

The railway was introduced to Ashford in 1842, while the Tenterden and Rolvenden of Kent and Sussex railway was established later in 1900. If Railway was so integral to Ashford's heritage, then why was it not also designated a National Heritage site?

Sir Terry Farrell also fails to address the true heritage of the town, the Market, which was established in 1600. In spite of this, previous perpetrators of “design excellence” moved the integral market to a flood plane in the 1990s and the street market has suffered significant erosion in the last two decades.

The site of the true heritage of Ashford is now being sold to developers for housing, in spite of Ashford Borough Council promising when the market was relocated in the 90s that the space would not be used for housing.

Residents now find the land being sold between the town centre and Victoria Park which will further separate the residential communities from shopping and the ubiquitous traffic facilities Sir Terry is so keen to highlight and implement.

I would be happier to see a developer focusing on the needs of the communities in Ashford and the usefulness of design, with sensible traffic infrastructure and more jobs, community facilities and events than another concrete wilderness.

Yours faithfully,

Kelly-Marie Blundell

Ashford Liberal Democrats
Kennington

Bybrook Supermarket Expansion

2010-07-04T13:45:00.000-07:00

The Kentish Express (July 1st) details plans to double the size of Sainsbury in Bybrook.

Warren Business Side has suffered a since the move of other large stores such as Curry's to locations closer to the town centre. However, it is still an integral supermarket link for residents of Bybrook for their weekly shopping and petrol supplies.

My initial response when I saw that it was going to expand was to think, fantastic, perhaps they can sort out the parking.

One thing that has always irritated me when visiting Sainsbury is that the parking of the structure lacks direction with the random cones and sleeping policeman attempting to control the flow of traffic in some form of Serpentine towards the store.

However, it seems that in spite of doubling the size of the store and potentially demolishing the two buildings next to Sainsbury's, parking will only increase by 51 spaces. Confusingly, 47 of these will be for disabled drivers and 31 for parents and children.

Therefore, rather than gaining 51 spaces, the site will actually be losing 17 spaces.

Indeed, as anyone who visits the store past 10 pm or prior to 6 am knows, is significantly limited by the number of Lorries parking there for a nap rather than pay ludicrous fees at junction 10.

Whether or not the parking layout will be addressed is not mentioned in the article, but as we can assume, as the store will stay open, this will not happen.

Bybrook Barn's Response to Planning

2010-06-20T14:50:00.000-07:00

Following the decision to allow Tescos Planning permission to build a Dobbies Garden Centre, there has been much public and private debate.

The MD of Bybrook Garden Centre, Terry Burch, contacted me with the letter that the newspapers refused to print:

Bybrook Barn Garden Centre’s response to Tesco/Dobbies Planning Approval

By Mr T.B.Burch Owner and MD

I was not completely surprised at the council’s decision on May 26th to vote in favour of Tesco/Dobbies it was never going to be a level playing field. Ashford Borough Council planning officers were determined to push in favour of Tescos/Dobbies.

But by how far?

For years they have been in discussion regarding this site yet we were never informed of the proposal or given the chance to comment although we were the principle people to be affected.

We were not even given the normal courtesy of notification that a planning application had been received. Even when the plans had been approved by Ashford Planners we were never notified and were only made aware of it in a Council magazine as an already agreed project, with the site already mapped out, as a done deal, before a planning meeting had even taken place. To add insult to injury we did not even warrant being officially notified as we were informed as being outside the normal notification area. Something here certainly didn’t seem right.

At the first planning meeting on 31st March, Councillors on the planning committee voted to refuse the Planning Application, and a measure of confidence returned. However it would appear the planners had other views and waved this decision to give councillors the opportunity to change their minds, how convenient. We all were under the elusion that a refusal meant a refusal. Minutes from this meeting are almost non-existent.

Two months later at the second planning meeting on 26th May 2010 the situation had radically changed. The entire local councillors on the planning committee, now unanimously approved Tesco/Dobbies application. Not one had the courage of their previous conviction. Not one councillor, stuck to their original decision with the exception of councillor Claughton, a ward member, and therefore, not eligible to vote, He could not understand why every councillor had changed their original decision, even though no additional information had been provided, stating he wanted no part of it.

Was I disappointed, yes, but this was always a possibility, In a conflict with a tank and a mini, don’t be surprised at the outcome, but disappointed because the local planning councillors, who I had expected would have given us just a little support and backing did a complete U turn and melted away like snow in the desert. Not one was prepared to uphold their previous conviction and stand their ground, using feeble reasons for their reversal and putting a local business in jeopardy.

Many of the reasons Ashford planners had used in the past to refuse us planning applications, no longer seemed to apply.

Planner’s could have redirected Tesco/Dobbies elsewhere in Ashford and kept the site for its original planned use as Leisure, not retail. Tesco/Dobbies will be the only retailer on the site.

This reveals a surprising lack of support to long-standing local businesses, or public opinion, which they felt warranted little or no consideration. How easy it is to hide behind, and fit planning regulations to suit the occasion.

ABC Planner’s lack of being forthright and upfront over these negotiations adequately prove the point.

During the second meeting a pink paper was circulated to all those on the planning committee. Members were told that if they wished to discuss anything in this paper, the public and press would have to leave the chamber in order for this discussion to take place.

I have since been reliably informed that the pink paper from the planners, warned the councillors that if they voted for a refusal, to this application the council could be liable for costs of up to £100,000 should Tesco/Dobbies appeal. Why I wonder?

It would appear that money determines what is passed, or not

In view of the above, the planning committee’s position becomes understandable they were virtually told how to vote.

Is this what our democracy has come to? Don’t vote according to your views as it might cost the council money, this is surely not what the public expect, from councillors they have voted for, to represent their views? We would have accepted losing had it been decided in a fair and democratic manner, and all the issues fairly debated, but this has a very unhealthy odour about it. How many other planning decisions have been conducted in this manner.

These matters surely warrant a more explicit explanation.

We are not adverse to competition, fair competition.

But if one thinks a ten million (£10,000,000) development on our doorstep will have no effect on us, you’re not living in the real world, just take a good look at the strangling effect the same organisation has on the high Streets. An organisation retailing the same products as the Garden Centre, on our doorstep, will be a massive blow, especially when you consider the power and size of the parent company. (Read the book Tescopoly by Andrew Simms) and you may agree with us.

Tesco the parent Company takes £1 for every £8 spent by the British shopper and its share is rising, and we take seriously the comment by the companies chief executive, that he’s not joking, when he says, that still leaves the other seven to go for. They are Britain’s biggest retailer, not just the country’s biggest supermarket, but it’s biggest for everything that’s non food as well.

Having dominated almost every town’s high street in the country, Tesco/Dobbies are now eyeing Garden Centres, with 25 already and seeking a further 100.

You independent friends in the garden centre business need to watch out. Tesco/Dobbies are coming, but if your local council is anything like ours don’t rely on it for support.

It seems preference is given to a multi national retailer, so close to an existing 35 year old loyal Ashford business jeopardising it’s existence with little or no consideration. A Multi-national who have no real commitment to Ashford.

As seems inevitable, when all the small independent businesses disappear the powers that be might, just might, regret being led up the garden path.

Readers can make up their own minds what constitutes fair. Maybe fair in planning terms no longer exists or counts for much.

I finish by saying how extremely proud I am of my staff for their help and loyal support, and know they will face this next challenge with vigour and determination.

I also thank all of our customer friends for their continuing support

There are too many to thank individually but please take this as my personal Thank you!

Terry Burch

Managing Director

Bybrook Barn Garden Centre

Open Letter: Approval of Dobbies Leisure Garden Centre

2010-05-31T13:11:00.001-07:00

Dear Sir or Madam,

The decision made at Ashford Borough Council Planning meeting to approve the introduction of a Dobbies Garden Centre on Eureka Park was disappointing to say the least.

While there was a number of objections raised regarding the issues of competition, which are not considered to be a planning issue, there was still the issue of changing the designation Of the building in question. This area was designated office space and neither retail more leisure. In the event that this designation was to be overridden, it should have at least been designated leisure space.

To designate the land as “retail use” signifies that the parent company, Tesco, may at any time change the Dobbies to a Tesco supermarket without consulting the public or the council. There are already significant legislative guidelines on allowing monopoly by Tesco across Europe and our councillors have just effectively let them in through the back door.

The ability of the planning committee to override the designation of the building in spite of significant public opinion against the idea, as well as against the principle and purpose of the Eureka Park, raises serious questions About the principle and purpose of our Borough Council.

Public Services should be for the public, run by people that are elected by the public, In order to facilitate the use of the town. When Eureka park was designed, It was intended to be a site dedicated to scientific technology and development to increase jobs and prospects for both the local borough and the country.

However, by introducing a Garden Leisure Centre, as Dobbies is meant to be, we are simply introducing further low paid low-grade jobs and not developing the economic climate of Ashford in the slightest.

Kind regards

Kelly-Marie Blundell

Open Letter: Street Pastors

2010-05-31T12:42:00.000-07:00

Dear Sir or Madame,

While I have been saddened to follow the murder trial on behalf of the victim Ben Neilson, and would like to send my regards to his family, the idea of the introduction of Street Pastors Raises serious concerns.

We already have a significant network of Community Safety Specialists in Ashford. This includes Police Officers, Police Community Support Officers, Community Wardens and Community Forums. In spite of this, Ashford has one of the highest levels of Antisocial behaviour in the country.

The continuous issues regarding the Churchyard are indicative of this. Because of this, I am confused as to what the Street Pastors will be able to bring, where police and other Community Safety Specialists are failing.

In addition to this, like a lot of the network of Community Safety Specialists, the Street Pastors will not have any powers in order to act against crime or protect themselves or others.

The scheme may inadvertently create additional targets of violent behaviour which will put not only the Street Pastors but also members of the public as a higher risk.

We are still awaiting proposals by Ashford Borough Council to make the town centre an alcohol free zone during the evenings. I would hope that Ashford Borough Council do not anticipate utilising volunteer Street Pastors to maintain this regulation.

Kind regards,

Kelly-Marie Blundell

Rather Engaged

2010-05-09T14:29:00.000-07:00

Just a note to apologise for my lack of bloggery.

The election has kept me more than busy, and the ongoing debates between Lib Dems and other parties is something of a touchy subject.

However, on top of that, I'm doing something rather shocking and conventional, getting married. On Saturday 15th May 2010.

I do intend to blog on the length and brevity of the election, liberally littered with philosophising on what exciting times these are, just not today!

Winning in Ashford, Kent

2010-04-18T08:36:00.001-07:00

My blogging seems to have depleted rapidly since the beginning of the election campaign.

As the agent for our candidate for Ashford and Tenterden constituency said to me "Vince Cable’s book “Free Radical” describes wild optimism as “candidatitis”."

It's absolutely fantastic to get carried away with the election hype.

With the phenomenal success that the Liberal Democrats are now showing in the polls and the support being referred to by Andrew Marr is the "Clegg Effect", I think that probably every member of the Liberal Democrats is suffering from slight candidatitis.

In the last couple of days, when I've got home from work, I've been canvassing my local ward and getting into wonderful discussions about what the Liberal Democrats can do for Ashford and the local area.

Quite simply, people are sick of more of the same, 65 years of the government, elected by tidal voting, booms and busts in the economy, booms and busts in the job market and something of management of cartels through running public services.

For once, people are genuinely engaged with the political climate in this country.

They are genuinely interested in alternative methods of government, voting, ways of managing the economy, the job market and public services as well as looking to embrace a far more democratic and liberal system than we are currently experiencing.

My weekends have been spent knocking on doors or leafleting the town centre. wonderful discussions I had yesterday, and I had so many positive phrases such as "preaching to the converted", "I was so impressed with Clegg on Thursday" and "don't worry, you've got my vote".

Our opposition, the Conservative candidate Damian Green, had been campaigning in Dover, which is one of the marginal seats in the county. However, our increased efforts in recent weeks, from hosting a major question and answer and meet the people are bent on the town centre bandstand, leafleting, canvassing and placing major advertisement in the local press has brought Damien back into the constituency.

If you are interested in what the Ashford Liberal Democrats are doing in the local town centre, have a look at some of our Borough councillors, County Councillors or local campaigners.

Chris Took, your Liberal Democrat candidate at this election, has pledged five key areas that he would like to improve in Ashford.

A Fair Deal for Older People

Chris and myself, along with our local party and regional party, have been campaigning for some time to reinstate resident wardens in sheltered accommodation, where residents are currently left vulnerable and available in their own homes.

In addition to this, we are campaigning for a fairer care system, better medical support, financial benefits to lift 40% of pensioners out of poverty and the pension system that reflects national earnings.

A Fair Deal for The Economy

By implementing the Liberal Democrat Policy to raise the current tax bracket to a minimum of £10,000, this would benefit the poorest in society. In areas of deprivation in Ashford, people would be able to save more money by working than they would do on benefits, allowing them to get out of the welfare state trap and live their lives to the full.

In addition to this, people across the constituency would be better off by an average of £700. Capital gains tax would be raised to move in line with average earnings to prevent people from moving all of their earnings into capital gains and paying low taxes on it.

A Fair Deal for Communities

As a passionate campaigner for democratic participation in planning and community development, Chris Took will uphold the right for people for participate in the development of their neighbourhood, from The North School Farm to Bybrook Barn.

A Fair Deal in Ashford's Growth

With a vast expansion underway in Ashford, including the recently approved M20 Junction 10A, Chris Took is dedicated to campaigning for resources and sensible expansion, including more schools, jobs and infrastructure to support the

A Fair Deal for Local Charities and Businesses

The red tape and bureaucracy encompassing business and charity in Ashford prevents both the delivery of services and people being valued. With performance targets for volunteers, the very concept is undermined. Chris is campaigning to strip out the wasted administration and focus on what Businesses and Charities do best.

And for All of You Who Think the Lib Dem Vote is a Wasted Vote...

One of the Liberal Democrats' key policies if we support a Coalition is to introduce Proportional Representation. If you vote for us, we will be able to ensure your vote will count every time.

Kentish Support for the Liberal Democrats

2010-04-11T12:11:00.000-07:00

With the Royal starter's gun we are off galloping towards the General Election.

Not even a week in and there are online polls, analysis and speculation about the election in Kent.

I was therefore delighted to see that the majority of people reading the Kent Online Kentish Express were talking about voting Liberal Democrat over all other parties.

In response to the election being called, I have had the KM on the 'phone, ABC on the 'phone and other local papers and advertisers. I was quite impressed to have my name featured on the front cover of Your Ashford as Chris's campaign manager

Coverage is meant to be impartial, but we live in a fairly "safe seat" in Ashford and although our campaigning attempts are large, it is often difficult to reach everyone in the constituency.

This is why the Ashford Liberal Democrats decided to make use of the Town Centre Partnership's bandstand this Saturday to communicate with the public and provide a real and tangible presence.

Organisation for this event has been going on for months, and in a period of what can only be described as "electoral flux", we are campaigning to make a real change in Ashford.

Chris Took, the Liberal Democrat Parliamentary candidate, lives in Kennington with his wife and has been campaigning in Kent for many years.

This weekend, Chris came to the bandstand and met many local residents, engaging with them on a level that they have perhaps not received with other local politicians.

Questions included issues surrounding the economy, the NHS, older people using iT and immigration.

Our presence alone has gained as members, volunteers and and more support than we've ever seen before.

We will be in town leafleting in the next three weeks in the run-up to the election as well as out knocking on the doors, delivering leaflets and speaking people is much as possible. If you can spare five minutes or a couple of hours, please contact me and let me know!

Please help join the campaign to bring back a Liberal MP to Ashford, the last of which was seen in 1931!

Open Letter: Future Depends on Skilled Employment in the Town

2010-04-06T12:20:00.000-07:00

Dear Sirs,

It would be a delight to see a government department based in Charter House, as it would provide A significant regeneration to Ashford as a whole.

One of the reasons Ashford has not succeeded with regeneration is due to issues with employment resources. Although we live within close proximity of four universities, the job market is very limited in Ashford, and the choice is to commute to another town or indeed to London, or take lower paid, unskilled work in some of the larger corporations in the town.

If Ashford town centre were to attract a larger population of NRS Social Grades C1 and above, including clerical, managerial and professional labour, we would see significant change in the infrastructure within the town centre. Currently there is no “cafe culture” or “restaurant culture” that is so prevalent in nearby cities such as Canterbury.

They would also be able to spend more money in Ashford's large selection of shopping emporiums, invest in the vast amount of housing that is being built and hopefully join the campaigns for more schools, more medical facilities and better community resources.

With a government department here, we would also see a rise in other businesses choosing to locate in Ashford in order to make the most of the talent that would inevitably be here. In addition to this there would be likely to be businesses that support government departments, such as out-contracted stationers, They would also provide additional employment opportunities that would raise the ambition of current residents and bring talented and qualified residents to the area.

Kind regards,

Kelly-Marie Blundell
Ashford Liberal Democrats
Kennington

Open Letter: Pothole Protests

2010-04-06T12:19:00.000-07:00

Dear Sirs,

Seeing Ashford featured in The Times and on various online newspapers with regards to Ted Relph's home-made pothole warning signs was extremely amusing.

I certainly think that he should replace the sign within two weeks if the holes have not been fixed to his satisfaction.

I applaud his attempt to get something done about the dire state of the roads in his area, and wonder if perhaps members of the public across Ashford Borough should do the same where ever they have potholes.

Certainly, in my own area, there are some terrible wounds on the road that must be causing significant damage to the heavy amount of traffic that we have in Kennington.

Given that we have recently been informed of a council tax rise, I find it odd that we would require the extra cash boost to help fix roads blighted by potholes.

However, by and district councils are only awarded 25% of the money that they accrue in revenue from council tax. If governments pledged to allow councils to retain 75% of the money accrued, as the Liberal Democrats do, then we wouldn't need to have extra money allocated within the budget.

Kind regards

Kelly-Marie Blundell
Ashford Liberal Democrats
Kennington

Open Letter: Is the North School Farm Truely Saved?

2010-04-06T12:17:00.000-07:00

Dear Sirs,

While it is a delight that the North School has been “saved”, there are real issues with relocating the farm that will have a significant impact and should be addressed.

There is likely to be a negative effect on not only on the animals but also on the day-to-day running of the school. In addition to this, the relocation will lead to a reduction of the sports fields and have a subsequent impact on the school.

This is on top of the destruction that building houses around the front of the school will have. Not only is Essella Road already a congested T-junction, but the increase of traffic will endanger school children and families in the area both at building time and once the houses are resided in.

Ultimately, when weighing up the issues, I cannot see that this has been a campaign success.

It does appear that Kent County Council are attempting to sell the land to build houses in order to plug the deficit in their own accounts caused by contracting a company at risk. This is their own failing and they should not be effectively taking it out on the school. At the very least the proceeds from selling the land for housing should be more than adequate to relocate the farm effectively, if the development must go through.

There are clearly significant issues of the communications of our councils and Local Education Authorities. Given that the two are essentially the same body, it identifies a huge issue with communications that should be addressed sooner rather than later.

Kind regards,

Kelly-Marie Blundell
Ashford Liberal Democrats
Kennington

Speeding Privileges Should Not be Allowed.

2010-04-06T12:13:00.000-07:00

The Kentish Express reports that magistrates in Ashford decided not to prosecute a Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) officer for driving over 49 miles over the speed limit on the M20.

At what point did being an agency police officer excuse you from committing a crime?

While officers on active duty are entitled to breach speed limits in pursuance of that duty, the diabolical that privilege should be extended to driving to work. By the same rationale, doctors, teachers and politicians should all be entitled to drive at Extortionate, life endangering speeds.

In addition to the professionals within civil service, perhaps we should also consider extending this privileged to their administrative support staff, from the receptionists that let them in the door to those that type the minutes of the meetings.

The officer in question was speeding to reach an undercover operation in another county. This operation resulted in convictions of drug trafficking. However, An ambulance driver rushing to work in his own vehicle who subsequently saves the life of someone when he later drives the ambulance there is not entitled to such a privilege, yet could be by this ruling by Ashford Magistrates Court.

This could potentially create a far reaching precedent that would allow any civil service employee to evade conviction when prosecution for that crime exists to protect the public.

The sort of privilege creates ill feeling and a lack of respect to the law that could have devastating effects. Imagine if everyone who was late for work, whether attending a crime scene or simply needing to clock in to pay the bills, decided to drive significantly over the speed limit.

A Rundown on the Smaller Stories in the Kentish Express

2010-04-05T14:39:00.000-07:00

Hospital Flower Shop Closes

In spite of dismay from local residents, the final commercial shop in the William Harvey Hospital has been closed. The flower shop, run by Anne Epps, had been placed there for over 30 years.

I remember purchasing a blue teddy bear from the venue in 1985 when my little brother was born. He is now 24 and still has that the bear “Bluey”, although the flowers that were also purchased have long since perished!

As a long-standing local business, it is a shame to see it being forced out of a prime location By the need to “modernisation”.

It will be interesting to see what South East Liberal Democrat MEP Sharon Bowles, Chair of the Economic and Monetary Affairs committee makes of the breach competition law Made by the hospital.

Social Services Failures

It is rather shocking to think that Kent, one of the largest counties geographically in the country has a shortage of up to 40% of social workers.

Is even more concerning that Kent Social Services was awarded an accolade of being one of the best services in the country.

However, it is a good thing that there has been an increase in reports of suspected child abuse following the Baby P scandal. This indicates that the high media coverage given to the story has made people think more about their local community and respond to prevent children from being at risk.

By the same measure, there is likely to be a higher uptake by young graduates to the Social Services profession, in order to combat, prevent and help children at risk.

Bring On The Pothole Army in Ashford

2010-04-02T05:40:00.000-07:00

There is a dramatic rise in the number of potholes in Kent, which have caused a rush of public unhappiness in Ashford.

Members of the public, encouraged by growing local media reports, have began to play signs warning people of the (alleged) phenomena that is the pothole.

When the Kentish Express showed one spoof road sign warning of potholes on its front cover, humour turned the issue into a public united cause.

This has gained such publicity that is featured in The Times

Make Your Own Pothole Road Sign

Take a spare piece of wood, plastic or board and fashion into an equilateral triangle.

Paint the triangle white and give it a bright red border

Add your own choice of logo. Below are some suggestions:

Ashford Future's Waste of Money

2010-03-31T05:54:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I attended the Kennington Community Forum and the beginning we were given a presentation demonstrating where the council is spending £450,000 of our council tax money.

Ashford Future and Ashford Borough Council have contacted a not-for-profit company to run a pilot project on energy efficiency.

For "Not-for-profit company", please read "a poor excuse for a charity that feeds directly of government money and exploits the targeting system in the civil service as well as using up some of the hundreds of thousands of graduates without any jobs.

They prepared a presentation with a vast array of free stuff and explain how Ashford Future had commissioned them to look into how to make our homes more energy efficient.

To do this they would be giving away free stuff

Kennington and Bybrook wards have been selected in the pilot study which is to run until October 2010.

This pilot study will involve giving away free stuff

The team offering to conduct two surveys on properties to assess whether energy savings can be made.

From this survey you can get free stuff

This includes the Electricity Monitoring device, which retails at the price of £25. But for you, it will be free.

But Wait, There's More

Our council tax will also be used to supply "chimney balloons", "tap implants", "reflecting radiator panels" and much more.

And if that wasn't enough of a waste of our money, they will also have a ~~sales~~ team knocking on doors in the local community to book surveys, and, wait for it,the residents know what free stuff they are entitled to.

In addition to the free stuff, residents will also be able to find out about government subsidised cavity wall insulation, loft insulation and much more.

Don't forget the free stuff!

A Little Less Sarcastic Conclusion

The bare bones of the matter are the council tax is being wasted on yet another ludicrous project by Ashford Future's evasive and illogical partnership.

£450,000 is just the cost of the "free stuff". How much more did the project team, surveyors and consultants cost?

And this is only the pilot study. How much will it cost when it is rolled out across all wards in 2011?

Not to mention the fact that the majority of homeowners are entitled to subsidised energy-saving initiatives without such a gratuitous waste of money.

However, I know from talking to residents, that often the "subsidised part" is the small change. The "approved" companies charge consumers through the nose for the rest, and the government will only subsidise if you have the full amount done.

There are not many pensioners who could afford to pay £3000 to get £1000 of subsidiaries to have their radiators replaced.

I think that's the public services deficit for Mr Brown and Mr Darling to locate.

Failings in Future Planning

There is a significant strategic issue here too.

If companies were filling our town with Lego-brick-houses that cost too much and cost even more ecologically, we wouldn't have to have this retrospective funding in the first place.

The level of development in Ashford is one of the highest in the country, and, despite knowing about Climate change, no one is ensuring that this development consists of sustainable materials and with a low carbon footprint.

If the funding for this ludicrous project has to be allocated to ecology, then this is where it should be spent.

And if funding is allocated to ecology then it should be put towards our atrocious potholes!

ABC Admits Plans are Set Before Consultation

2010-03-30T16:20:00.000-07:00

This evening at the Kennington Community Forum, Ashford Borough Council planning surveyor Giles Holloway openly admitted to residents that their department applied to funding and allocated plans to relevant areas before they held public consultation.

Such a lack of democratic participation has become commonplace under the current Borough Council.

Responding to the audience's disbelief, the ABC surveyor offered no comfort residents of Kennington, Bybrook, Little Burton Farm and Bockhanger by insisting that although this was the case, residents were entitled to object and that the Council could change their minds.

There are far too many "crammed in" proposals being put forward by planning in an already congested area and the Borough Council's track record of overriding public opinion has created a cynical and discontent public.

Garage Sites

Towers View and Model Road residents will be losing the garage and parking facilities to be replaced by additional council housing.

The Planning Representative stated that the sites were underused, I'm slightly and suffered from vandalism. However, residents stated that they had never been informed there was aching garages available, and if they had been then they would have applied to release them.

Councillor Marian Martin pointed out the residents are contacted her considering parking issues in the wars in relation to the garage sites.

The loss of parasites may or may not reduce antisocial behaviour, the residents will suffer as well.

Car insurance will be set to rise for residents will have to park on streets

In addition to this, if, as Councillor Martin asserts she would like to see, the council introduces parking permits and feeds the residents, resident's purses will suffer even more.

While Ashford Borough Council has a significant lack of council tenant premises, there are plenty of sites that could be used that would not leave already deprived areas with even less space and more people.

Sheltered Housing Extensions

Gerlach House, situated on Beecholme Drive, has suffered greatly in recent years, with the removal of resident wardens which have effectively created a lockdown on the social of the residents used to enjoy and are now to be subject to further extensions.

Examining the plans provided by the planning department, it appears that the extension will result in two additional flats being added to the property. This will either mean that residents will lose their gardens or the car park.

After all, Sheltered Housing is designed to encourage older people to have continued independent living, why on earth would they need gardens or car parks?

One could also enquire as to whether this is a direct saving as a result of shifting Resident Wardens to a peripatetic scheme that involves the residents now in sheltered housing only being visited once every six weeks.

I cannot see how the council can be "saving money" by building additional flats, and it is likely, given the expensive of the planning, that after they had started charging rent to these premises, they will only just be breaking even.

In Conclusion

It shows the arrogance of our current Borough Council that planning officers are quite happy to admit that there is no democratic participation when it comes to people objecting to the development in their own neighbourhoods.

Only by continuously challenging, which takes time and energy, can we overthrows such a dictatorship of a Council and the effect that it is having on our local community.

If we're subjected to a Conservative Government later this year, their current planning proposals are to remove all consultation period on planning so that Councils will be able to build and build and build without any input from the public.

Perturbing Parking Points in Question

2010-03-27T16:43:00.000-07:00

The Kentish Express revealed this week that car parking prices are set to rise by a whacking 3.5%.

As the local paper points out, this is significantly higher than interest rates. It is also significantly higher than Council Tax rises, and one must wonder what the profit revenue is on the vast array of parking across Ashford.

Local Residents

Noted in the last paragraph, where the deliberate or not seeing is only 10% of readers of the get that far, on street parking will come into line with town centre car parks.

This is in order to "give town centre residents more chance to park nearer their homes".

What a wonderful social divide this provides-you are entitled to park nearer to your house in the event you can afford to do so.

Comparable Boroughs

The KM states;

But the costs are only catching up with the higher charges of Canterbury and Folkestone.

However, Canterbury has park-and-ride system which is significantly cheaper than the city centre car parks, and yet manages to fund an entire "every 10 minutes" bus service on these rates.

And while Folkestone might charge more for an hourly rate their residents parking permits and season tickets are significantly cheaper than ours, probably largely due to the fat that they do not have a direct line to London.

If Ashford Borough Council could justify an entire park and ride service based on an increase of 20p, which is the current rate in Canterbury for park-and-ride, I would be very impressed.

Revenue Accrued

Out of interest, I've been studying Ashford Borough Council's website on parking.

Based on the predicted price rises, ABC will accrue a whopping £1504.80 per hour.

This works out at £18,057.60 per day,
£126,403.20 per seven day week,
£547,747.20 per calendar month
and a terrifying £6,572,966.40 per year.

And yet the Welsh Assembly is able to offer free parking across the entire country.

Fields of Concrete

I must admit it has been sad to see in recent years Ashford being depleted to such a vast expanse of concrete. Elwick Road and Station Road, in particular, have slowly but surely being bulldozed, leaving open, asymmetrically lined ground instead of local businesses, community infrastructure or jobs.

I'm not against modernisation per se, but one has to question why so many additional parking spaces were needed in Ashford and why the suggestion that the Park and Ride complex were not made earlier.

Given the amount of money that the increased car park charges will be adding to Ashford Borough Council's coffers, I am amazed that it is not going through sooner.

But then again, how else could they afford a month's worth of consultancy fees on where to paint a use on the shared space initiative?

ABC's Failure to Responds to Residents

2010-03-26T12:35:00.000-07:00

The position of Dobbies "Garden Centre" versus Bybrook Garden Centre is something of a controversial issue in the town centre.

We are struggling to retain local businesses in Ashford as it is, and is a real shame to see councillors failing to represent their local residents views when responding to planning applications.

With petitions of 4672 signatures submitted to the Council as well as objection letters, this accounts for 80% of the voters in the four wards of Bybrook, Bockhanger, Kennington and Little Burton Farm.

If you consider back in the 2007 Borough Council elections, an average of 26% of these four wards voted.

Now of course, the signatures may not all be from people within this area, but it's a highly indicative move that such a large percentage of Ashford, who cannot usually be motivated to vote in the local elections, are motivated to stick up for and defend a local business run by local people in the face of the monopoly of supermarket chain stores.

A Night to Remember: Tenterden Annual Dinner 2010

2010-03-25T07:56:00.001-07:00

I warn you in advance that this post is going to have a distinctly personal edge.

I was invited to be one of the key speakers at the Tenterden at liberal Democrat Annual Dinner 2010 last year at the AGM. Barry Wright, our local party president requested that I talk about social networking and its use in politics and campaigning.

To my benefit, Shepway Liberal Democrat KCC Councillor Tim Prater had linked to an article via Twitter entitled Top 10 Reasons to use Social Media which gave me a starting point!

Getting There
However, I had to actually get to the dinner first. If you'd asked me prior to leaving yesterday, I would have said that driving to Tenterden was no problem.

I collected the other key speaker, Parliamentary Candidate Chris Took, and we set off in the dark with a relatively vague idea of where the restaurant The Station was.

It seems that my biggest mistake was attempting to turn round after I missed the restaurant! My rather lovely car hit a kerb and got lodged with the front wheels up in the air. because of my disability, I drive an automatic and this is also a front wheel drive. Moving the car proved to be very difficult! it was further hindered by the fact I've collected 4,000 freshly printed leaflets that afternoon that were in my boot! we ground to a halt at quarter past seven, the dinner was at half past seven, we finally arrived to a round of applause at half past eight!

The Dinner

The Station Restaurant is a wonderful cafe bar based at Tenterden Station, part of the Kent and East Sussex Railway and is staffed almost entirely by volunteers. Their service and food was impeccable and I would recommend anyone go there, irrespective of your interest in steam trains!

The Speech
Explaining social media to people that are not computer literate is a difficult subject to the best of times!

I began by revealing that myself and my partner tend to sit at either end of our three seater sofa with a laptop each and talk to each other on various networking sites. We do get ridiculed for this, but it is a growing trend in couples in their 20s. As I said to the audience, if myself and Dan are doing this and we are in our late 20s, imagine how teenagers are utilising social networking to communicate.

I then addressed Moores Law. while this concept applies to computer hardware, it can also be applied to social media and Internet software. Things are moving so quickly within digital technology and it is important to maintain a level of understanding and a level of strategic development within this market.

When I joined the Ashford Liberal Democrats last year, I largely took up the role of managing our Internet media. This included setting up a Face Book group (Ashford Liberal Democrat), a twitter accountband keeping actively involved with the local community online.

I tend to use social networking in campaigning not only to maintain communications, but also a former publication to get the message of our campaigns, news and policies to a wider audience.

When I knew I would be attending the Tenterden Annual Dinner, I could post that on Twitter, which informed 200 odd people. I could then post a link on the Ashford Face Book sites, which would inform a further 6000 people. I can then take the information and send out to every single Ashford community group Face Book site, from the Remembering Ashford The Way It Was to the Ashford R&B appreciation Society. By doing this I can probably hit an additional 5000 people.

Having such phenomenal power to communicate with so many people by doing something that is essentially free and takes a few minutes is a superb position to be in.

The Liberal Democrats suffer from being ignored by the major press and put on the back pages and latter paragraphs. However, by having a presence elsewhere, we can get our message across.

I also spoke about the various demographics that use Internet communications. While yes, the majority of people online are young, I have seen an increasing trend in older people and pensioners taking up the Internet. Not only do fantastic campaigns by Age UK assist in "getting people online", but these people often have more time to access the Internet for whatever reason.

There is also an interesting growth in people with disabilities using the Internet for further communication. A user of voice recognition software myself, I appreciate that the Internet is utilised by a variety of people who have difficulty communicating in other ways. For people with mobility difficulties, it may be their prime source of community as they are unable to get out and about as freely as other people. In that respect, I think the Internet is fantastic.

I also raised the issue of social media allowing campaigning and communications to remain local and personal. If I have something to say about Ashford, I can add a hash tag on Twitter, or I can make sure that I target specific groups. one brilliant example with face book that I utilised with the ability to see when people having celebrations. Therefore I knew that it was Barry Wright's birthday and brought along a card. By being aware of local issues and having a continuous stream of promotions and events, it has enabled the Liberal Democrats, not only in Ashford, but also across the country to become more involved with the local communities and raise their own profiles.

There is a wealth of ideas through which you can use Internet campaigning. Simply for acquiring signatures on petitions, raising money for charity events or providing people with posters that they can present themselves to advertise your events that they're interested in, it is a world that we need to be involved in in order to move politics into the 21st century.

The End

Chris Took provided a wonderful speech engineered to "whip the local group into a frenzy" with a great deal of focus on preparing for his second election as a PPC and raising the profile of Ashford Liberal Democrats across the entire constituency.

All in all a very successful evening, even if it did start somewhat badly in relation to my poor car!

Southeastern Failure to Support Disabled People

2010-03-24T08:48:00.000-07:00

Following my open letter to the Kentish Express in February on the removal of safety critical staff, a news report on the BBC was brought to my attention.

Mrs Clearly was informed by Southeastern Trains that she would have to make a 45 minute round trip to Ashford station in order to access the side of the platform so that she could leave the station in Staplehurst.

This is an excellent example of why Southeast in Trains have made a grave error in removing platform staff.

One key issue to me in the removal of Safety Critical Staff is disability access to and from domestic stations across the county.

I think that the current guidelines provided by Southeastern Trains that the disabled passenger ought to notify and pre-book assistance on the service is absolutely diabolical and is a classic example of discrimination against disabled people.

It is unfathomable in the 21st century that our train service, which is rated one of the worst in the European Union when compared to other services, is allowed to get away with making disabled passengers' journeys more difficult, complicated and more lengthily than anyone else's.

Mrs Clearly stated "I was astonished. Angry, at the fact that they'd spent all that money making this station accessible and it wasn't.

A vast amount of money is spent on making properties accessible on a regular basis. This should not mean that in spite of millions being spent, a person in a wheelchair should have to get her family to carry her down the stairs.

Given that Councillor Claughton considered that the removal of Safety Critical Staff from Southeastern was not an issue, I would like to invite his response now it is clear that it will cause significant issues for disabled people.

Shared Space Financial Farce

2010-03-24T06:11:00.000-07:00

The much debated Shared Space in Ashford is to undergo consultation to define parking.

Surely to have a predefined area for parking negates the very premise of a shared space?!

Not to mention another enormous waste of money on consultation fees.

Consultation on the amendments begin on 1st April and will end on 23rd April.

Consultancy fees are very much an open market based on what a company are prepared to pay. Doing a small bit of research on the Internet, I discovered that it is very difficult to apportion an hourly rate for a highways consultant, but they can generally expect to earn circa £750 per hour.

This is where our council tax goes.

The shared space is contentious primarily because of its cost. 13 million is already a phenomenal amount of money when we're experiencing severe issues with potholes, apparently a lack of finances to maintain a "green waste" collection service not to mention significant drops in policing services.

I'm not saying whether I am pro or anti the shared space, but I find the kids doing parcour across Bank Street on a Saturday morning quite amusing and also find the multilayered parking on Sundays up the sides of Bank Street just as entertaining.

But I do resent the vast amount that I invest in our councils and public services being shipped out to consultants to debate the design of parking spaces on an already extortionate shared space initiative over 21 days.

I'm sure that there are a number of the unemployed in Ashford who could quite easily point out where parking bays could be marked on the road and would do the whole lot for £750.

Controversy on Immigration on the Highstreet

2010-03-20T08:03:00.000-07:00

Today I was on the Highstreet in Ashford talking to local people about the forthcoming election.

Being in Kent, one subject comes up again and again and I feel I ought to address the issue here.

Eastern Europeans.

People enquired what the Liberal Democrats were going to do about immigration.

But what they actually meant was what were we going to do about migration.

There is a simple distinction between the two that I find the public, predominately Daily Mail and Tabloid readers, get confused.

In the UK Immigration is the term used to describe those moving from another country to the UK and the EU to live and claim residence. The predominate nature of migration is assylum seekers and refugees.

However, the term Migration refers to people who move within the European Union and are entitled to work and live within any EU country and come and go as they please.

Ultimately, no party in power is going to prevent economic migration, whether Eastern or Western European, as it would be going against European Legislation.

As the corridor to Europe, Kent suffers from a flow of both migrants and immigrants. The latter is now dispersed accross the country following the UK Borders Act 2007 and subsequent legislation surrounding the Borders, Citizenship and Immigration Act 2009 and UK Borders Agency.

However, when chatting, canvassing or debating with residents, I often find they confuse the issues.

Comments and sound bites are generally thrown at me such as "British Jobs for British Workers" and "floodgates had been opened to mass immigration".

If someone is generally talking about immigration, my favourite response is "do you know any immigrants?". I generally find that the response is "well it is all in the papers". The answer is clearly no, and they are responding to a media pandemic of scaremongering and illogical concepts.

The paticular incident today was about European Migration and the people cited a number of local incidents of assaults in Ashford.

Whether Eastern Europeans were responsible or not is not the issue to me. The issue is, we do not have enough police on the streets.

It would be interesting to see a demographic study of crime in Ashford and see if there are predominate migration issues, but I would hazard a guess that it is an irrelevant issue.

The issues that come with migration are tackled by other areas. If there are assaults, then it is police. And the Liberal Democrats are the only party to pledge an increase in police numbers and a dedication to preventing crime.

The Unfathomable Treatment We Subject the Elderly to

2010-03-18T13:01:00.000-07:00

Further to my article in Demographic Discursive at the weekend, a fellow campaigner with Sheltered Housing UK forwarded this news report to me.

The article can be found here

Reported on the front page of the Torbay Herald Express yesterday:

"Police were called to a Sheltered Housing unit in the Cecil Road area of Paignton after a 79-year old was found dead by his carer at 9:20AM.

Undertakers could not remove the body, because a disabled buggy was blocking the doorway.

When police officers went to ask the neighbour if he could move the buggy, they found that he was also dead.

It was believed that younger man may have been dead for a couple of days.

The reporter, Paul James, does not mention a word about whether or not the Sheltered Housing scheme had warden coverage, but if this is how often people were checked, it seems safe to assume that it did not. Can you imagine how the other residents of that building must be feeling? THIS is Sheltered Housing?"

I cannot even begin to express my dismay.

I may have only been campaigning for six months with SHUK, but this is why I continue to do so.

In 2012 we will have more people over 50 than under.

One quarter of those people reside in Sheltered Housing.

And our government has allowed wardens to be removed and the unthinkable happen.

Anne (Secretary of SHUK) stated:

"How many ears must one man have
Before he can hear people cry?
How many deaths will it take 'til he knows
That too many people have died?"

I will be joining the protest with the UK Pensioners Strategy Group and Sheltered Housing UK on Monday 22nd March to protest and demand the government brings back wardens in Sheltered Housing.

Join me if you can.

Alarming Bribery in Councils (Made Off II)

2010-03-16T00:59:00.001-07:00

The BBC reports that Councils are paying off all number of CEOs in immense "severence deals".

Communities and Local Government Secretary John Denham states in this article;

"The Audit Commission report shows that too many chief executives are being dismissed because they have fallen out with council leaders - this can cost as much as £500,000 in some cases and is all too often seen as a quick-fix solution."

So what we seeing here is effectively blackmail.

This is not the first item I have seen which indicates one rule for councils and another for the rest of the country. Fraud is apparently rife within our democratically elected councils.

Not to mention the furore over expenses in central government.

The Russians have a saying for corruption which I consider wonderfully apt. The fish rots from the head down.

If, as the soundbites say, Britain is Broken, then it is the current government regimes and extreme forms of power they hold that is the problem and has filtered down.

Local Impact

Kent County Council's Chief Executive Peter Gilroy was given a shocking £200,000 as he left this year.

Interestingly, he is not the only member of KCC to be extortionately rewarded for leaving his job. Kent Online goes on to say;

"Only last month, we reported how two former senior directors at Kent County Council earned £670,000 between them in a single year after receiving six-figure pay-offs when they left their jobs."

The Conservatives criticise the report, stating "the pay-offs were an "affront" and that councils had to provide "clearer guidance".

Yet the last three payoffs in KCC were made by the Tory Council.

As the BBC reports,

"The commission found competent chief executives had been laid off needlessly and those not up to the job were being paid off when they should have been sacked.

This is simply underlines it as a form of blackmail.

We should not be allowing our councils and governments to get away with crime. The only power we have to change this is our vote.

So maybe we need to re-engage with politics again and stop voting for party dominance and start voting for people we know, with integrity and morals.

Gaining Ground for Sheltered Housing

2010-03-14T14:31:00.001-07:00

Back from a Liberal Democrat Conference, which was superb.

As many of you know, I am an active campaigner for Sheltered Housing UK campaign to restore resident wardens to sheltered accommodation.

To Recap
It came to my attention that Barnett Council, attempted to remove resident wardens and were prevented by the High Court which has created a landmark case inspiring other residents to take up the fight.

In Ashford our resident wardens were removed in 2007 in favour of a peripatetic system which has rendered them vulnerable and assailable in their own homes.

This system is slowly being implemented across the country by various regional councils and often without consultation with residents, or done in such a way they are unaware of the negative effects until after it has occurred.

Sheltered Housing UK Association have been running a petition for some time nationally to prevent councils removing resident wardens and to reinstate those that have been removed already.

Having coordinated the campaign on behalf of Chris Took PPC in Kent, we took the campaign as a policy motion to the South East Regional Conference and it was passed, accruing wide ranging support. We then submitted a policy motion for the federal conference. Due to a variety of issues, this was rejected, but I did attend the conference with the campaign in mind.

My current results in Lobbying are Chris Huhne MP, Sarah Teather MP, Adrian Sanders MP, John Leech MP, Steve Webb MP and Catherine Bearder MEP.

As a result of the conference I am now able to add Jo Swinson to the campaign.

In addition to this, I gained wide ranging support from local officers I spoke with, and am continuing to campaign to restore resident wardens.

Indeed, Chris Took has listed Fairness for the Elderly as his number one pledge for Ashford and we are continuing to champion the campaign.

Please feel free to contact me with regards to this campaign.

Open Letter: William Harvey Hospital Flower Shop Closure

2010-02-21T10:04:00.000-08:00

Dear Sir,

The loss of the Flower Shop at the William Harvey Hospital is not only a blow to another local business in Ashford but also indicative of a breach of European Legislation on Competition law.

Hospital Manager Teo Vogiatzis indicates himself that this will be the the last commercial premise to close other than the League of Friends.

Regulation of market power is one of the strong holds of a fair and just economy, and if the William Harvey Hospital allow only the League of Friends and specifically tendered businesses to trade on the premises, they are illegally controlling the market.

The League of Friends are a sustainable and wonderful element of the Hospital, but they should not be allowed to dominate the market through abuse of consumers and monopoly of services, whether flowers, gifts or other merchansise.

The relevant MEPs and bodies have been notified and the case is being investigated.

Kelly-Marie Blundell
Ashford Liberal Democrats
Kennington

Open Letter: Churchyard Antisocial Behaviour

2010-02-21T09:58:00.000-08:00

13.9.09

Dear Sirs,

With regards to your article on Antisocial Behaviour in the Church Yard, I would like to enquire that if Cllr Michael Claughton says “Everything possible is being done to resolve the issue”, why the council has not initiated the feasibility study requested by Mr Jeremy Adby at the Executive meeting in July.

Further to this, a petition was submitted to the council last year signed by residents and businesses within the Church Yard with regards to antisocial behaviour, the need for more lighting and the need for another cctv camera. This has not, as yet, been acted on.

I would also like to enquire why, if police regularly patrol the churchyard, did they not know for 10 hours there was broken glass in the street? Or, if they did notice, why did they not fulfil their civic duty and clean it up, or notify the council to do so.

If the pub is still selling alcohol to drunk persons, then they are in breach of the licensing activities, and in breach of their responsibility to borough tenants in pursuit of quiet enjoyment of their properties.

While I am in complete support of the St Mary's Church development, I do concur that the council are failing in serving the community in the area in relation to other matters.

Yours faithfully,

Ms Kelly-Marie Blundell
Ashford Liberal Democrats

Open Letter: Ashford Rugby Club

2010-02-21T09:57:00.000-08:00

13.9.09

Dear Sirs,

With regards to the issue dated 10.9.09, may I ask if it was intentional to place the item about assault and affray at Ashford rugby club immediately above the article about extending the rugby clubs licensing laws?

Given the proposed extended licensing, I am concerned many residents in Kennington, Bybrook and Bockhanger are anxious about the proposals, and given the details of a variety of crimes relating to alcohol consumption and the Rugby Club in this issue, this concern seems to be justified.

Following the Beer Festival at the Rugby club, residents and visitors noted broken glass on the pavements in all directions. Combined with antisocial behaviour, thefts and loud noise, it does not seem to be a sensible decision to extend licensing for these premises, especially as the council are unable to cope with the present licencing of limited events during the year, let alone with weekly occurences of such social impact.

The council has a responsibility to it's borough residents to ensure a right to quiet enjoyment of their property, and I have yet to see evidence of this right being upheld.

--
Kelly-Marie Blundell
Ashford Liberal Democrats

Open Letter: Gurkha Burial Section

2010-02-21T09:56:00.000-08:00

01/10/2009

Dear Sirs,

Further to your article on the Gurkha section of the graveyard, I would like to enquire as to the origin of this petition. I consider it cowardly and a subversive form of incitement of racial hatred to submit a petition to the Council without actively engaging a community in the initiative.

Many arguments have arisen over the issue within Kennington, including the fact that the Gurkha's have fought on behalf of Britain and been given leave to stay here on that basis. A motion that over 60% of the population agreed with earlier on in the year.

The assertion it “is not the way a graveyard is run” and that the sign excludes other sections of community. This fails to take into account the demarcation of Christian burials, the War memorials and vast secularised society we embrace.

It is clear that some feel it is unfair that Gurkha's have their own area, therefore let us establish areas for all religions and beliefs in graveyards and crematoriums to prevent exclusion. But people should not be actively discriminating against one particular group and at the same time be unwilling to present the courage of their convictions.

Kelly-Marie Blundell

Ashford Liberal Democrats

Open Letter: Muslim Centre

2010-02-21T09:54:00.000-08:00

17/11/2009

Dear Sirs

The situation with the proposed Muslim Centre is creating an unpleasant debate among acid residents. Whether you are pro the Centre and Muslim integration in society, or whether you're anti because you perceive the value of your house price may drop, there is a rather interesting point to be made about democracy in all of this.

The article published on the 12th of November states that the decision will not be made by elected members of the public but instead be made by planning bosses. This is a rather terrible indication of how undemocratic our council is as is refusing to take into account objections made by members of the public, and the public's opinion in general. Freedom of speech and right to protest are valuable commodities in a society that accepts them. However, the development of the Muslim Centre is indicative of the erosion of our rights to challenge and further society.

In the event that something sparks such disquiet, I would be pleased to see the Borough Council discuss this issue at the State of Borough Debate and provide full plans including the likely public benefit in the development of the Muslim Centre.

Yours faithfully

Kelly-Marie Blundell
Ashford Liberal Democrats
Kennington

Open Letter: Antisocial Behaviour in Churchyard

2010-02-21T09:53:00.000-08:00

24/11/2009

Dear Sir,

I was rather disgusted to review the Safety Partnership Strategy in the Kentish express on the 19th of November. It appears that there are significant inequalities in the priorities, including listing Antisocial Behaviour is a lesser priority over safe socialising within Ashford. This seems to be a way to promote developments within Ashford town centre such as the St Mary's Church Community Centre development and avoid responsibility for the damage the residents suffer within the town centre from antisocial behaviour. Ashford Borough council have yet to address the petition handed in by Jeremy Adby and residents of the churchyard regarding antisocial behaviour nearly 18 months ago. This is only escalating as the season becomes more "festive". It is abominable that peoples' property is damaged on a weekly basis in the churchyard and yet there is apparently no money available to put up further CCTV cameras or to invest in police patrolling the area, but there is financing available to convert St Mary's Church.

I also feel that the resolutions offered did not provide enough detail to be taken seriously and present themselves as a list of what I would expect public services to be doing already. This includes ensuring premises do not sell alcohol to underage children, for which we have a trading standards department, and confiscating alcohol from rowdy groups. I would like to see police and the council enforcing their rights to prevent licensees from selling alcohol to drunken people, with the threat to remove licences from pubs are particular problems. This is an increase of police patrols is the tip of the iceberg of what is needed to resolve antisocial behaviour in the town centre and within the surrounding boroughs.

Yours faithfully

Kelly-Marie Blundell
Ashford Liberal Democrats

Open Letter: Byebrook Barn Garden Centre

2010-02-21T09:50:00.000-08:00

Dear Sirs,

The planning application for a Garden Centre in the Eureka Leisure Park will significantly damage locally held companies and jobs in other Ashford Garden Centres (Kentish Express 28 January 2010).

Firstly, I am confused as to how a Garden Centre can be considered a Leisure pursuit when it is clearly a retail facility with a few additions to keep the children occupied (as many large scale retail units now utilise).

Secondly, Dobbies is in fact owned by Tesco Supermarket Chain and will further saturate Ashford with large scale business monopoly.

While the development "boasts" an additional 130 jobs, one must wonder if this will at the expense of the jobs for those at The Bybrook Barn Garden Centre, the Wyevales and Homebase not to mention the smaller centres in the villages. Certainly Byebrook Barn is the most likely to suffer, being the immediate competition to the proposed site, not to mention the other family run businesses on the site. They will suffer enough from the building developments in the future months, and it would be a great shame to see another locally established business removed by yet another supermarket, even if the supermarket is masquerading as a "unique day out destination for all the family" .

I urge residents to write to Ashford Borough Council objecting to the development under Planning Ref No: 10/00059/AS

Regards,

Kelly-Marie Blundell
Ashford Liberal Democrats
Kennington

Open Letter: Ashford Domestic Station

2010-02-21T09:38:00.000-08:00

Dear Sirs,

South Eastern Trains are proposing, in their latest staff cutbacks, to remove Safety Critical Staff during offpeak periods at Ashford Station.

Cllr Cowley asked a valuable question at this week's full council meeting that should be brought to the attention of the public.

The Ashford Domestic Station has recently completed a phase of development part funded by Ashford Borough Council, have been nominated Station of the Year and are previous recipients of awards for safety. However, it is clear their impeccable record may be maligned by removal of staff on the platform who provide a vital service to passengers and to the smooth operation of the trains. Yet portfolio holder Cllr Claughton considered the matter irrelevant for the council and community.

In light of the recent train crash in Belgium, the importance of platform staff who ensure the safe dispatch of trains to green and amber lights cannot be overlooked.

Furthermore, given that Cllr Claughton is chair of Ashford Access, his lack of concern at access for disabled people to the services South Eastern provide is rather baffling.

I would expect our council to more concerned about the lifeline for this town becoming dangerous and inaccessable to all members of the community.

Kind regards

Kelly-Marie Blundell
Ashford Liberal Democrats
Kennington

Dress codes in Schools

2010-02-07T13:17:00.000-08:00

Kentish Express 4th February 2010

The high profile article on Ashley Long's unfortnate hair cut caught my attention.

While it is clear that upholding uniform dress codes is integral to any secondary school, the decision in this instance seems a little strange.

Given that the hair cut was an accident, one would have expected the parents to communicate the situation with the school. Most schools have a policy of lunch-time detention, after-school detention and then exclusion.

A sanction of three days exclusion seems quite high for such a meagre offence.

The paper goes on to mention 29 exclusions for failures to uphold uniform guidelines which I applaud. Parents are responsible for the uniform of their children and also responsible to teach them that responsibility. It is a pleasure to see this being upheld.

Grave Concerns over Regulating Flowers

2010-02-07T13:00:00.001-08:00

Kentish Express 4th February 2010

The report on wreaths and flowers being removed from graves is somewhat distressing.

The article reports a mass of confusion from within Ashford Borough Council and in relation to their contractors

Cemeteries Officer Christine Smith is quoted as saying that no contractor has jurisdiction to remove decorations from grave sites.

Yet the head of Cemeteries for ABC states flowers and wreaths would be removed when they are dead or unsitely.

Paul Jackson alludes to changes made in the policy for maintenance of grave sites being made "some time ago".

One has to question how this regulation was implemented?

If it exists in the contracts for grave sites from a certain period, then, as a contract can preclude a time period, the contractors would only be able to remove from graves post that time.

Alternatively, the Council may have chosen to notify the families of the graves in place? However, this was clearly not the case.

As the graves in question were cited in 1979 and 1980, I can only assume they were prior to the regulation changes and the council failed to notify the families of the deceased.

A drop of common sense would be nice!
Does this time period extend to graves located prior to 1980 as the graves of Steven Brind and Ian Hawkins were?

North School Farm and Democratic Participation

2010-02-06T04:29:00.000-08:00

The Kentish Express failed to publish my letter this week, so I am putting it up for people's awareness.

Dear Sirs,

I find Damien Green's column on the North School Farm to be found wanting (Kentish Express 28th January 2010)

He failed to attend the demonstration on Saturday 30th January and has failed to tackle the root issues with the removal of the farm. A simple nod in the direction in the local paper is simply not good enough for those keen to protect an established part of the community and school's lessons.

The land desired by Kent County Council has been listed on the planning application as "not in use" which is simply not true. They have also referred to the development of the land as not endangering jobs, which again is simply not true. Damien Green seems to have completely ignored this gross misrepresentation of the purpose of the land, which I would have thought would have been integral to any challenge to the proposed development.

Damien Green's correspondence with Kent County Council lacks aggressive questioning that I would expect of a former journalist. He has, as many politicians do, looked at one issue and not the lateral application. If the farm is reduced, the school will lose much of the land required for maintaining large animals, therefore reducing the ability to study a full Animal Husbandry Course. If the buildings are relocated, the school will lose further ground for grazing and other activities. To utilise such a small space for 25 dwellings will result in disruption to the animals left sharing the space, not to mention the day to day running of the school and the impact on the local residents in an already congested area.

Further to this, with proposed development for Ashford for an additional 31,000 homes, one must question why Kent County Council will effectively be removing a fundamental part of the school when the homes could be added to the larger developments in Godington, Willesborough or Kennington without too much trouble. One can only assume a capricious motivation of Kent County Council to benefit from the sale of the land to the sacrifice of the farm.

We have a substantial lack of democratic participation in our local politics as it is, and I would prefer to see a more proactive representative in our national politics to ensure the public interest is upheld.

Regards,

Kelly-Marie Blundell

The North School's Farm: A Cultural and Educational Resource

2010-01-31T12:20:00.000-08:00

I am great supporter of the Save the North School Farm protest in Ashford, attending the demonstration on Saturday and helping accrue signatures.

The North Comprehensive School has an on site farm used for educational purposes for urban children in a farming and market town. The Councils have proposed building 25 homes on the land which would sacrifice an established part of the school and local community.

There is a local media campaign through KMFM and the Kentish Express to prevent the development going ahead.

A Source of Education

The North School Farm was established in 1936 and is used as part of a students learning programme where students take exams in Animal Husbandry. For an urban community in the heart of a market town, the farm provides a valuable education for students, aspiring farmers and animal lovers alike.

Students have been showing animals yearly at county shows, learning how to love and care for them and preparing themselves for the responsibility of adulthood and potential careers by giving up their free time to help out on the farm.

As local campaigners state on their Facebook group;

“Why do the Kent County Council deem it fit to take away the education and future of these students, just so they can put houses on the land and put money in their pockets?.

The discontent with Kent County Council’s avaricious approach to removing the farm stems from the Planning application, where they state the ground is not being used and does not involve any jobs being taken. This is clearly untrue and residents in the borough have taken umbridge against such callous discontent for their children’s education

Impact on Local Community

Residents of Essella Road have opposed the proposed building of 25 extra dwellings on the site which is in the heart of a congested area and in close range of three other schools as well as the North. The entrance would be situated on a dangerous bend, choking an already heavily used area which is nearby a railway works site with on road parking.

While concerns of immediate residents focus on the safety of the area, those in the wider community are concerned about the strain of the development in Ashford on the resources such as schools and jobs.

Excessive Development

Within the grander scheme of development in Ashford, Kent, part of the“ill-considered, poorly executed development on a massive scale”, the 11 houses are an arbitrary supplement to the proposed 31,000 homes to extend Ashford’s population in the next five years.

Further to this, a recent report by the Communities and Local Government Department have revealed that as of October 2008 Ashford Borough contained more than 1000 empty dwellings.

There is a significant waste of money in building on vacant land as opposed to renovating existing empty dwellings.

"Nationally there are over 650,000 empty properties across England, no longer used as homes that can be brought back into use with some investment. In Ashford alone the figure is 1160 empty dwellings" commented Ashford Lib Dem parliamentary candidate, Chris Took.

"The average cost of bringing these homes back into use is about £10,000 whilst the cost of a new build is closer to £100,000."

As residents opposed to the North School Farm site point out;

”There are a lot of other derelict ground in Ashford which the Kent County Council own, such as the Rothlawe School site, which has been unused for nearly twenty years.”

With such augmented changes to Ashford, the town has grown beyond recognition in recent years. As discussed in my previous entry on the planning for development, there seems to be no forethought for resources such as schools or high scale jobs within the extended urbanisation.

But out of them all, the North School Farm proposal stands out as negating education and raising hackles of residents who are sick of capricious movements by the Borough and County Councils to “build, build, build” and reap in the benefits with a significant lack of democratic participation and errosion of community ownership.

Ageist and Unfair Ashford

2010-01-22T10:01:00.000-08:00

The Kent news on Age UK and tackling Ageism produces some horrific buzz words in it's entirity but tackles a subject we should all be aware of.

In 2012 there will be more people over the retirement age than under it. As a result, we have a responsibility to older people not to discriminate, not to dismiss them and not to leave them in poverty as the "working world" continues.

I am something of a champion of the rights of Older people, in both Ashford and the County. This is because I see so often in my ward and within the borough, appauling treatment of older people by all ranges of people, from their own familes through to neighbours through to local councils.

One of the worst things I come accross is indirect ageism. This is not in relation to employment, per se, as tackled by the Employment Equality Act (Age) 2006 to tackle discrimination in the workplace. Instead I see appauling cases of people without a voice, whose opinions do not matter, who are regarded as irritating and a waste of resources.

It is because of this I am challenging decisions made for older people, yet do not consult them or actively ignore their needs, rights and opinions.

This began with my campaign for Liberal Democrats to back Sheltered Housing UK's campaign for resident wardens in Sheltered Accomodation. Through this I have met lots of older people whose emails and telephone calls to local services are ignored or blocked, and they are labelled nuisances.

I am now supporting communities of older people in Council accomodation who have been subjected to antisocial behaviour from other tenants. When looking into these situations, I have found services that dismiss complaints from the elderly as trouble makers and where they are left to deal with often appauling situations as the councils implement policy and tick boxes in order to meet national guidelines.

As a result of my work in Ashford, I am investigating establishing a Community Forum for Older People. One that provides the residents with an authority to their voices, one that cannot be ignored and one that is not funded and therefore predjudiced by the council, councillors or politics.

If you are interested and wish to be involved with this or help me with my campaigning, please feel free to get in touch
The Liberal Policy on Older People is under review and I have submitted a policy motion to the federal conference relating to the rights of Older People in Sheltered Accomodation. This includes a review of the Supporting People policy introduced by Labour which has significantly reduced services to Sheltered Accomodation residents.

I am also an administrator for the discussion forum for Fair Deal for Older People on Lib Dem Act, the discussion forum for Liberal Democrats.

Urban Development Plans Summary

2010-01-20T13:36:00.000-08:00

The Urban Plans were displayed today at the Julie Rose Stadium in Ashford.

Ashford has been allocated a large amount of money from the Central Government as it is identified as a key growth area and needs more housing to sustain the population and employment.

However, as with all planning applications, you cannot gurantee everyone will be happy with the proposals.

26 sites are listed as proposed development areas. These can be roughly divided into district;

Kennington

Kennington North, a current site of arable farm land commencing behind the Towers School and going across to the A28 has caused disconsternation among residents. 600 homes will create an huge addition to Kennington, and while not many people wish to change their view from fields to houses, the development will provide more housing for the area as well as further road systems that will link to the eventual Park and Ride system.

However, the proposed development of land between Orchard Lane and East Mountian Lane is not so straight forward. The land is also arable farm land, but there is no legal access at present to the field. The Orchard Lane is a private road that is a single file gravel road maintained by legal burden of covenant and there is no easement in existence to allow access to the field.
It would be impossible to expand the road to allow a two way thoroughfare and therefore the field is effectively landlocked.

Development of land around Ashford Hockey Club and Ashford Cricket Club would also allocate another 600 homes to the far side of Kennington. However, there is no proposal to add additional schools or facilities. I am unsure Byebrook Surgery would cope with an additional 1200 residents, and although the proposed Goat Lees development is to go ahead, this will not support the amount of families likely to move to the area. I would also question whether the five secondary schools in Ashford are enough when increasing Kennington's population by another council ward. On the other hand, increased facilities at the Hockey and Cricket Clubs will be an asset to a town with growing sports potential.

I cannot say I am too eager about Eureka Park and Sandy Hurst Lane developments either. Again, this is arable land that is a familiar surround of the town. While this development is marketed as employment opportunities by creating what will be the largest business park in the country, I am all too aware of Orbital park and Cobs Wood, full of warehouses providing minimum wage manual work, where several have been vacant for years and the constant flow of businesses through the existing parks creating a constant flow of redundancy and redeployment that does not benefit the community. Those who can get jobs in London for higher wage and permenance will continue, and we will be left with concrete and glass structures surrounded by lorries avoiding paying for the lorry park.

Repton Park and Goddington

Chart Industrial Estate will be redeveloped to support the Victoria Way flyover. For existing businesses this implies a raise in the rates, and I have concern about leasing new properties in the current economic climate.

Leacon Road, linked to Chart Industrial Site will provide further 150 residences and more business premises. The same applies.

Extending Godington Park by 150 has already caused much upset for residents in the area. The arable farm land is full of footpaths and gorgeous scenary that will be lost.

The Warren Park and Ride will provide the ever expanding town with some good transport facilities, but only from the M20. The downside is access from Canterbury will be directly through Kennington and make the roads worse.

Town Centre

Ashford Hospital and Lower Queens Road will provide 100 new homes, while 15 flats are proposed as well.

Singleton

A gap filling 20 homes to be added to Bishops Green.

Beaver

Redeveloping Beaver Green School to provide extra housing does not bode well for schools already bursting with students accross the area.

Park Farm

Park Farm presents the highest level of expansion in the area, ground I used to walk on as foot paths is now a myriad of housing and this is set to continue. With over subscribed schools and a lack of industry, I anticipate complaints here too.

Willesborough

The William Harvey Hospital will be given access from the A20 alongside 300 new homes. This may or may not delight people who seek cheap or free parking for the Hospital, but I doubt it will delight the residents who battle to park alongside their own homes in the process. There is also no apparent plans to extend facilities in the area, and I predict further strain on the schools and medical services.

Lees Farm will become 20 additional homes. This is already an enormous area and it feels as though they are filling every available space with more housing. This also applies to Blackwall Road, Canterbury Road and Hunter Avenue.

The development of Newtown Works and the Klondyke Works have been in the pipeline for years. It will provide prime housing for rail access but will be a thorn in the residents' sides.

Summary

There is a proposed additional 2200 homes within the planning and it is likely to have a dramatic effect on social services in the area. Current growth may include a range of alleged employment opportunities with business parks, leisure parks and travel facilities, but the increase of strain to doctors, dentists, schools and Borough services will present a drain on resources unless the priorities are changed.

The plans will be shown again on Wednesday 27th January at Godington Village Hall if you wish to review them yourself.

Bear in mind if you wish to complain you must write an individual letter per person. A list of signatures in this instance will only account for one complaint when assessed by the planning committee.

Gurkha Integration School Meeting

2010-01-20T13:11:00.000-08:00

This afternoon I had a "management meeting" for the Gurkha Integration School. (See my previous post on the Gurkha Peace Foundation)

As a way of introduction, for I forsee I will be commenting on this a lot, Andrew and Siobhan are trained CELTA teachers, Gwen is a teaching assistant, Cllr Bob Davidson is our "head master" and Bhim the founder of Gurkha Peace Foundation and orchestration agent.

I'm volunteering as a teaching assistant, but that doesn't mean I have any experience of teaching at all!

Today's meeting was geared towards working out a scheme of lessons, what the Gurkha wives want to learn and how we plan to run the pilot.

We have initial funding for a year, but it would be great to have it running for a long time. The funding is also wife specific, so we cannot, as much as we would like to, integrate the male Gurkhas at the moment.

The initial plan is to run two classes on a Saturday, of two different standards, to teach key areas of English Language and culture that is essential to living in Britain.

The current ESoL guidelines are levels 1 to 3. Each level takes one year. Once this is complete, Adult Education are able to take them on for other classes.

However, we cannot be sure of their capabilities without a period of assessment and classes.

Therefore we decided to run term time classes and meet again at Easter to review. The estimated plan is to bring the higher class up to ESoL 2 and present them with a certificate. We would then move the lower class to become the higher class and take on a separate class.

Discussions were had about volunteers, and we all seem to know people who may be willing to do some assistance, if not commit to every week.

There are key areas we need to address with teaching. While it is straightforward to say they need to know health and social care, housing, shopping etc, there may be things we just wouldnt consider because of cultural differences. For example, public toilets!

It has been proposed we use outside parties to do a lesson as a key speaker, for example, a local PCSO on community policing to help share the weight of the task at hand and teach in more depth subjects we may not have expertise in.

I am quite excited about Saturday now. I will be working with Andrew in the higher class and we have a basic lesson plan of introductions, elliciting ambitions and mingling games for three hours!

We are seeking volunteers, so please get in touch if you think you can help.

Requesting Captions...

2010-01-19T05:28:00.000-08:00

My nearly husband works in the Nursing College at Canterbury Christchurch University. When he tweeted to say that this morning he had found the Archbishop of Canterbury giving a dummy CPR, I demanded a photo!

Debatable Shopping Paradise

2010-01-18T10:46:00.000-08:00

County Square had record number of visitors in 2009?!

Really? I assume most of them, like me, were wandering around trying to understand exactly how the five new shops cost £65 million.

And while County Square may have expanded in 2009, I would be surprised if they met their targets, given that River Island began with two floors and then reduced it's trading to one floor only.

This would imply the stores which Executives in Ashford were so proud to add to the list of Modernity Ashford proclaims are finding it extremely hard to make a significant profit on top of what must be high rent for such a dynamic building.

My other complaints about County Square include the complete lack of ATM machines, the ludicrous music pounding from each open face store as you walk down, the excessive 300 watt lighting which makes living with Irlens Syndome very difficult, the lack of affordable coffee (£1.80 is excessive) and the sporadic seating and stalls in the centre of the gangways, which makes mobility difficult when dealing with several pushchairs and families on busy days.

However, I suppose it is only comparable to shopping on a flood plain in the freezing cold under a structure that is comparable to a circus tent filled with junk food outlets and trainers. Which, if you don't know, is the Designer Outlet.

Gurkha Association School Launch

2010-01-16T09:22:00.000-08:00

I have spent this afternoon with the Gurkha Peace Foundation in Ashford.

As a Trustee for Volunteering Ashford I was interested to receive an email before Christmas asking for Volunteers to help with the Gurkha Association to support wives of retired Gurkha soldiers in Ashford to learn English, traditions and customs of British people.

I was keen to participate and contacted members of the Liberal Democrat Party in Ashford to see if anyone else was available to help.

Bhimraj Tumbahangphe is the founding member of the Gurkha Peace Foundation and a good friend of the party. He announced in the Kentish Express they were looking for volunteers and would be holding a press conference Saturday 16th January. Having spoken to Bhim, I agreed to attend with a variety of other members.

Many other people attended, including Kent County Councillor and fellow lib dem George Kowaree, Leader of the Ashford Borough Council Lib DemsBob Davidson, His Worshipful The Mayor John Holland, Liberal Democrat PPC for Maidstone Peter Carrol and Canterbury City Councillor
Brian Staley.

The basis for the class was, as Bhim told in his speech, when a fellow Gurkha died in Folkestone because his wife could not use the telephone.

In order to prevent this reoccuring, the Gurkha Association have established classes to teach the wives English and citizenship.

The Mayor lit candles to commence the classes and all present to support the initiatives were honoured with sashes.

George Kowaree pledged £750 towards to the classes and we hope to recieve more support as it develops.

Having been served tea and coffee and chatted, the visitors left and those who were volunteering and learning got down to business.

With over 40 Gurkha women to teach, the task is daunting but not impossible.

I am volunteering to help with the classes and with three qualified teachers, we tested the women and assessed their levels of knowledge.

Classes are to be held on Saturdays and Sundays in International House and we hope to accrue more volunteers and funding with time.

Please contact me if you would like to know more.

Petrol

2010-01-13T10:47:00.001-08:00

Grrr.

Not an original moan, I am afraid.

The VAT reversal means petrol has jumped in price again.

Current research has BP at 113.9 per litre, Tescos (Park Farm) at 112.9 per litre, Shell (Chamber's Garage) is 111.9 per litre and Sainsburies at 111.9 per litre.

I have got into the habit of driving to Canterbury (yes, Canterbury!) as Morrisons and Esso are 107.9 per litre. But 17 miles is a long way to go.

Rant over

"Ashford Voice" Analysis Part I

2010-01-09T15:22:00.000-08:00

During the heavy duty Christmas season I had the opportunity to peruse the Ashford Voice.

A free magazine "full of features on living, working and enjoying life in Ashford and surrounding communities".

Also known as council propaganda.

Let's do a break down by contents headline;

News in Brief

An overview of various council schemes with persuasive language.

For example, The Parking Services Annual Report, where the article states "proposed future initiatives include an innovative system which could see motorists paying for parking with mobile phones".

I would hazard a guess that the translation: parking will be increasingly monitored through mobile phone payments plus they can review the potential for congestion charges and the integral and unreasonably conspiratorial "Future Core Team" of Ashford development.

Victoria Way Green Light.

Brilliant, another road to congest Ashford's over subscribed traffic and town centre. And it is costing 17 million pounds. I am sure this is a further example of ringfenced monies, but perhaps the council can explain to residents of sheltered accomodation why they can build a new road but cannot provide wardens? Or perhaps they can inform the residents of the Churchyard why they cannot afford lighting to remove the threats of ASB or a new CCTV camera? I could go on.

Council to Build Afforable Homes.

Where? Oh, on the site of a Sheltered Accommodation unit in Kennignton, while squeezing some more residents into the over populated expanse of Willesborough. And the council tenants awaiting housing who have to live in hostels and B&Bs? Oh no, ABC have a conception of rich young families moving from London to get the Hitachi line to work wanting affordable housing. Dear ABC, please quanitfy “affordable” while in the same magazine you write an article on how the Salvation Army protect and aid those who are homeless at Christmas. Oh, look, there is no available report on Ashford's performance.

Now, other than the news that the new high speed rail line is up and running in Ashford, every other piece of Ashford News is council related. What about the news that our custody suite is being rendered useless? What about the State of the Borough Debate and the highlighted issues? What about the various charities running fundraising initiatives around the borough?

It is clear Ashford Borough Council do not want people's opinions and concerns to matter, just continuous promotion of their alleged good services.

Part II Coming Very Soon

Ashford, Kent and Asylum Seekers

2010-01-09T15:19:00.000-08:00

Your Ashford published a rather inflammatory article on the costs of asylum seekers.

It appears to be geared directly to Daily Mail readers, certainly judging by the number of responses with the words "sponge off our country".

It also seems to have absolutely no information whatsoever and I would question what the journalists that Your Ashford actually do.

The only information that seems to be little relevant in this article is the council tax is set to rise under Kent County Council and part of this is due to asylum seekers.

Reading beyond what appears to be a deliberate incitement of racial hatred, I'm sure you cannot blame me for asking "what costs?"

Any benefits that asylum seekers receive is lower than any other recipient of benefits in the country.

Benefits are paid by central government, therefore Kent County Council do not incur this cost.

The police and the UK Border Agency deal with all immigrants coming across the border. this includes keeping them in converted cells until accommodation can be found, electronically tagging them while their asylum claims are assessed, and then pushing them through to relevant training centres in camps across the country (no longer housed in Kent). Therefore, Kent County Council did not incur the cost.

There is currently a two-year waiting list to get a house in Ashford, and I doubt that there is any immediate Housing opportunities in social housing across the county. In the event that councils are housing refugees and asylum seekers (as opposed to letting them live in "camps" which is is a diabolical abuse of human rights), this costs it incurred by the Borough Council, not by the County Council.

In fact, the only costs that I can see that Kent County Council may bear for asylum seekers is to support unaccompanied children while their claims are assessed.

I cannot genuinely believe that this has gone up by 0.71%. Given that an awful lot of charities work in partnership with the Kent County Council, I would also assume that the weight of responsibility is not on Kent County Council and instead rests with the Refugee and Migrant Justice centre in Ashford, not to mention other charities across the county.

So what on earth is Your Ashford playing at, not to mention this extremely dubious press release by Councillor Paul Carter?

And I'm sure that you can ultimately deduce from these facts and your own research that asylum seekers and refugees are not "sponging off our country"

Greetings

2010-01-09T14:29:00.000-08:00

Welcome to a new blog for comment and observation on matters affecting residents of Ashford, Kent and the South East Region.

I will use this to comment on local issues, provide a commentary of what I have been up to in and on behalf of my local community and to raise awareness about Ashford Liberal Democrats.

Feel free to drop me a message.

You can follow me on;

Twitter/KelBlundell
Facebook/Kelly-Marie Blundell
Facebook/Ashford Liberal Democrats

and on my other blog reserved now primarily for National issues,

disconcertediscursives.blogspot.com/