Campaigns

I have, and continue to be involved in a number of key campaigns in the area, having campaigned tirelessly to protect the green-belt and local environment. I am a firm believer in taking a stand on local issues, having organised many local campaigns, including a petition against the reconfiguration of local hospital services where I collected hundreds of signatures against Labour’s mismanagement of the NHS and helped apply pressure on the local Primary Care Trust to reconsider its position. I am currently campaigning against a reduction in rail services from Maidstone which has seen services into the city being scrapped.

Say ‘NO’ to KIG

The Kent International Gateway (KIG) is a proposed rail and road freight interchange depot which will destroy a significant area of green space in mid-Kent, replacing it with four million square feet of industrial estate.

• Click here to view the KIG application.

In the days following the announcement of the proposal, local outrage at this monstrous development was so great that a number of local opposition groups were formed.

There are numerous negative effects associated with the proposed KIG development which were discussed in detail at Maidstone Borough Council’s planning committee meeting on 7 May 2009 attended by several hundred outraged residents. The application was refused on eighteen grounds, by every member of the planning committee.

• See Maidstone Borough Council’s reasons for rejection here.

KIG has appealed to the Secretary of State for Communities, John Denham MP, who will make the final decision following the public inquiry, which began in October and which has just drawn to a close. The grounds for rejecting the proposal include:

• the applicant had not proved the need for KIG, nor why it should be built in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty;
• the effects on traffic, and pollution;
• damage to wildlife; and
• loss of archaeological heritage.

It is not believed the proposals would result in a modal shift of freight from road to rail, with the project acting mainly as a regional distribution centre by road with an anticipated 6,000 lorry movements a day.

If you are interested in becoming involved in STOPKIG, visit the official website at www.STOPKIG.org to register your details as a supporter or volunteer, and to receive email updates. STOPKIG.org is an inclusive organisation which wants to include everyone and is keen to hear from anyone with time, expertise or information to contribute.

STOPKIG.org brings together Bearsted and Thurnham Society, SaveBearsted.com, SaveBearsted.org and others to form a group which aims to be the channel for opposition to KIG. The objective is to ensure that efforts are not duplicated or wasted, but are coordinated for maximum effect.

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Get Britain Working Again

As a key member of Helen Grant’s campaign team, I am delighted to be able to support and to campaign with Helen to help ‘Get Britain Working Again’.

One of the biggest concerns for people right now is unemployment. We need change to get Britain working. Thanks to Gordon Brown's economic mismanagement, unemployment is rocketing in Britain. Labour's Debt Crisis means we are facing a long recession - and Brown's attempts to deal with the downturn are simply not working.

• The bank recapitalisation has not got credit flowing again.
• The VAT cut has failed to stimulate the economy.
• The Government's business strategy has not stopped businesses from closing.

It is vital we provide support and assistance for those affected by the economic downturn.
The Shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions and Shadow Minister for Women, Theresa May MP believes Kent has the right idea when it comes to beating the recession. the MP was in Maidstone in January 2009 at the “Get Britain Working Again” forum to outline the Conservatives plan to help people during the economic downturn.

Ms May said: “I got a real feel that the people of Kent want to work together for the good of local businesses and local people. What has been important was listening to people and the ideas coming through from the businesses and volunteer groups, and from somebody who has been through the new deal. There was a raft of ideas and proposals we think the Government should be adopting to make a real difference."

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Business Forum

Following on from the ‘Get Britain Working Again’ event, I was delighted to be able to assist the Conservative Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Maidstone and the Weald, Helen Grant, with the launch of the Business Forum on 31st March last year; supported by Theo Paphitis from the BBC’s Dragon’s Den and CEO of Ryman and Conservative Party chairman, Eric Pickles with the launch of the business forum last year.

The purpose of Helen’s business club is to provide clear communication channels between business people, local government and our opposition shadow cabinet in order to find some immediate local solutions and apply as much pressure as possible on the Labour government so as to remove some of the obstacles to growth and profitability that have been imposed by them over the past 12 years.

There is a complete lack of confidence in this government’s ability to meet the needs of local business in these increasingly difficult economic times. I will be supporting Helen with further Business Forum events and in the campaign to help local businesses fight the recession.

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Health Service – Stop Brown’s Cuts

Gordon Brown’s short-sighted cuts and closures are damaging our National Health Service. Cuts and closures are a result of Labour spending too much money on wasteful bureaucracy when instead it should be being spent on patient care and they must STOP!

The proposed reconfiguration of vital services at Maidstone Hospital is of grave concern to all those who are served by it and who have the right to expect 21st century healthcare within the heart of our local community.

From day one, I have actively campaigned against the proposed changes, which include:

• the merging of maternity units;
• concentrating a dedicated accident & emergency department in Tunbridge Wells, 30 minutes away;
• the removal of the Chronic Pain Unit; and
• moving vital specialist functions were patients require emergency surgery, such as in orthopaedics, to other hospitals in Kent,.

In addition to the damning report opposing the service changes, compiled as part of my position on the External Overview and Scrutiny Committee within the council, I have had the opportunity to question the disgraced former chief Executive of Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust, Rose Gibb, on three occasions and challenged her on the proposals and hold her to account. I have also helped organise local campaigns, attended a number of rallies opposing the proposals and helped run a petition, collecting hundreds of signatures in the fight to apply pressure on the local PCT to reconsider its position.

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Save our Trains

Along with a local group of commuters and constituency MPs, I backed the campaign to stop fast off-peak train services from Maidstone to Cannon Street being cut.  Southeastern implemented changes to the timetable without properly consulting passengers in December 2009, and this has formed part of a creeping reduction in the train services received in the county town.

The cuts are in stark contrast to the experience of passengers from other Kent towns. Ashford commuters are now able to reach London in just 37 minutes, while it takes just 69 minutes from Dover - faster than many services from Maidstone. The hourly fast train to London Victoria presently makes the journey in around 58 minutes.

Southeastern has received many complaints about the loss of the Cannon Street service, but continues to remain unmoved.

At the start of 2009, Southeastern introduced changes to the length of their peak time commuter services again without consulting passengers that resulted in chronic over-crowding. I had meetings with the commercial Director for Southeastern trains, Vince Lucas and this, in conjunction with campaigning by both commuters and local groups resulted in many of these services being returned to their previous formation.

With the backing of Ann Widdecombe MP and Maidstone Borough Council, two commuters, Matthew Nash and Huw Whitethread launched their ‘Keep Our Trains’ Campaign website. Mr Whitethread said: "It's surprising how few people know what's happened with the removal of these off-peak services. Many City workers now face a nightmare journey back to Maidstone”.

Please continue to support this campaign by writing to your MP and by signing the online petition - to join the campaign, visit www.keepourtrains.com

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Stop ‘back garden’ developments

I have campaigned tirelessly against the garden grabbing planning rules imposed by this government, which are resulting in the development of front and back gardens across the country. Planning laws need to be changed to recognise that a “brown field” site does not mean your neighbour’s garden.

I have fought a number of battles with developers over the past few years against these developments and have joined forces with local residents to make a stand. Some battles have been won, some have been lost!

I had the opportunity to take Caroline Spelman, shadow Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, on a tour of my ward to show her first hand the problems faced by many who are virtually powerless to act to stop such proposals, as current legislation supports developments of this nature.

• Click here to find out more about these and other Conservative campaigns.