Whenever I speak with people who live, work or travel through the Allington and Barming wards of Maidstone, which is frequently, it is never long before the conversation turns to the adverse consequences of overdevelopment around Hermitage Lane.
The best way to beat this virus, once and for all, is through the widespread vaccination of our population. I am therefore hugely encouraged by the speed at which the vaccine is being rolled out across Maidstone and The Weald; providing hope to our community after such a difficult year.
Kent, controversially, entered Tier 3 restrictions after the November national lockdown, but sadly the latest figures and trends are vindicating that course of action.
At a roundtable meeting convened by Maidstone & The Weald MP Helen Grant on Monday 7th December, the Minister of State for Rail pledged to bring forward a reliable date for the delivery of the long-awaited City Thameslink Service from Maidstone East in early 2021.
In the face of huge challenges presented by Covid-19, the resilience of our communities in Maidstone & The Weald has been absolutely inspiring. I am sure that same community spirit will help control the resurgence of the virus we are experiencing across the UK and, indeed, much of Europe.
‘House building’ always features very heavily in my post bag and it’s not difficult to understand why; the building of new homes impacts upon so many aspects of our everyday life, changing our environment and revising familiar localities permanently.
I am delighted and relieved that nearly every aspect of our economy in Maidstone and The Weald is now open for business following a very testing few months. This is very welcome news for jobs and prosperity in our communities.
Since I became the MP for Maidstone and The Weald in 2010, I have been visibly and publicly opposed to the number of houses which central Government have imposed on our part of Kent.
One of my key aims is to protect and support our NHS, free for all at the point of need, and improve our vital hospital services at Maidstone and Pembury.
I am seeking investment in transport for Maidstone and the Weald, including a new southern relief road and more frequent bus services, whilst protecting public health through improvements in air quality.
I am especially proud of our Maidstone Apprenticeship Fair which was first organised by myself and my colleague and neighbour Tracey Crouch MP in 2018. It was attended by Skills Minister Anne Milton along with over 600 students from 16 schools across Maidstone and the Weald and Chatham and Aylesf
I am determined to improve our local schools, ensuring they get the facilities and funds they need to provide high quality education for all of our children and grandchildren.
One of the key issues facing us right now is the availability of housing, and I want the right homes in the right places, with the right infrastructure, delivering the right balance of homes, workplaces and public amenities in our valuable urban and rural spaces.
