Long night full of surprises

I was absolutely stunned by the support I received in yesterday's poll, winning the Fant elections with 10% the ward's vote (taking one in three of the votes cast).

Throughout the election campaign, I have worked hard to deliver leaflets to all 6,200 voters in the area, and I have knocked on almost 1,200 houses since November last year. On polling day I was working alone, as I have throughout most the campaign, so I was unable to do telling or deliver "vote today" leaflets like the other parties did. Despite this, I managed to pull off a safe majority of 117 votes in the only ward that voted against Ann Widdecombe at the last general election!

Fant was blessed with four very good quality candidates to choose from, and I hope they will consider fighting for seats that become vacant in the future. I would like to pay tribute to Morel D'Souza, my predecessor, who has done a huge service to Fant over his many years as a councillor. I hope the next two years are a rare opportunity for him to have a break, dust himself off, and return to fight again at the next election. Likewise, I hope the greens are not put off by this defeat - they still have a part to play in Maidstone.

I would like to thank my friend Carl, who braved many rainy evenings since my appointment in November, to help me deliver leaflets across the ward. I am also in deep gratitude to Sue Dishman, my election agent, who has advised me and helped me print leaflets.

This weekend is going to be a much deserved time off, then Monday I get to work!

The final week is upon us

The final week dawns!

If the weather today is anything to go by, then I think turnout next week should be fantastic.

The greens have put on an incredible show, with signs scattered in every nook and cranny around Fant.

For my part, I've got several signs up and generally find good support going door-to-door.

The Liberals and Labour have kept very quiet, but they could be bottling up their energy for an impressive push this weekend (I'm ready for them!)

It's been an exhauting 6 months - next Thursday we'll see the result.

Riverside mooring plan sinks!

Click below to read my hot-off the press leaflet

This writer has it right!

I came across this letter in the KM, and the author has got it spot on. What is going on in Maidstone?! Please vote for change - we desperately need it!

Eventful couple of days

It's been an eventful couple of days! I'm extremely pleased with the work we've accomplished. I've had many phone calls about my latest leaflet (which I've managed to get deliver myself to almost 2/3 the ward in just two evenings, although I must admit I'm feeling the aches and pains now!). Today was particularly wet although the weather couldn't decide whether it would rain or shine, so I ended up getting hot and sticky as well as soaked!

On a more amusing note, I was speaking to one elderly lady (a lifelong Conservative voter) about whether she could put a sign up for me. "No dear", she replied, "but you can have a casserole dish if you want it!" - I decided there would probably be some rule against that somewhere, so I thanked and declined her kind offer.

On a completely non-political note, a hamster I'm looking after decided to escape whilst I was out knocking on doors the day before yesterday. It took me 2 hours and a considerable amount of deconstruction to find and retrieve her. She decided that, not only would behind my kitchen unit be a new home, but behind THE WALL too! Took twice as long to fix, but didn't sap any energy away from the campaign.

Till the next time!

No to riverside moorings

The only person who would benefit from the Fant riverside mooring proposal is the developer!

From left: Cllr Chris Garland (Shadow cabinet member for Regeneration), John Wilson (candidate for Coxheath, Hunton and the Farleighs), Steve Paine (candidate for Fant), Ed Winstanley (candidate for East), Cllr Mark Wooding (East), Cass Jappy (candidate for Barming)

The proposal is for a 1km riverside develpment running parallel to Upper Fant Road, along the Medway (with the access point at Unicumes Lane).

It will have a dramatic impact on the local ecosystem, which is the last unspoilt area of the Millenium River Walk between Maidstone and East Farleigh. Kingfishers will be disturbed, and the local otter population and fish stocks will be put at risk.

This area of land would be lost to anglers, cyclers and walkers, who currently have an unspoilt natural river basin to explore. River users will face anguish, where the river (at parts only 14m wide) will be closed down to a single lane of navigation.

At an appeal hearing on Thursday, I made it clear that the developer had misunderstood the environmental and navigational impact of his proposals. I pointed out the problem caused by pumping loos on boat toilets, the unworkability of his plans to control "invasive plant species", and the lack of demand for mooring spaces in this unpoilt area. I also ammended the meeting to ensure that issues affection Quality of Life would be discussed, because the plans showed no consideration for local residents who would have to contend with constant noise and traffic problems at unsociable hours.

This morning, despite the bitter cold snow, I took a team of Conservative councillors and candidates to see the site, and I explained the proposals. Fant's Conservatives are very troubled by the proposals to ruin the last unspoilt part of riverside land, and we will continue to fight the proposals.

From left: Cllr Mark Wooding (East), John Wilson (candidate for Coxheath, Hunton and the Farleighs), Ed Winstanley (candidate for East), Steve Paine (candidate for Fant), Cass Jappy (candidate for Barming), and Cllr Chris Garland (Shadow cabinet member for Regeneration)

Water burst not so funny for home owners

Unfortunate residents in East Farleigh had to bail out their houses following the burst of a mains pipe on Easter Sunday. This is the second time a mains pipe has burst in the area, and it is not good enough.

Ironically, river flooding has made it very difficult for these houses to get insurance for water damage. Yet the main source of water damage over the last year has come from problematic water pipes!

The road was shut for several hours whilst the water mains were switched off and the road and surrounding houses were pumped free of water. Customers in the Victory Pub provided assistance by redirecting traffic away from the affected area, and many thanks to them for their support.