Stephen Paine for Fant Ward

Long night full of surprises

noreply@blogger.com (Stephen Paine) — Fri, 02 May 2008 08:49:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (Stephen Paine) — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 12:46:00 +0000

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!

noreply@blogger.com (Stephen Paine) — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 12:42:00 +0000

Click below to read my hot-off the press leaflet

This writer has it right!

noreply@blogger.com (Stephen Paine) — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 06:52:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (Stephen Paine) — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 18:48:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (Stephen Paine) — Sun, 06 Apr 2008 13:14:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (Stephen Paine) — Sun, 23 Mar 2008 19:52:00 +0000

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.

Steve to appear on TV!

noreply@blogger.com (Stephen Paine) — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 15:56:00 +0000

Ok it's not Strictly Come Dancing... but I was interviewed today by Kent TV.

They're carrying a feature on the candidates standing in Fant, and wanted to meet us all for a brief interview.

I was asked for a bit of a background on me, why I wanted to be a councillor, and how the issues in Fant compared to the issues of Maidstone as a whole. As always, it's easy to think of things that I should have said afterwards - but all in all the experience wasn't quite as harrowing as I thought it would be!

I made sure I had a big bunch of blue and green balloons at my side and wore my most blue shirt - there shouldn't be any confusion over which party I was representing!!

Sorry again!

noreply@blogger.com (Stephen Paine) — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 15:35:00 +0000

Sorry again for the delay in updating the blog!

I've been extremely busy with multiple projects. Training at work has been quite intensive, but I've enjoyed writing essays again (I know, sad!) and the course is very relevant to my work with disaffected young men (one of whom was from Fant. Safe to say - I decided not to introduce myself as his local Tory candidate!).

My research project for the Farming and Rural Issues Group and SEEDA (more details can be found here) has been turning up some really promising findings, and I've now begun the arduous process of inputting and analysing some of the 2000-odd surveys sent out over the last couple of months.

Campaigning in Fant is going extremely well. The Liberals put round another one of their misleading leaflets, this time suggesting that they had played some part in any of the recent improvements to Gatland Park! That said, I was grateful to see they have pledged money to support our team's bid to get hold of picnic tables. We've already got two free of charge from the council, but the more the merrier - it would certainly be an improvement to the status quo.

The Greens are now on the Fant bandwagon, and it's welcome to see Stuart Jefferies standing as their candidate. Whilst he and my party leader have had a few public debates (over KIG), I have always found him to be a very pleasant man who comes up with some very thoughful proposals. I'm particularly pleased with the work he has carried out to bring a farmers' market to Maidstone, and agree with his members' desire for a concert venue in Maidstone (perhaps in the Millenium park guys?)

Whilst I haven't had very much spare time with all the goings on, I have tried to give some support to my colleague and friend John Wilson, who is working very hard in Coxheath and Hunton at the moment. I've spent a couple of days helping him deliver leaflets along with Helen Grant, our PPC.

Helen, incidently, joined me one evening (a fortnight ago) to introduce herself to Fant residents. She's a marvelous candidate and was extremely well received by those who met her. I look forward to her coming again, and will get some photos of our day on the website soon!

Anyhow, I think this will do for now. Back to work!

Wildlife reserve gets a new resident

noreply@blogger.com (Stephen Paine) — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 15:16:00 +0000

A few weeks ago, the neighbour's cat decided to drop me off a present - a chewed up frog! Freddie, as I called him, was still alive although he had a pretty nasty cut on his leg.

I kept him for a week in a warm cupboard with a plant pot to live in, some greens to nibble on, and a small bowl of water to rehydrate himself.

After a few days he was moving around quite well again, so I decided I would find him somewhere safe to live - and where better than the Fant Wildlife Reserve!

It's hard to believe that this beautiful site used to be a series of allotments - the Nature Reserve team have done an immense job making the place a wonderful habitat for all manner of wildlife. I found Freddie a nice little underbrush by a stream and dropped him off there - where he hopped away to make a new home.

Councillors can help the reserve in three ways - by contributing part of their devolved budgets, by opposing risky developments (such as the 'riverside marina') and by putting on their wellies and helping the team out one Saturday.

Travel voucher shame

noreply@blogger.com (Stephen Paine) — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 21:48:00 +0000

I was unhappy to hear the council voted down a Conservative and Charity-proposed solution to the travel voucher mess (brought about by Labour's lack of faith in the ability of local authorities to look after their residents).

My colleagues proposed a joint venture with Age Concern, who would have managed an alternative scheme to the travel vouchers. This would have enabled the elderly, disabled and infirm to continue to get about with dignity and at a rate affordable to the council (a tenth the cost of maintaining travel vouchers under the new concessionary fares scheme).

In a shocking (political?) move, the sensible proposal was voted down by the chamber's Liberal, Labour and Independent councillors. The reason given? It would become an on-going concern -- an outrageous and pathetic excuse! The Lib-Dem administration showed they have no problem cutting ongoing concerns when they scrapped one of our town's essential Park and Rides to fund their recycling scheme!

This council is right to make sure it does not to hold people back in certain circumstances (e.g. by investing £50,000 in local Olympic causes), but it should not do that if it means leaving our most vulnerable behind, as their rejection of our propsal will. Shame on them.

Dear Diary...

noreply@blogger.com (Stephen Paine) — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 21:34:00 +0000

I've had an extremely busy few weeks. Over the last 10 days I have been working late most evenings, delivering leaflets and dealing with the issues raised by residents.

Residents are outraged by the decision of the police to charge for services that would otherwise have been factored into their annual budgets - I couldn't agree more, and will pursue this matter further. I enourage everyone to write to their local councillors, MP, and police chief if they share our concern.

My good deed for the day on Saturday was reporting an incident of fly-tipping on Gatland Lane. I couldn't give more praise to KCC's Highways department, who responded within an hour to clear the road.

On the subject of Gatland Lane, I have met local residents who are concerned about crossing the Gatland Lane / Fant Lane junction because of speeding. I worked with these residents to draw up a proposal for traffic calming, which I have now submitted to KCC. The proposals are practical, achievable, and should help avoid near-misses such as that experienced by an elderly local resident last week.

I have been flattered by thenumber of residents who have welcomed a younger face in politics! I agree with local councillor, Morel D'Souza (Lab) that the workload of someone involved in local politics is high. But I disagree with his view that young people would be unsuitable for council because of the hours involved - I feel the arrogance of youth can be quite an asset when it comes to getting things done!

Perhaps the the last week in Fant proves this point.

Maidstone River Festival - the show must go on!

noreply@blogger.com (Stephen Paine) — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 22:56:00 +0000

Yesterday's YourMaidstone suggested the 2008 Maidstone River Festival is "in the balance" and may be cancelled if funding can't be found to pay for extra policing (6 Feb, 2008).

The festival is our town's biggest Summer event, and attracts tourists from all over the UK (and, if you look at the flags on some of the boats, from over Western Europe too). It is a celebration of our heritage and river, and provides diverse entertainments that cater for every member of the family.

I've been attending the River Festival for almost as long as I have been alive, and it would be a crying shame for Maidstone if the show is cancelled.

We should be looking at ways of expanding and enhancing the Festival by combinging it with the County Town Farmers' Market, inviting high-wire stunt teams to perform again, and getting schools involved in fun competitions. A supplementary Mela festival could also be put on.

Unsympathetic building plans (i.e. that ghastly budget hotel, and the appalling river-front of Fremlin Walk) have already damaged how we interact with the Medway. Losing the River Festival would, I think, be a final alienation of the river-using community.

There is much more potential for our river - let's start tapping this by making this year's river festival the most engaging, fun one yet!

Farmers' market is worth a look

noreply@blogger.com (Stephen Paine) — Sat, 02 Feb 2008 14:22:00 +0000

Several weeks ago I went along to the County Town Farmers' Market, held on the first Saturday of each month outside County Hall.

I have long thought it was a good idea for Maidstone to do more to support our agricultural industry, and Sustainable Maidstone should be commended for organising the market.

Stalls available included local eggs, vegetables, fruit and meat. There was also access to information about living more sustainable lifestyles.

I look forward to seeing what other ways Sustainable Maidstone will suggest to help local businesses and producers.

Travel vouchers decision causes cross-party uproar!

noreply@blogger.com (Stephen Paine) — Sat, 02 Feb 2008 11:26:00 +0000

I'm delighted to see cross-party consensus over plans to scrap Travel Vouchers (to bring in free bus travel for the over-60s - I spoke about this last month).

Cllr Julia Bett, a blogging Lib Dem, has called an extraordinary council meeting on Tuesday to bring a motion asking for a rethink on the way the scheme is funded.

Cllr Eric Hotson, leader of the Conservative Group in Maidstone Borough Council, has pledge his support for the motion. I will be there too providing my support on behalf of Fant residents, although the meeting is open to members of the public.

The meeting starts at 6.30pm and will be held at Maidstone Town Hall - hope to see you there!

Freedom pass here in June

noreply@blogger.com (Stephen Paine) — Sun, 27 Jan 2008 19:26:00 +0000

As of June, young people will have access to free bus travel thanks to Kent's Tory-run County Council.

Kent's 'Freedom Pass' is being rolled out to all school-aged people from June. I welcome the news, which will give young people independence, whilst encouraging safe and sustainable transport.

If you want a pass, you will need to make a one-off payment of £50 and provide a clear passport photo, but the scheme is entirely free after this.

More information will be available shortly - I certainly look forward to talking about this success story as I go from door to door around Fant.

Labour party asked Helen Grant to be councillor...

noreply@blogger.com (Stephen Paine) — Sun, 27 Jan 2008 18:56:00 +0000

Apparently the Croydon Labour Party branch offered Helen a seat in their local elections.. pfft! If they appreciated talent when they saw it, they would have made her their PPC!

Pragmatic politics is all about throwing away the outdated idea of 'morality by patronage' (i.e. I'm doing this because my party does this, and my party does this because that's what we've always done) and voting on principle. At uni, I voted alongside Labour, Lib Dem and Green party members throughout my 3 years in the student union, despite fraternising with the Conservative student body.

My reason for settling with the Conservatives was because it was the only Maidstone party open to fresh ideas, the only party willing to nurture my candidacy in Fant, and the only party really able to make a difference to the problems we face on a daily basis.

I hope the press don't go crazy over Labour's admiration (and attempt to seduce) Helen. Politics is a funny game, and it seems harsh to condemn anyone for doing a bit of "window shopping" before finding a comfort zone - haven't we all?

Helen Grant wows Maidstone and the Weald

noreply@blogger.com (Stephen Paine) — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 21:47:00 +0000

It's been a tough few weeks for 9 candidates contesting to become PPC for Maidstone and the Weald, but finally their wait has come to an end. Today, MWCA voted for Helen Grant to succeed Ann Widdecombe as the parliamentary candidate.

All the contestants went through an intensive programme of interviews with exec members, QA sessions with members of the local community and businesses, and assessed canvassing. They also had to deliver at hustings held at Oakwood House, and answer questions put to them by Ian Hisplop from BBC's 'Have I Got News for You'.

Helen Grant is a great candidate, a wonderful person, and a safe pair of hands for Ann's legacy. She is bright, personable, and friendly. Throughout the selection process, she was the one candidate who took a particular interest in me, my background, and the job I was doing in Fant. Her knowledge of Maidstone & the Weald was impressive, and I couldn't but admire her life story. Growing up as a single mum in a tough estate, Helen surmounted the challenges thrust on her by studying law and later establishing her own successful firm. She is now happily married to Simon, who has supported her throughout the contest.

I look forward to introducing Helen to the residents of Fant over the next two years!

Evening Standard - 20th June 2006

Disappointing to lose Travel Vouchers

noreply@blogger.com (Stephen Paine) — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 18:18:00 +0000

I think it’s a shame that Maidstone Borough Council is scrapping Transport Vouchers as part of the new national concessionary travel scheme (free bus passes for over 60s). Travel vouchers allow elderly residents to catch any form of transport to and from their place of residence, where as the new concessionary scheme is a time-limited bus pass.

People often forget the elderly who live outside of town centres and away from bus routes. They’ve had to suffer from a lack of services, post office closures, and now this.

I have spoken to residents and friends who use the vouchers to fund a taxi trip to the nearest bus-stop. These people are now dependent on family to avoid being house-bound.

Granted, the bus pass will benefit many of Maidstone’s urban dwellers. But what is the council going to do for pensioners such as Gladys Nerrit of Plains Avenue, or our large (and ever growing) population of elderly country-dwellers?

It's been a while!

noreply@blogger.com (Stephen Paine) — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 18:12:00 +0000

Sorry it has taken me so long to write. One of my New Year's resolutions for 2008 is to get this website up to date, and to contribute more regularly to my blog!

Over the last two months I have been busy moving to my new house in Fant, which has involved a lot of work making the place habitable (the house was filthy, and my garden was 2 foot deep in brambles!), starting my new job working with young offenders, and cracking on with several big projects in Fant - many of which I will be updating you on soon.

Wishing you all a healthy and happy New Year!

Why a Conservative?

noreply@blogger.com (Stephen Paine) — Sun, 02 Dec 2007 20:53:00 +0000

It is a question that a lot of people have asked me over the last fortnight. “You seem too young to be a Tory” and “you don’t talk or sound like a Tory” are two of the comments I am getting used to hearing as I go from door to door.

I would describe myself as a zealous supporter of public services, fanatical about the environment and sustainability, and passionate about helping society’s most vulnerable people.

Yes, I was fortunate enough to go to one of the best universities. But contrary to the suspicions of a resident on Sherbourne Drive, I had to work very hard to get there! I went to the Astor of Hever School, and stayed there even after I had the option of going to a Grammar school for sixth form.

In my time at Cambridge, I spent a considerable amount of time working with campaigns and schemes to help people from disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds put together Oxbridge applications. I was fascinated by the subjects of building successful communities and tacking social exclusion, two issues I continue to hold very close to my heart.

Over the last three years, I have become a keen advocate of Rural Revival – including managing a research project to look at how young people can play more of a role in this goal – although I am not keen on hunting with hounds.

I support the reform of prisons to tackle the criminogenic needs of offenders, and favour treatment and prevention measures over punishment “for the sake of punishment”. Very “unconservative” views, you may say.

In actual fact, people are surprised to hear that I am not a lone voice in the Conservative Party. More and more people with similar views to my own have seen the opportunity, brought by David Cameron, to shape the party into something that reflects the desires of modern society.

With regards to young people, I genuinely now believe the Conservatives are now the only party taking young people as seriously as they (we!) should be. I was very excited to hear that our local leader, Cllr Eric Hotson, has appointed Cllr Ben Sherreard, 23, to be a dedicated spokesperson for Youth Affairs, and look forward to working with him over the next few months. It’s about time young people in Maidstone got the voice they deserve, and I wish Ben well with his new duty.

The Conservative group are a friendly, diverse bunch of people who I am delighted to now be a part of and contribute to.

Negative politics?

noreply@blogger.com (Stephen Paine) — Sun, 02 Dec 2007 20:51:00 +0000

As my first fortnight as Fant’s Conservative spokesperson draws to a close, I have had a chance to reflect on my first round of leaflets.

Deciding how to introduce myself to Fant residents was very difficult. I wanted to become a spokesperson for the area after a considering what I could do to address a culmination of important issues resulting from the under-representation of young people and social minorities across our area. Yet, rather than highlighting these issues in my first leaflet, I decided to attack two misleading articles published by the Lib Dems in their Autumn Focus leaflet.

In the first article, concerning the number 8 bus route, my criticism of their methods was perfectly fair. The Lib Dems claimed that they were privy to knowledge of bus times, and then used a misleading sentence to suggest the service may still face closure. They knew the service did not face closure – they were aware of changes to the timetable – but chose to perpetuate rather than quash rumours of risk to the service. My leaflet was designed to be a reassurance to residents who rely on the service, not least the couple from Upper Fant Road who passed the leaflet on to me in October, whilst making a subtle dig at shoddy journalism from the Lib Dems.

In the second article, concerning imminent development of the Orchards along Gatland Lane, I have come to realise that my leaflets should have been worded better. The Lib Dem Focus leaflet called for protection of the Orchards and valley from future housing development. I support this, and tried to make it clear in my short article by referring to the measures as “sensible.”

My issue with their article arose after speaking to a resident from Cowdrey Close, who suggested that a planning permission request was being put to develop the valley. I checked with the planning department, and found no evidence to support this accusation. The resident claimed the Focus leaflet, and a mail-shot put around the close by a Lib Dem some weeks earlier, as the source for their information.

Having researched the matter further, I have found that the second leaflet was not put around by the Lib Dems – but by another resident of the Close. This leaflet did not suggest an imminent development, but referred to the risk of housing over the next 20 years. The Focus leaflet does allude to development, and could (should?) have been worded better to try and make this timescale clearer. By the way I covered this story; however, I don’t feel I put the record straight. The Focus article referring to Gatland Orchards was misleading, but I believe this was an honest mistake, unintentional, and something I have inadvertently repeated in my own coverage.

To put the record straight, Nick Schnell (a local Lib Dem councillor) has already been approached by a resident from Cowdrey Close at one of his surgeries, and has begun looking into the issue of protecting the Valley. My hat is off to Nick for the hard work he has put in to the matter, and for raising the issue within, and outside of, his party. I can assure him of my support and dedication to this cause, and hope he will accept my apology for my attack on the unintentional confusion caused by the Focus article. We all make mistakes, and I have made one myself in choosing to be so harsh.

As politicians, we MUST communicate with the people who we are trying to represent. But, we – in all parties – should be very careful with the way we word articles in future. As someone new to politics, I have certainly found the last fortnight a steep learning curve. But I relish the opportunity to move on and start SETTING the political agenda in Fant with my next round of leaflets.

Many thanks for reading!