Press Releases for 2005
Maidstone Green Party call for sustainable transport
26 April 2005The Maidstone Green Party has called for a radical overhaul of transport policies across Kent. As an issue close to the hearts of Kent residents transport affects everyone and the continued house building in Kent and the shifting of hospital services to Pembury will make this problem worse. Added to this, Sustrans, the national cycling charity, recently stated that Maidstone has some of the lowest level of cycle lanes in the county. The Greens have called for KCC to jointly finance new railway stations in expanding urban areas through community partnerships, and increase substantially financial support for evening and weekend bus services, and to keep fares low and affordable. Instead of supporting more destructive new road building, KCC should play its part in meeting our "Kyoto" pollution and carbon dioxide emission targets for 2010, and encourage increased rail and bus usage to keep traffic levels, and pollution, down.
Ian McDonald, County Council Candidate for Maidstone Central said "We continue to oppose the Maidstone Southern relief road plan and the Leeds-Langley by-pass schemes as they will not provide a solution to local transport problems, and will press for more traffic calming, lorry bans on many more roads, and better bus and train services."
The Greens have slammed the proposed rail cuts to the area, and say that this will not only cause serious difficulties with people's access to work and shops but will significantly increase car usage. They are equally concerned about the level of new road building, which is seen as an answer to congestion. They suggest that this will be a very short term solution to congestion but will quickly lead to more car use. Their proposed solution is to make public transport attractive, efficient and affordable and to promote increases in teleworking.
The Greens say they are committed to keeping Maidstone the thriving centre of Kent, but this will need their clear vision of transport.
Contact Details: Stuart Jeffery 01622 676984 or 0797 0436 029
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