MAP environment forum October 31 2006

< Malling Action Partnership, < MAP Environment group
=== Thanks! ===
Thanks to everyone who contributed to last night's forum.
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==== Related topic ====
*MAP general comments page
=== Environmental issues ===
What are the main environmental issues facing West Malling and its surrounding communities?
*Over development - too many houses
*Over intensive development
*Pressure from road traffic/vehicles
*Too much creeping road and housing development
*Walking bus for local children to West Malling CEP School
*Again too much development
*Again too many houses going up
*Household rubbish should be collected weekly (not every other week) especially in summer
*Parking at West Malling CEP School. Turning circle?
*More social/low cost and rented housing especially in villages with small schools
*Too much traffic and too many houses
*The sub standard and regionally poor performing recycling rate which is linked to lack of doorstep collection - most important - or dropoff
*Ensuring nightlife is kept - does not encourage anti-social behaviour
*Increased development of surrounding road networks. Lack of growth in public network infrastructure
*Access to and from West Street
=== Protecting and enhancing countryside surrounding West Malling ===
How best can the countryside surrounding West Malling be protected and enhanced?
*SATNAV legislation to ensure that drivers are diverted away from using our many Quiet Lanes! Too easy for vehicles (incl. lorries) to be routed via unsuitable routes currently.
*No more housing on green land and no more roads
*National legislation to limit building additional properties on back gardens
*Partnership with East Malling Research Station
*More livestock farming
*Public purchase of green land in the vein of Macey's Meadow
*More dedicated cycle routes
*New development (when unavoidable) should be sensitive to countryside and work to enhance rather than subtract
*We enjoy the surrounding countryside of West Malling and are pleased we have Manor Park and Macey's Meadow. Our concern would be if Banky Meadows was developed.
*By keeping as much green land as poss
*Roadside and footpath verges cut more often
*Ensure that trees in prominent locations are subject to preservation orders.
*No more development around West Malling
*Rejuvenation of fallow land back into sustainable farming
*Greater access to be made available to tipping facilities for commercial rubbish to discourage "fly tipping" in lanes / verges / lay-bys
*Pressure on government to stop wholesale development in South East
*Protect what we have vigorously. Once its gone its gone.
=== Quality of life in and around West Malling ===
What would most improve quality of life for the people who live in, work in or visit West Malling and its surrounding villages? 
*Better library (with wider range of books (not just James Herbets and co's complete back catalogues))
*More shops of different variety
*More fresh food shops. Butchers / Greengrocers. Bakers / Ironmonger
*More traffic calming
*Not having to travel to far to get things you need
*Quality bread shop
*Evening buses and buses to other villages
*Later bus services daily between West Malling, its surrounding villages and Maidstone
*Again more traffic calming. Better access to s hops for the aged.
*Good travel (public) and affordable to major towns (Medway, Maidstone, Sevenoaks)
*More local shops, less restaurants, coffee bars, and estate agents
*Weekly farmers' market
*Less through traffic. Essential to keep post office
*Another pedestrian crossing at surgery (note included 2 ticks)
*More social housing by Housing Assocs. and private developers - planning requirement
*Another traffic crossing
*Eliminate unnecessary traffic from town centre
*West Malling is badly in need of a butchers shop, bakers as Tesco have the monopoly. We are losing all our nice individual shops.
*A weekly market - local produce plus market traders involving Parish Council
*More Farmers' market days
*Encourage a balanced lifestyle - use the Abbey!
*Traffic to not thru West Malling (congestion charge!!)
*More traffic calming
=== Could West Malling become a low carbon community? ===
*Only if we get cheaper public transport
*Could the schools become eco-schools?
*Maybe we need more idea of what this would involve?
*With its excellent range of local facilities, in a compact area, promote West Malling has a "car-free" environment. Set up Car Club to allow for occasional users.
*Better promotion of how easy it is to use public transport to reach the surrounding area.
*Encourage mothers to walk instead of using 4x4s
*Local children attending local schools and walking there and back daily - no cars
*Solar power for West Malling CEP School
*Slow down the traffic through West Malling
*20 mph limit through St Leonards Street to roundabout at top of Kings Hill
*Promote the town walks - and encourage access by public transport - joint promotion with bus / train companies?
*How can we afford the means to heat our homes by other means
*More information about grants and carbon saving alternatives
*Emphasis would be on Business, Homes, Traffic. Planning regs and subsidised conversions for heating systems etc. would be required
*More local buses to areas such as Offham for school and other places apart from Rochester and Maidstone to encourage less use of car
Environment forum October 31 2006