Parish Cake - Spring 2020

youth
YOUTH
COMMENT
Zachery Phillpot-Brian has his say
RECENTLY I did an anonymous
online survey and asked
Cranbrook and Sissinghurst
residents what the local issues
were that bothered them.
I was hoping lack of funding
to local schools or childhood
poverty might come up (at
least 23% of children in the
area are living in poverty
with a massive spike of 40%
in Maidstone) but it didn’t.
Not one person in over 60
responses mentioned it.
That’s alright, I understand. I
am not having a dig at anyone,
but I would be lying if said it
didn’t sadden me.
The things mentioned were
– speeding, pot holes, dog
poo, lack of police presence,
teenagers with nothing to do,
vandalising, littering and a lack
of decent places to eat out.
So, I am going to write
about two things. First, I
guess we are really lucky to
live in Cranbrook. That the
mentioned issues are the
things that play on the minds
of local people. Especially
considering, and I know other
young people feel the same
way as me, that we live in a
very troubled country. Two –
speeding.
I bet that people assume
that as a teenager and a guy,
that speeding wouldn’t bother
me. That I am probably a boy
racer; but I’m not. I want to
live. Or at very least, keep my
body intact. However, I think
that there are a lot of other
local people who don’t. Or
think maybe they have a force
field around their car.
I have seen cars on
Stone Street, Cranbrook, so
impatient to get past vehicles
coming in the opposite
direction that they mount
the pavement at speed. How
someone innocently coming
out of a shop hasn’t been
killed is just luck.
People speeding down the
High Street when people are
trying to cross. People so
impatient to get from A to
B, they are dicing with not
only their own life, but with
other people’s. I have been on
the receiving end of people
swerving away from me, just
in the nick of time, because
they were busy on their
phone. Or if you dare hold
someone up on the road for
just a second, you get beeped
or glared at or have angry
rants mouthed at you.
So, I guess I am saying
slow down and calm down!
Before someone gets seriously
injured or worse. We clearly
live in a nice place, so let’s
try and be nice on the road.
What’s more important?
Shaving one precious
minute off your journey? Or
someone’s life?
LETTINGS AND SALES PROPERTY EXPERTS
Local Experts with a Network of London & Regional Offices
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Parish Cake • Spring 2020 29