Motoring lobby is killing planet

We are told that lead was removed from petrol 20 years ago [Terry Hudson, Letters, January 9]. So that’s all right then, no need to wonder why it was used for about 70 years, and known to be an extremely toxic poisoning substance from day one, to everyone and everything that breathed.

The reason was, of course, because it was promoted by powerful interests (the motoring, engine manufacturing and oil processing lobbies).

Its use was much to their profit and advantage, but at a massive cost to others.

It has followed the asbestos lobby into oblivion, after causing much damage to innocents.

Other current lobbies which have insidious long-term effects, (in my view) are those that promote alcohol, tobacco, gambling, sugar and soft drugs.

These substances only kill people who can resist if they want. The motoring lobby is killing the planet. To get Co2-producing lorries diverted from our UK and Kentish roads onto ferries sailing directly from Irish Republic ports direct to mainland European ports would be a great boon to Kentish roads. Would our MP take this matter up as a personal crusade, as she seems to be very very environmentally concerned?

Cedarview, Canterbury

There was not really much doubt that the government would agree to “decommission” Operation Brock, not least because Kent MPS were in full pressure mode and would have created merry hell had the M20 contra-flow stayed in place for any longer than necessary.

They ramped up the lobbying at a meeting with transport minister Chris Heaton-harris and what do you know? The next day the Department for Transport announced that it was going to get rid of it.

You couldn’t quibble with the result although it is understood that conversations involving the Kent Resilience Forum about taking out the barrier were already underway.

■ Jargon corner: ever experienced an uplift? It has the ring of some cosmetic procedure - which may be appropriate given the word in different formulations is sprinkled liberally in Kent County Council’s draft budget. There will be an “uplift” in the cost of the Young Travel Saver, for example, as well as an “uplift in social care client contributions in line with estimated benefit and other personal income uplifts for 2019-20.” You get the picture. It sounds like a good thing but actually refers to an increase in the costs of various services.

■ Labour's dismal performance in Kent at the general election - with the exception of Canterbury - has triggered considerable angst among activists. But it looks like the rank and file members will be deprived of the chance to quiz leadership hopefuls in person. Party managers have arranged seven hustings meetings across the country. None of which are in Kent.

■ Now that the prospect of a no-deal Brexit has receded, so too has the fear that councils and other public organisations would face having to deal with all manner of chaos. So, what is to happen to the additional cash the government pledged to help local authorities cope?

The latest handout was made in August, with authorities in Kent getting £2.6m “in recognition of the county being home to a number of the significant and busiest ports in the area including the Port of Dover, Eurotunnel, Ashford and Ebbsfleet.” Of this, Kent County Council got £1m, with £1.6m being shared between 13 other local authorities in the county. The government says that despite the cliff-edge scenario being avoided, it has no plans to ask for any money to be handed back.