Maternityservices battle far from over Plea to keep farm


Continued from page one Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust, said: “These impor- tant changes make the very best of the skills and expertise in our clinical teams for patients and maintain highest and safest standards of care for women and children throughoutWest Kent.” He added: “There is a strong future for hospi-


tals in Pembury and Maidstone, which will pro- vide a range of specialist services to complement each other and benefit the local community.” However, MP Mrs Grant and Mr Fowle have


both written to Mr Lansley asking him to post- pone implementation for a year or so until his local GP commissioners are empowered. They believe postponement will assuage Maid-


stone’s anger, bring greater clinical safety for women and children facing long and difficult journeys, prevent an upheaval in Maidstone Hos- pital and save capital and running costs of a new


midwife-led birthing unit and children’s day-care unit at Maidstone. MASH has accused Mr Lansley of breaking his


own four new rules – that hospital reconfigura- tions should have GP support; clinical safety; pa- tient choice; and followgenuine engagement with the community. Mr Fowle said: “In MASH’s 11 carefully-com-


piled papers, we showed how the local NHS failed badly on all four – the most glaring being GP support after five separate surveys revealed they are massively opposed. The minister came to Maidstone and heard GPs’ objections first hand. Then he went and ignored them totally.” He also believes the Secretary of State mis-


guided himself by using an outdated report by the chairman of the Independent Reconfiguration Panel instead of instructing the panel to stage a full hearing in Maidstone.


workers’ caravans


A RETROSPECTIVE planning application has been submitted to retain two agricultural work- ers’ caravans near Detling, after an enforcement investigation from Maidstone Council. Applicant Paul Burden says


the caravans are essential to the work of Friningham Manor Farm. The planning statement said that full-time workers em- ployed at the farm have, until recently, occupied them throughout the year. It added: “This accommoda-


tion is essential for the efficient development and running of the enterprise.”


StopKIG among Bearsted’s award winners


BEARSTED Parish Council decided to give a Mynn Award to an organisation for the first time. The annual awards, named after leg-


endary local cricketer Alfred Mynn, usually go to local individuals who have made sig- nificant contributions to the area. But to mark the year that saw the refusal


of the Kent International Gateway applica- tion, the parish council decided that Stop- KIG should be honoured, along with three other residents. As well as receiving shields, the winners


had their testimonials included in the Al- fred Mynn book of recipients. Award win- ners were:


StopKIG The group consisted entirely of residents willing to give their time and professional experience to fight the KIG application, which lasted from around April 2007 to the conclusion of the public inquiry in Decem- ber 2009.Work included: - Setting up a website and database of res-


idents opposing the application (over 8,000 people registered at one point). - Providing advice, deadlines, draft letters


of objections and sample material consider- ations for residents who wanted to object. - Organising a StopKIG walk in May 2009,


with more than 2,000 people turning out to show their objections. -Attending and speaking at the numerous public meetings set up by KCC. - Constantly keeping the campaign in the


media spotlight. - Making a major contribution to the pub-


lic inquiry, with many expert witnesses at- tending (for free). Nominator Cllr Paul Young, the parish council vice-chairman, said: “I honestly think that the KIG application may not have been defeated without StopKIG's significant contribution. “The campaign was led from the front by


a number of people, including RichardAsh- ness, Alan Thomas, Val Springett and Mary Richards. However, as there were so many people involved with StopKIG, it is impos- sible to dedicate a Mynn Award to just one individual. “Therefore I nominate the whole StopKIG


group for a Mynn Award, as I think this is the least we can do to say ‘Thank you’ for all their hard work and effort to help keep Bearsted's legacy intact for generations to come.”


Bernard Head Founder member and currently a trustee


of Bearsted & ThurnhamBowling Club, hav- ing also helped establish the tennis club


28 East


Left to right – Parish council chairman Cllr Chris Dyke with Mike Perring, Mike Anthony, Bernard Head, Brian Clifford, Val Springett and Tony Pagett (the last three representing StopKIG).


and construct the pavilion. Bernard and his family have lived in the village for nearly 40 years and he has been involved with the cricket club as a vice president and with Holy Cross Church as honorary treasurer. In the last five years, Bernard has been a trustee and honorary treasurer of BearstedWoodland Trust. Nominator PeterWillson, life president of


BWT, said: “His work with BWT has been invaluable, not only in the position men- tioned but he has been one of the main peo- ple involved in getting BWT where it is today - something that is for everybody in the village to enjoy. He also played a major part in winning £78,000 from the Lottery Fund’s ‘People’s Millions’ which was broad- cast on ITV Meridian in 2007.” His professional business accounting background has been put to good use since he retired in 1990, as business manager of Roseacre Junior School and now as a gover- nor. Bernard has advised and carried out ac- counts examinations for several village organisations including King George V Me- morial Hall and Bearsted & Thurnham So- ciety.


Outside the village, Bernard is a very ac-


tivem member (and past president) of Maid- stone Rotary Club.


Mike Anthony Mike moved to Bearsted in 1972 – firstly


in Mallings Drive and then Manor Rise. He was already a player for Bearsted FC and has stayed involved with the club ever since. In 1977 he became chairman, a posi- tion he held until 1980 when he was made president. He held this office until 2001 when he again acted as chairman. During this time, he led the campaign for the club to be promoted to the Kent County


League. Due to the lack of facilities required for this higher standard football, unfortu- nately the club had to move from the parish to its present ground at Honey Lane, Otham. Mike has also been a member of both Bearsted Golf Club and Bearsted Tennis Club. He served as a parish councillor for a number of years, becoming chairman in 1995, a position he held until 1999. Nominator Cllr Patrick Walton said: “Since 2008, Mike has been chairman of the King George V Memorial Hall Committee, reviving the fortunes of the hall by creating a new team to sort out the finances and fab- ric of the building.”


Mike Perring Mike is a long-term resident, moving to Bearsted in the 1970s. He was a big contrib- utor to the KIG inquiry, appearing twice as a witness and doing an enormous amount of research behind the scenes regarding footpaths, bridleways and local history. He was also present during site visits with the planning inspector. Mike’s many other roles include member-


ship of Bearsted and Thurnham Residents Association, where he has been foot- paths/walks leader, planner and organiser of campaigns to keep footpaths open. He has also contributed to books released by Bearsted and Thurnham History Society, and has been a key support speaker. Mike researched the MillenniumWalk to include Bearsted’s historic houses. Nominator Anna Preece described him as


a quiet, humble, loyal, dedicated and self- less man, adding: “I believe that public recognition and gratitude is long overdue for all he has done – although of course, being the person he is, he would never see it.”


You can e-mail the Downs Mail — info@downsmail.co.uk


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48