Plans again to keep hospital services
SO with future management
of the NHS in such turmoil, where does that leave the 250,000 population of the greater Maidstone area who have witnessed the grand lar- ceny of their local hospital serv- ices to meet the business plan for a new hospital at Pembury?
By this autumn all these serv-
ices will be 18 difficult miles away at Pembury: emergency and orthopaedic surgery; con- sultant-led maternity; children’s ward and special care baby unit; gynaecology; chronic pain unit and more.
Maidstone is rightly furious
and the Health Secretary of State Andrew Lansley, who made the decision for women’s and chil- dren’s services, knows it.
Our MP Helen Grant has had several meetings with him and KCC leader Paul Carter joined her at the last.
MailMarks
DENNIS FOWLE - President Kent Campaigning Journalist of the Year 2001 email:
dfowle2011@aol.com
He stuck to his decision – but
did agree our local GP commis- sioners could start work now (and not in two years’ time) on the case for returning women’s and children’s services to Maid- stone. Five surveys show how
strongly Maidstone area GPs op- pose transfer of these services – so the battle goes on.
It is sure to be backed by KCC, Maidstone Council, Maidstone Division of theBMA,Maidstone Action for Services in Hospital (MASH) as well as just about everyone who lives in this area.
Residents enjoy the great outdoors
A SHELTERED housing scheme in Lenham has been improved, thanks to a donation from paving manufacturer Brett Landscaping. Refurbishment of Lenham House, Glebe Gardens, has been completed to provide residents of 19 self-contained flats with storage space for mobility vehi- cles, a residents’ lounge and newly landscaped grounds. The outside area has been transformed thanks to the dona- tion, which provided 240sqmof block paving, allowing residents to enjoy events, summer barbe- cues and communal socialising. Keith Mandy, regeneration
Paving means residents of Lenham House can enjoy the grounds all-year round.
manager at Lenham House, said: “Previously the turfed grounds were inaccessible to many residents who use mobility vehicles. Now, residents are able to enjoy the grounds all-year round.
The campaign group MASH
will be debating ‘Where do we go from here?’ at its annual meeting at Maidstone Commu- nity Support Centre, Marsham Street, Maidstone, on Friday May 20 (7pm). Some members of the executive have left the area and it could do with extra support now. Are you free that evening?
Having a laugh ABOUT100 comedians have
rated Maidstone people as the third most difficult to amuse in the country.
The TV channel Dave asked comedians like Jo Brand, Dave Gorman,Rhod Gilbert and Jason Byrne – and they put Maidstone just behind Liverpool and Not- tingham. I think this says a lot for the
folk of Maidstone – and not much for modern comedians. Occasionally I try to watch
them on television – but their manner and vulgarity very quickly turn me off. It looks as though I am not alone in Maid- stone. Formuchofmylife I have en-
joyed many magnificent come- dians – and I can often find their wonderful recordings on TV channels. Of the newcomers only Peter
Kay has got through to me. I hope everyone saw his delight- ful rip off of the over –hyped tal- ent shows like Strictly Come Dancing and X Factor. That re- ally was funny.
Annual fete and car rally will go
ahead, despite road closure DESPITE the closure of Eyhorne Street in Hollingbourne to through traffic until August, the annual village fete will go ahead as usual. This year’s offering, on June 4, will be preceded by a road rally –
with prizes for the most original form of transport – from Holling- bourne Cricket Club on Pilgrim’sWay to the fete at the Lance Me- morial Playing Field in Greenway Court Road. The owners of a number of classic cars have already entered the
event, which is partly inspired by the Monte Carlo Rally – the cricket club being an imaginary Paris and the fete being Monte Carlo. After the cars leave ‘Paris’ at midday it is expected that other
forms of transport will follow, including prams, bicycles, and wheelbarrows! The fete will be opened by new Maidstone mayor Cllr Brian Mor-
timer and feature an exemption dog show, arena displays, a tug-of- war competition, plus dozens of stalls and all the fun of the fair. Hollingbourne Parish Council is sponsoring the fete and the
Neil knows the write way to success
LOCAL author Neil Nixon knows all about writing for a living – he lec- tures on the subject and his latest book is titled “How To Get A Break As A Writer”.
Promotional events for the book included a talk to sixth formers at Maidstone Grammar School for Girls. The event also marked the official opening of a new bookshop linked to the MGGS library. Neil’s book deals with the many ways aspiring writers can take the ini- tiative in getting work, getting paid and developing their careers. It also discusses changes in the industry and one example quoted in some detail is the ongoing success story of the Downs Mail. Neil (left), of Hockers Lane,Weavering, writes for the newspaper’s obitu-
ary section. MP Helen joins the gang show
MENCAP is £350 better off thanks to the Maid- stone Scout Gang Show, which MP Helen Grant attended as honorary vice-president of the charity’s local trust. The show at the Hazlitt Theatre was the cul- mination of over six months of hard work by both performers and support teams. Mrs Grant said: “The show was outstanding, including the brilliant costumes and choreog- raphy.”
Mattresses stolen from caravan site
TWO mattresses were taken from a caravan at Pilgrims Retreat, Harrietsham. In a separate in- cident at the same site, a caravan door was forced and a flat screen TV was stolen.
20 East Music hall sell-out
A LIVELY and successful charity night sold out over a short run in Bearsted.
Come to the Music Hall was pre- sented by Bearsted and Thurnham WI drama group and friends.
The idea, originally mooted by
Carol Stark and Bobbie Maxted, soon took hold in their drama group, who rehearsed their show from October.
The event raised £1,200, which will
go towards the upkeep of the building. Bobbie and Carol directed the show. Cast member Jacky Nicholas said: “Music hall was new to the majority of the cast mem- bers, but most had been involved in per-
forming WI pantomimes in previous years. Some of the costumes came from rehashing what was in the drama cup- board. However, it wouldn’t be the WI without recycling old curtains! The cast had so much fun that they
have already shown an interest in being involved in the next production!”
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Hollingbourne Meadows Trust is expected to be a major bene- ficiary. The trust is seeking to raise £40,000 to buy a field at the rear of the village hall for the benefit of local residents.
Fuel tank theft AFUELstorage tank was stolen from Cockhill Farm in Cox Street, Detling. Three white Eu- ropean males in possession of a Ford Transit vehicle are sus- pected of having been involved. Two were aged about 40 and the third about 18.
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