Lights, camera, action for festival Hospital smokers get a shelter
‘AT The Movies’ is the theme of the annual Maidstone River Festival on Saturday, July 30. Boat owners are being urged
to turn their craft into cine- matic classics and organisers have promised film fun throughout the day. There will be activities on
and along the River Medway, stretching from the Lock- meadow Centre right up to Whatman Park, including favourites such as the raft race,
Want a free stall
at river festival? HASyour club or charity signed up for a free stall at the family fun day in theMil- lennium Park at this year’s Maidstone River Festival on July 30? For further details contact
Malcolm Luxton, of Maid- stone Lions Club, on 01795 841439 or
m.w.luxton@btin-
ternet.com.
illuminated boat parade and firework finale. Chairman Martin Cox said:
“We are planning a fantastic family fun day that will put Maidstone on the map and, best of all, so much of it is free. It’s the one time of the year that the river really comes alive and people from near and far come to enjoy all the town has to offer.” He added: “We are calling on
the town’s business community to back this year’s festival. This is our showpiece event and whatever businesses put into the day, they will get much more in return. “The event is also an oppor-
tunity for local charities and or- ganisations to come along and showcase their wares to thou- sands of people.” Maidstone River Festival has
been an annual event since 1980. It is organised by a team of volunteers and supported by Maidstone Borough Council.
Thurnham pupils get taste of medieval life
PUPILS from Thurnham Church of England Infant School, Bearsted, had a blast from the past as part of a medieval- themed day. The Year 2 children enjoyed traditional dancing, built Lego
castles, made swords and learnt to juggle, before sitting down to a sing-song.
MAIDSTONE Hospital has de- fended its decision to build a £10,000 shelter for smokers, not far from its main entrance. It follows claims that it was a “disgraceful waste of NHS money”. But the hospital said that after try- ing in vain to solve the prob- lem it had de- cided to keep smokers in a single area. Offham man
Robert Trim, who contacted Downs Mail about the iss- ue, said: “The shelter is only a few yards from shelters for those awaiting buses, and if patients and those visiting the hospital must smoke, surely they could go there. It seems very strange that a hospital should encourage smoking in this way.” But a hospital spokesman
He added: “We have tried to
stop patients and visitors from smoking outside the front of the hospital, but without success. “Even if we succeed in per- suading one group of smokers not to smoke by the entrances there is a dif- ferent group of people there a few days later. “We have
The controversial£10,000 smok- ers’ shelter by Maidstone Hospi- tal’s main entrance.
installed a smoking shelter to keep smokers to one place, and the mess of cigarette ends that lit- ter the front
of the hospital in a small, more manageable area away from the main hospital. “It’s not a decision we’ve
said: “Encouraging them to use the bus shelters is not a viable option - it would be a major nuisance and a health hazard for others using the shelter.”
taken easily, but people have ig- nored every attempt we’ve made to stop it and something else had to be done.” The spokesman continued:
“We actively discourage smok- ing and will provide any smok- ers with the information and support they need to give up.”
12 East
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