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Patients must be heard by NHS MailMarks


SOON our doctors will be in


charge of much local NHS spending – and the West Kent group now prepares for the big challenges ahead (see the story in this issue of Downs Mail). We must wish them well at a


time when increasingly our ex- pectations grow, yet the economy demands tightening budgets. They are strongly into the planning


stage, and a most encouraging sign for me is that the new structure means patients’ voices will be heard – both in the localities and at board level. Every GP practice is encouraged to have


a patient group – and their voices will be- come more important as new systems and priorities emerge.


As you don’t like it WHAT a delight, I thought! An invita- tion to see Shakespeare’s “As You Like


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It” on summer solstice day in the magnifi- cent grounds of Boughton Monchelsea Place. But the weather was just as you do NOT like it. Thewind was roaring across open fields, it was cold, showery, and threatening dark


AGREEN V-registration.Mazda 323 was stolen from Warwick Place. It was later recovered in Aylesford, but items from the car were missing. A steel garden gate was taken


from a front garden in Ton- bridge Road. Thieves got in to a house in Cambridge Crescent, Shepway, by the front door and took a PlayStation and a bank card. Intruders got in to a property


in Beaumont Road, Fant,but nothing seemed to have been taken.


Thieves got in to a house in Odiham Drive, Allington,and took a Nokia mobile phone, a Packard Bell laptop, and two handbags and their contents. Another house in the same road was also burgled, and a hand- bag and jewellery were taken, as well as two sets of keys. A VW Golf was also taken from the property. An intruder was disturbed at


a house in Hazlitt Drive and left without taking anything. A black Fiat Punto, registra-


tion MF57 GDU, was taken from Bower Street. The lock was forced on the


back door of a home in Pheas- ant Lane, the house was searched and a plasma screen television was stolen. A garden ornament was


stolen from the front garden of a home in Byron Road, Penen- den Heath. Thieves smashed a side door


to get in to a home in Tonbridge Road. All roomswere searched and cash, clocks, watches and audio equipment were stolen. A crank arm and pedal were


stolen from a bicycle which was chained to the railings by the Romney Place entrance to the The Mall shopping centre.


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DENNIS FOWLE - President Kent Campaigning Journalist of the Year 2001 email: dfowle2011@aol.com


clouds were full of approaching heavy rain. The lovely trees were taking a severe battering. Some of the gallant and very cold cast


could not be heard above the noise of the gale, which flattened their ornamental tree, an awning and chairs. They were stoic and brilliant as they


lifted the spirit of a heroic audience wrapped in winter clothing, blankets and covered by umbrellas. The Hazlitt Arts Centre and The Changeling have faced many big chal- lenges bringing their annual touring Shakespeare shows toMaidstone and area. They deserved an opening night so much better than this. They abandoned at the in- terval after a close vote by the audience, who were entertained by the cast in the


house with music and songs. An English summer’s evening!


Danger junctions INCREASINGLY, I findmyself planning car journeys in and


around Maidstone to avoid danger- ous junctions. You need to be something of a contortionist or blessed with vi-


sion around corners to take on some junc- tions. And it does not get easier if the neck or


back become less flexible with age. My doctor would not ask me to swivel from my back almost 180 degrees to look behind me at a very badly constructed junction. The recent huge growth in roadside veg- etation has not helped either. Fortunately, KCC has cut back hedges etc at the junc- tion of Lower Road and Dean Street, East Farleigh, and oncoming cars do not disap- pear completely. I also hate joining Upper Stone Street


from Old Tovil Road, the approach road to Linton from Marden and leaving South- borough Common near Pembury Hospital, on the way home to Maidstone. I could give more examples…


Beat the criminals IF YOU CAN HELP, PLEASE PHONE: Police: 222 Crimestoppers: 0800 555 111


A steel front gate was stolen


from a property in Tonbridge Road. Aproperty in Loose Road was broken into and a laptop was taken. A Mongoose cycle with a


black frame, silver handle bars and a bright green brace cable was stolen from a back gar- den in Bower Street. A Samba seven-a-


side goal was taken from a rear garden in North Pole Road, Barming. The side door of a property in Tonbridge Road was forced open and watches, Ipods, and cash were taken. The front and rear number


plate was taken from a white 53-registered Ford Transit van in Bluett Street. A house in Union Street was burgled by three or four men. One was described as white, in his early 30s, about 5ft 7ins, and very skinny with dark hair that was uncut and scruffy. He was wearing a dark blue zip-up tracksuit top which was of a material similar to a rain jacket and had a dark scarf wrapped around his face. He was also wearing what was believed to be matching tracksuit bottoms. Another was a man of mixed race appearance, in his late 20s, of stocky/muscular build, ap- proximately 5ft 5ins or slightly taller, wearing a white hoodie with the hood pulled tight over his head and face. They took an


X Box, Dell computer and two mobile phones. A property in Eastry Close, Allington, was broken in to by the rear conservatory and a Dell computer, a handbag, jewellery, and cash were taken. Ashedwas broken in to at the allotments in Sandling and two brass taps were taken. Golf clubs and a golf bag, which had been left unattended in Clewson Rise, Penen- denHeath,were take. Aman in a white van was seen in the area. He is described as white, of large build,with


short dark hair. He was with another man. Thieves smashed awindow at


Gibbs Newsagents, in Boxley Road, Penenden Heath, and cig- arettes were taken. Two Kent flagstone rocks


were stolen from the front of a property in Byron Road, Penen- den Heath. A Playstation and a NatWest


bank card were stolen from a property in Cambridge Cres- cent, Shepway. A silver W-registered Vaux-


hall Corsa parked in Northum- berland Road, Shepway,had its door levered open and the igni- tion damaged. A black and white mountain


bike was stolen from Hughen- den Reach, Tovil. Alight was taken from the top


of a white 08-registered Volk- swagen Caddy van which was parked in the car park in The


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Penstocks, Tovil. An air compressorwas stolen


from a building site in Coombe Road, Tovil. A Kango road-breaker and a chainsaw were stolen from an outbuilding in Lower Road. A hydraulic breaker for a JCB


wasstolenfromStPhilip’s Road. A black Carrera mountain


bikewas taken from a bike shed in Sandling Park, Sandling Lane. A handbag and contentswere


stolen from a gold-coloured P- registered Mercedes in York Road. A green and black Dawes bi-


cycle was stolen from a bike store in Melrose Close. The side window of a home


in College Road was smashed and computer equipment and jewellery were stolen. Wheel trims were stolen from


a black Ford Mondeo parked in Boxley Road. Two hub caps were stolen


from a blue Ford Mondeo parked on the driveway of a home in Boxley Road. Two fog lights were stolen


from a black Audi A3 which was parked on a driveway in Boxley Close, Penenden Heath. The wheel trims were taken


from a black Mercedes van in Downs Road, Penenden Heath.


PROTECT YOUR HOME


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