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Volunteers to lighten load for


cancer patients MACMILLAN Cancer Support has joined forces with Volun- tary Action Maidstone to pro- vide a volunteer befriending service to people who are re- ceiving treatment for cancer. Charlotte Osborn-Forde, chief executive officer of Voluntary Action Maidstone, said: “We are delighted to work with such a well-known and highly-re- spected organisation such as Macmillan and are looking for- ward to offering this vital serv- ice to those who need it, as well as a unique volunteering op- portunity to local people.” The project will offer support


to cancer patients from around October. Volunteers will be re- cruited and trained before then, ready to provide emotional and practical help such as accom- panying people to chemother- apy appointments or walking their dogs. Jill Corbyn, Macmillan in- volvement co-ordinator for Sur- rey, Sussex and Kent, said similar projects in other areas of the country had been very successful. If you are interested in be- coming a volunteer, please con- tact Liz Tredget on 01622 677337 or liz.tredget@vam-on- line.org.uk


Police election ‘unfair’


ANN Barnes, chair of the Kent Police Authority for the last six years, has protested at West- minster with a group of inde- pendent candidates at what they say is the inherent unfair- ness and undemocratic nature of the Police Commissioner elections. Mrs Barnes, who resigned


from the authority to focus on her campaign to become the first elected police commis- sioner for Kent on November 15, handed in a letter of protest at 10 Downing Street. She also used a giant set of the scales of justice at Old Place Yard, next to College Green, to demon- strate how the main political parties threaten to unfairly dominate the elections. Independent candidates are demanding that all political party candidates should with- draw from the contest, unless the Government takes action “to level the playing field” by pro- viding a funded election ad- dress to every voter, as in parliamentary elections. Mrs Barnes, who has been a JP


since 1986, faces a further prob- lem with the disclosure that magistrates may be banned from standing in the elections. She said: “There has been a national controversy over whether JPs should stand.


Representative Part-Time


Media Sales


We are currently recruiting for an experienced field sales representative to sell advertising across the successful Downs Mail titles and Mid Kent Living magazine.


The successful candidate will possess excellent communication skills, demonstrate confidence at all sales levels, show passion and drive to develop new business and have a proven track record in reaching targets in a similar role.


In return, a good basic salary, uncapped commission and bonus payments are offered.


Use of own vehicle will be required for this role with mileage expenses reimbursed.


If you would like to join our small friendly team working approximately 30 hours per week, please send your CV, with covering letter to:


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Bearsted, Maidstone. ME14 4DT Or email: bill@downsmail.co.uk NO AGENCIES


To contact Downs Mail just phone 01622 630330 South 23


There are draconian rules that prevent people from standing if they have been convicted of very minor offences, even decades ago. All this pales into insignificance compared with the fact that the main political parties are hijacking these elec- tions with their party money and party machines.” Having previously attacked


the introduction of elected po- lice commissioners, she said of her resignation: “I feel it would not have been right and proper forme to remain as amember of the authority after declaring as a candidate for PCC for Kent. “The impartiality of both the


KPA and the force must be pre- served at all costs in the run-up to the election. It has been an honour to work closely with such a fine group of people – of- ficers and staff of Kent Police and our own members and sec- retariat.”


The full list of candidates FIVE other independent candi- dates have announced they will stand in theKent election – busi- nessman Fergus Wilson, former Kent police officerFran Croucher, Thanet councillor Ian Driver, for- merMedwaymayor Dai Liyanage and campaigner Ken Little. Fergus Wilson says he will in- troduce a special mortgage for police officers if he is elected. The property developer,who lives in BoughtonMonchelsea, sayshe has agreed the schemewith part government-owned banks such as Royal Bank of Scotland. Repayments for officers would


be taken at source, reducing the riskandenabling the interest rate to be closer to the Bank of Eng- land rate, currently 0.5%. Conservative candidate Craig


Mackinlayhas called foraradical rethink of recent changes in the policing of community events.He said: “While I applaud Kent Po- lice for looking for ways of streamlining efficiency, I ques- tion why community events should suffer.” Labour has named Ashford councillor Harriet Yeo as its can- didate. The Liberal Democrats arenot puttinganyoneforwardas a candidate.


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