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Hospital redundancy offer Man spent days


ALL staff working atMaidstone Hospital have been asked if they want to apply for voluntary re- dundancy. Some 4,000 staff have been approached across the board in the Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust, although no offers have been made directly to any member of staff. The trust claims its priority remains a commitment to the quality of patient care and say it is unlikely that applications from staff who directly care for patients will be accepted. This covers a host of posts, ac- cording to a hospital spokesman, which could include nurses, doctors, physiotherapists, radiol-


Pub squatters CHATHAM and Aylesford MP Tracey Crouch is pushing for a new law to make squatting in a commercial building a crime, after a boarded-up pub was taken over. Squatters hadmoved in to the disused Upper Bell Inn, Blue Bell Hill. The MP said such occupation


was not a “victimless crime”. “Itisimportantthatweget


some clarification particularly on mixed-use buildings like pubs as to where people stand.”


Drink driver banned KENZAR Arnold (37), of Church Road, Offham, was banned from driving for 36 months by Mid Kent Magis- trates after he admitted failing to provide a breath specimen on February 18. He was fined £300 with £300 costs and a £15 victim surcharge.


Garage conversion PETER Brace, of Forsyth Close, East Malling, has submitted proposals to Tonbridge and Malling Council for a garage conversion at his home.


ogists, departmental reception staff, etc. - while those who do not deal directly with staff could be people in roles such as ad- ministration, research, finance and communications. The trust,which needs to save


at least £15m each year for the next three years, has asked all staff to consider their personal circumstances, however, and to make an application if they wish to do so. “Submitting an application


does not mean that the re- quested voluntary severance will be agreed,” said a spokesman. “Each application will be con- sidered on its merits.”


The trust says it has agreed


the approach with the trade unions and the scheme reflects similar schemes nationally. “There is no ‘cull’,” said the spokesman. “The trust values all staff. However, the offer of a volun- tary severance package may ap- peal to some members of staff who were considering a career change or may wish to have a break from working.” The amount of voluntary sev- erance pay awarded depends upon a number of issues unique to the member of staff making the application, including length of service, salary and working hours.


Father and sons in cruelty case A FATHER and two sons from Snodland have been fined a total of £42,000 for causing unnecessary suffering to four shire horses. Retired Graham Hase-


more (65), and his sons, transport supervisor Simon Hasemore (35), and farmer Kevin Hasemore (29), all of Malling Road, were all found guilty of causing suf- fering to the four horses Summer Lady, a bay mare; Twinkle, a brown mare; Holly, a bay mare and Dandy, a roan gelding. Dartford Magistrates


Court heard the horses were underweight, lame and suffering from skin conditions when they were seen by the RSPCA at Millfield Farm, Hol- borough Road, Snodland in June last year. RSPCA inspector Andrew Kirby said: “Both these men should know


better–theyare heavily involved with the shire horseworld.But instead of getting proper vet treatment for these horses, they tried to treat them themselves and caused the horses to suffer.” They have been ordered to pay a total of £42,000 in fines and costs


between them. Three of the horses recovered in RSPCA care, but 24-year-old Holly


had to be put to sleep on veterinary advice. Becausemagistrates didnotbantheHasemoresfromkeeping horses


or impose a deprivation order, the RSPCA will now have to return the three shires to the Hasemores. They have been ordered to pay a total of £42,000 in fines and costs between them.


LETTERS TO THE EDITOR


Sports shop link Dear Sir – Following the article about the closure of Hubble and Freeman, may I just put straight the lengthy history of this fam- ily business, because in the article there was no mention of David Reader. David Reader, my husband and grandson


of JC Hubble, was an owner and partner in the business from 1960 to 2001. Originally, he joined HJ Hubble, and later was joined by P Ludgate. Over the years they opened eight other shops in Kent, and our three daughters worked in the shops too. The business thrived for many years within the sports trade. Thank you for the article. Zandra (Buzzie) Reader,


Fairbourne Court, Harrietsham


Parking signs confusing Dear Sir – I would like to add to the com- ments made by John Dickens in the Sep- tember Downs Mail story titled Parking


with dead body A MAN was arrested after sit- ting next to his partner’s body for two days, without reporting her death. David Laidlaw was drunk


when police arrived, and the death of Patricia Davies (65) was initially treated as suspicious, a Maidstone inquest heard.Hewas later released without charge. He said they had drunk eight


bottlesofwineaswellas Pimms and brandy on Septem- ber 25 last year. The next day, he got up at about 7.30am and found her dead on the floor at their home in Bull Road, Bir- ling. He put a blanket over her and sat with her, but did not in- form the authorities. Two days later, his daughter visited and the police were called. A post mortem examination


foundMrs Davies had 425mg of alcohol in 100ml of blood – more than five times the legal limit for driving and a poten- tially fatal amount. The inquest heard themother-of-two died of acute alcohol intoxication. Mr Laidlaw said that after finding her body, he phoned a friend who was a funeral direc- tor, who said he could not come immediately. He said: “I was demented. I


just wanted to keep Pat with me. I just sat there all day and all night.” The couple,who had been to- gether for four years, drank a couple of bottles of wine be- tween them on most days. Recording a verdict of acci- dental death, Mid Kent and Medway Coroner Patricia Hard- ing said: “I am satisfied that Mrs Davies had a significant amount of alcohol in her sys- tem when she died. “Unfortunately Mr Laidlaw


did not notify the authorities as soon as he knew his partner was dead, but that does not im- pact on my findings in relation to how she died.”


You can write to us at: Downs Mail, 2 Forge House, Bearsted Green Business Park, Bearsted, Maidstone, ME14 4DT or e-mail: info@downsmail.co.uk


dilemma for disabled. The signage in the high street is inadequate, confusing and misplaced. If you drive from FremlinsWalk along Pudding Lane, there is a large clear sign stating that entry to the High Street is for buses, taxis and Blue Badge holders. At the entrance at King Street it only


states buses and taxis. At the bottom of the High Street, the sign also states only buses and taxis. This sign is also placed incorrectly, as


there are loading bays in Lower Stone Street andMill Street, so how are ordinary drivers supposed to access these? Surely this sign should be at the junction of High Street and Mill Street? Iwould also note that the disabled bays in


the High Street are loading bays during re- stricted times. I have, however, found that I have been unable to park with my Blue Badge outside of loading times, due to the spaces being taken up by vans, but I have never seen one with a parking ticket.


One final moan, and this one is about fel-


low Blue Badge holders. When parking in a Blue Badge area, please have a bit of consideration for other Blue Badge drivers. Why park half a car’s length from the end of the bay ? Recently in the Wick Manor Road dis-


abled bays, there would have been room for at least three more cars, had drivers parked considerately. David GWoodcock,Willington Street, Maidstone


Car not always an option Dear Sir – Your letter to the editor from Mrs May, regarding the cost of school bus travel for pupils over 16, echoes all the feelings of people with children. The only point I would make is that not everyone, including my grandson, has the car as an alternative. If a car is not affordable or available, what happens?


To contact Downs Mail just phone 01622 630330


R Page, Bearsted Malling 23


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