Mental health services reviewed


MENTAL health services are to come under the spotlight in Maidstone after coming in for criticism in a recent TV documentary. The BBC Panorama programme high- lighted shortfalls in service delivery around the country and found that Maidstone was one of the places where services “left a lot to be desired”. Cllr Sue Grigg has been lobbying Maid-


stone Council for some time to scrutinise health services within the borough – par- ticularly before the point of crisis. The community overview and scrutiny committee has agreed to do this and Cllr Grigg has been co-opted on to a mental health working group. The group will set out to determine what training is undertaken in schools by GPs and what evidence, if any, there is of “joined up” working between schools, GPs, youth clubs, health providers and other public bodies such as the police.


Teen attacked


A TEENAGER is reported to have been attacked by three men inMaidstone. The attack occurred in Camp-


bell Road, leaving an 18-year- old man with minor injuries. A 27-year-old man was arrested in connection with the assault and later released on bail pend- ing further enquiries. A silver Mercedes was seen


in the area at the time, being driven the wrong way up Campbell Road. Anyone with information is


asked to contact DCMartin Bar- row atMaidstone police station by calling 01622 604272, quot- ing


crime reference


YY/17369/13, or Crimestop- pers on 0800 555 111.


Home refused A PROPOSAL to build a de- tached home in a residential garden at 12 Mote Avenue, Maidstone has been turned down.


Maidstone Council refused


Tim Hawkins’ planning appli- cation as it would have ap- peared “incongruous” within the street scene. It was also sug- gested that the future occupiers would suffer poor amenity through neighbours overlook- ing their home.


Cllr Grigg said: “We want to establish


what services are on offer in Maidstone in the public and voluntary sectors and estab- lish what funding is available and how it is being used. “Is it being used early enough? Is it fund-


ing crisis services or early intervention?” Cllr Grigg, who represents Loose, said the results of the review should help to ensure the needs of residents were being met be- fore the point of crisis as well as making sure that mental health becomes an inte- grated part of health care and well-being, rather than a hidden illness and stigma. The committee spoke to representatives


from the health authority as well as the servicemanager from theMaidstone branch of mental health charity Mind. Cllr Grigg said: “The evening highlighted


that there is much room for improvement and the CCG have identified huge gaps in the service since taking over from the PCT


in April. It is obvious that a very over- stretched voluntary sector is filling these shortfalls and while things are slowly im- proving, there is still an enormous amount of work to be done. “Meanwhile, organisations such as Maid-


stoneMind are fighting just to survive.” Dr Bob Bowes, chair of NHS West Kent Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) said: “We are continuing to work to improve the quality and the way in which people can access services locally – this includes emer- gency mental health support.” TheLiveItWellwebsite


(www.liveitwell.org.uk) offers advice and support onmental illness for people in Kent andMedway. The Mental Health Matters confidential support line (0800 107 0160) is also open 24 hours a day, 7 days aweek for people re- quiring emotional guidance and support.


Awards for dedicated firefighters


TWO local firefighters have re- ceived long service and good con- duct medals from theKent Fireand Rescue Service, for services to their county. Steve Tritton, from Maidstone,


joined the service in1992andwas initiallypostedtoThames-side, but decided he wanted to serve the people in his hometown, so trans- ferred to Maidstone Blue Watch. Married to Belinda, Steve has two sons. Station manager Jason Bardell,


from Staplehurst, also began his career in Thamesside, but has


Firefighters Steve Tritton and Jason Bardell


since served at the Channel Tun- nel, KFRS headquarters, Medway, Tunbridge Wells fire safety, and Tonbridgeandis currentlyastation manager in the organisational de- velopment and training centre. He


is married to Jennie and they have three sons: George, Harry & Thomas. Steve and Jasonwere among 18 recipient of the medal, presented at Oakwood House, Maidstone, by Vice Lord Lieutenant for Kent, Richard Oldfield, alongside KFRS chiefexecutiveAnnMillingtonand chairmanofKentandMedway Fire and Rescue Authority, Nick Chard. The medal is only presented to


those with at least 20 years of ex- emplary service and following a recommendation from the KFRS chief executive.


Call for more parking spaces at HQ


KENT Fire & Rescue Service has applied to add another 40 parking spaces to an existing overflow car park at The Godlands, Straw Mill Hill, Tovil. The extended area would be used by employ-


ees and visitors. The planning application, which will be determined by Maidstone Council, also in- cludes improvements to pedestrian walkways, lighting and bin and refuse storage. A supporting statement said: “Over the last two


years there has been an increasing number of per- sonnel based at headquarters due to the centrali- sation of services and the need to maximise usage of the existing buildings. The organisation has also stopped lease car and essential user car schemes and replaced this with a fleet of pool cars to reduce costs and journeys. A number of


these vehicles are based at headquarters and the existing car parking has now become inadequate. “The overflow car park is now regularly used to


park vehicles. At busy times, vehicles are double parked on the site, causing congestion and re- stricted access. This congestion impacts on the movement of vehicles around the site for em- ployees, visitors and delivery vehicles.” The car park would be to the south of the site


and behind the existing media car park. The site has 147 existing parking spaces. “The proposal utilises an area already used as overflow car parking space. The impact would be kept to a minimum as it is intended to infill the space between an existing car park (hard sur- faced) and the overflow,” added the statement.


DownsMail In touch with your parish


Loose Council Metal thefts


COMMUNITY warden Liz Lo- vatt reported that metal thieves were still a problem and inci- dents had been recorded in Northleigh. It had also been re- ported that some dogs in the Maidstone area had been attack- ing other owners’ dogs, with horrific consequences. She reported on the electrical


safety advice leaflets that were about to go out to residents. Vandals had destroyed one of the springers in the play area.


Two people had been positively identified and the other two had not yet been recognised. A vehicle that had been ob- structing the highway on the corner of Bridge Street andMill Street was now parked in High- banks. A stone fired from a catapult


had gone through awindow op- posite Cllr Gordon Goves’s house. Police were looking for people seen in the Paddock Wood, Tunbridge Wells and Marden areas in connection with recent catapult incidents. The second publicmeeting on


the hazards in Busbridge Road had been very well attended. It was agreed to push for 20mph speed limits throughout the vil- lage and Busbridge Road, with the long-term solution being some kind of barrier to make the drop at the side of the road safe. Some youngsters asked to


speak about the facilities at the King George V playing field. They asked if they could have a skate area, but it was stated that unfortunately the field does not have the space for this. The parish council would be looking into installing more


equipment at the field and their views would be very important on this. An outdoor gym and free running equipment were suggested. Regarding the possible clo-


sure by KCC of the Sure Start children’s centre at Loose Pavil- ion, there would be a huge im- pact to the parish council’s hire income for the building. The formal agreement be-


tween the two councils would be checked and a letter of objec- tion to the closure would be sent to KCC.


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