Surgery work on track with new builder


WORK to build a new doctors’ surgery in BowerMount Road,Maidstone, is progress- ing well after the original contractor went into administration. The project to build a new medical centre


on the junction with London Road was put on hold for six months after Hilife Con- struction Company went into administra- tion in February. The brand new facility, complete with pharmacy and modern accommodation, will replace the King Street Surgery prem- ises, which are currently split between two buildings, one in King Street and the other in London Road. The development was significantly de-


layed following the loss of the original con- tractor but in August the General Practice Investment Corporation (GPI) appointed a new contractor, RG Carter Colchester Ltd, to complete the work. The facility is now set to open in February 2014. In the past decade, GPI has helped build several new surgeries in the area, including at Bearsted, Lenham, Larkfield and Snod-


AN innovative website to link businesses who want to support their local charities and community groups is being launched in Maidstone. The Big Exchange website, the first of its


kind in Kent, allows charities or community groups to find help and support from local businesses and to develop relationships. The website allows them to match up,


with one looking for something that the other is offering.


Ben Rodwell, of RG Carter, with practice managerWendyWilkins, doctors Nick Dewar and Aravinth Bala, and GPI’s group development directorWilliam Sheardown


land. The project involves demolishing a single-storey extension attached to the building and replacing it with a two-storey structure. The main Victorian building, most recently used as offices, is being ex- tensively refurbished and remodelled. William Sheardown, GPI’s group devel-


Website links charities with helpers


Developed byMaidstone Council and Vol- untary Action Maidstone, it was launched on Thursday, December 5, at TheMaidstone Studios, enabling businesses to place their offers and organisations to place their re- quests.


Maidstone’s 6,500 businesses can offer


their time – for example help with market- ing for amonth or at a fundraising event – or discounts on their work. The website is: www.thebigexchange.org.uk.


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opment director, said: “It took time to restart the project because the previous contractor went into administration with the project half-finished. We were keen to get it right and are very pleased that everything is going great guns for completion in late Feb- ruary.” Jo Fox, head of primary estates at NHS property services, said: “We are really pleased that the development of Bower Mount Surgery is progressing well. The new surgery will be of great benefit to the local community, offering state-of-the-art prem- ises and facilities for all patients.” Both current surgeries are remaining open


until the new facility has been completed. Practice managerWendyWilkins said: “We have been planning this for five years and it is a relief that the developments are going ahead. “The new building will have much better access for disabled people and 38 parking spaces, which will greatly assist patients to access primary care medical services more conveniently. ”


Garden light hope


COLIN Coley wants to fell five trees to en- sure more light reaches the garden of 10 Greenwich Close, Maidstone. One of the trees, a sycamore, is protected


by a tree preservation order.He also wants to fell a horse chestnut, conifer, spruce and another sycamore tree. Mr Coley’s ap- plication, which will be determined by Maidstone Council, additionally requests a 40% reduction in the height of a pro- tected ginkgo tree.


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