Ads pay for


Trust image ADVERTISERS are helping to fund the cost of rebranding Maidstone Hospital. The Maidstone and Tunbridge


WellsNHS Trust (MTW)is look- ing to promote its new logo and is selling advertising space to companies on the trust website. The trust hopes the scheme


will generate at least £5,000, which will cover the costs of a poster campaign promoting the logo at bus shelters across the town. An external company was


used to sell the advertising space at a time when the trust was offering redundancy to 5,000 employees to save money. The aim is for patients to


make the connection between their care and theNHShospitals at a time when a major hospital and medical campus is being built nearM20 Junction 7.


Charity extension THE MCCH Society’s plan for a two-storey side and rear exten- sion to create four self-contained units at 85 Heath Road, Barming, has been approved. The charity, which supports people with a learning disability, mental health need or autism, says the units will ensure resi- dents receive supported living care provision. Staff facilities will also be developed.


Company defends tree cull


A PROMINENT property auc- tioneer says KCC left his com- pany with no choice but to fell a group of landmark trees on a leafy lane in Maidstone. Seven mature lime trees were


felled outside the Clive Emson offices – formerly the Job Centre – in Rocky Hill earlier this year. Some of the town’s Lib Dem councillors claim the loss of the trees will worsen pollution prob- lems in a known congestion hot- spot. But James Emson, director of the land and property auc- tioneers, said his company was an innocent victim of legislation imposed by KCC. He said: “KCC Highways de- partment served an order on us, which gave us 28 days to do something about the trees. We were told anything which was below 2.5m above the carriage- way had to be chopped back. They also required pruning at the top. “The final straw was when


they told us we would be charged thousands of pounds each time the carriageway had to be closed to allow future tree sur- gery. We spoke to Maidstone Council to see if there were any orders restricting the work – and their exact words were that ‘the trees were of no significance’. “The first we knew of any ob- jections was two months after the trees were felled – two months too late. If people had ex-


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Councillors David Pickett (left) and Tony Harwood at the site of the felling of seven mature lime trees in Rocky Hill


pressed a desire to keep the trees, we would have complied.” Cllr David Pickett says he tried


to get the plug pulled on the chainsaws, but was told by offi- cers that, as the trees were not protected under legislation, there was nothing Maidstone Council could do.He said: “This stand of old trees brought many benefits for Maidstone. “The irony is that I had in-


sisted on lime trees being used as part of the planting scheme for the new hotel opposite to com- plement those on the Clive Emson site and, in time, create a lime avenue.” Lib Dem planning spokesman,


Cllr Tony Harwood, said: “The seven limes had long been a gate- way feature on this busy ap- proach to the town centre. They had taken on an increased prominence recently, as they grew opposite the popular new Premier Inn hotel. These trees


were much loved by local people and I deplore their destruction.” But Mr Emson said: “We are being painted as the baddies when we did absolutely every- thing to check what the situation was before we went ahead. “If anyone, at any time, had


said they wanted to make this a lime tree-lined avenue, we would have complied. Nobody from Maidstone Council even sought the opinion of our neigh- bours. They just told us to go ahead. The last thingwe wanted to do was upset anybody.” A spokesman for KCC said “Ninety per cent of the trees and verges in the county belong to private landlords who have a duty of care to maintain them. Every year, we remind private landlords of this. “Clive Emson noted our advice


and took the action they did. It is unfortunate that some people are unhappy with the outcome.”


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