Governors elected to NHS council


AS members of Kent Commu- nity Health NHS Trust vote for their first council of gov- ernors, two Kent members were elected unopposed. Michael Dobson (28), who works for Global Radio, was elected to represent patients and public inMaidstone, and Jack Wise (20) was elected unopposed in Tonbridge and Malling. An NHS Trust Council of Governors aims to ensure that local people and staff working in the NHS can be more involved in the deci- sions the trust makes about the way services are deliv- ered. The governors repre- sent members to the trust at all levels, but most especially at board level. Only people who have signed up as members of the trust can vote for their cho- sen candidate. A total of 31 people put themselves forward for elec- tion by our public members – each vying for one of the 13 public seats on the Council of Governors. Voting closes at 5pm on November 21.


Diversity plan


MAIDSTONE Council, Volun- tary Action Maidstone (VAM) and Kent Police are considering establishing a diversity forum. Maidstone’s black and minor-


ity ethnic population has effec- tively doubled every 10 yrs since 1981, with a large in- crease in some communities, such as Eastern European and Nepalese. The diversity forumwould be


an opportunity for minority groups to engage with the bor- ough council and other part- ners to ensure that the “minority voice” is heardwhen important decisions are being made.


Anyonewho would like to be involved in the project can email natalie.smith@vam-on- line.org.uk.


Driver banned AN Allington motorist has been banned from the road for 18 months after admitting he drove his BMW while over three times the legal drink- drive limit. Mid Kent magistrates’ heard


Dan Carter (37), of Shearwater, gave a breath test of 90mg of al- cohol in 100ml of breath when stopped in BishopsWay,Maid- stone. The legal limit is 35mg. As well as the driving ban he


was fined £1,200 and ordered him to pay £85 costs and a £120 victim surcharge.


30 Town


Gym club moves to new HQ


PEGASUS Gymnastics Club’s dream of expanding into a spa- cious new headquarters in Maidstone will become reality sooner than expected. The Olympic-standard club


has brought forward its removal to new premises in Tovil be- cause of increasing pressure on its cramped resources at Crismill Lane, near Bearsted, where it has been based since 1995. The club had planned to take


over its new home in units 2,3 and 4 at the Farleigh Hill Trad- ing Estate at the end of March 2014. It has now decided it can achieve this sooner by complet- ing the project in two phases. Parents and children will


head to the new site when they return from the Christmas


break. The first phase will include


the recreational hall which will be fitted with new equipment for the start of the January term. Also ready will be changing rooms, reception and office fa- cilities and parking spaces for 75 cars. Phase 2 will be completed by March 31 and will include a new training hall and rooms, dance studio, café and seating. Head of coaching Ionut Trand-


abaru aid: “A year ago we pre- sented on these three warehouses in Tovil and invited parents, guardians, children, friends and representatives of British Gymnastics to see them and wondered if this project was ever going to get off the ground. Seeing the building


now in its advanced stages makes me feel very excited and proud of our achievements as a club with the support of British Gymnastics and other funding partners. “This is a significant mile-


stone in moving forward and defining our goal to provide one of the best gymnastics facilities on the south east region.” Founded in 1987, Pegasus


was initially based at Invicta Grammar School but has grown to run classes for 500 gymnasts. Courtney Tulloch, who lives near Mote Park and James Hall, ofWateringbury, (both 17) are in the provisional squad for the 2016 Olympics in Rio and have also both been shortlisted for the youth Olympics in Australia in January.


Sister stands up for cancer charity


A MIDKENT College lecturer stood up to cancer by refusing to sit down for more than 13 hours. Ellie Bentley (55), from Maidstone, raised


funds for Cancer Research by remaining on her feet from 7am until 8.30pm. The painting and decorating lecturer decided


to help the charity when her sister Dianne Croft was diagnosed with breast cancer in the summer. She said: “We all took it pretty badly at the


time because it was a total shock, but Dianne is the most positive person I’ve ever met and cares more about the effect the illness is having on everyone else. “I have dodgy knees, so I knew the ‘Stand Up to Cancer’ campaign would be difficult, but every time I felt like sitting down I just thought about what Dianne is going through.” Ellie carried out the fundraiser with her daugh-


ter, Charlotte O’Toole (28), a nursery nurse at Pit- stop Playschool. Between them, they have raised £400 for Cancer Research. Ellie said: “It was really hard when I got home


A NEW kickboxing enterprise has been given the go-ahead to be established above Bathstore at 8 Tonbridge Road, Maid- stone.


Denise Elliott was given plan-


ning permission to convert about 50% of the first floor, which is used for storage, into the privately-run gymnasium. Cllr Mike Hogg, a member of Maidstone Council’s planning committee, said: “I fully sup- port this scheme because it is a sporting and community facil- ity for the local area. We have


CONCERNS have been ex- pressed to Maidstone and Tun- bridge Wells NHS Trust about the cost of hiring extra staff to achieve clinical performance. Board members noted that despite efforts to reduce agency usage, the figure had increased by 21.8 while “bank” staff time (staff working flexible or extra hours) was down 17.2%. Much of the increase was due


Diane Croft (left) and her sister Ellie Bentley


from work, because everyone was sitting down, so I went to the pub and for a walk to pass the time. When I did eventually sit down, I received a text from Dianne saying how proud she was of me, but I’m far more proud of her.”


Kickboxing gets the go-ahead


just lost a boxing club in Tovil due to the former school build- ing being sold off for develop- ment.” Cllr Stephen Paine, also a member of the committee, said: “There are a number of similar uses in this area. It is becoming a corridor for this type of use.” The application was ac- cepted, with 11 votes in favour and one abstention. The coun- cil restricted opening hours to 9am-10pm weekdays and 9am- 1pm on weekends and public holidays.


Concern over agency staff costs


to medical staff and the factors for the trend were unclear. Overall, the workforce was


2% higher and the vacancy rate was decreasing, while sickness absence had improved. Recruitment campaigns had


taken place. The trust was re- viewing ways of working and sustainability and Richard Hayden, acting director of workforce, was to investigate.


Town shooting POLICE are looking for a gun- man who shot a woman on a night out in Maidstone. The victim, a teacher at St Simon Stock School in Oak- wood Park, was in Pudding Lane with friends when she was hit in the arm by an airgun fired from a passing car. The pellet was removed at


A&E in Maidstone Hospital. Po- lice are reviewing CCTV footage and are treating the incident as actual bodily harm.


Council commuters JUST 31% of borough council employees receiving a salary of over £40,000 live in the Maid- stone area. The admission came from Maidstone Council in response to a Freedom of Information re- quest from aMr Fagg.


Winter ailments MAIDSTONE and Tunbridge Wells NHS trust is urging peo- ple go to their GP or pharmacist first to free up A&E depart- ments for emergencies.


Have you got news for us? Phone our News Desk on 01622 734735


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