News
Fire risk falls over 10 years
KENT Fire and Rescue Service (KFRS) now attends more road ac- cidents than fires. The incidents of fires in the county has gone down by 70% in the past 10 years, although the risk to people over 65 being involved in a fire is still four times as great as it is for everyone else. Fire service volunteer Chris
Wheal told Sutton Valence Parish Council that many fires were still cooking-related and occurred when people put on a pan thenwandered off or fell asleep, sometimes due to dementia or medication. He said: “Fires can be caused by anything from frailty, a disability, medication – or simply from living alone. Consider how often you see ‘do not drive’ on medication – but never ‘do not use the cooker’.” Fire crews recently attended a
blaze in Maidstone Road, Sutton Valence, after a pan of cooking oil caught alight. Mr Wheal stressed the need to check smoke alarms regularly – and request an advisory visit from KFRS if necessary. KFRS community safety man-
ager Charlie Smith said: “If you’re preparing a cooked meal and have to leave the kitchen for a few min- utes always ensure you remove the food from the heat.”
downsmail.co.uk
MP Helen takes her surgery into stores
MAIDSTONE and theWeald MP Helen Grant is to hold regular sur- geries at two large stores in town. She recently held her first surger-
ies at Asda Living in St Peter’s Street and the Waitrose store in Allington's Mid Kent shopping centre. Asda Living manager Karl Smith invited Helen to the store to learn about their work for the local com- munity, where the idea for an in- store MPsurgery arose. Mrs Grant said: “I am delighted
to announce that I will be starting two regular ‘Meet Helen’ drop-in sessions to give local people greater access to come and talk to me. Be it
DR Maureen Barcham Green, from Loose, Maidstone, haswon the Kent Archaeological Society’s £3,000 Hasted Prize, for her thesis on how Hayle Mill, in the Loose Valley, thrived in the 19th century. The paper mill was built in the
early 1800s and ceased production in 1987. Itwas owned and operated
if the issue is confidential there are facilities to have a private meeting too.
“My regular surgeries are usually
held by appointment in my con- stituency offices, which are a bit out of public view.” Mr Smith said: “Incorporating
Asda Living manager Karl Smith with MP Helen Grant
about a personal matter, or perhaps a local, national or international subject,we can chat informally, and
by five successive generations of the Green family - and finally by Dr Green’s husband, Simon. The prize, named after the 18th century Kent historian Edward Hasted, is awarded every two years for the best doctoral research thesis on the county’s history. Dr Green said: “Hayle Mill
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our local MPsurgery into the store is a great way of extending our service to local people.” Mrs Grant’s normal surgeries, by appointment, will continue at her new offices in Kent House, Rom- ney Place. Go
towww.helengrant.org.uk for
details of future events and surger- ies.
Doctor wins prize for research into paper mill
thrived and expanded, despite bas- ing its activity on an apparently technologically obsolete process. It continued making paper by hand well into the 20th century.” The Hasted Prize is awarded in
two parts: £1,000 goes directly to Dr Green; the remaining £2,000 will help towards publishing her thesis.
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