News


downsmail.co.uk Hospital is safe, assures trust


FEARS that Maidstone Hospitalwas too small to survive an NHS shake- up have been put to rest.


The Department of Health (DoH), West Kent Clinical Com- missioning Group (CCG) and Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust (MTW) have all re- sponded to Maidstone Action for Services in Hospital (MASH ) with assurances about the future of Maidstone Hospital. Dr Bob Bowes, chairman of CCG,


says: “We share a clear view that the people of Maidstone deserve and should receive high-quality care, locally delivered where possible. “We are committed to the need


Road closure


THE B2163 Heath Road, Coxheath, will be closed on August 3, 17 and 31 2014 between 8pm and 5am, for five days from August 18 (west side of the crossroads) and for five days from August 26 (east side of the crossroads).


Extra learning


A NEW classroom may be built at St Margaret’s School in Collier Street.


Subject to KCC granting plan-


ning consent, the classroom would be built towards the north bound- ary of the school and be used by ex- isting staff and pupils.


for Maidstone Hospital to develop and have a long-term future and cannot envisage a situation where both Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells hospitals do not have anA&E department. Dr Bowes pointed out two signif-


icant NHS trends, one of which would localise many services as close as possible to where people live. But the other centralises some specialist services to achieve suffi- cient activity to ensure consistent high quality. “We willwork to ensure decision making is open, based on solid ev-


idence and achieves best outcomes for patients – both our hospital sites must succeed and excel,” he said. The DoH says powers to deal


with a failing hospital trust would only be used in extreme circum- stances and patients and public would have “a proper say”. It added the powers “cannot be used as a general approach for reconfig- uration of acute services – a process that is properly led locally by NHS commissioners”. MASH chairman Dennis Fowle


said: “These assurances are impor- tant andwelcome.”


Riverside run and ride raises funds


FLAMBOYANT fundraisers ran along the banks of the River Medway to raise money for Cancer Research. Helen Grant, MP for Maidstone and the Weald and


Minister for Sport, joined the merry band of almost 150 runners for the third year of the Maidstone Riverside Run and presented the prizes. The run is organised by Staplehurst resident Caron Holden in memory of her mother Sandra Briffa, who lost her own fight with the disease in 2010. The run raised £3,000 last year and it was hoped this


year’s event would exceed that. It starts with a train journey from Maidstone to Wateringbury and competitors run the 8.6k riverside


Helen Grant with organiser Caron Holden and two of the more flamboyant runners at the finish line


path back, finishing in Maidstone town centre. Helen said: “Caron’s event is a marvellous example of communities working together, having really healthy fun and raising much needed money for charity. I was so pleased that the weather was utterly glorious”.


August comeback for Vicar’s Picnic


THE musical extravaganza that is ‘The Vicar’s Picnic’ is returning to Yalding on August Bank Holiday weekend. Organised by local photographer


Dave King (pictured) on land at Cheveney, Vicarage Road – hence the name – the day-long music eventwas launched as a fundraiser for the Hospice in the Weald last year. It was so successful that several


of the inaugural bands have asked to return – and even more charities stand to benefit this time around. Burn Marilyn, a five-strong band


of Maidstone mates, headed up by Yalding’s Charlie Robinson and James Martin, is one of the headline acts, along with tribute band The


Hiwatts, and one of the UK’s premier eight- piece Ska bands, Skatonics.


Currently touring in the USA, The Wild- flowers will also


make a return appearance, along with newcomers to Yalding Mark Morris, the November Five and The Parkas. Opening the show will be Indie cover band Reptilia. In May, the Hiwatts and Skaton-


ics played together on the same bill on the Isle ofWight Dave said: “We are all pinching ourselves – we can’t quite believe what a brilliant line-up we have


achieved for our field in Yalding. It’s quite extraordinary. All our hard work is finally beginning to come together.” The event is one for all the fam-


ily, with children aged six and under admitted free and 7-16s half price. As well as daylong music, there


will be stalls, face painting, a drum workshop, bouncy castles, a food court with pop-up restaurant by Yalding’s underground chef, Hari Covert and a bar. Tickets are on sale from Yalding


Post Office, TheWalnut Tree, Yald- ing, and The Chequers, Ladding- ford.


Further information can be found onwww.vicarspicnic.co.uk


Oak saved


A PROPOSAL to remove a pro- tected oak tree at 18 Peter Pease Close, Kingswood, has been refused.


Maidstone Council’s decision no-


tice said there was no evidence to back up the applicant’s assertion that the treewasweak. The oakwas also noted for its “considerable amenity and biodiversity value”.


Stable conversion


A PLANNING application has been submitted to convert stables at the Kings Head in North Street, Sutton Valence, into a two-bed- room home. The scheme, which will be determined by Maidstone Council, includes the removal of a sycamore tree that is said to be damaging the stables.


More housing approved for Headcorn countryside


ANOTHER 20 homes are to be built in open countryside in Grigg Lane, Headcorn. Wealden Homes has been given outline planning permission to build 17 homes and three bunga- lows on land to the rear of The Hardwicks and Elizabeth House.


28 Maidstone South July 2014


The scheme includes a children’s nursery school, 40% affordable housing and 10% of energy cre- ated renewably. There will be a play area, 67 parking spaces and improvements to the junction of Oak Lane and Wheeler Street. The development will be an


extension of Wealden Homes’ scheme to build 25 homes to re- place Kent Cottage and Chance Holdings, granted planning per- mission in August last year be- cause Maidstone Council did not have a five-year land supply. Although the planning commit-


tee gave the go-ahead, a house- bound resident of The Hardwicks was less happy. The planning re- port summarised her comments: “If permission is granted her garden will overlook initially a building site and eventually the backs of other houses.”


Diabetes services


CONSULTANT-led specialist serv- ices for diabetes will be available in four locations in West Kent by December, says theNHSWestKent Clinical Commissioning Group. Staff from many GP surgeries


have completed specialist diabetes training so thatmore than 200,000 patients can receive services in the community rather than in hospital.


Monthly prescription


TOavoidwastage patients willnow be given prescriptions for a 28-day period but GPs have discretion to prescribe for longer.


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