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Ambulance closure threat
THE ambulance control centre in Maidstone is under threat due to the increased volume of non-ur- gent 999 calls. The Downs Mail reported last
month that South East Coast Am- bulance Service (SECAmb) had been receiving almost 150 more calls every day than last year. And now SECAmb trust says it
may have to move from three emergency operation centres (EOCs) to two, which will increase capacity and in turn staff num- bers. The trust is looking to locate the
two centres in Kent and on the Surrey/Sussex border, with a new headquarters to co-locate with the Surrey/Sussex EOC.
This could mean the closure of
the EOC in Heath Road, Coxheath, which employs 130 people. Acting assistant director of clin-
ical operations, Sue Skelton said: “Our EOCs have reached capacity. We are undertaking some reme- dial work to ensure that we can continue to provide a safe service in the short term but we do need to find a long-term solution to the problem within the next few years. “We have seen 999 calls increase
by 25 per cent since 2007 and with demand forecast to increase by five per cent year-on-year, we can’t afford to do nothing.” In the meantime, SECAmb has called on the public to consider their re- quirements before dialling 999.
Cheers for charity help
MEMBERS of Maidstone Mencap have received a cheque for £1,070 from Maidstone and Mid Kent branch of CAMRA who helped at the charity’s annual fete in Mote Park. The CAMRA team ran the real ale bar with beer donated by local
breweries and pubs. The presentation wasmade at the Stile Bridge, near Marden, which is the CAMRA branch’s pub of the year. Margaret Leeds, of Mencap, said: “Theymake a big contribution
every year and we are extremely grateful. Their bar is very popular with people who come initially for the ale, and while there spend money on our stalls.”
No decision on retail village
FOURmonths after Maidstone Council refused permission to redevelop Newnham Court village, Land Securities has told the Downs Mail it still hasn’t made up its mind about what it will do next. The development company’s proposal to bring chain stores including
Waitrose and Debenhams to a redesigned site, off the M20 at junction 7, along with 17 smaller shops and a new garden centrewas thrown out by the council’s planning committee on June 12. Committee members sided with officers, who felt the development
would have a detrimental impact on Maidstone town centre. Land Securities has six months to appeal from the date of refusal, but
ChrisWard, director of Land Securities, said thisweek: “No decision has yet been taken about an appeal and Land Securities continues to consider its options.”
Bill holds the fort at Leeds Castle
LEEDS Castle has a new custodian. Bill Lash has taken over temporar- ily as chief executive after Victoria Wallace’s move to the Common- wealthWar Graves Commission. Mr Lash has worked at Leeds
Castle since 2009, initially as oper- ations director and latterly as es-
tate director. Prior to that, he worked at Woburn Abbey after a career in the armed forces. An announcement about Mrs
Wallace’s successor is expected shortly. The new incumbent is ex- pected to be in place before Easter 2015.
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Maidstone Town November 2014 5 INDIAN T A KEA W A Y
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