downsmail.co.uk
Keep election clean, please MailMarks
JUST in case it missed your aention
there is a general election in lile more than six months – and already the local press is on its guard for the dirty tricks brigade. The Downs Mailwelcomes tough and
honest political campaigning on significant issues that will fill the party manifestos – but warns readers to be very aware of personal aacks on candidates. They have started already – with
renewed aempts to smear Maidstone andWeald Tory MP Helen Grant over her parliamentary expenses linked to her residential and office accommodation 18 or so months ago. I investigated these at the time and reported allwas in order.With recent aempted smears I delved even more deeply. The Kent Messenger has investigated aswell. Newspapers, in considering leers to
the editor, have to guard both themselves and their correspondents against charges of libel. That is just one reason why journalists need to be in the know. I think most local parties will play fair.
The Lib Dems’ record is not so pure and I welcome leader Nick Clegg’s conference statement that they are the party of
Communication problems
Dear Sir – I agree with Dennis Fowle (Mail Marks) about the superb facilities at TunbridgeWells Hospital, in Pembury, but they have a serious communication problem caused by the facilities. My wife spent three weeks in Pembury
in 2012 in an en-suite room with helpful friendly staff who responded promptly to calls for help – but unfortunately I was unable to find what was wrong with her. Nursing staff were busy dealing with patients in their rooms so no one was available to talk to. I was reduced to standing in the corridor and grabbing a passing nurse or doctor to ask questions – which they usually could not answer as they were in a hurry dealing with a patient. I only once talked to a doctor after admission, who too was in a hurry dealing with another patient. My wife was discharged after three
weeks but I still had no idea of her problem, except that it involved a stomach operation, nor of the possibility of a pulmonary embolism from which she died suddenly three days later. It was a traumatic, unexpected experience for us. I did report the problem via PALS, who admitted the problem, but I have never had a further response. In Maidstone Hospital there is always someone to talk to on the wards. Nelson Bowker, Kingswood
Contact our team ...
Stephen Eighteen Editor
stephen@downsmail.co.uk 01622 734735 ext 231
38 Maidstone East November 2014 Diane Nicholls
Assistant editor
diane@downsmail.co.uk 01622 734735 ext 232
Jane Shotliff Journalist
jane@downsmail.co.uk 01622 734735 ext 233
Dawn Kingsford Journalist
dawn@downsmail.co.uk 01622 734735 ext 233
DENNISFOWLE President
dfowle2011@aol.com
“decency”. I amsure local Lib Dem Leader Cllr FranWilson will echo that.
Power point I HAVE done bale with my supplier
Southern Electric. It is another worrying power company story. For years I had a monthly bank direct
debit of £100 and usually Iwas comfortably in credit.We have not seen a meter reader for years andwe worked on a system of estimations and occasional phone calls with precise readings. Recently Iwas notified my direct debit
was increasing to £149. I complained that this figure was reached on estimations and, because there had been no recent increase in charges, meant our consumption had jumped by 49%. My first phone callwas very tough and difficult as Southern Electric tried to put me down. But I gave it the current reading – and a very tough time. The first
Electric cars the future
Dear Sir – I read your story in your previous edition about the proposal for power points for electric Tesla cars in Eclipse Park, near M20 Junction 7, with interest. I am a Tesla S driver living just around
the corner from Mr Ellis in Newenden Close, Vinters Park, from where I run a chauffeur company, Airports 24-7. In fact, the company I work with has 34
of these fantastic cars based in Strood but covering journeys from the whole of Kent. It specialises in airport transfers but we do also run a Tesla rental service: the very first in the UK and with the very first licensed fully electric supercar. The charging points are supplied and installed by Tesla themselves so at no cost to anyone. Tesla also promises to give free electric to all its car drivers. This would obviously be very beneficial
to myself and the company, but the whole point of the charging points is to attract drivers of Teslas to come to the area and charge their vehicles, which takes 45 minutes, giving a range of about 300 miles on the car. During this charging time people will be
in the area shopping at places such as the new Next superstore, due to open very soon.With the M20 a stone’s throw away, this is an ideal place to install the chargers.
resultwas they said the figure should be £138. I continued the query. Now I am told the figure is £116. The company also gaveme a long list of
dates when meter readerswere supposed to have called. There is usually someone at home andwe could not accept their claim. I asked why cardswere not left for us to fill in the reading and return by post. I amtold this is the instruction to their readers. I have now suggested it investigates the system in this area. It all leaves a rather unpleasant taste.
Weather overloads CAN anyone explain why BBC TV
South East invests time and money in a localweather forecast to be followed immediately by a very full national forecast? There is so much news and sport to report.
Lout lesson I LOVE the story of a couple of chaps
on a train to Maidstone who removed at Barming one evening a drunken lout who was annoying passengers. Hewas told to sort himself out and
catch the next train an hour later. Good on them.
Also, let's not forget that they could be a massive benefit in the future. If we want to protect the natural environment this would be a way for Maidstone Council to show that it cares about our future and our children's future. David Bradford, Newenden Close, Vinters Park
Check speeding facts
Dear Sir – I write regarding the article about speeding discussed in the last edition of the Downs Mail. I contacted Thurnham Parish Council
(TPC), as well as KCC and the borough councillor in early September about this issue. Initially having no reply, I was invited to attend a meeting but was abroad at the time, so was unable to comment. TPC's response is unfair and non- constructive. I asked for proper monitoring of Thurnham Lane to get a factual representation of this issue. Having members claim to have walked the route at different times is not a true reflection and is unhelpful. The “interactive” 30mph sign rarely
works and isn't clear from the road. I am unsure how setting a 20mph speed
limit in this area is “self-defeating”. I asked TPC to consider enforced speed- calming, not setting a limit. Villages in
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