downsmail.co.uk
‘Give elderly own parking’
LOCALMPHelen Grant is to take up the plight of older people who have problems with car parking. Although most public car parks
and supermarkets now make wider spaces available for mothers with toddlers and the disabled, not all older people are disabled – but still need more space to get in and out of their cars. The Maidstone and Weald MP
was spurred into action by a letter from a lady in Vinter’s Park, who wrote: “We are not disabled, just pensioners. Most pensioners need a bit of extra space to get in and out of a car. I personally have to open the door fully, so as to swing both legs out and get both feet on the ground before standing up. “Some of my neighbours need a
hand to get from a seated position, especially in a car, to a standing one.” The writer admitted that she
often used the parent and child bays in supermarket car parks where spaceswere tight.However, she has been on the receiving end
of “flak” from some parents. “Iwas thinking that carrying a badge which said 'I am a pensioner and need extra room to exit my car, thank you for understanding' per- haps would help,” she added. The MP has already spoken with
Tesco in Tovil and Sainsburys in Romney Place and is in touch with Age UK and the local authorities. Neither Sainsburys nor Tesco said it would tackle the issue. However, Mrs Grant wants to
hear from anyone who experiences problems and said: “If there is ap- petite for change then we should see to it that something is done.” The MP can be contacted by post
at her constituency office at Maid- stone East Station Forecourt, Sta- tion Road, Maidstone, ME14 1QN, or you can send an email to
helen.grant.mp@
parliament.uk.
Do you think the elderly should have their own dedicated wide parking spaces? Contact the Downs Mail editor by post or on
stephen@downsmail.co.uk
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County president Colin Leggat presents the shield to members Stephen Paine, Lucy Clements and Samuel Jenkins at the Kent YFC CountyAGM
Young farmers’ club success
NORTH Downs Young Farmers’ Club, based in Maidstone, has won a silver shield for increasing its club membership. The club grew from just six members in 2013, to 18 members in Sep-
tember 2014 – a three-fold increase and the largest growth of member- ship in Kent. Club chairman Louise Paine (18), said: “In spite of the name, you don’t
have to be a farmer to be a young farmer!” Young Farmers’ Clubs are open to anyone aged between 10 and 26 and
there are 20 clubs, with 520 members, across Kent. Theymeet regularly for social, educational and team-building activities, from training animals to night hikes, raft-building and kayaking. The North Downs group meets in Maidstone andWest Malling, with a
varied calendar of events, fromoutdoor adventure sports and barn dances, to showing animals at the Kent County Show. Of the 18 members in North Downs YFC, only three come froma farm-
ing background. Louise said: “We are a friendly andwelcoming club and are always look- ing for new members.”
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