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crime chief KENT’S police and crime commis- sioner will not face prosecution, even though she may have been driving without insurance when she crashed her car in Dartford, says awatchdog group. Ann Barnes’ Mercedes was in a collision with another car and then hit a tree on September 16. No one was hurt, but the Independent Po- lice Complaints Commission asked whether her journey between a shop and a meeting was for busi- ness or pleasure and if she had cover on other occasions during the previous six months. Mrs Barnes maintained: “When


my car was struck I was appropri- ately insured. The insurance com- pany has paid on the claim.” The CPS has confirmed the case


was “technical in nature” and fo- cused on whether the purpose of the journey was for business or pleasure, which remained unclear. In a statement, it added: “[We]


were not provided with sufficient evidence thatAnn Barnes drove the relevant vehicle on any other rele- vant occasion, which would be fun- damental to considering the matter in terms of alleged criminality. “We consider that it would not be in the public interest to prosecute.”


Prescription


improvement MORE details have emerged of a scheme to motivate Maidstone and West Kent GPs to improve control of prescribing medications and dressings. The plan also includes a signifi-


cant saving in these localNHScosts (£67m a year: 14% of the annual West Kent total budget). All GP practices will be encour-


aged by NHS West Kent Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) to participate in a scheme that will re- ward quality prescribing linked to sound patient healthcare. Annual savings of £1.2m are fore-


cast, largely through prescribing more generic drugs and fewer an- tibiotics and reviews of new oral anti-coagulants and erectile dys- function drugs. A points system of up to £1 per patient per year has been devised for rewarding GPs. The estimated cost inWest Kent is £370,000 in the first year.


Music finals


EIGHT talented students will com- pete for the Maidstone and Mid Kent Young Musician of the Year title to be held at the Hazlitt The- atre onWednesday, May 6. The contest, sponsored by The Cobtree Charity Trust, is organised by the Rotary clubs of Maidstone and Dawn Patrol. Tickets are avail- able from the box office.


26 Malling March 2015


downsmail.co.uk


Vinter’s Park may offer pet cremation service


TREASURED pets may soon be cremated at Vinter’s Park Crematorium.


Maidstone Council has agreed to introduce a pet cremation service – with a separate building and en- trance on New Cut Road – next to the existing crematorium, to raise money. There would be no pet burials on the site. It would cost about £670,000 to


set up, including provision of urns and memorials, plus trees and plants for a pet remembrance gar- den. A spokesman for the council


said: “The project is now subject to budget approval and planning con- sent. Our existing crematorium


service is highly respected and we understand its sensitive nature, so the new service would be provided in a separate building, some dis- tance away from the main chapel.” There is currently nowhere for


pets to be cremated in the Maid- stone borough, although there is a pet crematorium at Sandhole, in Malling Road, Snodland, which provides a service for the owners of most small animals. The council says this will be “pri- marily a local service to residents and businesses”. The cost of pet cremation can be between £40 and


£200, depending on the size of the pet and the options chosen. The council believes the service


could begin within 18 months. Cllr Dave Naghi, borough mem-


ber for East ward, is against the scheme. He said: “The access, which would be onto the heavily congested New Cut Road, would require bulldozing an acccess road through wildlife rich woodland. “The proposal would also seri-


ously affect the parkland and im- pact on rare and legally protected wildlife and semi natural ancient woodland.”


Arctic challenge raises charity cash


A HEALTH worker exposed to Arctic temperatures has been left with a warm glow after raising more than £2,600 for charity. Vicki Ingleson flew to Swedish La-


pland to dog sled for the Lymphoma Association. As a clinical trials officer at Maid-


stone Hospital, she joined 11 others in the challenge, facing sub-zero temperatures. She said: “I arrived at Kiruna Air-


port, where it soon became very ap- parent just how necessary the layers of cold weather gear would be.” On her first day, she learned how to harness her four dogs and to


“mush” a sled. Staying at a remote lodge, cooking her own food and navigating in the dark were among the other challenges. Vicki said: “The third daywas prob- ably the coldest, when we sledded


Search for town manager


THE search is on for a new town centre manager for Maidstone. The directors of Maidstone Town Centre Management are about to advertise the post left vacant by the retirement of Bill Moss, but two “eminently suitable” people have al- ready made an unofficial approach, TCM memberswere told.


The job profile has been revised


and recruitment plans were fi- nalised at the TCM board meeting. The post is likely to be advertised


on the Association of Town Centre Managementwebsite and locally. The TCM is also in the process of appointing a chairman to replace Paul Alcock, who resigned recently.


across a huge frozen lake called Sautosjärvi. The lake took about three hours to cross and we had a constant biting wind in our faces, so it was hard going, but the scenery was breathtaking. “My trip to the Arctic was physi-


cally hard work, and mentally chal- lenging, but an amazing experience and I would do it again in a heart- beat.” Anyone who would like to give to


the Lymphoma Association can do so at Vicki’s Just Giving page at www.justgiving.com/owner- email/pleasesponsor/Victoria-Ingle- son.


Friends’ quiz MAIDSTONE Hospital League of Friends is holding a quiz night at Larkfield Village Hall in New Hythe Lane at 7pm on Friday, April 25. The cost is £5.50 per person, with


a maximum of eight people per table. Guests can bring their own refreshments. To book call Pat Gaskin on 01622 726367.


‘Missing’ plaque to feature in garden


A PLAQUE removed from the Royal British Legion bungalows near Aylesford is in safe hands and destined to form part of the refurbishedwar memorial. Concerned reader Shirley Warrington


called the Downs Mail after noticing a commemorative plaque on the derelict properties in Hermitage Lanewas missing. We contacted Geoff Humphreys, head of property services for the RBLI in Ayles- ford, who confirmed the plaque was safe. Three were removed, but only one re-


mains legible after 92 years on the bunga- lows that will make way for a retail and


housing development. Mr Humphreys said the plaque would


be installed in the Garden of Honour, which is being upgraded. He added: “It is our intention to install


the plaque on the south wall of the old es- tate walled kitchen garden. This wall forms part of our new Royal British Legion Industries Garden of Honour, paid for by fund-raisers. “We hope to raise £100,000 to refurbish


thiswall, gates, steps and urns. Once com- plete, the plaque will be installed as a re- minder of the use of these cottages.”


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