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downsmail.co.uk Medics save heart aack driver


AMANwhosuffered a heart attack at the wheel of his car inWateringburywas saved by hospital staff whowere in vehicles behind him. Peter Rabbatts (62)was driving to


work through the village when he collapsed.Whenhis car failed to pull away as the traffic lights changed, the two medics became concerned and ran to help him. Paediatric oncology nurse Helen


Stevens and occupational therapist Chloe Joseph, who work for Maid- ston and TunbridgeWells Hospital Trust, each had an instinct that something was wrong. Discovering that Mr Rabbatts had no pulse and wasn’t breathing, Helen began CPR, supported by Chloe, while a mem- ber of the public called for an ambu- lance and helped to direct traffic. As Chloe took over the chest com- pressions, the hospital trust’s med- ical director Paul Sigston came on the scene and assisted with CPR.


When the ambulance arrived, he continued to offer medical support as Mr Rabbatts was taken to Maid- stone Hospital. Mr Rabbatts, from Grove Green,


said: “The last thing I remember is waiting at the lights on the A26 when I started to experience intense chest pains, and putting my hand- brake on. The next thing I remember is waking up in hospital and being told that I’d suffered a heart attack.” His wife Jane said: “Itwas nothing


short of miraculous how circum- stances ensured that Peter received the best treatment possible when he suffered a heart attack. What were the chances of there being two health professionals in cars behind Peter, who had both been trained in CPR? Then you throw in the presence of


Stars take on locals


TESTON Cricket Club captain Steve Coley holds a shirt signed by the Lashings All Stars after being named man of the match in a fixture to launch the club’s new pavilion at Barham Court. Coley took four wickets in one over to destroy Lash-


ings’ middle order, but the visitors, who between them have more than 1,000 international caps, tri- umphed in the end. Sport England awarded Teston £50,000 towards the pavilion. Pictured with Coley is ex-England all-rounder Phil de Freitas, who skippered the Lashings XI.


Apology for


supercar jams LEEDS Castle has apologised for the traffic chaos caused by its Supercar Siege event. The event, which attracted a


record 7,500 people, caused major congestion and tailbacks on the M20. Astatement issued by Leeds Cas-


tle admitted it “got it badly wrong” with its underestimation of atten- dance. It said: “Ahuge apology to any of


you who got caught up in the traffic tailbacks or were otherwise incon- venienced as a result of our super- car event. “We’ve held this event for several


years and it normally attracts about 5,000 people. Our normal proce- dures, staffing, car parks and so forth are usually more than ade- quate to accommodate the visitors without too much disruption. This yearwe got it wrong.” It has promised that all reserve car


parks will be open and extra staff will be on hand to assist the next time the event is run.


Formore local news 26


www.downsmail.co.uk Maidstone Town August 2015


Objection to houses


WESTERHILL Homes has applied to build six terraced blocks compris- ing 24 homes east of Tovil Green. The proposal makes amendments to a scheme for the land that was re- fused in July 2013, for the same number of homes but in four blocks. The new plan reduces develop- ment along Tovil Green Lane and provides a footpath for Tovil Green and Burial Ground Lane. There would be 37 parking spaces. A supporting statement said: “The proposals require removal of broadleaved semi-natural wood- land, dense scrub and tall ruderal vegetation across the site.” There were a number of objections posted on Maidstone Council's web- site. One neighbour wrote: “We moved into our house in the 1950s when there were little more than 30 homes in the entire area.


“Since then we have had the addi- tion of who knows how many houses, when you add up Higham Close, Launder Way and its off- shoots, Pine Place, Millstock Terrace, Bridgeside Mews,


Allnutt Mill


Close, Tovil Green Court and The Meadows to name but a few. “The total must be reaching 300- 400 homes, most with in excess of two to three cars each. In all that time we have gained nothing in amenities for the area; if anything we have lost them.


“This area has been filled to ca- pacity over the last 20 years and if the council keeps allowing more and more houses to be built, especially without the inclusion of local ameni- ties the whole area will suffer and become a no go area due to being gridlock with traffic the entire time.” Maidstone Council will decide.


Plan to convert offices to homes OFFICES at 11 Romney Place, Maidstone could be converted into four flats. A planning application, which includes the demolition of an outbuilding and a rear single-storey extension, would enable the applicant, Systems Analysis Design & Support (Sads), to relocate elsewhere in the town centre. Maidstone Council will decide.


the trust’s medical director, and the miracle is complete.” MrRabbatts said: “Thanks to their prompt actions, I arrived at Maid- stone Hospital’s A&E department alive.We cannot thank them enough –my survival is down to them.” Another passer-bywhowas on his


way to work, also stopped at the scene and used his first-aid training from his work as a special constable. Mr Sigston said: “We are so pleased that Peter is making a good recovery. Fortunately, because my colleagues responded so quickly to Peter’s cardiac arrest, further treat- ment could be provided by the para- medics when they arrived. It is at moments like this that one appreci- ateswhyeveryone should be trained in basic life support.”


Peter Rabbatts with Paul Sigston and nurse Helen Stevens


£1,000 fine cost


of fly-tipping A MAIDSTONE business owner has been fined £1,025 after being found guilty of fly-tipping. Steven Tang, of The Mermaid


Fish Bar in Union Street, pleaded guilty at Maidstone Magistrates Court after a prosecution by Maid- stone Council. The environmental enforcement


team was alerted to commercial waste being fly-tipped in Union Street in November 2013. Having established that commercial waste was being added to domesticwaste collections, the officers went to the scene at 4am one morning to iden- tify the person responsible. A number of businesses and res-


idents in the Union Street areawere contributing to a bigger problem with waste at that time. After fixed penalty notices and warnings, along with education work , the fly- tipping stopped in February 2014.


Flats scheme TWO blocks of five flats could be built on the site ofUKVehicle Sales at 16 Old Tovil Road, Maidstone. A planning application says the


development would have a similar frontage to existing buildings, limit overlooking and contain a central amenity space for residents. An objection was lodged by a neighbour, who wrote: “There is not enough provision of off street parking for the five residencies, es- pecially as there is very limited on- street parking on Old Tovil Road. “The rear building will blight the residences of Woodville Road; light is already limited due to the super- market building and this develop- ment would impact the quality of these rear gardens.”


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