downsmail.co.uk SINCE I retired as editor of the


Ambulances now a 999 case MailMarks


DownsMail, I havemaintained close links to continue coverage and campaigning for quality local NHS services. Operating and financing them offer


great challenges.At times things go wrong, but I believe I am just one of the vast majority of the 250,000 population of the Maidstone area who sing the praises of just about all these services, and who have good reason to be very grateful. That makes writing this month’s column so sad. For years I held our ambulance service in high esteem, but now too much goes wrong – and this is happening at the very sharpest end of our emergency services.We are talking life or death maers. Things seemed good when Maidstone


had its ownwell-manned ambulance station and enough vehicles to respond speedily to demands. Management and responseswere largely in local hands. But big changes saw the South East


Coast Ambulance Service (SECamb) set up to cover an area from Hampshire to Kent. Local stations closed and ambulanceswere strategically and mostly individually positioned to provide cover. Then the NHS introduced the 111 phone system. Month after month the service missed targets on the most crucial category of emergency calls. The 111 system (operated locally by SECamb) had a disastrous start. It has improved, but still offers frustrations to those calling an ambulance because of all the questions when speed is of the essence. The service has now come under local


DENNISFOWLE President dfowle2011@aol.com


and national microscopes – and is too often failing. The national press has conducted undercover investigations, and some of the shortcomings are appalling. Staff, faced with rationing the services, have to make life or death decisions. Locally the budget-holding GP-led Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCG) in Kent have lost patience. An investigation revealed significant shortcomings and “serious incidents”, which raised concerns about SECamb’s internal governance. Sadly only 33% of staff recommend SECamb as a place to work. The CCG now plans contractual “disaggregation” so the service operates across individual counties, and nationally the NHS has announced amajor review of the 111 phone service. I think stronger management will help – but suspect this is more about funding.





Our love affair with cars NEWreports on improving traffic


flows inMaidstone during the next 15 years make fascinating reading, but how can Maidstone and Kent councils convince motorists to dampen our love affair with cars? They would like to see uswalk, cycle, car-share and use public transport more


and there are carrots and sticks to convince us. Probably the biggest stick is the certainty of much slower journeys as major new residential and business developments increase the number of cars and lorries. Then there is the likelihood of parking charges increasing by at least 50%. The carrots include an improved park- and-ride service, with a new site possible at Linton crossroads and an extended 15- minute service for all sites. There could be a £3 parking fee, with these bus journeys free to all. Canwe expect any big new roads? The Leeds/Langley bypass from FourWents to M20 J8 is still on the cards, but that’s it. The reports detail junction and roundabout improvements, limited road widening andmajor changes to the town centre bridge gyratory system. But the urban area is not structured for anything really radical. So will traffic logjams and much higher parking fees persuade us to switch to public transport, cycling orwalking? It seems this is happening to aworthwhile degree in towns similar to Maidstone. But for many, especially those living in


our rural areas, the car is essential to working and private life. Our shops and other businesses will fight for its survival in town. We all know something must be done –


but the right balances will be very testing. Planners must permit adequate parking


for all developments. Lack of parking cannot be aweapon to ease traffic flow.


Chinese trek for African school


A CHARITY fundraiser is swapping the flatlands of Yalding for the hills and dales of China to help needy chil- dren in Africa.


Karen Di Marco, trustee of the char- ity GamBLE (Building Links in Educa- tion) will be trekking 40km along the Great Wall to raise money for the char- ity, which supports the village of Farato in The Gambia.


Karen and husband Tony began helping the villagers build a school and educate their children after honey- mooning there 15 years ago. They make regular trips to Farato,


Hay bale blaze


FIREFIGHTERS were called to a tractor and trailer when four tonnes of straw bales caught alight in Marden. The trailer was close to the junction of Stilebridge Lane and Underwood Lane when the blaze began.


For more local news 32


along with other charity supporters, taking stationery and supplies for the school, where they help with the teach- ing and music and also practically, on building projects.


Karen (left), who is almost 65 years old, sets out on Septem- ber 12 and the trek will involve walking for more than 30 hours over five days, along a stony, often


steep and sometimes slippery path. Karen said: “It will be a demanding


but also very rewarding experience. I aim to raise at least £2,000 for GamBLE to build homes for the vendors in the school who sell food to the pupils.” At present, the stallholders use makeshift stalls and, in the rainy sea- son, they are exposed to the wind and the rain. The money will help to pro- vide a solid structure from which they can sell their food hygienically. Last year Karen raised more than £2,000 by cycling from London to Brighton and three years ago she raised £1,500 by walking 60 miles of the Stour Valley. Anyone who wants to sponsor


Karen’s latest feat should go to her site at uk.virginmoneygiving.com. People can also lend their support at the annual GamBLE Sunday lunch bar- becue at Thatchers, Benover Road on Sunday, August 30.


There will be music from Childe Rolande, The Relative Minors and Vil- lage Voices. Tickets are £7 in advance or £8 on the door, with family tickets priced £20 (£25 on the day).


There will be music, games and a Gambian craft stall, starting from noon. For further details, visit www.gam- ble.co.uk


The Two Gentlemen of Verona Changeling Theatre, Upnor Castle THIS is one of two touring shows Changeling Theatre is bringing to the Maidstone area this year.


Wrap up warm for this Shakespearean romp JOHN


www.downsmail.co.uk Maidstone South August 2015


Rob Forknall has repeated the suc- cess of last year’s Romeo and Juliet, with the same two leading actors, Jes- sica Rose Boyd and Ben Wiggins. This year Ben plays the rather nasty Pro- teus. Jessica is the badly-treated Julia. Naturally in a Forknall production,


MUNSON SHOW TIME


all the cast play instruments and sing and dance. No, they are not insuffer- able, they are lovely.


There is also a dear little dog, car- ried by my favourite character


Launcelot, played by Peter Dukes. Peter also gets to involve the audi- ence, which he does brilliantly. The whole show was a wonderful, youthful romp through this early Shakespearean play. Costumes in this outdoor production looked warm and practical. The lighting kicked in ex- pertly as the sky darkened. Do take a thick coat and a blanket.


The next performance at Boughton Monchelsea Place is on August 15.


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