downsmail.co.uk What may be government policy does not


make it right in all instances. There is always the exception to the rule. This school is not wanted, is in a very bad location in a small lane and the building is inadequate and inappropriate. The Education Funding Agency, Kent Education and Jubilee Church members organised this between them. Through the Freedom of Information Act, the original emails reveal that the EFAdid notwant the school to advertise or make the community aware of this property deal until itwas completed as there would be opposition from residents. The communitywas never consulted or informed of the situation. It would never havewelcomed it. Let’s hope Maidstone Council’s planning commiee does the right thing and throws out the application.With an election coming up, let’s see who will be brave and promise to vote against the application. One last thing (from Kent Independent Education Advice) – Swedish education minister Bertil Ostberg is reported to have said in a widely quoted interview: "We have actually seen a fall in the quality of Swedish schools since the free schoolswere introduced. The free schools are generally aended by children of beer-educated and wealthy families, making things even more difficult for children aending ordinary schools in poor areas." He added: "Most of our free schools have


ended up being run for profit." Barbara Skinner, Fant


Goodbye to Cobtree friends


Dear Sir – Earlier this year I resigned from my job as a ranger at Cobtree Manor Park due to stress. I left suddenly, without saying goodbye to


all the wonderful visitors to the park who I had got to know over the years. These people became good friends, but I only knew their first names (and the names of their dogs!), but they know who they are. I justwant to thank them dearly for all the support they gave tome and to my work – it made it all worthwhile. Eva, ex-Cobtree Ranger


DAMAGE was caused to a sign and vehicles parked on a building site in Beaver Road, Allington. A Peugot 206was scratched all over in


the car park of a block of flats in St Peter’s Street. A black and green Carrera bicycle which


had been chained to a bike rack inWeek Streetwas stolen. CCTV is being viewed. Cleaning equipmentwas taken from a premises in Barker Road, Fant. A Citroen parked in Grecian Street had a


tyre slashed. Two cars parked in Wheeler Street were damaged when they were covered with an oily substance. A purse and contentswere taken from a premises inWeek Street. A vehiclewas scratched in Rowland


Close, Fant. The number plateswere taken from a


vehicle in St Philip’sAvenue. A mobile phonewas taken from a premises in Barker Road, Fant. A mountain bike was stolen from a bike


rack to which it had been locked outside the shops in King Street.


Bypass v old firs


Dear Sir – In theAugust Downs Mail a mentionwas made about whowas going to finance the Leeds-Langley bypass. Mr Schroeder says he would finance the bypass if the planners would let him build a village in Kingswood. This would make sense – pulling out old fir trees instead of building on the Green Belt. DavidA Last, by email


A spokesman for Maidstone Council said: “The driver of a licensed vehicle must not smoke in the vehicle at any time, including when being used for social, domestic and pleasure purposes. “The driver of a licensed vehicle shall not


permit any other person or fare-paying passenger to smoke in a licensed vehicle. This is a requirement of the Health Act 2006. “Any instances where this is reported as


taking place should be reported to the EHO enforcement team.”


Cancer care superb


Dear Sir – Last December Iwas diagnosed with advanced metastatic prostate cancer, aggressive and with no cure. Having read Dennis Fowle’s article about Maidstone Hospital (September 2015, issue 221), I should like to share my experiences. The service in the oncology department


Cabbie smoking illegally


Dear Sir – It would appear that Maidstone Council does not care that its licensed taxi drivers are commiing an offence and smoking in their vehicles. I sent my complaint to Maidstone Council


one month ago and, despite its promise, I have heard nothing further. The driver had just left Maidstone Hospital and clearly believed that, as the cigareewas being held out of the window therewas nothing wrong. The photograph shows the driver held a lit cigaree out of his window – presumably believing this did not mean hewas smoking inside the car. Of course each time he inhaled, itwas inside the car and so contravening the law. If Maidstone Council condones this, it too is liable for prosecution. Many of your readers must have similarly spoed taxi drivers smoking illegally, but may not have brought this to the aention of Maidstone Council. The council should take appropriate action


and stop this abuse for the benefit of taxi users – especially the non-smokers. Name and address withheld


has been absolutely excellent. The staff are so pleasant and nothing seems too much trouble. I amkept fully informed of personal medical information and there have been a number of occasions when I have been telephoned at home with important test results or purely to see how I am. One has the distinct impression of staff who are not just consummate professionals but compassionate by nature and caring towards their patients. To say I amalways impressed would be puing it mildly. Regarding my own journey on the prostate cancer pathway, yes, there are times when the reality hits, but there is tremendous comfort and reassurance from knowing that there is very real help to be had from Maidstone Oncology. All I have to do is pick up the telephone and ring my allocated nurse. That is worth a lot. At a time when the National Health Service frequently receives a bad press, I would like to balance the situation by highlighting the incredible service I have experienced at Maidstone Hospital oncology department, following a thorough diagnosis by the urology department, always on time and pleasant. To my mind, the service has been second to none. Warren Hanlon,Ware Street, Bearsted


NeighbourhoodWatch Working to reduce crime. Call Crimestoppers 0800 555 111 or local police A BMX bicycle and a Saracen mountain


bike were stolen from the driveway of a home in Postley Road. A bicyclewas stolen from a car park in


King Street. The back door of a property in Old Tovil


Roadwas damaged but no entry was gained. A mountain bike was stolen from outside


a shop in Union Street. A mountain bike was stolen from a


driveway in College Road. CCTV shows it was taken by a teenage boy in a tracksuit and hoody. An unlocked green Pinter bicyclewas


stolen from the front of a home in Florence Road, Fant. Metal flower potswere stolen from the


front garden of a property in Pickering Street, Loose. A Mercedes vanwas broken into in


Boxley Road.A Panasonic camera, a Pioneer sat nav system and a golf bag containing clubs and other equipment were stolen. A bag left outside a property in Fisher


Streetwas stolen. The fuel cap of a carwas damaged in a


car park in Sandling Road. A parked vehiclewas entered in Darwin


Avenue and a mobile phonewas taken. A vehiclewas damaged in Lynley Close.


ALARM NOT WORKING? WE SERVICE ALL MAKES & MODELS


CALL 01622 880751 ALARMS & SECURITY LTD


Maidstone Town October 2015 33


Comment


Crime reports


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48