downsmail.co.uk Four-storey facts
Dear Sir – In the recent Malling edition there is an article referring to protesting Wateringbury villagers with an artist’s impression of a two-storey building. The Greenstead proposal is for a four-storey building and it is the size of the buildingwe are protesting about. Your article conveys a message which is unfaithful to the truth and doesn't truly represent the issue in hand. If the proposalwas for a two-storey building I don't think there would be much protest. Peter Farr, The Orpines,Wateringbury
Picture misleading
Dear Sir – The picture in your article "Villagers protest over plan for care units", your story about the Abbeyfield Kent new 55 flat extra care unit, is of a two-storey building. The proposed building atWateringbury is
four storeys tall, a key reason for the widespread objections. It will be the largest building in the village. The top floor will look down into many residents’ bedrooms. The picture youwere given is most misleading. Dr Bob Bowie, The Orpines,Wateringbury
The artist’s impression does show two-storey units which are part of the scheme, but the report omits to state how many storeys there are. It was not our intention to misrepresent the issue. The choice of illustration was purely for editorial reasons.We believe the report reflects the strong feeling inWateringbury towards the proposal. However, we are more than happy to set the record straight through your leer. Response by Stephen
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), I would like to share my experiences. The service in the oncology department
has been absolutely excellent. The staff are so pleasant and nothing seems too much trouble. I amkept fully informed of personal
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Visitor centre is ‘finishing touch’ to park
Dee Laird and grandson Sonny are welcomed by chef Neil Smith
THE new Cobtree visitor centre has opened, greeting guests with a menu featuring local produce, walls covered with facts about the park, seating areas and toilets. The centre is called the Sir Garrard Tyrwhitt-Drake Visitor Centre after the founder of Cobtree Zoo, which was based at the park until 1959. It is open daily from 10am to 4pmand the park is open from 7am to dusk. The centre was funded by a £300,000 grant from the Cobtree Charity Trust, and follows a raft of
improvements to the Forstal Road park, including new play equipment, a running route and a sculpture trail. Those improvements saw the park re- ceive the coveted nationalGreen Flag Award for the first time in 2014, recognising its high standards and ex- cellent facilities. Trust chairman Roger Hext said:
“The recent improvements have made sure that the park is one of the borough’s most beautiful and popu- lar attractions, and the new centre is the finishing touch. It is a fitting trib-
ute to thememory of Sir Garrard who I am sure would have been very proud of what has been achieved.” Maidstone councillor Steve McLoughlin, chairman of the Cobtree Manor Estate Charity Committee, said: “The improvements to the park are enjoyed by more than a quarter of a million visitors each year. “The new visitor centre will be a
great asset to the park, giving visitors a place to meet for activities, find out more about the park, or enjoy lunch in beautiful surroundings.”
Malling October 2015 31
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 puing 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
No room for migrants
Dear Sir –At the momentwe see every available space being filled with houses and new estates springing up, while roads seize up, services are stretched and our National Debt continues to rise past £1,500,000,000,000, the interest being more than we spend on defence. Strangely, some of the people who
believewe should take more than the current 640,000 immigrants a year (330,000 net) also believe in keeping this country green, reducing pollution etc. This tiny island has more people thanAustralia, New Zealand and Scandinavia all put together and still those not having to endure the problems of overcrowding call for more immigration. There's a saying "Those whom the Gods
wish to destroy, they first make mad". The Government pretends all iswell, but a close look at the reality shows our continued subservience to the EU and refusal to address the very serious problems facing this country will take us down at the next down-turn.
Thenwe'll be no good to ourselves, let
alone immigrants. Phil Granger, Alma Rd,West Malling
Cabbie smoking illegally
Dear Sir – It would appear that Maidstone Council does not care that its licensed taxi drivers are commiing 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 cigareewas being held out of the window therewas nothing wrong. The photograph shows the driver held a lit cigaree 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 spoed taxi drivers smoking illegally, but may not have brought this to the aention 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
“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.”
Maidstone Council spokesman
Comment
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