News Removal of
antennae MEMBERS of Thurnham Parish Council are to ask Maid- stone Council to consider adopting a “removal policy” covering mobile phone masts. Their comments follow anap- plication by Vodafone to add extra antennae to its metal mast at Friningham. Cllr John Horne said: “Can
we ask Maidstone Council if there are any redundant anten- nae that they can be removed? The key question as to who is responsible for their removal seems never to have been an- swered.” Cllr Richard Smith agreed the question should be put to Maidstone Council, and to Vodafone and other companies. He added: “Assuming that a communications companywere to cease trading, there needs to be a legal commitment for the antennae to be removed by someone, or we could end up with scrap metal all over the countryside.”
Read our archived editions FREE at
downsmail.co.uk
Air ambulance hoping to secure central base
KENTAir Ambulance is on the move – and looking to take roost at a new base between Yalding and Paddock Wood.
The air ambulance service began
in 1989 and has been based in Pat- tenden Lane, Marden since 2000. A second depot opened on the Surrey/Sussex border seven years later, switching to Redhill in 2013 to enable a night-flying service. The charity, which covers the
three counties of Kent, Surrey and Sussex, hopes to consolidate its op- eration in a £7.5m move to Old Hay Airfield, off Willow Lane, near Laddingford. The charity expects to submit a planning application to Tunbridge Wells Council within the next few weeks in the hope of having the new base up and running by 2017. The new location would mean
www.downsmail.co.uk “We have reached a landmark mo-
the air ambulance could reach any destination within 25 minutes. The air ambulance has almost doubled its work in the past five years and running two bases is proving not to be cost-effective. Chief executive Adrian Bell said:
Five charities share £22k after canalwalk
TWO Kent businessmen have walked 150 miles along the Grand Union Canal, raising more than £22,000 for five different charities. Bearsted residents David Bracey
and Desmond High walked the route from Birmingham to London in just five days. Co-founder of The Fountain Workshop, David pledged to do something to raise awareness of testicular cancer after receiving treatment for the disease. They finished thewalk at King’s
Cross, where theywere greeted by friends, family and representatives from their chosen charities. Each day of the walk was dedi-
cated to a different charity: Orchid – working on behalf of anyone affected by male cancer; The Primary Club – a cricketers’ charity that helps to provide sports and recreational facilities for the vi- sually impaired; The Quest School in Paddock Wood – for children with autism; Lupus (UK), which supports re- search into this incurable illness; Fields of Life – a Kent charity promoting clean water, education and health in East Africa. David and Desmond met 10
18 Maidstone East January 2016
years ago in their roles as colts’ managers at Bearsted and Linton Park cricket clubs. David said: “This was the hard-
est thing I've ever done. However, my body will recover eventually and there are many people in the world suffering from illnesses from which they will never re- cover. “It is for them that we have
raised awareness and money. Thanks go to all our sponsors for all the generous support they've shown. “After five days of gruelling slog
from Birmingham to London it was fantastic to be welcomed back by representatives from the chari- ties and from friends and families when we arrived at King's Cross.” Desmond said: “Doing one 30-
mile walk would have been fine but to be getting up the following morning for four days to do the same again was the real challenge. We have had great support from family, friends and business col- leagues and are delighted that we have already raised more than £4,000 for each of the five deserv- ing causes.”
Adrian Bell and director of operations Leigh Curtis
ment in our history. Old Hay Air- field represents a once-in-a- lifetime opportunity for the Kent, Surrey & Sussex Air Ambulance to establish a resilient, sustainable base from which we can serve our community. “To maintain and improve our pioneering service to the commu- nity we have to invest in new, larger aircraft that will be able to give us the capability that a 21st- century operation demands. And in order to operate these aircraft ef- fectively, deploy our crews effi-
ciently and build the resilience and sustainability we need for the longer term, we must move to one central operating base.” Old Hay Airfield has the space needed for a helipad, hangar, con- trol room, related workspace and facilities for crew changeovers. Mr Bell said: “Our current heli- copters are sufficient by day but not best suited to support night op- erations.” If the move goes ahead, one of
the older helicopters is being re- placed with one that boasts a larger cabin giving the medical teams 360- degree access to every patient, plus, it will fly much further without the need for refuelling and is faster, so will be able to get casualties to hos- pital quicker. The 57-acre Old Hay airfieldwas
built privately in 1989 and is jointly owned by four flying enthusiasts. It is home to several vintage aircraft and the Kent Scouts Air Activities Group.
Putting the boots in
UNEMPLOYED residents may be able get a helping hand to put their best feet forward. Maidstone Council has opened a “boot bank” which will enable people
to take on manual work by giving them free work boots, which can be paid for at a later date. The money will then be used to buy more boots to keep the scheme going. The idea for the scheme came about when a group of agencies working to- gether to support homeless people in the town found that some people had been offered work, but could not afford the boots they needed to take on the job. Lordswood-based construction company Faithdean has agreed to kick-
Damien South presents boots to Cllr Marion Ring
start the scheme with a donation of 10 pairs of work boots. Director Damien South said: “I hope that providing some of the equipment needed to take on work will make a real difference.” Cllr Marion Ring, chairman of Maidstone Council’s communities, hous-
ing and environment committee, said: “Some of the barriers that people face to get back into work can be very simple to overcome with just a lit- tle innovative thinking, and the boot bank has the potential to help some of those in most need.” Those using the scheme initially will be those with a local connection
who have been referred by local support agencies. Any companies able to donate boots or protective equipment to the scheme, can email
housingadvice@maidstone.gov.uk.
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