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Local tax to support our NHS MailMarks 


WEcherish our “free” NHS health service


– but know it is far from totally free, becomes less free and will cost us more in future. We have long accepted most opticians’ and dentists’ work is charged … heavy costs of parking at hospitals…payment for prescrip- tion drugs… Government is now authorising a 2% in-


crease in council tax if ring-fenced to social care. This is closely driven by pressures on the NHS, especially hospital bed-blocking, a shortage of nursing home places and care in the community. After watching Government and the local


NHS and social care economies and councils struggle through desperately difficult finan- cial years I have no serious problem with these charges if they truly protect the health service and social care. One advantage of charging through coun-


cil tax is that generally, the heavier cost will fall on those best able to pay. As a Band G council tax payer I expect I need to find about another £5 a month. Now Government is taking this council tax


route I anticipate other charges will follow. For instance, could another 1% be added to


Traffic choking town


Dear Sir – Maidstonewas at one time a relatively easy place to access, park, shop and travel through. You could virtually guarantee to reach a destination on the other side of town from the south with reasonable accuracy at most times of day. People could commute into and out of the


town without the fear of being late for work, and kids could get to school on time in a safe, clean environment. Now as I write this from my home in Loose


I can only say I havewatched this town slowly diminish in terms of quality of life. It is a town that is fast becoming a jungle of new housing estates, without any real thinking about the effect on the quality of life. The list of decisions which affect quality of


life is endless. Loss of park and ride facilities has led to the town becoming choked with traffic. Increased use of traffic lights leads to more rat runs, and it is very noticeable how many people are jumping the lights. There is a lack of leadership at all levels when it comes to getting a south to north bypass (I suspect self-interested Nimbys are preventing that). Worst of all is the building of housing es-


tates on greenfield sites. There is no thought about providing the required infrastructure such as schools, GP surgeries and transport. Maidstone is not a town of the future but


one of a lost quality of life. Ask anyone in Maidstone about their quality of life in terms of the above, and I suspect the answers would be an overwhelming agreement that it has been badly affected and is to get worse. Nick Kelly, Loose


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26 Malling January 2016 Diane Nicholls


Assistant editor diane@downsmail.co.uk 01622 734735 ext 232


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Dawn Kingsford


Journalist dawn@downsmail.co.uk 01622 734735 ext 233


Pleasure to support Mencap


Dear Sir – One of the pleasures of being an MP is that I get the chance to see for myself the work of local charities, and when needed, lend support. Recently, I visited Maidstone Mencap,


which supports people with learning disabilities and is itself in need of support from the community. Iwas invited to join a card-making session. Squeezing into a lile nursery chair, I helped an enthusiastic three-year- old with her card. Therewere felt-tip pens, fluff, glue and googly eyes, but like my daughter, her favourite thing was glier. Maidstone Mencap provides services for individuals of all ages who have special needs. There’s also a youth club with table football, pool and a summer barbecue for teenagers; and regular bingo nights, quizzes and outings for seniors. They have special equipment including a sensory room and expert staff, aswell as commied volunteers. The service gives carers a much-needed


DENNISFOWLE President dfowle2011@aol.com


support our local hospitals or to finance im- provements in our seriously under-perform- ing local ambulance service? Is the time close when Government will


want us to pay a fee for GP appointments, a contribution towards surgery we elect to un- dertake (eg replacement knees or hips), hear- ing aids, preventive care and hospital meals? It is political dynamite, of course, but politi-


cians know the financial truth and at some stage they will have to reveal courage to sus- tain a health service under such pressure from increasing demands and costs and a rapidly- growing and ageing population. Calls on the Government purse are im-


mense. One way or another we are going to have to pay more to retain a high-quality health service. Just look at what residents of most other countries pay – and grit your teeth!


Wobbly welfare What a pity MP for Chatham and Ayles-


ford (also minister of sport) Tracey Crouch was advised to apologise for saying the cost of subscription television should not be counted when considering the level of state benefits. That should have been the starter for a


very long list. I believe it should include overseas holidays, cars, mobile phones and iPads etc… friends suggest many more. In Britain today, welfare ensures a fairer


and more compassionate society. Govern- ment now has a responsibility to try to achieve a living standard belowwhich no re- sponsible people should fall. The world has moved on since I experi-


enced my parents and other members of the family having to consider so carefully how every penny was spent to avoid the despair of poverty. I recall how my new pair of school shoes


was considered an exciting luxury. But I still look back on mostly very happy days. Many are convinced that Tracey Crouch


got it spot on.


break. One mother told me her child had loved the playgroup when shewas younger and had thrived as a result. Although her child is now at a mainstream school, she now volunteers for the charity. Mencap’s building, Cobtree Hall, is an


old church on the edge of Mote Park. It’s a lovely spot, particularly in summer when the children can play outside, but the building is in desperate need of repair. The lift is broken and the roof needs to be fixed. AndrewWells, the charity’s president,


told me the repairs will cost about £100,000. I’ll be supporting the charity in its campaign and I encourage you to get involved too. Visit maidstonemencap.org to find out how you can help. Helen Whately, MP for Faversham and Mid Kent


Cafe dog ban annoying


Dear Sir – Regarding your article on Cobtree Manor Park, I amalso amazed that dogs are banned from the cafe there. The thing that annoys me most is that it is claimed it is for hygiene reasons, but in the next few words it says “except guide dogs”. What can an ordinary pet bring in from outside that guide dogs can’t? People whowalk their dogs regularly


make sure they are properly trained and are clean andwell-behaved. I would never leavemy dog outside. I


used to go on holidays with her and most seaside cafes would let her in and she would always sit under my chair. P Durant, Flood Hatch, Tovil


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