News
More time to save surgery
A VILLAGE GP surgery under threat of closure has been given a six-month reprieve. Residents in East Peckham have
been fighting to save the branch surgery in Old Road after consulta- tion on its future began in Decem- ber. The service is run as a satellite by Paddock Wood-based Wood- lands Health Centre where patients from East Peckham would have to visit for appointments if it closed. The campaign was backed by Tonbridge and Malling MP Tom Tugendhat and East Peckham Parish Council. More than 600 sup- porters signed an online petition to save the surgery. The NHS has now sent a letter to
the practice, agreeing to postpone the process for six months to give the parish council time to find money to bring the premises up to its required standard so that the lease can be renewed. NHSEngland (South East) senior contracts manager David Selling wrote: “It is with reluctance we find ourselves in the position, as it formally stands today, that we
would have little option to accept the application to close as I under- stand there are no alternative sites the practice can identify. However, we note East Peckham Parish Council is potentially offering to support the practice with the fund- ing of improvements to get the premises into a condition whereby a new lease could be offered. Thus, NHS England would like to delay the process of closure for up to six months.” He emphasised the NHS did not
have any funding for the work but hoped the doctors could come to an arrangement with the parish coun- cil and the landlord. The parish council and GP prac-
tice are negotiating the extension of the lease with the landlord. Con- sideration was being given to whether modifying the building was possible, perhaps with parish council money, anonymous dona- tions, crowdfunding and fundrais- ing. The parish council would also look at alternatives such as the con- version of changing rooms at the Jubilee Hall or use of its land.
downsmail.co.uk Leap in memory of sister
STEPHEN Brown is planning an adrenaline-fuelled tribute to the sister he never knew. The 20-year-old from Leybourne will be making a 10,000ft parachute
jump for the charity that supported his parents after the death of his sister Helena, who would have been 25 this year. Stephen says: “I
want to raise money for charity and achieve a life goal before the scary age of 21 and decided to do this for Soft UK. “Soft UK was a new
charity at the time of Helena’s birth, and provided support and guidance formy parents. It’s Soft UK’s 25th anniversary in May, so I aim to raise as much as possible in Helena’s memory.” Helena was born in 1991 with the rare genetic disorder Edward’s
Syndrome. She was less than six months old when she died. Speaking ahead of his challenge, on March 26, Stephen. who is
pictured with his family, said: “I will be very excited to get up there. People have been very kind and I would like to thank anyone who has donated. It's something that I won’t forget and something that I am proud to achieve.” He also has the full backing of his proud parents, Sue and David, and
Soft UK. The charity’s developmentmanager Kirsty Bassett said: “We are so grateful to Stephen for taking on such a brave personal challenge. We know that support for siblings is an important part of Soft’s work and with Stephen’s help we will be able to reach even more children across the UK – children who have to cope with the death of their brother or sister.” Back Stephen
atmydonate.bt.com/fundraisers/stephenbrownskydive.
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www.thestonetilewarehouse.co.uk uk 12 Malling February 2016
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