downsmail.co.uk
Dog diseasewarning after cases reported
SEVERAL cases of a potentially- fatal dog disease have been re- ported in the Maidstone area. Alabama Rot, believed to be caused by a form of E-coli, starts with skin lesions and can cause kidney failure. An East Farleigh family lost their
two-year-old Cavalier King Charles Spaniel last year after a trip to Suf- folk. The dog died within five days of showing the first symptoms. Three cases have been reported
in the east of town, although the biggest concentration is in the Portsmouth area. The illness ap- peared in the late 1980s, affecting
greyhounds in America. There have been 65 confirmed cases of the disease in the UK since 2012. Veterinary specialists monitoring
the spread of the disease, officially called cutaneous and renal glomerular vasculopathy, say it does not target any specific breed, age, sex orweight of dog. Vets4Pets has produced an inter-
active guide for dog owners that can be found on itswebsite. It shows where in the UK con- firmed cases have occurred, how to spot symptoms and tips on reduc- ing the risk of infection. Although it is not known what
causes the complaint, dog owners are advised to wash their pets’ paws after a walk as a precaution, particularly if they have been in mud. The first sign normally seen is a
skin sore that isn’t caused by a known injury, most commonly below the elbow or knee. “Any dog owners who think their pet has Al- abama Rot symptoms should con- tact their nearest vet immediately,” said a spokesman. “This will help build knowledge
about the spread of the disease and also give a dog the best chance of survival.”
LED switch to bring brighter nights
ALL-night lighting will return to our streets following a decision by Kent County Council to invest in energy-efficient LED lights. The environment and transport cabinet committee heard the £40m investment would pay for itself within eight years and the no night light policywas unpopular. Work to convert Kent’s 118,000
street lights to LED will begin in March, with work in the Maid- stone area scheduled to start in September and be finished by the middle of November. Residential areas will be tackled
before town centres and main roads, with the work saving Kent taxpayers up to £5.2m a year on its lighting bill of nearly £9.5m.
It is hoped the majority of peo-
ple will support the new lighting levels and times. However, re- quests from parish councils and/or district councils for changes will be heard by the Joint Transportation Board, which will then make a recommendation to KCC’s cabinet member for envi- ronment and transport.
Access delays
homes plan A PROPOSAL for three homes in Ulcombe was deferred after the vil- lage primary school raised concerns about access. Lee Selling applied to build a de-
tached house and two semi-de- tached houses next to the school in The Street, but the schemewas con- sidered inappropriate because of the width of the access, currently a nar- row footpath. An objector felt highway safety
would be compromised, given the site’s location on a blind bend. The parish council raised an objec-
tion, citing the head teacher’s con- cern about the access situation. Pointing out the width of the cur-
rent access (pictured), Cllr Martin Cox, a member of Maidstone Coun- cil’s planning committee, said: “Howwould delivery lorries get in? It barely looks wide enough for a donkey, let alone a vehicle.” The committee opted to defer for discussion with Highway Services.
Albany Funerals “
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They are a class act. Good Funeral Guide ”
669 Loose Road, Maidstone ME15 9UX (off-street parking) 01622 746 688 (24 Hours) www.
Albany-funerals.co.uk
Maidstone South March 2016 21
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