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Your views on Brexit campaign MailMarks


 TWOmonths ago I explained in this col-


umn why I shall be voting for Brexit. It in- spired an unprecedented number of responses from readers and I will highlight a few.


 I encourage generations in my family to discuss the EU and with help from your articlewe all agreed the dark hand of the EU will cause increasing damage to our lives. The younger generations, all in small businesses,welcome the opportunities and challenges sovereignty will bring. PD, Bearsted.


 I’m out. Immigration is ruining our overcrowded country – a month for a GP appointment; hospitals under great pressure; granddaughter cannot get her preferred school place; Maidstone traffic problems grow every year; the country’s welfare bill is crippling so many of our vital services (elderly care, road maintenance etc). I love Europe – not the EU. J Taylor, email.


 Increasingly I do not recognise my lovely old Maidstone. Just travel along the Suon Road and gaze at the massive and intensive development. The local plan being enforced on us nationally means it will get much worse. This is all down to population growth


fired by the huge number of immigrants. In off-peak times I used to drive around the town with few delays. Now I question if Iwant to face these slow journeys at any time. I amrelieved when I hear people


Parking charges a done deal


Dear Sir –My father used to get official leers ending “Your obedient servant” – years later, the “'servants” have become our masters! At a packed meeting where the introduction of parking charges inWest Mallingwere discussed, the councilwent through the charade of allowing representations from the public and interested parties, heard of the thousands of signatures raised, the public upset and the problems it will cause for business. But the machines had already been put in, the vote already taken and even the appearance of the Lord himself would have made no difference. Parking charges are to be instigated.


Apparently, our masters equate us to


places like TonbridgeWells, with large stores, a high footfall and facilitiesWest Malling can only dream of. Their lack of honesty stopped them giving the true reason for these rises – the fact that the Tory government has cut their funding. So look out for being double charged for


other serviceswe thoughtwe'd already paid for through our rates and taxes. It’s fleecing


Contact our team ...


Simon Finlay Editor simon.finlay@downsmail.co.uk 01622 734735 ext 231


26 Malling May 2016 Diane Nicholls


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


Jane Shotliff Journalist


jane@downsmail.co.uk 01622 734735 ext 233


Dawn Kingsford


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


DENNISFOWLE President dfowle2011@aol.com


speaking English in my own town centre. Britain MUST CONTROL ITSOWN BORDERS.DWebb, email.


 The EU has so many intractable and growing problems that member nations will be expected to increase very high subscriptions to this troublesome, expensive club whose accounts are never certificated at audit. Let us get value for our precious money in Britain through sovereign control. Ex-pat Michael Raine, Athens.


 I cannot accept that ifwe vote for Brexit the rest of Europe will not wish to trade with us on sensible terms. I anticipate close co-operation still with our European friends – those are the messages reaching me from my many European contacts. I have always supported David Cameron – but the current vibes are not good. His stance is losing him so many friends. I think he is in for a devastating shock – he should now be preparing Britain for just that. RJT, Maidstone.


 I love our countryside and nature – but so much is set to be destroyed by the demands of immigration and population growth. So many friends see it thisway –


time again. Phil Granger, Alma Road,WestMalling.


Dispute over blood tests


Dear Sir – I recently called the Stocke Lane surgery in Coxheath for a blood test, requested by the hospital, and for another in connection with my diabetes. Iwas told by the receptionist that the surgery no longer co-operated with the hospital in taking blood. I pointed out that I was a patient of the surgery and that they had been taking tests for the hospital to monitor my condition every three months for over a year. After some argument the receptionist agreed that the surgery would take my blood on this occasion but not in future. On aending the surgery, I enquired as to


the reason andwas told that a lady with suspected scarlet fever had aended the surgery, but as the blood for the laboratories had already been collected shewas directed to the hospital as itwas considered that the maerwas urgent. The hospital refused to take the lady’s blood for analysis and so the Coxheath surgery and possibly others had decided not to co-operate with the hospital.


as I suspect do most of the 10m who watch BBC’s Countryfile everyweek. I thinkwe are the heart of Britain – and will be voting LEAVE. – Brenda Jones, Maidstone.


We knowwe cannot win a vote against other EU nations – so let’s get out and do our own thing. We will still have a seat at many highly significant international tables and our Commonwealth seems more stable than ever. TDJ,West Malling.


 Brexit wins two-and-a-half to a half in my book. The key issues are: controlling our own borders and limiting immigration (one point); regaining sovereignty to make our own decisions (one point); the immediate economic welfare of Britain, a controversy still to be decided (half point). Lionel Martin, TunbridgeWells.


Afterwe have voted to Leave, let’s make June 23 Britain’s Independence Day – with an annual public holiday to replace one of the two on the colder May days. Future generations will have good cause to celebrate. Emily French, Maidstone.


And one to Remain


 As a farmer my employer survives through grants from EU. Unless our Government assures farmerswe will receive replacement support I must vote to remain. I amsurprised so many of my farming friends tell me they will vote to leave. Michael J, Maidstone.


Two elements of the same NHS service


seem to be at loggerheads with each other. What is the point of having a single health service if they behave like this. Can it really be a question of cost? If so, surely it is cheaper for the surgery to carry out the taking of blood rather than have two appointments. Why should patients be inconvenienced because a surgery and the hospital are in dispute? The results of the blood tests are recorded


at the surgery and are also received by the hospital doctor, so why is it necessary to have a blood test at the hospital when it can easily be taken by the visiting phlebotomist? Colin Trelfer, by email


GP practices in west Kent do not routinely carry out blood tests ordered by the hospital and never have. In Maidstone and Malling, practices have a visiting phlebotomist to come in and take blood test samples that the GPs require. The person ordering the test is responsible for interpreting the result – so, in the case of a test ordered by the hospital, it will be the hospital doctor who needs to see the result and communicate with the patient and GP. Response by Dr Andrew Roxburgh,


Comment


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