downsmail.co.uk


diagnostics, pathology and phlebotomy clinical lead for NHSWest Kent Clinical Commissioning Group


Beach access for all


IAMthe founder of the disability awareness campaign Changing Impressions and have started a petition to enable disabled access to the beach and sea at a minimum of one beach per coastal county in England. As a special educational needs teacher


and twin to a brother with cerebral palsy, I am aware that individuals with mobility difficulties can miss opportunities in many aspects of life because of their needs. However, I do not feel that something as simple as going to the beach should be one of these. Poor access can be a problem during


family holidays as it can split up the family group when it is time to go to the beach. I don't feel that someone should have to miss out of this because of a mobility need. Many locations abroad are beginning to provide these services and I feel that in England they should become a more regular feature. As the petition stands at present, just


under 2,000 signatures have been gained since the end of February when itwas started. However, a further 8,000 signatures are required by the end ofAugust in order to make the government respond to the petition. There is still a longway to go. To sign the petition, please go to petition.parliament.uk/petitions/122392 Leanne Burgess, Maidstone


A GREY Kraken 2011 mountain bike was stolen from a building at Allington locks. A Ford Fiestawas scratched in Carnation Crescent, East Malling. A door lockwas damaged at a property


in Robin Hood Lane, Aylesford, but no entry was gained. A windowwas smashed at a home in TilghmanWay, Snodland. Horse equipment was stolen from a


stable yard in Friars View, Aylesford. A windowwas smashed at a home in Amisse Drive, Snodland.A windowwas smashed at a residential property. A bicyclewas taken from the garage of a property in Lockley Close, Aylesford. A windscreen wiperwas taken from a


vehicle in Midsummer Road, Snodland. Four teenagers tried to steal a wheel


from a motorbike in a car park in Aylesford. They ran off when challenged by the owner. A wing mirror of a carwas damaged in Lambert Mews, Snodland. A vehicle parked on a drive in The Beeches, Aylesfordwas scratched. The window of a shop in Holborough


Road, Snodlandwas damaged, possibly with an air pellet. A Suzuki Swift parked in a car park in


Aylesford had a wing mirror damaged. A Vauxhall Vivaro vanwas set alight in a


lay-by in Beech Road, Mereworth. A child’s motorcyclewas stolen in a break-in at a shed belonging to a property in HoltwoodAvenue, Aylesford. The rear window of a Vauxhall Astra parked in a driveway in Malling Road, Snodlandwas smashed. A property undergoing renovation in


Schools under pressure


MAIDSTONE has recently witnessed huge changes in its population growth and forecasts indicate this will continue due to ongoing trends for inward migration and an increasing local birth rate. As a result, the growth in demand for primary school places will continue to put pressure on all our local schools. Over the last three years, KCC has seen significant demand for school places arising from new housing developments in Maidstone. In the absence of a revised Local Plan, it is difficult for county to adequately plan for additional school places that might be required. Maidstone’s previous Local Plan, adopted


in 2000, identified 7,400 new homes; this compares against a revised housing need of 18,560 dwellings through until 2035. It is of prime importance that new housing developments mitigate their educational impact through developer’s financial contributions, enabling the expansion of existing schools, the establishment of new free schools and, where appropriate, the development of new academies. Hence, development proposals should


only be supported where adequate provision can be provided, which clearly extends to wider aspects of infrastructure provision than just education. It is not just the densely-populated areas


of urban Maidstone, but the rural fringes too which are facing similar pressure on primary places. Headcorn, Marden and Harrietsham/Lenham have been identified for expansion.


However, in a number of these locations,


the expansion of existing primary schools would be extremely difficult due to lack of space on the school site or planning constraints. KCC is currently exploring a number of options for school expansions right across the district, together with the new school at Langley Park due to open in September 2016. This will support capacity for the large amount of housing already being built in the area, together with potential further expansion subject to planning consent. However, the continued indigenous growth and inward migration will continue to present challenges and speculative planning applications will continue to be submied, which aswe are witnessing, can be challenging and require solutions not only in education but in the provision of wider infrastructure needs. Gary Cooke, Kent County Council, (Maidstone South East)


See our education coverage on pages 4, 5 and 6 of this edition.


Great care at hospital


DUE to all the bad press Maidstone Hospital gets I would just like to tell you what fantastic care I received at Maidstone Hospital in the cardiac unit and Culpepper ward after I had a heart aack recently. The care I received whilst in hospital, and


at home, by the cardiac nurses could not have been beered anywhere else. Mrs JillWellbelove, via email


NeighbourhoodWatch Working to reduce crime. Call Crimestoppers 0800 555 111 or local police


Warren Road, Aylesfordwas entered and building tools stolen. Lierwas set alight in Norman Road,


West Malling, damaging awall in the cricket ground. The driver's side wing mirrorwas stolen


from a Mercedes C220 in Lavender Close, East Malling. A vehiclewas damaged in an aempted break-in in Moorhen Close, Snodland. Three shedswere broken into at a school


in Church Lane, Troiscliffe. A shedwas broken into at a home in


Aldon Lane, Addington. A vehicle parked in a driveway in ChapmanWay, East Malling,was broken into and a disabled parking badgewas stolen. Jewellerywas taken from a property in


Canon Lane,Wateringbury. A lawn mower cablewas taken from a


front garden in Stickens Lane, East Malling. A white Boardman bicyclewas stolen


from where it had been chained to a lamp post in BeddowWay, Aylesford. A garden fencewas deliberately damaged in East Malling High Street. A windowwas smashed in Lambourne


Drive, Kings Hill, when a rockwas thrown at it.


The front door of a property in Temple Way, East Mallingwas damaged, but no


SECURE YOUR HOME ALARMS FROM £495


+VAT


CALL 01622 880751 ALARMS & SECURITY LTD


Malling May 2016 27


entry was gained. The bonnet of anAudi A3was found to


be dented in MelroseAvenue, Kings Hill, after a teenager was seen siing on the car. Hewas described as being about 5ft 10ins, of medium build with short black curly hair. A garden fencewas damaged in Lime Crescent, East Malling. Toolswere stolen from a shed at a home


in London Road, Leybourne. All four tyres of a carwere damaged on a


driveway in Four Acres, East Malling. A windowwas damaged at the village


hall in Norman Road,West Malling. A blackVWPolo, registration number GC15***, was stolen from Hawley Drive, Leybourne. A personwas robbed and their carwas stolen inWest Malling High Street.


Comment


Crime reports


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