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downsmail.co.uk Vandals put lives at risk on river
MINDLESS vandals are putting lives at risk by taking essential safety equipment from river and parks in Maidstone. Since April last year Maidstone Council has had to replace more than 200 lifebuoys, throw bags and lifelines in the area, at a cost ofmore than £7,000. The water aids have been a life-
saver on numerous occasions – and were used in five rescues from the River Medway in 2015 alone. Borough councillor Marion Ring (pictured) said: “Some people seem to think that these are toys or that it’s a game to mess about with
them. They don’t seem to realise that they are essential pieces of life- saving equipment. It’s vital that they are available if someone’s life is in danger.” Her comments
have been echoed by Maidstone busi- nessman Ben Lon- don, who risked his life to dive into the
Medway on August 10 to save a drowning man and thenwent back into the river to retrieve the life ring. He said: “These people are thoughtless. They simply don’t
seem to realise that someone could lose their life if these vital pieces of equipment are not there.” It is also a criminal offence to re-
move such items. Maidstone Council provides equipment at 55 lifebuoy stations along the banks of the River Med- way from Tovil to The Malta Inn at Allington Lock, nearAylesford, and popular stretches of water at The Lees, Yalding, Teston Bridge, Mote Park and the lake at MallardsWay. Items that have had to be re-
placed since April last year include 48 lifebuoys, 87 throw bags and 72 lifelines.
Papa’s island success Get fit to stay healthy
ATEAMfromPapa’s Barn in Dit- ton took theiraward-winning fish and chips to the Faroe Islands – serving up a massive 7,500 por- tions in 13 hours. The team prepared 1.5 tonnes of
fish and sacks of spuds ahead of the marathon stint. The team were invited back to provide islanders with the rare treat as part of the Denmark- owned island’s fishermen’s festi- val in Klaksvik. Here the locals
have no access to the British take- away delight and queued for five hours to get to the front of the line after being given their first taste of the chips from Papa’s Barn last year.
Gavin Lewis, the manager at
Papa’s Barn on LondonRoad, and one of those to make the 3,258- mile round trip, said:“We started work at 7am and were surprised to be still serving at1amso every- one could get their food.”
COUCHpotatoes are reminded that something as simple as a 30-minute walk a week will reduce your chances of getting cancer. Tmactive, which runs Larkfield Leisure Centre, says, those who ex- ercise the least have the most to gain both physically and mentally from increasing their activity. The advice comes in the wake of
the government’s latest guideline of 150 minutes of moderate activity a week.
Tmactive is running a keep-fit
campaign in August to help people meet the two-hours-and-30-minute target, doing the things they enjoy. A spokesman said: “Try breaking
it up into smaller chunks of time from 10 minutesonwards. Activities can range from an exercise class, to swimming or working out in the gym or going for a brisk walk, jog- ging in the park or playing a round of golf.” Tmactive is also offering a chance
to win a fitness tracking device and membership to the leisure centre.
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