downsmail.co.uk MalMalling Editionling Edition
Maidstone & Malling’s No. 1 newspaper
February 2016 Marathon mums
TWO Snodland mums are training to run the London Marathon in memory of a much-loved dad who died from the neurological illness, ataxia. Sue Pritchard (45), pictured left, and her 39-year-old pal, Lauren Whale, say they have had a lifelong strug- gle with weight and fitness, and hope that as well as promoting the work of the Brain Research Trust, they will inspire other people to achieve things they thought were out of reach.
After running the London Marathon in 2011 for the charity in memory of her father Roy Moxon, who died aged 63, Sue said it would be her first and last marathon. But she was unaware that Lauren
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Village asked to fund repairs to save surgery
VILLAGERS will be asked to back a landmark move to fund repairs to their GP surgery after health-providers said they could not afford to keep it open.
Those living in EastPeckhamwere
facing a three-and-a-half hour bus ride to Woodlands Health Centre in PaddockWoodif its satellite surgery in the villagewere to close. But, following a successful cam-
paign to keep it open by the parish council, residents are now being asked if they will stump up the money for vital repairs, running to more than £150,000, in an unprece- dented move to get the small sur- gery off the “at risk” register. East Peckham Parish Council chairman Stephanie Watson (pic- tured) said: “When Woodlands said itwanted to close our surgery in De- cember 2015, we felt enough was enough.Taking on the health service has proved challenging and because this is the first time a parish council has offered financial support it has been a slow process for theNHSand
FREE No. 238
News Bus blunder apology
ARRIVA says sorry after leaflet drop about evening service leads to confusion in Eccles.3
Mattress crash driver
AN inquest is opened on a motorist thought to have swerved to avoid a mattress in the road.
4 Bridge repair delay
BAD weather causes new setback to overdue re-opening of Peters Bridge.
Defibrillator trashed
VANDALS are accused of putting lives at risk after a defibril- lator at Ditton is trashed.
Dog left to freeze
A SICK spaniel pup is lucky to be alive after being dumped over a fence.
School trip victory
SNODLAND families win money back after cancelled holiday.
Comment Obituaries
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Parish Councils 32-33 Crime Reports 33
CCG to get to grips with. “However, we have come this far
and while the amountwe originally thought would be needed has grown, we want to give the public
every right to decide.” Parish council manager Karen Bell
said: “The parish council has run a very successful campaign of resistance, which has kept the4
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TWO black cast iron urns were stolen from a drive in Aylesford; all four wheel trims were taken from a Nissan vehicle parked in East Malling; a tractor battery was stolen from a farm in Ryarsh.
Town Talk
HOLMESDALE School has a new headteacher and a new chair of governors.
See Town Talk in this month’s Downs Mail. The bi-monthly independent magazine is dedi- cated to Snodland and Halling residents.
Are You Looking to Reduce Your Letting Costs?/ Need Help with Property Planning and Development?
www.michaelparkes.co.uk – 01634 294994
See our ads on pages 2 & 19
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