downsmail.co.uk AS summer draws to a close I have


never seen Maidstone’sWeek Street looking so sleazy. Therewere several beggars in one guise


or another, chuggers in groups trying to part us from our money and in the early afternoon, too many raucous pushy people probably under the influence of something. The good news is that the borough council has now introduced a Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) to tackle anti-social behaviour due to drinking in the street or begging within a designated town centre area. The order will be welcomed by businesses and shops in Maidstone centre who fear people are being intimidated and will choose not to visit the town. After twoweeks ofwarnings, offenders


can be served a fixed penalty notice for £100 or summonsed to appear in court. This order is verywelcome. For it to be


really effective, it must be enforced rigidly. Watch this space…..





Big GP changes MOST of us hold our GPs in very high


esteem, see them as significant in our lives (and deaths) and value close, friendly relationships. But our GPs are under pressures that


just seem to grow, and big changes are ahead. The population increases at an unprecedented pace (see Brexit item below),we live longer and health problems grow in later years, the under- pressure NHS looks to doctors to provide some answers and the medical profession


Racist thugs can stay away


THE limp appearance of a small bunch of (Britain First) thugs in Maidstone recently is ironically helping to promote an important development for us here in the county town, the rebuilding of a seriously dilapidated mosque in Mote Road. The site has been granted permission for


full redevelopment to create a really great community centre and place of worship for our Muslim community, where others are welcome, from all faiths. Our borough council passed the application by 11 votes to 1. Therewere a reported 150 supportive public comments and just 20 indicating concerns about the effect on parking and other logistical issues. So how dare these individuals come to our


town under the Britain First banner and say this development is notwanted. And how dare they insult our intelligence by trying to pretend they are not racist. They are cowards hiding behind a rebranding of their true colours, laundering xenophobia and racism into the cleaner appearance of populism and nationalism. They say they are not violent, and yet Thomas Mairwas clearly heard shouting words of support for Britain First as he shot and stabbed to death my Parliamentary colleague Jo Cox in broad daylight in June last year. Who are they trying to kid? Who are the real troublemakers in our society?


40 Malling October 2017


Our county town looks so sleazy MailMarks


DENNISFOWLE President dfowle2011@aol.com


is not seen as such an aractive career option, causing worrying shortages. In and around Maidstone there are


about 20 GP practices, mostly working independently in their own surgeries and positioned to meet the needs of the public living within a sensible distance. The system has workedwell for so many years – but is in danger of failure unless the pressures on GPs are reduced. Changes are already on the move and


GP practices have been formed in to clusters. In central Maidstone, a cluster of seven practices serves a population of 82,506 and mainly east of the town the cluster has 11 practices (62,506). There are clusters too for Malling and theWeald. In these early stages the talk is more


about collaboration to deliver services at scale, but alreadywe are seeing a few practices merging. This seems likely to grow and the NHS supports mergers if this “makes sense for the practices and population” and will consider investment in new premises. Some aims of clusters are to offer extended hours, especially atweekends, wider services, teams of nurses and other health professionals, plus back office and estate efficiencies. I have seen a very large practice in a big new building operating in the centre of


I had the pleasure of meeting the Imam Dr Usmani and several worshippers at Maidstone’s mosque three months ago, who showed me their plans and explained the benefits the redevelopment will bring. They are hard at work fundraising and I


stand foursquare with them as the project develops. These are decent people and Maidstone embraces them, as they do our Nepalese community, and indeed myself; all people with an international aspect to our heritage. Members and supporters of Britain First,


enjoy the sewers in which you live and breathe, but don’t bother coming to Maidstone, your stench is notwelcome. Helen Grant MP, Maidstone&theWeald


Relief road is only solution


RESIDENTS, businesses and motorists are becoming increasingly frustrated with the slow pace of the relief road. WILLAct receives a large amount of correspondence asking – “How much longer?”, “What does it take to get it built?” and “Do politicians actually realise whatwe are having to put up with 24/7?” You can read these comments on www.reliefroad.worldpress.com. The routes are almost ready for consultation, and most councillors have been made very aware of the daily stresseswe endure – the noise, filth, vibration and


Whitstable. It seemed to make sense. So how many small separate practices


will be operating in Maidstone and area in five or 10 years’ time? Not too many, I suspect. It seems easier to look for amalgamations in the town centre, where public access is not such a problem. But in rural areas, location will be a major issue. There are many elderly patients unable to drive who would face real problems. The NHS says itwants practices to


retain their unique identities and relationships with their own patients. I certainly go along with that, but believe the strength of these relationships will be tested by circumstances.


Bravo Brexit 


WE always knew achieving a satisfactory Brexit would be tough – especially negotiating with a worried EU desperate to keep us and our money in. I was one of the majority in the UK to vote to leave, and as negotiations proceed, I am more convinced than everwe made the right decision. I have good friends who would like to convince me otherwise, but I feel the tide for our departure strengthening. We will get back our sovereignty with


power to make and enforce our own laws, control of our borders, the right to do trade deals with the rest of a world which seems very eager towelcome us back… I believe our children and grandchildren will become very grateful for the standwe have taken.


pollution, to name just a few problems. Most councillors are working hard to


gather the evidence and data required to apply for funding towards the relief road. We encourage councillors from all parties to get involved, and more are stepping up to the mark. This will not happen overnight. However,


it needn’t take years either.With both Maidstone Borough Council and Kent County Council now working together,we are far closer to seeing the Relief Road materialise thanwe have been for many years. As the months pass, WILLAct is confident


that those councillors who remain against the relief road will come to realise that there is really no otherway. WILLact suggests that all residents, businesses and motorists lobby their own KCC andMBCcouncillors, by emailing them to ask them where they precisely stand on the maer. WILLAct will also be writing further to councillors regardless of party persuasion, and in some cases, chairs of parish councils, asking them to confirm their views. Their replies, or indeed any lack of reply, will be published in due course on the WILLAct website. This will allow the electorate to see for themselves who is pro or anti the relief road at all levels of local government. Jenny Suon,Willact


Comment


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