News
Retirement living in Leeds is a step closer
A DEAL to secure a major “care village” in Leeds has been signed. Downs Mail understands that
land-owning giant Gallagher has exchanged contractswith London- based developer Inspired Living. The scheme already has planning
permission and would see the demolition of all the industrial units at Ledian Farm and the con- struction of a retirement village worth a reported £9million. The eventual site aims to have a
range of assisted living spaces for older people and a number of ad- ditional amenities, including a con- venience store. Nick Yandle, spokesman forGal-
lagher, said: “It is a development whichwill happen. Inspired Living has a significant amount of finan- cial muscle behind it, so this is a very exciting project.” Whilst some residents have ac-
cepted the changes to Ledian Farm, they are concerned about the addi- tional traffic and disruption that the estimated three years of build- ing work might cause over its two phases. If the deal completes shortly, en-
abling works could be started by the summer, with building works underway by the end of the year. We understand that a Sri Lankan businessman has made an ap-
Artist’s impression of the planned ‘care’ village at Leeds
proach about running the shop within the complex, although this may be one of the last ele- ments to be fin- ished. The develop-
ment may also create 100 jobs in the area. Local bor-
ough council- lor Gill Fort
(pictured) said: “What was there was disgusting, with fumes and noise as well as being a bit of an
eyesore, so I think this retirement village plan could be a great im- provementwhen it happens. “I think that, in this day and age,
we do need to cater more for the elderly because we have a popula- tion that is living longer than ever before. “But, on the other side of this,we
have to ensure there is sufficient parking on site so that the village doesn’t suffer. “Traffic in Leeds is horrendous
so we’d want assurances that the movements turn right out of it into the Langley area.”
MP fears for fast rail link to capital
MP Helen Grant has angrily warned the secretary of state in charge of railways she fears the county town will be “put to the back of the queue” for services into London. Transport
secretary Chris
Grayling met the Maidstone & The Weald member Mrs Grant (pictured) earlier this month over fears high speed trains to and from Maidstone West to St Pan- cras will be scrapped. The MP fears, as do campaign-
ers, the services will be down- graded in the next rail franchise with bidders being offered the op- tion of running a service toAbbey Wood, which the government is earmarking as a station for Cross- rail, due to open next year. Southeastern’s franchise is set
to expire at the end of the year. Mr Grayling has assured Mrs
Grant that the new arrangement aims to “put the passenger at the
10 Maidstone East March 2018
flects that theThameslink services will become the principal service to and from Maidstone and the City fromDecember 2019.” Critics claim the Thameslink
service has been delayed a num- ber of times,with growing fears it will not happen. MrsGrant said: “Imade the im-
portance of the service clear to the secretary of state and told him of my anger that it once again feels likeMaidstone is being put to the back of the queue, especially in thewake of the recent delay to the City Thameslink service. “Mr Grayling is now…clear
heart of the new franchise”. In a letter to the MP he states:
“Letme be clear, there is no inten- tion to introduce degradation of today’s level of service…The op- tion of anAbbeyWood service re-
about the impact this would have upon local people and has offered reassurance that the people of Maidstone will not be worse off under the new franchise agree- ment. Iwill, of course, continue to keep up the pressure on the gov- ernment as the franchise process progresses.”
downsmail.co.uk Drugs hidden
under the bed COCAINE found hidden under a bed during a search of a property in Maidstone has led to a man being jailed for possession and in- tent to supply. Maidstone Crown Court heard
that officers found a plastic con- tainer under ScottWilkinson’s bed that was full of cocaine and drug paraphernalia. Officers then searchedWilkinson
and found one wrap of cocaine in his pocket and a further six wraps in hiswallet. Wilkinson (30), formerly of Les-
ley Place, was sentenced to three years and three months in prison after having admitted possession with intent to supply.
Amusician for
quick-firewits THE organist atCanterburyCathe- dra, Dr David Flood, will be pro- viding a musical accompaniment to an evening of “quick-firewit and gentle satire” at a local church. The Good Gnus, starring Jon
Williams and Chris Price, will be providing the jokes and songswith material by Noel Coward, Richard Stilgoe, Tom Lehrer and Peter Skellern. The event is on Friday,March 16
at 7pm Tickets cost £12.50 and are available on 01622 842988 or 891889.
Sticky wicket COUNTY cricket is unlikely to re- turn toMote Park any time soon. Kent last played a competitive
match in the county town in 2005, when a poor pitch meant the four- day game finished in just two days and the club subsequently suffered a points deduction. They now play fixtures at Can-
terbury, Beckenham and Tun- bridge Wells as the facilities at Mote Park remain short ofwhat the county needs. A spokesman said on Twitter:
“We offered a 2nd XI match to Maidstone last year and they felt the groundwas not ready.”
Women’s vote FIND out how the campaign for women’s suffrage was fought in Kent with an illustrated talk at Maidstone Museum on Saturday, March 3. Hear interesting and surprising
stories about the brave women who took up the suffragette colours or campaigned by other means for political equality at the venue in St Faith’s Street. Tickets for the 11amtalk are £5.
downsmail.co.uk
Get your free shingles jab
Business Focus NEVER TOO OLD FOR A MORTGAGE!
MAIDSTONE and Malling resi- dents in their 70s are being urged to take up the offer offree vacci- nations againstthe “painful and debilitating” condition shingles. By the end of July, just over half
of all eligible olderpatients inKent andMedway had been vaccinated. ButtheNHS is nowencouraging
everyonewho is offeredthe vaccine to take it up. Local GP practices are offering
Kate’s canyon trek in memory ofhusband
Sadly, due to schemes available in the past the term “Equity Release” has got itself a bad name.
Local adviser Sarah Ferrell speaks with many people who, through no fault of their own, are carrying debt into retirement or need to raise new finance and this can make the “Golden Years” potentially worrying.
patients the vaccination as part of the NHS shingles immunisation campaign for 2017/18,which began on September1 2017. Dr John Rodriguez, Public Health Screening and Immunisa- tion lead for Kent and Medway, rged local people to take up the
weakens which is why those aged 0 and over are more likely to get
THE widow ofa popular Maid- stone GP is in training for a self- funded trek through the Grand Canyon, in aid of the charity which is battling the cancer that claimed him. Kate Minett,a staff nurse, will be
Equity Release can, for many people, offer an ideal solution…
..so why does everybody think it is such a bad thing?
Sarah says, “The finance industry has had to adapt as the need for lending in retirement has grown at a staggering rat . The schemes of the past bear no uresemblance to those available today however many offer.
Many of Sarah’s clients need to repay a mortgage, 7finance some unexpected outlay or just make their
available is still stuck in the 1970's!” their immune system naturally
“Shingles can be very painful
and debilitating and lead to health problems long after the initial rash hasdisappeared. It canalsobe fatal for around one in 1,000 over-70s who develop it. “I would encourage all patients
who are eligible to takeupthe offer fromtheirGP surgery and get vac- cinated againstthe virus.”
MORTGAGES holiday or make improvements to their home.
people’s thinking and understanding of the schemes He added: “As people get older
travelling to America for the Trek Together Grand Canyon Challenge in October. Kate who lives in Staplehurst, will hike through areas ofthe canyon not accessible to many tourists o raise money for Pancre- atic Cancer UK.
The BenendenHospital nurse has
shingles.retirement more comfortable. Others want to help their children with
deposit for a house, buy a new car, go on
Regardless of the reason for needing finance, there are plenty of safe and affordable solutions available and the choice of options is greater than ever.
chosen to supportthe charity be- cause her husband,Dr NigelMinett (54),a GP for more than 20 years at the Marden Medical Centre, then The Orchard Surgery in Langley, succumbed to it in January 2012, just over 10 weeks after he was di- agnosed. Dr Minett (pictured) was well-known for his church work in Maidstone. She said: “This cancer is known
as a silent killer as it usually pres- ents too late for any form oftreat- ment. On October 31, 2011, my
Like all financial transactions there are advantages and disadvantages which means that Equity Release may not be suitable for everyone. Equity release schemes involve borrowing against your home, and may work out more expensive in the long term than downsizing to a smaller property. Depending on the scheme chosen releasing equity may reduce the value of your estate and therefore the amount of inheritance you will leave. “I take great care and time to fully discuss all aspects of the options available so that my clients are fully aware of what may be suitable and equally what they want to avoid!” Sarah comments.
Sarah finds many of the people she speaks to are worried about their finances at a time in life when they really want to be enjoying themselves. Often a lack of information, or confusing advertising causes them concern and they are just not sure what options are really available to them. This is where Sarah can bridge the gap.
Sarah says, “I’ve been in the finance industry for over 20 years and I consider I have come across most scenarios and would reassure anyone who is concerned about their finances that they are unlikely to be alone. Sometimes an initial chat is all that is needed to put people’s mind at rest and as soon as people know they have options this in itself can often lighten the burden”
Sarah takes time to work out which solution may be most suitable for each individual and will visit a client at home at a time to suit them.
rates from pancreatic cancer have not improved much in the last 30 years. Nigel died on January 19, 2012.I had been thinking about what I could do to celebrate Nigel’s life and decided to join the Pancre- atic Cancer UK Grand Canyon Challenge Trek in October. I am self-funding the trip to ensure that all donations go directly to the charity.” This is the third big fundraiser
Think carefully before securing other debts against your home.
Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage. EQUITY RELEASE RE-MORTGAGE BUY-TO-LET
husband was admitted to hospital after developing jaundice. Until that point, his only symptoms had been a few weeks of mild gastric discomfort. He was diagnosed the same day with stage four metasta- tic pancreatic cancer, which had spread to his liver. “We knew the score - survival
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the family has taken part in. Kate’s daughter, Laura, took part ina su- perhero fun run dressed as Super- man in 2012, raising over £2,000, and her sister Rebecca organised a dinner dance in Tenterden which raised £10,300 in 2015. In the UK, pancreatic cancer has the lowest survival rate ofthe 21 most com- mon cancers. PancreaticCancerUK supports those affected, investing in research and lobbying for recog- nition ofthe disease. For details visit www.justgiv-
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