Maidstone East Edition Maidstone East Edition


October 2017 February 2019 Panto ahoy! A time of change for our GPs


BIG changes are taking place in GP surgeries across Maidstone – and patientsmay see a GP less often. At a time of fast-increasing popu-


lation pressure, Kent is seriously short of GPs (12%) and practice nurses (30%), leading to practice mergers and “smarterworking”.


THE cast of Cinderella, which is to be staged at the Hazlitt Theatre in Maid- stone, took to the River Medway to launch this year's panto. On board The Kentish Lady were national treasure Rustie Lee (Fairy Godmother), former EastEnder Ste- fan Booth (Prince Charming), Eliza- beth Bright (Cinderella), Craig Anderson (Buttons) and, pictured, Stephen Richards and Adam Bor- zone (Ugly Sisters) . They were greeted by pupils from


CCTV call in a bid to stop fly-tipping


CALLS for the installation of CCTV cameras to prevent fly-tipping on a country road have been made by the local borough councillor.


The scheme has been submitted


Burberry Lane, near Leeds and Broomfield, has been targeted by waste dumpers for years, but in re- cent months, the problem has be- come more acute. Constructionwaste, rubble, hard


core, windows and household fur- niture is left illegally – often strewn in the middle of the road. Cllr Gill Fort said: “Every month


we are having toilets, sinks and construction waste dumped in the village, specifically in Burberry Lane, where we are now thinking of installing cameras on private land, to oversee the problem area.” A recent event in Burberry Lane


by builders Bowmer and Kirkland Ltd for the Department for Educa- tion after a consultation exercise at the end of 2018. The application may not go before the council's planning committee for several months.The schoolswouldbebuilt next to a facilitywherementally-ill criminals are being housed and treatedontheKentMedicalCampus (KMC) site,picturedright. Minor traffic-related changes have


been made, such as a controlled pedestrian crossing, new footpaths andthe removal of on-streetparking outsideGiddsPondCottages. The 540-pupilprimaryandspecial


saw a caravan burned out while a torched car remains on a footpath


needs schoolswillbeoperatedbythe LeighAcademies' Trust chainwhich


nearby, more than a year after it was dumped and set on fire. The church car park has also seen


many instances of illegal dumping. But it is a problem in many rural


areas including Langley, Otham and Kingswood. Water Lane in Bearsted and Pilgrims Way have also been targeted recently. Last year, Maidstone Borough Council cleared 911 cases of fly-tip- ping and this year more than 163 have been recorded since April. The approaching darker evenings will prompt a rise in illegal tipping. Cllr Fort welcomed a joint initia-


tive by the Environment Agency and the Driver and Vehicle Stan- dards Agency to clamp down on


incorporates 23 schools into its busi- ness. Bearsted borough councillor Val Springett said: “The ‘tweaks’ madewill certainlyNOTchangemy mind.Accessviaasingleaccesspoint with insufficient parkingwill cause chaos ontheBearstedRoad.” Despite public concerns that the


applicants intend to place the en- trance on the often-gridlocked Bearsted Road, that part of the scheme remains unchanged. Resi- dents had hoped an access road wouldcomeoff theKMCsitefor traf- fic andchildsafety reasons. Canon John Corbyn, the vicar of


Bearsted, said: “The more I see of this, theworseitgets.Theideaof traf- fic turning across traffic in Bearsted Roadis just a totalnon-starter.


unlicensed waste carriers, but be- lieves the cost to small firms of dis- posing of construction waste at a transfer station is proving a deter- rent that is costing councils more. Cllr Fort made her remarks as


one of the borough’s closest trans- fer stations at North Farm, Tun- bridge Wells, announced it will be closed for 10weeks. She added: “If you go along the


line of increasing fines, they have to be enforced. A reduction in the charge or offering it free may have the desired similar effect.” Athree-monthly litter pick on the mile-long stretch of road through Leeds village produces an average 32 black sacks of rubbish.


Cllr Fort, who also serves as a


Schools’ plan: It’s up to the borough now


South Borough Primary School and members of the media. The panto runs from December 1-31. For tick- ets go to www.hazlitttheatre.co.uk.


A PLANNING application for two new schools near junction seven of the M20 has been put into the borough council for consideration.


“This is totally unacceptable in


terms of the traffic management plan and access.” Boxley parish councillor Cllr


Wendy Hinder said: “The safety of our children is paramount - there shouldn’t be a school at any cost.” Thurnham Parish Council is offi-


cially backing Boxley’s position. Rebecca Darling, co-founder of the


01622 690290 YOUR LOCAL PROPERTY EXPERT


maidstone@martinco.com 23 Pudding Lane • Maidstone • Kent


parish councillor, says teaching children about social responsibility and the issue of litter in schools will help take the issue off the streets. She believes with every household receiving a weekly refuse collection service, there is no excuse for litter being thrown from vehicles or dumped in the road.


Leatherhead-based PR company Stonyrock, which is representing the contractors, accused Downs Mail’s recent coverage of “scaremongering”. But she confirmed no efforts had


been made since the consultation in December to secure land to create the access from the KMC site. Further reports pages 18, 26 &29


webexpand.co.uk web design google promotion ecommerce


Home Alarms supplied and fitted


In the top 1% of UK web design companies


In the top 1% of UK web design companies www.webexpand.co.uk | info@webexpand.co.uk


visit www.amiga.co.uk or call 08000 199622 01622 880840 More specialist professionals are


helping GPs and receptionists are being trained to invite patients to givemore information so that they can be directed quickly to help not requiring input froma GP. Early evening, Saturday and Sun- day morning appointments with


GPsandsurgeriesarenowtakingoff and are proving popular with pa- tients and doctors. Maidstone area is now well-posi-


tioned for a newmajor care hub (re- ducing pressures on hospitals) and a site is being identified. See full details on page 24


Maidstone & Malling’s No. 1 newspaper


FREE No. 246


News downsmail.co.uk


Maidstone & Malling’s No. 1 newspaper


Kate, 107, dies News


FREE No. 262


KATE Hart, a resident at an old people’s home in Bearsted, has died aged 107, her son David has disclosed.


HELEN Whately asked the government to halt the borough’s housing scheme.


3 MP’s Local Plan bid


Leeds needs women LEEDS Women’s Institute launched its centenary with a membership drive.


4


Blues and reds unite Plans for Dr Nigel


Castle goes silent Jason Donovan date


THE former Neighbours star brings his show to the Hazlitt Theatre next May.


Cashpoint ramraid


RAMRAIDERS ploughed into the Co-Op at Lenham to steal its cash machine. 10


Obituaries Obituaries 32 Parish Councils 34-35


ASH dieback has been discovered in Monks Meadow in Detling; Hollingbourne village fete stall- holder co-ordinator Jean Duffy has resigned; yellow lines are needed for Buffkyn Way, Otham, to allow buses through Imperial Park; rub- bish bins in the sports field in Kingswoodare to be moved over to the picnic area and rear exit.


THE ongoing issue of fly-tipping in Burberry Lane, Leeds, was being looked into by the bor- ough council, said Cllr Gill Fort; empty grit bins in Downswood were to be reported to the clerk and dealt with; a special me- morial bench was ordered for the playing fields in Detling; broadband issues were re- ported by a resident in Lenham Road, Ulcombe.


Parish Councils34-36 32


Crime Reports 36 Crime Reports 35


VEHICLES have been driven over farmland in Lenham, causing damge to crops; an attempted break-in was reported in Detling; a vehicle was vandalised in Bearsted Rd, Weavering; pumpkins were stolen from an allotment in Lenham.


Comment 46-47 Comment 46-47


A HOUSE was burgled at Rag- stone Road in Bearsted; a farm was broken into at Thurnham were a recovery vehicle was stolen; a caravan in Boxley was burgled and items were stolen; cash was stolen from a house in Downswood during a burglary; a power saw was stolen from a shed in Otham.


3


THE widow of GP Dr Nigel Minnet will walk the Grand Canyon for charity. 12


TORY and Labour at MBC have called on the Lib Dem leaders to drop High Court action against Conservative KCC.


LEEDS Castle management has responded to local worries by introducing silent fire- works at its displays. 6


18 4


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