Maidstone East Edition Maidstone East Edition


October 2017 October 2019 Panto ahoy!


Patient’smother tells ofmental unit fears


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


BOSSES at a privatemental hospital have “reached out” to themother of a former patientwho has spoken about her daughter’s treatment.


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.


Mum Andrea Attree said Dan-


nielle (22) witnessed distressing scenes inside the private 65-bed unit at the Kent Medical Campus during her 17-day stay. Dannielle, who has had mental


health issues since shewas 12, told hermotherpatients argued, jostled and called each other names. She said the unit was a “scary, noisy place” after dark. Drinks were twice tippedoverher bedinthe 16- patient Roseacre ward, Andrea (pictured right) reported. Andrea,who claimedherdaugh-


ter showeredjustonce inher time at the Cygnet, said: “Shewas inmelt- down while she was in there. She wasn’t eating or drinking or taking themedication. She was becoming very, very poorly.” Downs Mail recently revealed


CCTV call in a bid to stop fly-tipping


minute she walked in there she stopped eating, drinking and tak- ing themedication. Shewas losing a lot ofweight, too. I had to get her out.” Andrea (47) claims that the en


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


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


how police investigated dozens of assault reports at Cygnet in a short period inApril, sparking an NHS- led multi-agency investigation at which an action plan was agreed. The Care Quality Commission, which rated the facility “good” overall, separately highlighted safety issues after inspection. Andrea added: “I get that this is a business ...but there is something


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


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


nagging insideme that says private firms should not be running secure mental healthunits.” Danniellewas transferred froma


mental hospital inNorthampton by taxi on January 15. She is now in a unit in Hertfordshire.Andrea said: “Iwas allowedtovisit for twohours every otherday. “Danniellesaidshedidn’t feel safe


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


and that shewas scared to be there atnightbecause itwasanoisy, scary place. Some of the staff were nice, helpful and friendly. The hospital was clean and shiny, largely be- causeitwasprettymuchbrandnew. But I wasn’t at all impressed. The


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


suite quarters were left unlocked which allowed patients access to others’ rooms. Visitors to Cygnet Maidstone, which opened a year ago, must surrender their belong- ings, includingmobile phones, into lockers at reception. Cygnet Maidstone takes a pro-


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


portion of its of its most troubled patients from the criminal justice systemfromall over the country. Considerable local concerns have


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


been raised about siting two brand newschoolsdirectlynextdoor tothe facility. A Cygnet spokesman said:


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.


“Whilst we have received no com- plaints regarding any of the claims put tous by theDownsMail,wedo of course take such concerns very seriously.Moreover,we are always committed to investigating com- plaints thoroughlyandnotifyingthe relevant authorities to ensure we uphold high standards of care. “Weare reachingout tothe family


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.


inthis instanceandwe remainavail- able to discuss and deal with any concerns any service user or their familiesmayhave, as the safetyand wellbeing of the people in our care is always ournumber onepriority.”


Do you have experience of the Cygnet Hospital Maidstone as a patient or staff member? Email simon.finlay@downsmail.co.ukor call 01622 734735.


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visit www.amiga.co.uk or call 08000 199622 01622 880840 Cllr Fort, who also serves as a


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. 270


Open the book box MP’s Local Plan bid


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


A BEARSTED phone box has been turned into aminiature library and needs book donations.


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


KCC leader quits


AFTER 14 years in charge of Kent County Council, Paul Carter has announced he is to step down.


Plans for Dr Nigel


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


60 years of Lions Jason Donovan date


THELions’sClub ofMaidstone has been celebrating 60 years inMaidstone.


Will is a panto star


MAIDSTONE actorWill Hodges secured a big panto role this Christmas at the Hazlitt Theatre.


Obituaries Obituaries


26 34


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.


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 WINDOW was smashed in Lower Street, Leeds; a portable toilet was stolen from outside church premises in Harrietsham; a quad bike was taken from an address in Boxley; a horsebox was stolen in Thurnham; bottles were smashed against two vehicles parked in Bearsted, causing damage; burglars broke into a commercial premises in Kingswood and stole a number of items; damage was caused to a car windscreen in Lenham.


COUNCILLORS agreed to the demolition of a house in Gravelly Bottom Road, Kingswood; Leeds Castle would be contacted by the parish clerk about erecting a sign for single lane traffic in Broomfield.


Parish Councils 35 32


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


18 8 5 4 3 3


Crime Reports 35


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