News Plays return
LEEDS Amateur Dramatics Society has announced the return of Plays and Picnics event next month. The players will perform All By Myself and You Won't Know I'm Here with a short picnic interval on August 27 and 28, in the gardens of the
Old Vicarage, 6.30pm for 7pm.
Entry is free but a charity dona- tion would be appreciated. Bring your own food, drink and seating. Go to LADSamdram on Facebook or email:
ladsamdram@gmail.com
Help for dogs MAIDSTONE-born author Jojo
Moyes has backed a charity which rehomes stray dogs from abroad. Jojo has donated enough to transport 20 animals from Bosnia through the Saving Suffering Strays (SSS) group. The 51-year-old writer also
adopted a dog from SSS, to join her other rescue pet.
Cafe on way THE official “ground-breaking” of
the new Mote Park Café in Maid- stone took place on June 24. The event was led by Mayor of Maidstone, Cllr Fay Gooch, who was accompanied by the Maid- stone Borough Council leader, Cllr David Burton, and members of the construction firm carrying out the work.
Cricket date THE cricketing legends of Lash-
ings World XI take on Leeds and Broomfield CC at the Burberry Lane ground in Leeds in aid of club funds to support its youth section. It takes place on July 30 at 2.30pm. The free-to-enter match will have a bar, barbecue and ice creams. Go to www.leedsandb-
roomfieldcc.com for details.
starting at
downsmail.co.uk
Mum-of-three’s appeal for live-saving kidney
A MAIDSTONE woman in need of a kidney transplant is desperately seeking an organ donor.
Shabana Belouch, a 44-year-old mother of three school-aged chil- dren, has been on a waiting list for more than a year, but no match has yet been found.
The kidney disease was first di- agnosed after she gave birth to her youngest child, now aged seven. During the COVID-19 pandemic her prognosis has progressed to end-stage renal failure.
Shabana, a qualified doctor, has been unable to practice because of her illness. She is also upset be- cause her youngest daughter can- not hug her for fears of dislodging her dialysis catheter. Her husband, Aamir Shaikh, an orthopaedic doctor, has had to re- duce his working hours to look after his wife and three children. He said: “It’s been devastating to
Dr Shaikh said his wife, with
watch my wife become so ill over the last 18 months. I now work part-time in order to care for my wife and be there for our children.”
whom he is pictured, used to do the school runs and was always busy, but her illness now makes this im- possible. She is tired all the time and even simple tasks like cooking or housework, are beyond her. The average NHS waiting list for a kidney transplant is three years, but the pandemic has meant this is now even longer. Shabana is blood type AB and needs a kidney with both blood type and tissue match. Her husband volunteered but tests showed he was not a suitable match. Dr Shaikh said: “We know there are many people out there who may be able to help us. All we can do now is wait and hope.” Contact shabana_baloch@hot-
mail.com if you can help or con- tact Downs Mail directly.
Few respond to homes consultation
A CONSULTATION exercise into a major housing project on the Shepway estate in Maidstone attracted only scant attention. Only 74 people of the 10,000 plus residents, just 0.74%, took part in the exercise. Social housing business Gold-
ing Homes plans to demolish 114 homes to build 240 new ones, shops and open spaces. Local people were invited to share their views and feedback pointed to fears of antisocial be-
haviour, poor surveillance and lack of street lighting.
Local councillor Malcom McKay said: "The response is hardly a ringing endorsement for the consultation exercise." Former Shepway councillor Eddie Powell
said low-level
crime, antisocial behaviour and a lack policing came up "time after time" in the list of resi- dents’ concerns. He added: "I'm getting phone calls even now from people ask-
ing what this project is about. They hadn't a clue there was a consultation."
Of the 74 responses, 49 came from the 114 homes and 15 busi- nesses directly affected by the work in Shepway. Golding Homes said 200 infor- mation packs were sent to neigh- bours most likely to be directly affected by the plans.
74
The business said it received responses
which “shape” design plans.
The awardwinning Downs Mail newspaper is delivered fortnightly doortodoor in selected areas, and is available to pick up from major supermarkets and local stores in the Maidstone and Malling boroughs. The papers are free to read online, as is the Daily Downs Mail news service. Find them at
www.downsmail.co.uk or scan the QR code below. We can post the newspaper to you for an annual subscription of £25 for 24 editions. For details, email
info@downsmail.co.uk or call a member of the team on 01622 630330.
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