Surgeries Team up to Face the Future
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downsmail.co.uk MaidstoneMaidstone WealdWeald EditionEdition Maidstone & Malling’s No. 1 newspaper FREE February 2017 No. 238 News Inspector cuts 900 off homes target Queen’s bull in Kent THE number of homes to be built she was “frustrated by the failure to building on A274 Sutton Road A SUTTON Valence farm has re- in Maidstone as part of the contro- take into account” the many con- could be mitigated by providing cruited a Highland bull from the versial Local Plan should be re- cerns raised by residents during the bus lanes and road widening. Queen’s Balmoral estate to duced by 900, according to a inquiry at the town hall. He also warns that a relief road help increase stock. 3 government inspector after a Two residents’ meetings have running between south Maidstone seven-week inquiry. been called by Cllr Gary Cooke to and the M20 – which would ease Hunton plan worry Robert Mellor’s 35-page interim discuss the impact on residents in congestion through Willington report largely vindicates Maidstone south Maidstone. Street, Langley, Shepway, Leeds HUNTON residents are con- Borough Council’s approach but Cllr Cooke said he was “very dis- and Otham – will meet a “signifi- cerned over plans to ex- will now build 17,600 new houses appointed” by the report, which he cant funding challenge”. pand a local business. 6 instead of 18,500 by 2031. said is “full of inconsistencies”. Special reports, pages 4&5 Local MP Helen Whately said Mr Mellor ruled that house- Comment, page 32 Village centre plans THE village centre in Staplehurst could be rebuilt in planned improvements. 8 Surgeries team up Artist’s half century POPULAR artist Graham Clarke reflects on 50 years of to face the future creativity. 16 Marden play choice TWO GP surgeries are to merge in a bid to save patient services from MARDEN residents will choose how they want their Government policy changes that look set to close small practices. play area upgraded. 20 The details of the merger were be put out of danger and will be able given in Sutton Valence on Wednes- to meet the government’s demands. day at a public meeting called to an- Mrs Lambe added: “We do not an- Maestro remembered swer questions from patients. ticipate any staff will lose their job as MUSICIAN Jeffrey Vaughan- Joanna Lambe, practice manager a result of this. In fact, we hope to Martin’s life will be for the Sutton Valence Surgery in offer more services and more staff.” celebrated this year. 22 South Lane, says the decision to join The surgeries will stay at their cur- with Cobtree Medical Practice has rent venues, but details of how the Crime Reports 28 been taken to ensure the survival of service will emerge remains to be TWO Shetland ponies have been patient services in Sutton Valence. seen. There is no room to expand the stolen from from a field in Forstal The merger process has begun, with Cobtree surgery, but there is scope Lane, Coxheath. the hope that they will operate as a for growth at Sutton Valence. joint practice by April 2018. Mrs Lambe said: “We haven’t Mrs Lambe said: “The proposed ironed out all the problems, but we Obituaries 30 merger is our pro-active response to will be pressing ahead with this to both local circumstances and the opening, which we could not ensure our patients have all the serv- Comment 32-33 NHS national policy (the STP or sus- achieve alone. Finally, the STP also ices they need.” tainability and transformation plan). proposes the closure of small prac- Martin Stokes, chairman of the pa- Parish Councils 42-43 There are many new building devel- tices to achieve economies of scale, tient support group, said he would opments starting in our practice area and we would like to avoid this. We be attending the meeting. He added: and we do not have the capacity to see this as an opportunity to im- “If the Government, in the form of expand to meet the demand as a prove the service we provide.” the NHS, is proposing to withdraw small practice. The Government also By combining their 6,000 patient funding from smaller surgeries, plans to press ahead with seven-day registers, they say both practices will what else can be done?” Your daily news YOU can now keep up to date with Recycling reminder local news through the DAILY Downs A FOOD recycling sticker will ap- Mail. Our editorial team now feeds pear on bins as a reminder to YOUR LOCAL PROPERTY EXPERT breaking news to our website at residents. For more, see the Maid- www.downsmail.co.uk. So why not stone Borough Council-sponsored 01622 690290 [email protected] join us on Facebook and Twit- 12-page Borough Update inside. 23 Pudding Lane • Maidstone • Kent ter and never miss out... 18 01622 IT’S ALL CHANGE AT theTickled Trout Please see our ads on pages 17 and 21 814717 www.thetickledtrout.com FEED THE BIRDS THIS WINTER FOR LESS BULK OR LOOSE BIRD FEEDS REMEMBER YOU CAN’T BUY “CHEEPER”! 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The Indesit appliance was bought by Rafael Learmonth’s 79-year-old mum moves to Kent and had been laid out in her front room for four weeks awaiting collection after a string of break- A FARM in Sutton Valence has ac- downs dating back to quired a new Highland bull 2015. named The Duke – and he comes The ailing model was with a royal seal of approval. bought from Argos in The new arrival at Roundoak Chatham High Street, Farm, in Heniker Lane, was but they told Mrs Lear- brought down from the Queen’s es- month to speak to Inde- tate at Balmoral in Scotland. sit. He will be introduced to increase After three loads of the stock of 120 Highland cows and shopping were ruined in calves resident at the farm. the faulty freezer, Rafael Roundoak owners, Norman and said he would try to re- Ruth Coles are regular visitors to solve the situation. He Braemar where they met Dochy said: “I called Argos only Ormiston, who is in charge of the to be told the manufac- Her Majesty’s Highland stock at turer needed to deal Balmoral. Weald of Kent, began keeping with it. I felt that pass- The Coles expressed an interest in Highland cattle in 2008 with two ing the buck was unac- acquiring stock for their Kent herd cows. This stock was supplemented ceptable.” and last month, they drove 600 by another six within two years. After four months miles to Scotland with a trailer to The Coles built a permanent being “passed from pillar to post ”, he loaded the freezer into the hearse and fetch The Duke. home on the land, which was com- delivered it back to Argos, complete with its own velvet pall. A farm spokesman said: “The pleted in November 2015. He said: “I didn’t want to make a spectacle and took it down a side alley Duke will be introduced to our The farm also keeps more than into the store, but someone posted it on line and it went viral in two days. Highland stock in the spring as part 700 rare breed sheep as well as “I just wanted to take it back and say it’s now yours to deal with. I hate to of our conservation grazing pro- some more commercial stock in- think how many others, like my mum, are stuck with things that are no good gramme which is run with the Kent cluding a herd of Sussex cattle and to them but have no way of returning things. Buck-passing is not right.” Wildlife Trust, Kent County Coun- about 100 Sussex Mule sheep. And his efforts paid off. Argos refunded Mrs Learmonth’s money within cil and Medway Valley Countryside Roundoak also keeps free-range two hours of Rafael leaving the store, with a voucher and flowers arriving the Partnership, to name but a few.” chickens and guinea fowl which next day. Roundoak, on the edge of the roam the yard.