downsmail.co.uk MallingMalling EditionEdition Maidstone & Malling’s No. 1 newspaper FREE August 2017 No. 244 News Women’s teams take to the crease Church loo burned HISTORY has been made at Vandals leave village Town Malling Cricket Club with without a public toilet 3 the formation of a women’s sec- tion. Based at the club in Norman Our beautiful Tansy Road, West Malling, the TMCC Family pays tribute after their Swans and the Pens (pictured daughter’s tragic death here with mascots) played for the in New York 5 first time in a women’s soft ball tournament at Farningham. The Swans reached the final, only to Litter contract ends lose by just three runs. A CONTROVERSIAL contract Coach Anna Tunnicliff, who with Maidstone’s litter also runs TMCC's All Stars and wardens has ceased under 9s, said: "This is just the 17 beginning as we look to develop women and girls cricket.” Lane ‘chaos’ - MP HERMITAGE Lane works to ease congestion will cause Health changes to “utter chaos”, says MP 18 ease hospital load MASSIVE changes to improve health care and ease pressure on hospitals are on the way for Maidstone, Malling and West Kent. Obituaries 30 Faced with challenges of an in- about cancer care – late diagnosis in creasing and ageing population, the By Dennis Fowle particular – and access to services Comment 32 budget-holding GP-led NHS West and poor outcomes for the mentally Kent Clinical Commissioning Group Surveys and consultations showed ill. Parish Councils 40-41 (CCG) says primary health care is the public supports hubs - main con- The CCG says the local care model “extremely fragile in some areas”. cerns were about time and distance also needs to: Crime Reports 41 A key change will see GP practices to travel, especially by public trans- Educate the population to moni- scaled up to work in clusters or fed- port. tor, improve and manage their own LOCKS were glued on a shed in erations (four clusters have been The CCG wants to close gaps in health and promote self-care; Eccles; a house was broken into in formed by GPs for Maidstone Cen- services with poor outcomes, espe- Co-ordinate and integrate health Leybourne; someone smashed the tral, East Maidstone, Weald and cially for long-term conditions and and social care services; windscreen of a parked vehicle in Malling) with many providing a frailty. Local hospitals are not al- Provide an easy access service – East Malling; a pedal cycle was much wider range of treatments and ways best to care for the frail, but an alternative to A&E attendance; taken from a bike rack in Larkfield; items were stolen from the trailer services. services outside hospital are not al- Provide short-term care on hos- of a parked lorry in Snodland. In addition, local care hubs could ways able to cope. Every day more pital discharge for independent liv- be based in larger buildings to de- than 1,000 people are in Kent hospi- ing in own residence; liver a range of services that do not tals who could be elsewhere if serv- Avoid referrals where possible need a hospital setting but serve a ices were available. with easier specialist opinions for Town Talk population bigger than GP clusters. The CCG is particularly concerned GPs; A SNODLAND couple say they Position mental health staff con- are fed up with crumbling road sistently in all care settings to direct surfaces, damaged kerbs and and support care for patients. weed-infested footpaths in their The CCG recognises it has to in- neighbourhood and have started a crease capacity in several areas and campaign for improvements – see overcome current high levels of staff Town Talk in this month’s Downs Mail. The bi-monthly independ- vacancies, turnover and skill short- YOUR LOCAL PROPERTY EXPERT ent magazine is dedicated to ages. [email protected] Snodland and Halling residents. 01622 690290 Health special, pages 24 & 25 23 Pudding Lane • Maidstone • Kent Home Alarms supplied and fitted visit www.amiga.co.uk or call 08000 199622 THINNER’S A WINNER IN WORKTOPS Louise Milliken explains the benefits of Origina® for a stunning new look... rigina®® is the fancy- TOUGHER – the slimline profile AFFORDABLE – Origina® is fitted Osounding name TREND doesn’t compromise strength and, over existing worktops and other Transformations applies to its kitchen unlike granite slab, Origina® surfaces, making it cheaper, easier worktop and bathroom surfaces. It’s survives the dropped bowling ball test and less disruptive to install, with less beautiful, tough, durable and much without breaking. waste. thinner than other materials like LASTING – TREND Transformations’ VERSATILE – fit it on top of granite, marble, engineered stone or Origina® retains its luxurious good worktops, vanities or wash stands, on solid synthetics, but equals or exceeds looks for so long, it is guaranteed floors, stairways and pool surrounds, them in technical performance terms. against a lifetime of wear and tear. as splashbacks, shower liners and To prove it, TREND Transformations EASYCARE – unlike granite, marble panels. offers an unrivalled lifetime material and engineered stone, which need BEAUTIFUL – made with Italian warranty. So, with the millionth regular sealing and maintenance, granite, quartz or recycled glass, it’s Origina® already installed Origina® just requires a wipe over beautiful in black, refined in earthen worldwide, what makes this distinctive with a damp cloth. tones, brilliant in white and bold in material a winner in the kitchen and primary colours. But perhaps the bathroom? RESISTANT – Origina® is certificated to be highly resistant to biggest appeal of TREND LIGHTWEIGHT – Origina® is at liquids, chemicals, scratches, impact Transformations Origina® is that it least two-thirds lighter than other and burns and is harder than natural will be measured-up, made off-site materials, so needs less reinforce- materials. and installed by our factory in ment and can be installed vertically Tunbridge Wells. What’s more, the and horizontally. GREENER – made using a high expert, factory-trained fitters ensure a percentage of recycled content like SLIMLINE – produced and fully- consistently high standard of post-consumer glass and recovered sealed only a quarter of an inch thick, workmanship and provide final proof granite and quartz, Origina® is it fits right on top of existing surfaces that thinner’s a winner. green by design. without adding depth or substance. To talk your ideas through with an interior design consultant, visit your nearest TREND Transformations showroom. TREND Transformations Find us inside Notcutts Garden Centre at Newnham Court Shopping Village Bearsted Road Maidstone ME14 5LH 01622 469541 Find us online at: trend-transformations.com/maidstone 2 Malling August 2017 downsmail.co.uk News Help to make Loo blaze leaves church poppy carpet THE Royal British Legion is invit- ing people in Malling to get out visitors inconvenienced their knitting needles to create a carpet of poppies to commemorate ARSONISTS who destroyed a this year’s Remembrance Day. portable toilet at an East Malling The challenge to create an artistic church have left the area without patchwork of poppies has been set a convenience. by the charity and Tonbridge and The cabin in the churchyard – Malling Council. which was open for anyone to use – Knitters or crocheters can add was set ablaze in an arson attack their poppies to the remembrance late on July 24 and discovered by a carpet by dropping them off at jogger the following morning. Larkfield or Snodland library. Now the church has said it can- The completed tapestry will go not afford to replace it. Father Nick Williams, the rev- on show at Tonbridge Castle on erend at St James the Great and a October 27, to mark the start of the former Met police officer of 30 RBL Poppy Appeal. It is hoped that Father Nick Williams at St James the years, understands the cost of re- the poppy carpet will also go on placing the toilet will be £800 and Great Church and above, the toilet show around the borough to mark while it was insured, there is an ex- toilets in the churchyard are still attending the church altogether. Armistice Day on November 11 cess of £200. some time off. It is not the first time the church and Remembrance Sunday on No- He says the arson attack has left Father Williams said: “We have has been the target of criminals. vember 12. the congregation without a much- raised enough to start the work and Last Easter, Father Williams chased Poppies can be of any size and used facility and facing an in- have received planning permission, a thief who made off with a collec- follow any pattern, with ideas creased insurance premium. but we still need final approval tion tin. available on the Royal British Le- He said: “We’ll have mums from the church authorities and we Kent Police said no arrests have gion website. Help is also needed changing babies’ nappies on the don’t know when that will come.” been made.Officers believe the to piece the poppies together. nave floor. Although we look like a He added the landlords of the crime was committed in Church Contributions need to be handed well-off church, our finances tell a King and Queen pub have been Walk between midnight on Sun- in by Monday, October 23. If you very different story and we have to “very kindly” allowing people day, July 23, and 7am the following can help attach the poppies or have work hard to raise money for what- caught short to use their loos. day. Anyone with information spare red and black wool, email ever we need.” The priest is worried that the should call 01622 604100 quoting [email protected] or call 01732 Plans for a new block containing vandalism might deter people from crime reference YY/20703/17.