downsmail.co.uk MallingMalling EditionEdition Maidstone & Malling’s No. 1 newspaper FREE February 2016 No. 238 News Marathon mums Bus blunder apology TWO Snodland mums are training to run the London ARRIVA says sorry after leaflet Marathon in memory of a much-loved dad who died drop about evening service from the neurological illness, ataxia. leads to confusion in Eccles. 3 Sue Pritchard (45), pictured left, and her 39-year-old pal, Lauren Whale, say they have had a lifelong strug- gle with weight and fitness, and hope that as well as Mattress crash driver promoting the work of the Brain Research Trust, they AN inquest is opened on a will inspire other people to achieve things they motorist thought to have thought were out of reach. swerved to avoid a After running the London Marathon in 2011 for the mattress in the road. 4 charity in memory of her father Roy Moxon, who died aged 63, Sue said it would be her first and last marathon. But she was unaware that Lauren 4 Bridge repair delay BAD weather causes new setback to overdue re-opening of Peters Bridge. 6 Village asked to fund Defibrillator trashed VANDALS are accused of putting lives at risk after a defibril- lator at Ditton is trashed. 6 repairs to save surgery Dog left to freeze A SICK spaniel pup is lucky to be VILLAGERS will be asked to back a landmark move to fund repairs to their alive after being dumped GP surgery after health-providers said they could not afford to keep it open. over a fence. 8 Those living in East Peckham were facing a three-and-a-half hour bus School trip victory ride to Woodlands Health Centre in SNODLAND families win money Paddock Wood if its satellite surgery back after cancelled in the village were to close. holiday. 15 But, following a successful cam- paign to keep it open by the parish Comment council, residents are now being 20 asked if they will stump up the Obituaries 22 money for vital repairs, running to more than £150,000, in an unprece- Parish Councils 32-33 dented move to get the small sur- gery off the “at risk” register. Crime Reports 33 East Peckham Parish Council chairman Stephanie Watson (pic- TWO black cast iron urns were tured) said: “When Woodlands said stolen from a drive in Aylesford; it wanted to close our surgery in De- all four wheel trims were taken cember 2015, we felt enough was from a Nissan vehicle parked in enough. Taking on the health service CCG to get to grips with. every right to decide.” East Malling; a tractor battery has proved challenging and because “However, we have come this far Parish council manager Karen Bell was stolen from a farm in Ryarsh. this is the first time a parish council and while the amount we originally said: “The parish council has run a has offered financial support it has thought would be needed has very successful campaign of been a slow process for the NHS and grown, we want to give the public resistance, which has kept the 4 Town Talk HOLMESDALE School has a Business focus new headteacher and a new LOCAL business has always been a vital chair of governors. part of Downs Mail coverage and we have made our online Business Notice See Town Talk in this month’s Downs Mail. 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In spite of just missing out on celebrity status, the pair, who ARRIVA has apologised to resi- lage, along with Burham, Would- have run the Aylesford Pottery at the priory for 17 years, say they could dents in Eccles after a mail drop ham and Aylesford, is potentially not be happier. promoting a bus route that does not going to have the evening service “These programmes encourage people to have a go at something serve the village, when the one that taken away … by Arriva.” they’ve never tried does is in jeopardy. The MP later posted the bus firm’s before, be that sewing, Aylesford MP Tracey Crouch response which said: “I would like baking or throwing a pot, (below) was alerted by residents to apologise for any confusion that so they are very good who received our Sapphire 101 route promotion news for people like us,” said Alan. leaflets urging mail drop has caused residents in For the last 10 years, them to use a Eccles. The specific postcode in the pair have been two-for-one deal question was selected and included holding classes at the on the 101 by our marketing team as it covers priory, which now run to evening part of the Sapphire 101 route. How- nine a week, for 10 Chatham to ever the Royal Mail area footprints people at a time. They Maidstone serv- cover a wide geographical area say the popularity of the ice. which included Eccles and neigh- classes has helped to Villagers were especially annoyed bouring villages. keep them in business. as they have been fighting to save The spokesman added: “With re- Alan said: “It’s more their 155 evening service for the last gards to the 155 evening service, this difficult than ever to sell hand-made pottery, with discount stores four years, with the latest six-month service is run by Arriva on behalf of offering a cup for 50p, so we are pleased we have our teaching sideline. extension due to be reviewed soon. KCC who fund the route.” The demand continues to grow and programmes like this are good for Noel Butler tweeted: “Is this a With the support of Miss Crouch the craft.” joke, Arriva! Flyers in Eccles about and county, borough and parish As for their audition, after receiving a call from Love Productions, evening service that doesn’t come councillors, villagers won the latest which also produced the Great British Bake-off, they were interviewed here when they want to stop the one reprieve for the 155 evening service over the telephone and then filmed on location in Aylesford before the that does.” in September, stressing it was a life- final auditions at a pottery studio in London. Miss Crouch said she would write line for residents, especially shift Alan said: “It was really good fun and something we’ll always to the company, adding: “As every- workers and young people.