The Cake - Summer 2022

NEWS
News
Everyone’s Toilets
Townspeople have praised the work
of the parish council and school
children who joined together to reopen
the public loos in Crane Lane.
After thousands of pounds
were spent over the years repairing repeated
vandalism, Tunbridge Wells Borough Council said
there was no more money available for further
work and closed the toilets, responsibility being
handed to the parish council. This move led
townspeople, including shopkeepers, to complain
that there were no facilities for shoppers and
tourists who could be put off visiting the town.
About £8,000 has been spent by the council
on refurbishing the unisex loos which re-opened
last month. Children from Belle Vue School have
brightened up the outside with colourful murals.
Their head teacher Mary McKeeman told The
Cake they would not be put off by the possibility
of more vandalism and would remorselessly and
happily replace their colourful artwork until the
vandals gave up. A notice has also been put on
the front wall appealing for people to respect the
building.
Chairman Kim Fletcher painting over a small
section of old graffiti which was left from
previous vandalism
Cllr Colin Gilbert, who has led the council’s
plan to get the conveniences re-opened, said he
would like to see a message on the building to
saying “everyone’s toilets”. TF
Special Thanks
for Conservation
Work
The hard work and commitment
given by Peter Allen to Cranbrook
Conservation Area Advisory
Committee has been recognised
with its community award from the
Kent Association of Local Councils.
A former teacher, who had a long
association with Cranbrook School,
Mr Allen was secretary of the
committee for many years until he
retired in 2021. He was instrumental
in writing three conservation area
appraisals, Cranbrook, Wilsley and
Sissinghurst. He worked tirelessly
representing CCAAC on other
organisations and has written many
booklets about Cranbrook. TF
Don’t Let The Vandals Win
The mindless vandalism which led to the removal of the mobile breast clinic in Cranbrook could
result in avoidable deaths of women. Parish council clerk Lori Ham fears that many, who cannot
drive or find it difficult to travel to Maidstone or Tunbridge Wells hospitals, could be harbouring a
potentially life-threatening medical condition.
Lori has every reason to be concerned for others. Following a routine mammogram, she was found
to be suffering from atypical ductal hyperplasia, which can lead to cancer if untreated. There are none
of the usual symptoms, such as lumps or pain which lead women to consult their doctors. In her case,
it was picked up when she had her routine mammogram and she has since undergone treatment.
Lori was full of praise for the staff at the Peggy Wood Breast Centre at Maidstone, who were,
“without exception amazing”. She said: “I want to encourage women to continue to have their
mammograms. The damage to the breast clinic has meant it has been withdrawn and we don’t know
if it is permanent.
“It has left people having to travel to Maidstone or Tunbridge Wells which is not always easy for
some if they don’t drive. I am lucky that I can work flexibly but what worries me is that there are
a lot of women in this area who were served by the clinic who perhaps cannot find ways of going
elsewhere.
“I feel so lucky that it was picked up. If I hadn’t gone for the mammogram I would never have
known I had the condition which I had never even heard of. Don’t let the vandals win.” TF
12 The Cake • Summer 2022