Stop 5G Mast by Maidstone Schools

Hello again everyone,

I am truly overwhelmed by the response I received from you following my update from last week. Your generosity has helped me raise a huge chunk of the funds needed to settle my solicitor's bill*. However, I still have just over £700 to find, and my solicitor has kindly given me a few more days in which to do this. I still need more help, if anyone can give it. If you can, I would be forever thankful. Here's the link to the main page on the Crowd Funder:

crowdfunder.co.uk/p/stop-5g-outside-of-maidstone-schools#start

Despite being unable to proceed with my legal action, I'm vowing to carry on fighting this mast until I've gone as far as I can go, and many of you have posted some really encouraging comments on my Crowd Funder. These comments mean an awful lot to me. They've lifted my spirits, and they've given me a real boost and the strength to keep fighting. Having you behind me on this makes all the difference. I am more determined than ever, knowing that I am not doing this alone. I feel like I am fighting for every parent and every citizen who is concerned about this ruthless rollout of masts.

PUBLICITY FOR MY CAMPAIGN

A journalist from my local newspaper, the Kent Messenger, covered my campaign story last week, but I wasn't expecting to see my picture on the front page! The story was also covered on Kent Online. See link here:

Mum contests 5G mast outside Valley Park and Invicta Grammar Schools in Maidstone - Kent Online

Earlier this week, I was approached by Richie Allen, and he has invited me onto his radio show. I accepted his invite. In case you haven't heard of him, here's a brief description:

'Richie Allen is an award winning radio and television presenter and the host of 'The Richie Allen Show', the most listened to independent radio show in Europe, covering the stories the mainstream media won't.'

You can listen live to his shows between 5pm and 7pm from Monday to Thursday. I'll be doing a spot on his show on Thursday 29th June and we'll be discussing my campaign to get this mast stopped. I'll be joined by one of the volunteers who's been helping me with my campaign over the past few weeks. Please listen in to the show, if you can, by clicking on the following link and going to the 'Listen LIVE!' box on the right hand side of the page:

RichieAllen.co.uk

PEACEFUL DEMONSTRATIONS

I'm also organising two, separate 'peaceful' demonstrations, each lasting around 2 hours, at the site where the mast is to be installed (details below). I would absolutely love it if anyone in the Maidstone area can join me on one, or both days. If I have to do it alone, then I will, but it would be much nicer if I had you there with me for company  :-)

The journalist from the Kent Messenger, is keen to cover this story again and he may turn up on one of the days to take photos. It would be great if there was a sizeable number of fellow campaigners present, in order to illustrate the overwhelming opposition to this ludicrous idea of siting a telecoms mast so close to the two schools.

The first demo will take place on Thursday 6th July, between 3.00pm and 5.00pm.

The second demo will take place on Sunday 9th July, between 11.00am and 1.00pm.

Both demos will be held at the mast site, which is on the corner of Huntsman Lane and Ashford Road, directly outside of Valley Park School and Invicta Grammar School. The site address is: Huntsman Lane, (at the junction with Ashford Road), Maidstone, Kent, ME14 5DP.

Please will you join me at the demos? If you are prepared to come along, could you possibly send a message to me using the link at the end of this update, just so I know the expected number of people? This would be very helpful.

If you do decide to join me, I am encouraging people to bring placards or banners with them, stating their opposition to this mast. I've yet to make mine!

PETITIONS

I'm hoping to get a petition ready for people to sign on the days of the demos. The petition will accompany a letter that I'll write, which I intend to send to the following Secretaries of State, as well as to my constituency MP, Helen Grant:

Health – Steve Barclay

Education – Gillian Keegan

Science, Innovation and Technology – Chloe Smith

In addition to my petition, and prompted by my campaign, one of the volunteers who has been helping me has created a Parliamentary Petition, which is aimed at the general concern surrounding masts by schools and nurseries. This petition is calling on the Government to outlaw the practice of installing 5G masts so close to these places. It has not gone live yet, as the wording is currently being considered by the Petitions Committee. I'll let you know when it's ready for signing and sharing.

Finally, I lodged a formal complaint to Maidstone Borough Council at the beginning of May. My complaint highlighted the apparent lack of consultation with the public, and in particular with the schools. I also complained about the close proximity of the mast to the schools, and about the total lack of regard for the health and safety of the children.

I wasn't happy with the response that I received from the council, so I escalated my complaint. I'm now on to 'Stage 2' of their formal complaints procedure, and it is being 'independently assessed' by The Information Governance Team. I should hear back from them by the end of this month. If I am not satisfied with their response, I'll be escalating my complaint further, this time, to the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman. I'll let you know how I get on.

I want to thank you all so much once again, for being there for me, and for giving your much-needed support. I couldn't do this without you.

Kate x

* On request, a copy of my solicitor's invoice is available to anyone who has contributed to my crowd funding campaign. Please send your request via this link:

Contact Kate