EDITORIAL � 01303 817100 www.kentnews.co.uk for all the news and sport WEEK ENDING NOVEMBER 15, 2009 news I 5
WITH winter closing fast and temperatures
falling, now is the time of year we really need
to keep fit � and a healthy diet can help fend
off colds and flu.
Health chiefs said eating well can stave off
the bugs and cut down on the need for inter-
vention by doctors and hospitals.
They said keeping as fit as possible will
make our bodies better equipped to fight sea-
sonal flu, coughs, colds and even swine flu.
NHS Eastern and Coastal Kent has issued
a top 10 of healthy eating tips to make sure
people stay well.
Director of nursing Sarah Andrews said:
"Most people probably know that keeping
yourself as healthy as you can is important
all year round. But your eating habits can
make even more of a difference when it
comes to keeping well in winter.
"Eating regularly and eating well helps
keep energy levels up and can boost immune
systems. These top tips are some of the best
ways to get through the winter in the best
possible health."
The diet tips to stay well include eating at
least five portions of fruit and vegetables a
day, plus basing meals on starchy foods such
as bread, potatoes, rice or pasta, choosing
wholegrain varieties.
Drink at least one litre of water a day and
cut out fizzy, sugary drinks. Limit food and
drinks high in sugar and saturated fat and
choose lower-fat meat, poultry and dairy
foods, plus more fish like salmon, fresh tuna,
mackerel, sardines and trout.
Cut alcohol and salt, and don't skip meals
like breakfast, and ensure you eat a variety
of foods to get all the nutrients a body needs.
People on certain benefits may be eligible
for free weekly Healthy Start vouchers,
which you can swap for milk, fruit, vegeta-
bles, infant formula milk and vitamins
A MAN found guilty of causing death by
dangerous driving after an elderly man was
struck by his out-of-control car has been
jailed.
Khuram Mahfooz, 24, of Lincoln Road,
Maidstone, was driving at speed along
Cumberland Avenue in the county town on
June 27, 2008, when he mounted the pave-
ment, striking 75-year-old Sidney Freeman
and his wife from behind as they were
walking home.
Mr Freeman died at the scene and his
wife suffered a broken ankle. Mahfooz was
also charged with having no insurance or
MoT.
He was sentenced to three years in
prison and will be deported to Pakistan on
completion of his jail term.
To view, search `challenge'
@ yourkenttv.co.uk
Meet all the winners at the
KOS Media �1 Million Business
Challenge awards night
WEST End stars of the future are wanted for a stage production of The Wizard
of Oz next year. Dartford Amateur Operatic and Dramatic Society needs
youngsters aged seven and above to play Munchkins at Dartford's Orchard
Theatre. Auditions take place on Sunday, November 29, from 10am at the theatre.
Children must be under 4ft 9in. Visit www.daods.org.uk for more details.
Deadly driver
to be deportedFrench `should pay
Stack compensation'
PEOPLE and businesses that
lose money because of Operation
Stack could have a case for com-
pensation against the French
government.
That's the view of Kent County Council
leader Cllr Paul Carter who told delegates �
including ministers and industry insiders �
at a meeting on Tuesday that legal advice
had been sought over the impact of French
strikes on Kent and its economy.
The meeting at the House of Lords was
part of a traffic campaign started by KCC to
deal with problems on the county's roads.
During Stack the M20 is turned into a giant
lorry park, causing hold-ups and traffic chaos
in the area,with huge financial losses for busi-
ness. Stack is mainly implemented due to
French industrial action that blocks the ports,
stopping lorries using cross-Channel ferries.
Cllr Carter said: "The misery caused to
tens and thousands of people affected by the
strikes and the impact on businesses and
travel plans should not be underestimated.
The closure of Calais harms our economy."
Blockading
It is estimated by the Federation of Small
Businesses that blockades at Calais and the
subsequent stoppage of crossings costs the
UK haulage industry �1 million a day.
And with delays on deliveries and traffic
problems caused by Operation Stack a fur-
ther �500,000 is lost daily.
Cllr Carter said the French authorities
could be in breach of EU rules governing the
free movement of people and goods when
they fail to take action against illegal strik-
ers blockading French ports. This might
mean businesses and residents affected by
strikes could receive compensation for losses.
Cllr Carter said: "With the French authori-
ties failing to take action against illegal strike
action in Calais they are in breach of Article
28 of the European Commission Treaty. This
means they could be liable for damages
caused to people who are affected by the
blockades. I have written to Lord Mandelson
about it. Our Government needs to take this
matter to the French Government. It's up to
the Government to sort this problem out."
Business secretary Lord Mandelson has
agreed to pursue the issue. Cllr Carter also
called for a long-term answer to Stack.
"It is essential to find a solution, but we
need to find the means to fund it," he said.
"Charges should be imposed on foreign lorry
drivers using UK roads, which would pay for
infrastructure and a long-term plan to deal
with Operation Stack.
"Thousands could be raised through this.
Foreign lorry drivers already have an advan-
tage over UK hauliers by filling up with
cheaper fuel before coming to Britain."
As part of KCC's traffic campaign, a formal
complaint has been made to the European
Commission to highlight the effect of strike
action on the county.
Further concerns were raised about the
planned expansion of Calais port.
In 2007, about four million lorries passed
through Kent via the Port of Dover and this
figure is expected to rise by two-thirds over
the next 30 years. This could mean even
more HGVs parked on the M20 in the event of
strikes. But Cllr Paul Watkins, leader of Dover
District Council, said his authority was backing
the Calais port plans.
"It is crucial for the economy of the UK and
Europe that both the ports are able to gear-up to
accommodate future growth," he said.
"In the face of an ever-expanding international
market, if one is to grow, the other needs to keep
pace if balance is to be maintained."
KCC is also pushing for a third Thames cross-
ing to improve connections with the rest of the
UK, and greater use of Kent International
Airport at Manston in Thanet.
By MARIJKE COX
marijke.cox@kosmedia.co.uk
COUNTING THE COST: Operation Stack has a massive adverse impact on the Kent economy
Fending off the bugs with
a healthy diet this winter

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