Town gets high-speed London link
HIGH-speed trains are to run from Maidstone West to London St Pancras fromMay 23. Local rail champion Cllr Malcolm Robertson hailed the peak-time service as great news for the town’s commuters and its economy. He urged the borough council to improve public transport links to the West station and make parking available. A £37.50 return ticket will buy a journey
There will be four trains each way - 06.56,
not handy for those who work further south in the capital and face a cramped, onward Tube journey to the office. The news was welcomed by Maidstone
0726, 0756 and 1913 from MaidstoneWest and 1714, 1744, 1814 and 0625 from St Pancreas. The morning service will take just 47 min-
to London taking less than 50minutes on a comfortable, air-conditioned train. It will stop at Strood, Gravesend and Stratford In- ternational - the latter will make it “very attractive” for Canary Wharf workers, said Cllr Robertson. The downside for many commuters, though, is that St Pancras is
Pink-themed buffet helps charity
STUDENTS from all-girl In- victa Grammar School raised around £500 for Breast Can- cer Care during a pink- themed buffet. Yr 11 Hospitality and Cater-
ing pupils held the event, which involved each student cooking three dishes to cater for the 60 guests attending. The food ranged from sausage rolls and Caesar sal- ads, to chocolate cheesecakes and cupcakes. It included the serving of drinks, home-made bread and butter, sweet and savoury dishes. Money was also raised by a raffle.
utes, and 48minutes in the evening, compared to about an hour between Maidstone East and Victoria. It will only be truly high-speed from Ebbs-
fleet as it will “trundle up” theMedway Valley line on existing third-rail power.
MP Helen Grant, who has been fighting for the return of the fast City service to Cannon Street via Maidstone East since it was axed in December 2009. She said: “While I understand this is still
not the return of the muchmissed City serv- ice and that St Pancras will not be the ideal destination for many, this is a good start.” Cllr Robertson warned the service would be experimental. “It’s critically important
that a lot of people use it. It could be a case of use it or lose it. He added: “We have to make it work with transport connections and car parking.”
Friends pit their wits THE Friends of Detling Church are running a quiz evening at Detling Village Hall on Satur- day, May 7 at 7.30pm. Teams, singles and couples
are all welcome and entry costs £6 per person, to include a ploughman's supper in the in- terval. Remember to bring your own drink and glasses. There will be a prize for each member of the winning team. Details from Tikki Gulland on 01622 737471.
Students (left to right) Bryoni Hartridge, Chloe Plumb, Kelsey Watts, Beth Ransley with some of the food they made for the event
Education area plan THE Valley Invicta Park Feder- ation has unveiled a plan to convert a caretaker’s bungalow in Huntsman Lane, Maidstone, into a multi-use educational area.
NHW sticker request LOCAL Neighbourhood Watch volunteers have been asked to return surplus circular NHW stickers to their overall coordi- nator.
Mid-Kent coordinator Lor-
raine Hemphrey made the re- quest after running out of stock and being told that the Home Office is restricting supplies to cut costs.
Service and soup THIS month’s “Hands On Church” will be held on Good Friday, April 22, in both benefice churches, Boxley and Detling, at the same time. The 11am service will in-
clude a story and singing. Soup and rolls or a hot cross bun and a drink, will be served.
To contact Downs Mail just phone 01622 630330
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