MPs criticise county’s commuter rail services


Train survey is far from satisfactory, says MP


LOCAL MP Tracey Crouch is unhappy that train users’ satis- faction surveys are being skewed by the soar-away suc- cess of Kent’s high-speed serv- ice. A survey carried out by Pas- senger Focus showed 82% of customers rate Southeastern services as either good or satis- factory.


However, the figure – which


is based on a sample of 1,900 people – is the fourth lowest of all 22 operators and it also in- cluded High Speed One serv-


ices, which scored much higher, thus giving a better overall satisfaction rating for Southeatern. Chatham and Aylesford MP


Miss Crouch said: “Yet again the outcome of this survey shows whywe need to separate out high-speed services from others as they clearly drag Southeastern’s performance up. “I do not think services are


up to scratch. People do find it frustrating that they are paying significantly more and clearly


“COMPLETELY useless” – that is how a local Tory MP described a review of Maidstone-Lon- don train services by his own Government. Sir John Stanley (Tonbridge andMalling) said:


"I am bitterly disappointed by the response to our campaign for the restoration of the rail serv- ices into Cannon Street, Charing Cross and Lon- don Bridge that I have received from the rail minister Theresa May." The MP has been fighting on behalf of com- muters since Southeastern axed direct City serv- ices on the Maidstone East line in December 2009. Sir John said: “I find it frankly ludicrous that


the Government is unable to find £250,000 a year to enable at least the improved Blackfriars service to start in May 2012 when it can find vast sums, for example, to bale out the Irish banks at the drop of a hat.” He added: “I also consider it equally ridicu-


Winning house brew A NEW Birling-based micro- brewery has been chosen as the house beer for a real-ale drinkers’ haven in London. Kent Brewery has only been


fully operating since April and director Paul Herbert was thrilled to win the commission. The new pub in Clerkenwell,


called the Craft Beer Co, has three-dozen beer pumps and more than 300 bottled beers to choose from.


Mr Herbert


said: “It will be one of the most impor- tant venues for new and exciting beers


so we are really proud to be so closely associated with it.” Co-director and head brewer


Toby Simmonds spent several days perfecting a recipe for ‘Clerkenwell Pale’. He said: “The hop varieties


have been selected to provide the exact balance of flavour and aroma combinations that were required.” Pub licensee Martin Hayes


said: “Kent Brewery has a tremendous future and is one of the most exciting discoveries of the past couple of years, which is why we asked Paul and Toby to brew our house beer.”


Leybourne pupils celebrate with theMayor of Tonbridge and Malling Cllr Brian Luker.


They are the champions LEYBOURNE Primary School emerged triumphant as the win- ner of the Tonbridge andMalling Kwik Cricket Festival. Neighbouring Kings Hill Primary School also did well but


went out in the semi-finals. Around 270 young cricketers made up 27 teams from 22 pri-


mary schools across the borough in the event, whichwas hosted by Tonbridge School. The mayor of Tonbridge and Malling, Cllr Brian Luker, pre- sented trophies to the winning teams and wished Leybourne the best of luck in the county finals.


Police fund helps good causes LEYBOURNE Cricket Club and STOP Youth Club at Snodlandwere among 12 community groups who received donations thanks to the Kent Police Property Fund. The money is generated from the sale at auction of unclaimed


lost property and items seized in police operations and distributed to good causes.


feel they do not give value for money.” Southeastern service delivery director Vince Lucas,who lives near Maidstone, was encour- aged by the survey figures but added: “Clearly we know there’s more to be done to im- prove things further. “Over the past five months


we’ve achieved higher than 90% train service punctuality on most days. Continuing to improve on this throughout the rest of the year will remain our focus.”


Minister slammed for ‘useless’ train review


lous to have one of the most important business and residential growth points in Kent at Kings Hill without a remotely decent train service to and from London. The only one of three options endorsed by the minister was for the recently introduced high- speed service to St Pancras, from Maidstone West, as it was “without the need for any addi- tional subsidy”. Mrs May told Sir John: “Given the significant financial crisis we inherited from the last gov- ernment I cannot agree to implement service changes that require additional subsidy from the public purse.” But the Tonbridge andMallingMP has vowed


to fight on. “I am determined that when South- eastern's franchise finally comes to an end [2014], their successor will be contractually obliged to provide services into the City stations on theMaidstone East line.”


Tracey falls foul


of FA rule MP TRACEY Crouch has branded new rules that prevent her from play- ing football for the Parliamen- tary team as “ridiculous”. The MP for- Chatham and Aylesford (pic- tured)


has


played for both the 11-a-side and five-a-side teams alongside her male col- leagues.


However, since the 11-a-side


team came under the wing of the Football Association, she is now barred as, under its rules, only girls aged 13 or under can play in mixed teams. A qualified football coach


and FA referee who has man- aged a girls’ team for three years, Miss Crouch said: “It’s right that girls can’t play along- side boys over 13, but it’s ridiculous to apply those rules to something like the Parlia- mentary football team.” She added that the Westmin-


ster side was “hardly the Pre- mier league”.


Strawberries are


sporting great MEREWORTH’s Hugh Lowe Farms provided fruit for visi- tors to both The Open golf championship at Sandwich and Wimbledon fortnight. Tennis fans got through al-


most two million strawberries from the farm, while the corpo- rate hospitality menu at Royal St George’s Golf Club included raspberries as well as strawber- ries.


Hugh Lowe Farms’ owner Marion Regan pinpointed freshness and flavour as the reasons for being the chosen suppliers. Started by her great-grandfa-


ther 118 years ago, the business employs 41 full-time and 450 seasonal staff.


Builder becomes


‘green’ ambassador LEYBOURNE Chase builder Taylor Wimpey has become an ambassador for Kent Wildlife Trust.


Home buyers at the new de- velopment will receive annual membership packages with the trust included in the deal. Set in 140 acres of parkland


in the grounds of the former Leybourne Grangemanor house and hospital, the development includes eco-friendly facilities for the local wildlife. A dormouse bridge has been constructed to connect habitats either side of the new road leading from the A20. Bat and bird boxes as well as tunnels for water voles have also been provided. The trust has made the prop-


erty firm a corporate ambassa- dor member.


Have you got news for us? Phone our News Desk on 01622 734735 Malling 19


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