Residents ‘stranded’ at health centre after bus route change
RESIDENTS in Bearsted have made com- plaints about a change to a bus route that leaves the elderly and vulnerable unable to get home from a health centre. Bus No. 8 used to go from Maidstone to Madginford via Spot Lane, close to the Bearsted Medical Practice on the junction of Ashford Road and Yeoman Lane, before heading to Downswood where it would ter- minate and begin again. But Arriva has changed the route to ini-
tially serve Downswood before heading to Madginford and going straight back to Maidstone along the Ashford Road, leaving medical centre users who are unable to walk to Madginford having to get a
STAFF from a Maidstone secu- rity firm turned the tables and dressed up as robbers for a charity dragon boat event. Landmark Security, based in Albion Place, raised over £4,000 for Action for Children by dressing up as burglars and racing in Chinese-style dragon boats over a 250m course in BewlWater. Bearsted man LiamWalsh,
the firm’s managing director, said: “This is the first year that we have entered the Dragon Boat race, so we thought we’d try and do something eye-catching. Hopefully, 16 bur- glars, with bags of swag, rowing frantically in
DownsMail Business Focus Honest trader who doesn’t take advantage
Paul Dale is a friendly tradesman but he does get hot under the collar when he hears about vulnerable people being exploited in the name of business.
Paul and sons parents, the widowed and elderly.
Paul said: "I was widowed at an early age and so understand what it is like to be on your own - even the simplest of decisions may be difficult to make."
Trading since 1990, his speciality is fitting UPVC fascias, soffits, cladding and gutterting to houses which have just started to show signs of wear and tear. He will price the job and there are no hidden extras - what he says is what you get.
"I hear many stories of salesmen who are almost impossible to get rid of and unwanted phone calls after a quote. I believe in giving one quote and then leaving people to make up their mind. I treat people the way I would like to be treated myself. People will have my home number and can call me at any time. I am not selling a product or spinning a line I am selling myself - my future business is in the hands of my present customers".
22 East
He is only too aware of the pressure tactics used by some businesses and that maintaining a smart home can be tricky, especially for single
Landmark Security ‘robbers’ with their cheque for £4,000 (picture:
www.alexanderford.co.uk)
a dragon boat did the trick – we were just glad that nobody got confused and called 999!” The company came second from 30 teams.
taxi or a lift back. Bearsted ward Cllr Mike Cumming told
the regeneration and economic develop- ment overview and scrutiny committee that the change was made “without warn- ing”. He went on: “Both me and my wife have
had numerous complaints from people in the Madginford area because they can’t get back from the doctors’ as the bus only goes one way. “I tried the service last week and, of
the eight people on it, only one person got off at Downswood. The rest went to Madg- inford. “There is a lot of dissatisfaction.”
Robert Patterson, business development manager for Arriva, said: “We have had to make changes through the increasing costs of fuel and decline in passenger numbers. After looking at the passenger figures, we decided to change the route.” Cllr Cumming responded: “Surely these changes are discouraging people from using the service. Numbers will continue to de- cline because of restricted availability.” Mr Patterson added that, from April next
year, the Government will cut by 20% a fuel rebate to bus companies. “It is unfortunate we had to make service reductions, but this is why we have had to make changes to No. 8,” he said.
Security firm goes for broke at BewlWater Lenham chiropody
given permission PERMISSION was granted for a chiropody clinic in Lenham village centre. Heather Palmer-Creasey
was allowed to convert a home at 24 Maidstone Road into the new practice, on condition that the premises are only open between 9.30am and 5pm Monday to Saturday, and not at any time on Sundays. Maidstone Council said
thiswas “to safeguard the en- joyment of their properties by adjoining residential oc- cupiers.”
01227 713995 or 07719 848115 PAUL DALE Contact Paul on Have you got news for us? Phone our News Desk on 01622 734735
31st August 2011 Dear Paul
Just wanted to write to you to say a huge thank you for the work you have undertaken at our home. We cannot compliment you enough on the way in which you conducted the work at our house in restoring an unattractive house to a bright and welcoming home.
The work at our house was completed to the highest standard and out of all work we have had done at our home over 2 years, yours was by far the very best in quality and professional right from the very start, Most workmen undertake a job but you undertake your work going that bit extra, ensuring the drive was cleared every night and the little touches of sweeping the front as to not get nails in our tyres of our cars did not go unnoticed.
We have in the past been caught out by workmen and it was such pleasure to have you work on our property and we trusted you fully in the work you clearly are so skilled at. It was so reassuring in a society that some time seems negative that comes to getting in workmen to complete jobs to find you.
A huge thank you from us both for taking this job on knowing that it was not local to you, for your reasonable costs and not lastly for being decent, trustworthy and maintaining huge standards in both you and your colleague on site.
It all looks lovely and thank you so much again. We really are thrilled and would highly recommend you.
Best wishes for your continued success always within your business.
Claire & Shane Gravesend
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