Rising concerns about bus changes


MORE weight has been added to complaints about a bus service being rerouted. Bearsted resident John


Horne is “outraged” about the changes to the No 8 route and has taken up the issue with his local county councillor. MrHorne, of BirlingAvenue, only found out


about the revised routewhenhe decided to go by bus to a patients’ participation group in Maidstone. First, he discovered that the No 8 runs at a different time from previously, so he had to get theNo 510 into town instead. “For the return, I found that the No 8 now runs toDownswooddirect and omits the stops


Cancer support


continues MACMILLAN Cancer Sup- port is closing its fundrais- ing office in Tonbridge Road, Maidstone, but staff insist it is “business as usual”. They will be based at


home from December 9 but fundraising manager Liz O’Hanlon said: “If anything, we will have more time to go out and meet people and to see our supporters than be- fore. We don’t want people thinking we are finished as a charity – far from it. “I’m still contactable on


07834 191214 or email eo- hanlon@macmillan.org.uk.


Terraced fear CONCERNS that a two- storey side extension would result in a “terraced appear- ance” led to Maidstone Council refusing a planning application for 75 Spot Lane, Maidstone.


Come along to


Rudolph’s rodeo REAL Christmas trees, hot chestnuts and a Rudolph rodeo reindeer machine will be among the attractions at Harrietsham school’s Christ- mas bazaar. Santa will also be paying a


visit to the event which runs from noon to 3.30pm on Sun- day, December 4. Christmas puddings are


now on sale in aid of school funds. Each one is labelled with “Harrietsham wishes you a Merry Christmas” and prices are £2.25 for an indi- vidual size and £5.50 a large one.


on the Ashford Road. “So there is no return bus service to Bearsted,” said Mr Horne, who contacted Ar- riva for an explanation. “Their reply was that the new routing is to


save fuel and had been agreed by KCC.” MrHorne told the DownsMail: “If you have


not got a car you are stuffed. That is not good enough.” He said the oldMaidstone & District was a


“jolly good little service” but Arriva’s timetabling office is inBedford, run by people “whodo not knowthe locality”.MrHorneun- derstands there have been numerous com- plaints about the contraction of bus services. He said there has also been disruption to


buses to Barming and the hospital. In a letter to Cllr Jenny Whittle (Maidstone


LOCAL MP Hugh Robertson, who is Minister for Sport and Olympics, will be the guest speaker at Maidstone’s annual Youth Sport Achievement Awards ceremony. Parents, teachers and sports coaches have until Friday, December 30, to nominate any young per- son who has shown effort, dedication and com- mitment throughout 2011. There are 11 categories open to individuals,


teams and schools, plus the opportunity to apply for training grants. Categories include: YSAA gold, silver and bronze awards; team of the year; outstanding youth service to sport; outstanding personal achievement; Maidstone disability sport award; club of the year and awards for primary and sec-


Rural East)MrHorne wrote: “Looking further ahead, how can one say this will provide a sustainable transport system within the Core Strategy, forwhich the county is responsible. “There has been no public consultation or


user surveys. These are serious issues. “I am concerned that Arriva uses the justifi-


cation that these changes have been approved by KCC,” he added. Last month’s Downs Mail featured com- plaints about Madginford residents being “stranded” after attending Bearsted Medical Practice as theNo 8 now heads straight down Ashford Road to Maidstone. But Arriva’s business management manager, Robert Patterson, said the rising costs of fuel and declining passenger numbers had meant them having to change the route.


Olympics MP to honour young sports heroes


ondary schools. Maidstone Council’s cabinet member for com- munity and leisure services, Cllr John Wilson, said: “I hope people will take the opportunity to recognise the talents of the borough’s young sport- ing stars and reward those behind the scenes that make it all happen. “With the Olympics just round the corner it’s


even more reason to get behind our young sport- ing successes. They may not be competing in Lon- don but they are the future and, who knows, in 2016 they could be standing on the podium.” For further detail on the categories and to nom-


inate, visit www.maidstone.gov.uk/sports, pick up a form from the Maidstone Gateway in King Street, or call 01622 602222.


Sapphire’s a real gem of panto cast MAIDSTONE’S Christmas pantomime will star Elia Sapphire who left TV soap Emmerdale this summer. The 24-year-old is looking forward to appearing as Princess Jasmine in Aladdin opposite former Holby City and Hollyoaks star Jeremy Edwards. “I’ve always wanted to play Jasmine. I love the film,” she added. For tickets for Aladdin, which runs at the Hazlitt Theatre


from Saturday, December 3, to Sunday, January 15, call the box office on 01622 758611 or follow the online booking instruc- tions at www.hazlittartscentre.co.uk.


Taller six-antennae pole would


‘improve internet access’ MOBILE phone companies O2 and Vodafone have jointly applied to replace a 15m high replica telegraph pole with a 20m pole sup- porting a total of six antennae on land at Home Farm Oast, Boughton Road, Sandway. The scheme also includes an additional radio equipment cabi-


net. According to the supporting statement: “In addition to voice services, this technology will enable customers to utilise high res- olution video and multi-media applications. “Among other things thiswill enable office services, virtual bank-


ing, e-retailing, video conferencing and high quality internet access to be provided to users on the move. “This will all be made possible by higher rates of data transfer


that will be faster than current technology allows and will allow wireless broadband access to the internet for mobile phones and laptop computer data cards.” Maidstone Council will decide on the planning application.


Choir’s Christmas concert KENT County Junior Choir recently sang on television to help raise funds for the BBC Chil- dren in Need appeal. The choir, whose members are aged 11-14,


is to hold a Christmas concert at All Saints Church,Maidstone, on Saturday, December 10, at 5.30pm. Tickets, priced £6, will be available on the


door,with funds going to support the choir’s ac- tivities


20 East


Roll up to see Santa and elves COME and meet Santa and his elves at Maid- stone Mencap’s Christmas Bazaar and Grand Draw on Saturday, November 26. The event is from 2pm to 4.30pm, at Cobtree


Hall, Mote Park (School Lane entrance off Willington Street) and admission is 30p. Stalls include Christmas cards, tombolas, cakes and face painting. The grand draw will be at 4pm. For more information contact Cath Handley on 07956 332 975.


Sheep released


next to rail link KENTWildlife Trust, in part- nership with Network Rail (CTRL) Ltd, has released a flock of Herdwick sheep to graze the grassland slopes ei- ther side of the high-speed rail link at Cossington Portal, between Sandling and Blue Bell Hill. The project aims to in-


crease the biodiversity - par- ticularly the amount and variety ofwildflowers - on the grasslands. The hardy traditional


sheep, which originate from the Lake District, are owned by KWT and are part of its local food project - supplying high welfare, high conserva- tion lamb and mutton to its members and the people of Kent.


Alison Ruyter, the Trust’s Medway andMid Kent Downs area warden, said: “Cossington Portal is the first site for this exciting new proj- ect. It is hoped eventually to help more sites improve along the railway line.”


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