Call for ideas to save signal box
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A RETIRED businessman is looking for bright ideas of how to save a century-old signal box near his home. Ted Bates (83) would like to
see the Grade II listed signal box at Wateringbury station pre- served for ever – not merely boarded up like the one at nearby Snodland. The signal box has been in continuous use atWateringbury since it was built in 1893, but it is due to be decommissioned in summer 2015, when signalling of the line is transferred to Gillingham. Mr Bates fears the signal box
could be removed in its entirety and placed in a transport mu- seum, or put to another alterna- tive use. He said: “The signal box is a
major feature of the village. Generations of small children have been taken to see the level crossing gates being operated by the attendant descending from the signal box to open or close the gates both before and after a train has passed.” The box remains unchanged
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from when it was first built, with the exception of a new locking room door and staircase but, because the listing includes the racks and brass handled sig- nalling levers, Mr Bates fears it will be difficult to find another use which will be acceptable to both Network Rail and the plan- ning authority. He said: “It would be a great shame if the box were to be re- moved from its present position if, for instance, it were to be ac- quired by a railway museum.” Mr Bates said the borough or
parish council could buy it – possibly for use as a store for the village archives. The signal box was built al-
most 50 years after the railway was first connected to Water- ingbury in 1844, with a single track line from Paddock Wood station. It still has its 188 Du- plex lever frame with nine levers and most of the original instruments. There are now fewer than 500 traditional signal boxes left in England, with line closures and new technology contributing to the overall decline. Mr Bates said: “The line has played an important part in the economy of the village, en- abling produce of local farms to be conveyed promptly to the London markets.” Mr Bates wants villagers to
come up with suggestions for the future of the signal box in the hope it can remain in place for the benefit of future genera- tions.
Council joins forces with TA TONBRIDGE and Malling Council has signed a new Armed Forces Community Covenant, pledging its support to the work of the Territorial Army centre in Ditton. Leader of the council Cllr Nicolas Heslop signed the covenant
with Major Giles Austin of 220 Medical Squadron, based at the Territorial Army centre, and Steve Sherry, Royal British Legion Industries (RBLI) chief executive. The first community covenant to work with the RBLI to sup-
port veteran armed forces communities across the borough was signed by Cllr Heslop andMr Sherry in June last year. When he signed the first agreement, Cllr Heslop expressed the council’s support for the work of the RBLI at Aylesford village, saying that the covenant would commit the council to helping the RBLI further by promoting the good work that it undertakes in support of the local veteran community.
School trees plan A TREE of heaven will be a bit closer to earth if pruning pro- posals by West Malling CE Pri- mary School are accepted by Tonbridge and Malling Council. The school’s agent Connick
Tree Care said the fast-growing species needed reducing and reshaping by 30%, and a nearby ash also required the re- moval of a branch which had grown over the annex roof.
Christmas charity shop HI KENT, the county’s charity for deaf and hard of hearing people, will be selling Christmas gifts, ornaments, cards and pud- dings from its Christmas shop next to the United Reformed Church in Week Street, Maid- stone. The shop is open from 10am to 3pmMondays to Satur- days until December 14. Proceeds will help deaf and hard of hearing people in Kent.
You can e-mail the Downs Mail —
info@downsmail.co.uk Malling 41
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