East January 2015

News Postbox theft

A POSTBOX in Harrietsham is the latest to disappear in a second theft in recent months from the Maid- stone area. The Royal Mail confirmed the

theft of the letterbox in Chegworth Road.

Spokesperson Sally Hopkins apologised to customers for any in- convenience caused, adding: “Royal Mail has 115,000 boxes across the country and, thankfully, thefts are relatively rare.” However, she confirmed another

had been stolen from a telegraph pole in Caring Lane, in Leeds. She advised customers to use

other boxes in the area or post of- fices for their mail in the meantime and confirmed the box in Caring Lane would be replaced. Anyone with information should

call the police, or with mail queries, the Royal Mail’s customer services line on 03457 740740.

Dog chipping PET owners in Bearsted can get their dogs microchipped free. Bearsted Vets, in Egremont

Road, is backing the Dogs Trust campaign to get dogs chipped be- fore it becomes compulsory in April 2016. The free chipping service is being offered until March 2015.

downsmail.co.uk

Commuters hit hard by annual rail fares

LOCAL commuters are being charged higher rail fares than their counterparts elsewhere in the South East, according to fig- ures.

Jasper Gerard, Lib Dem prospec-

tive parliamentary candidate for Maidstone and The Weald, de- scribed the fares as a “rip off”, with an annual season ticket into central London for the 39-mile journey from Maidstone East costing £4,180 (£107 per mile) compared with £3,780 (£99 per mile) from Farnham, Surrey, 38 miles from the capital. It is even more expensive for commuters in Staplehurst – 40 miles from London Bridge – where the annual charge is £4,684 (£117 per mile) In Bearsted, 42 miles from Lon-

don Victoria, a season ticket costs £4,244 (£99 per mile), compared with £3,588 (£85 per mile) from Burgess Hill,West Sussex, 41 miles from the capital. In West Malling, 34 miles from London, the charge is £4,092 (£117 per mile), while a season ticket

from Camberley, Surrey, a 35-mile journey, is £3,572 (£100 per mile). However, commuters in Lenham

(£90 per mile), Harrietsham (£94 per mile) and Hollingbourne (£97 per mile) get a relatively good deal. Mr Gerard said: “Fares fromwest Kent in general are 20% more expen- sive than from other Home Coun- ties.” He has written

Jasper Gerard

to the transport minister Patrick McLoughlin ask- ing why South-

eastern had its franchise renewed when the rail company came close to bottom in a customer satisfaction survey. The franchisewas last year extended until 2018. Lib Dem councillors have asked Southeastern to provide details of how it intends to improve services, at a meeting of Maidstone Coun- cil’s scrutiny committee. Tonbridge and Malling MP Sir John Stanley is also campaigning for lower fares.

Season tickets:

cost per mile Burgess Hill,West Sussex –£87 LENHAM – £90 HARRIETSHAM – £94 HOLLINGBOURNE – £97 Farnham, Surrey – £99

Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire – £100

BEARSTED – £101 Camberley, Surrey – £102 MAIDSTONE EAST – £105 BARMING – £110 HEADCORN – £110 EAST MALLING – £117 STAPLEHURST – £117 MARDEN– £117 WEST MALLING – £120

Call today 01622 671878 No1 for Sales and Lettings No1 for Sales and Lettings

New Instruction and Let within 4 hours.

No1 for Sales and Lettings

4 Flats all let within the week.

www.seekershomes.co.uk 53 High Street, Maidstone, Kent ME14 1SY

• Family Firm

• Qualifid NAEA & ARLA trained staff • Established over 20 years

• Unparalleled Local Knowledge • Advertising in all major portals • Regular Property Blogs

New Year Sale! Our Fees only No1 for Sales and Lettings

Sold on 1st Viewing – Full asking price.

Selling your home? 1% inc VAT!

Property to let?

No fees for first 3 months! *T&Cs apply

14

Maidstone East January 2015

Page 1 | Page 2 | Page 3 | Page 4 | Page 5 | Page 6 | Page 7 | Page 8 | Page 9 | Page 10 | Page 11 | Page 12 | Page 13 | Page 14 | Page 15 | Page 16 | Page 17 | Page 18 | Page 19 | Page 20 | Page 21 | Page 22 | Page 23 | Page 24 | Page 25 | Page 26 | Page 27 | Page 28 | Page 29 | Page 30 | Page 31 | Page 32 | Page 33 | Page 34 | Page 35 | Page 36 | Page 37 | Page 38 | Page 39 | Page 40 | Page 41 | Page 42 | Page 43 | Page 44 | Page 45 | Page 46 | Page 47 | Page 48