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Train delays ‘likely until


end of 2017’ COMMUTERS in Kent are likely to face delays until the end of 2017, ac- cording to Southeastern. Only 61% of trains have run on


time since Christmas, with several major events when trains have been disrupted for hours. Mid Kent MP Helen Whately has


been holding talks with Southeast- ern in a bid to get to the root of the problem. She said: “While they are trying,


I’m frustrated that – by theirownad- mission – we’re likely to see delays all the way through to the end of 2017 when the major works at Lon- don Bridge eventually finish.” The MP met with Southeastern managing director David Statham. She said: “Since Christmas Eve


we've seen the service go from bad to worse, with delays and cancella- tions day after day.” One of the “disaster” days was caused by the failure of new sig- nalling equipment and another due to iced-up rails. Heavy rain at Christmas caused several landslips, including one at Hollingbourne. Mr Statham said the collapse of


the seawall atDover, destroying the track and putting that part of the net- work out of action, had made it very difficult for Southeastern to keep services working. Repairing the line at Dover may


take most of the year and Southeast- ern recognises it has to find away to improve the service. Mrs Whately said: “While the con- ditions may have been challenging, Southeastern acknowledged that be- tween it and Network Rail, they need to be able to keep the service running better.” Southeastern told the MP it was employing more drivers and crew, increasing “engineers on the road” (who travel to a broken down train to fix it), and avoiding decoupling trains to speed up services and re- duce the likelihood of breakdown. They are also going to de-ice at milder temperatures to avoid a re- peat of iced-up rails. Mrs Whately is due to meet South- eastern again, together with Net- work Rail, to keep up the pressure.


News


Footballer Josh receives his call-up for England


JOSH Wisson, a sixth-form student at Maidstone's Maplesden Noakes School, has been selected to play for the England under-18 football squad.


Josh (17), who is studying for A


levels in history, psychology, soci- ology and PE, was at home alone when he received his England call- up letter to play centre back. He said: "Iwas ecstatic at this, the biggest achievement in my life so far. “I was so proud that the months


of trials and selection and the years of hard work and dedication had paid off with this life-changing op- portunity to play at the interna- tional level. I phonedmymumand dad immediately and they were over the moon with the news. Then I phonedmyolder sister, who lives in France, and she was just so proud of what I'd achieved.” Josh was chosen to play after a gruelling and highly-competitive process involving more than 500 young hopefuls. The fieldwas nar- rowed down to a shortlist of 32 players. The final 18 players were chosen


at the Football Association's School of Excellence at Lilleshall Hall, Shropshire – where the 1966 World Cup winning squad trained. How- ever, their nameswere not revealed


Noakes to be awarded U18 inter- national honours and follows in a long line of elite soccer players at the school. In recent years four students


at that stage. This was done for- mally by letter of appointment. Josh’s news came at the end of a


week's trial for south London pro- fessional side Millwall FC. He is also investigating the possibilities offered by a soccer scholarship at an American university, where he would be able to combine degree studies with playing at varsity level. As captain of the Kent U18 foot-


ball team and a semi-professional player with Sittingbourne first team (Ryman League), Josh is the second student from Maplesden


have progressed from the school’s soccer academy to be awarded con- tracts with professional clubs, and three students secured football scholarships at universities in the USA. A further four students rep- resent the school at county level and five at district level, which is an outstanding achievement for the school. Josh praised the role of the Soc-


cer Elite Academy at the school in getting him to where he is now. He said: “I've been pushed and encouraged every single day. I've worked hard and they've really brought out the best in me.” Headteacher Jane Prideaux said:


“I am always very proud of all our students who excel and represent the school at any level, but special congratulations must go to Josh for his outstanding achievement and we wish himwell for the rest of the football season and his career in the game.”


Progress on new look for The Mall


WORK on Maidstone’s new-look Mall is now more than half way through. The £5m programme to modernise and refurbish


the shopping centre began in June last year, the most obvious sign being the shiny new entrance on King Street, sporting the definitive Mall brand. The Gabriel’s Hill entrance is due to be revamped in the spring. Internal pilasters have been removed to give a


more open-plan and uncluttered appearance and work is ongoing on new flooring and lighting. Built in 1976, The Mall began life as the Stoneborough Centre, and was rebranded as The Chequers Centre in the early 1990s. It is now part of Capital and Regional’s six-strong Mall portfo- lio.


MPjoins call to increase rail carriages Party in Park


MALLING MP Tom Tugendhat MBE has called on the rail minister to increase the capacity on the Maidstone East Line, following dozens of complaints from irate constituents. The MP has written to Claire


Perry MP asking her to push for extra carriages on the Southeastern train services passing through the town when the Government makes its decision this spring. The Government is proposing to


increase the number of carriages on some Southeastern train serv- ices, and will make a decision in a few weeks on which routes will benefit from the 12-carriage trains. Mr Tugendhat said the increased capacity was badly needed and said: “The Maidstone East line could do with extra carriages, par- ticularly at peak time. All too often as the service approaches London Victoria many commuters are standing. Furthermore, it is not un-


common for passengers to have an intolerable commute home – with many standing as far as Bromley South and sometimes beyond. “I often receive complaints from residents in Borough Green, West Malling, Kings Hill and surround- ing villages about this. That’s why I have called upon the rail minister to act. “I hope they will listen to our concerns and increase capacity on this congested line.”


THE last date for buying Early Bird tickets for Snodland's resur- gent Party in the Park on July 9 and 10 is April 1. Adult early bird tickets for each concert are £20, a child under 13 is £12.50 and a family ticket is £60.A family ticket for both nights is £95.


The box office is at Hicks Estate Agents, 31 High Street, Snodland. For details of the line-up call 07841 921016 or go to www.snodland- partyinthepark.co.uk.


Malling March 2016 35


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