News MP welcomes plan for longer trains
THEdecision to extend the number of carriages on trains serving the Maid- stone East line on Saturdays has been welcomed by Malling MP Tom Tu- gendhat. However, Mr Tugendhat is continu-
ing to urge the rail minister Claire Perry to increase the size of trains on the commuter line during theweek. This latest decision will see the num-
ber of carriages increased fromfour to eight on the Southeastern service on
Saturdays from May 1, which should help alleviate the problem of over- crowding until Bromley South. Mr Tugendhat said “This will be a
welcome relief to those using the serv- ice at weekends. I have been consis- tent inmy calls for a better service for those using West Malling, Borough Green and Wrotham stations.” The MP said the line still did not
offer commuters a good enough serv- ice to and fromLondon.
Hesaid: “All too often as the service
approaches London Victoria many commuters are standing. Further- more, it is not uncommon for passen- gers to have an intolerable commute home –with many standing to Brom- ley South and sometimes beyond.” Saturday services currently offer
four or six carriages, which will be in- creased to eight. TheMPwould like to see 12 carriages serving the line dur- ing theweek.
Market plan for town Driving ban
AMONTHLYfarmers’ market is to be introduced to Maidstone’s Ju- bilee Square as part of a drive to in- crease footfall in the town centre. The monthly market – on the
fourth Friday of the month – will be organised by Maidstone council in conjunction with the Kent Farmers’ MarketAssociation and Produced in Kent – and will coincide with pay day for many town centre workers. Since the creation of Jubilee Square
in 2012, there has been no set policy for its use. A similar suggestion failed to get off the ground last year because it
would have required planning con- sent, as did a proposed Christmas market.
Previous attempts to hold a farm-
ers’market atLockmeadow and out- side County Hall have failed but officers believe the square would be much more successful, as it is cen- trally located. Research has shown that between
3,000 and 4,000 people per hour pass through Jubilee Square on a Friday, which should prove profitable for stallholders and for the council. Officers believe up to 32 stalls would fit on the square and a plan-
ning application will be submitted for this. As it can take up to 90 days to get
street trading consents, the council hopes the markets will start in June. About 80% of the stalls would sell
food, while the remainder would be given over to crafts. Therewas some disagreement be-
tween members of the town’s her- itage, culture and leisure committee as to whether the square should be hired out by political or religious groups and the council is to look again at what kind of events will be permitted to take place.
downsmail.co.uk
A DRIVER from Kings Hill has been banned from the road for more than a year after being stopped with more than twice the legal amount of alcohol in his body.
Spencer Garland (38), from Dis-
covery Drive, was stopped in his Mini Countryman on February 9 on the Maidstone Road, at Pem- bury, where he gave a breath test of 76mg of alcohol in 100ml of breath. The legal limit is 35mg. Hewas banned from driving for
18 months on March 21 at West Kent Magistrates’ Court after pleading guilty to drink driving. He must also pay a £400 fine, £85 costs and a £40 victim surcharge.
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Malling April 2016
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