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downsmail.co.uk Village bus service reprieved
VILLAGERS inAylesford and Eccles havewon their fight for later buses, at least for the time being. Arriva agreed a reprieve for the
155 evening service after Kent County Council stepped in at the last minute with funding. The two return services, which
were due to be axed on Sunday, September 18, will continue for the next six months while a thorough assessment is completed to establish its commercial viability. The buses affected are the 8.25pm
and 10.15pm from Chatham and the 9.20pm and 11.10pm from Maid- stone. Without them, residents of four villages say they would be left stranded after 8pm, with shiftwork- ers unable to get home and young-
Flats proposed
THE SITE of a demolished pub at Blue Bell Hill has been earmarked for a new block of flats. An application has been submit-
ted to Tonbridge and Malling Coun- cil to build 13 flats on the land where the Upper Bell stood until itwas de- molished three years ago. The proposals include 22 parking spaces. The boarded-up site has had a chequered history since the pub shut 12 years ago, leaving villagers com- plaining that itwas an eyesore. In 2012, residents were angered
when squatters took over the prem- ises and six people were arrested over drugs offences. A year later, neighbours also objected to a plan to turn the plot into a storage yard.
Lights to go on
SNODLAND Town Football Club is celebrating the switch-on of its new floodlights with a friendly match at Potyns Sports Ground against Maidstone Utd. The club is playing its first season
in Southern Counties East League Division 1 after gaining promotion last season, and is playing Maid- stone at 7.45pm on September 19. The visitors will be accompanied
by manager Jay Saunders and will comprise players from the first teams, under 21s and the academy. The bar at Snodland Community
Centre will be open from 6.30pm and food and drink will be available.
Summer music
MEMBERS of St Peter & St Paul’s Church, Aylesford, are hosting an- other Late Summer Concert by the Brook Concert Orchestra at 3pm on Sunday, October 9 . Tickets for this afternoon of light orchestral music cost £6 and include tea, coffee and biscuits in the inter- val. They are available from the parish office on 01622 719366 or on the door.
4 Malling September 2016
sters unable to go to youth clubs or nights out inMedway or Maidstone. Arriva said only five or six cus- tomers were on board for each journey, but MP Tracey Crouch (left) said there had been no con- sultation and the bus company’s cutback was
“shocking” and “short-sighted”. She said that at a meeting with
parish councillors, they had made it clear to Arriva bosses that the serv- icewas not underused.
“Many people had got in touch to
say they were not being registered or ‘clipped’ as they got on the bus, therefore it was difficult to believe that this servicewas not reaching its viability targets.” Arriva agreed to maintain the service for a further six months after KCC offered a one-off payment so that a full accurate picture can be ob- tained. Miss Crouch said: “The reason
why we fought so hard is that we don’t believe it is a failing service and with housing growth in Peters Village, we thought the decision to be wrong and shortsighted.”
She urged residents to use the service to ensure its future. Villagers have won a number of reprieves for the evening service since itwas first threatened with clo- sure four years ago. Regular passenger Anna Morell
said the bus was a lifeline for vil- lagers, especially shiftworkers and young people. She added: “Our elected representatives were prom- ised in 2012 that just six passengers per route was enough to keep it open. Fuel prices have dropped. Ar- riva is not logging day, week and month tickets on its systems. Our community needs this service.”
Colleagues lend a hand to help charity
VOLUNTEERS from a Kings Hill company rolled up their sleeves to help with the redevelopment of a charity’s base in Yalding. Six staff from insurance broker
Arthur J Gallagher helped clear undergrowth from the drive serving the Kenward Trust to compliment a new entrance being built at the centre, which has supported recovering addicts, ex- offenders, and the homeless for 48 years. After a hot day’s work, there is
now easier access to Manor House, where the charity has conference rooms and its Charitique Café. Adam Mackenzie, from Arthur J. Gallagher, said: “After four hours, and a lot of sweat and laughs, we’d cleared a large area of driveway. The impressive result made the minor scratches and stings from all the brambles and
nettles well worth it! “Being able to positively impact
our community, support the trust and create a real difference, made for a very rewarding experience – one we recommend to others and definitely intend to repeat.” Lynn Hyder, from the Kenward
Trust said: “This work has been invaluable in the redevelopment of
Sports centre plan agreed
A MAJOR plan to transform Cobdown Sports and Social Club into a centre of sporting excellence has been given the seal of approval. Tonbridge and Malling coun-
cillors have granted permission for changes at the site in Station Road, Ditton, which will be run by K Sports. Work has begun on the scheme which includes two 3G artificial pitches, an extended clubhouse and gym, dance stu- dio, squash courts, spectator toi- lets and extra parking. The application was sup- ported by Kent FA and a num- ber of sporting organisations
and means that Cobdown Hockey Club will be able to play at the ground. However, the scheme drew objections from neighbours and groups including KentWildlife Trust, because of bats that use the Ditton stream, and the Envi- ronment Agency because of the flood and pollution risk. But the borough council’s planning meeting gave ap- proval. A planning officer‘s report
said: “I consider this scheme represents a significant en- hancement of the existing sports provision at a valued facility within the borough.”
our commercial facilities, which provide valuable social enterprise opportunities for our residents to develop existing or learn new skills to help their recovery journey.” To volunteer your time to support the work of the Kenward Trust call Lynn on 07715 674899 or you can send her an email at
lynn.hyder@kenwardtrust.org.uk.
Riders’ victory
HORSE riders have won their long- running fight to gain access to nearly five miles of bridleways in the Aylesford and Burham areas. Aylesford resident Anne Rillie, access and rights of way represen- tative for the British Horse Society said the decision, resulting from a public inquiry, meant the barriers put across the paths to stop motor- bikes would be modified for horses. The horse riders’ campaign had resulted in a claim to KCC for the upgrade of several footpaths to bri- dleway and the creation of some new bridleways.
A six-day inquiry was held in February, after residents and parish councillors expressed concerns about possible access by nuisance bikers and fly-tippers.
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