downsmail.co.uk


Park andRide reprieve as bus firmtakes over


APRIVATE bus company has thrown the crisis-hitMaidstone Park and Ride service a lifeline, by agreeing to take it on.


Maidstone Borough Council


chiefs say the six-year deal will mean a reduction in its subsidy to the buses. But Independent Maidstone


councillor Eddie Powell warned: “If Arriva can't make money at it, they'll be off.Whatwill become of the Park and Ride then?” Arrivawas the successful bidder


in a recent procurement process and offers a “pay to ride” service. The private firm will operate


from the Willington Street and London Road sites. The councilwill provide the use


of its carparks,worth an estimated £100,000. AnMBCstatement said: “InNo-


vember 2018, MBC’s Strategic Planning Sustainability andTrans- portation Committee decided to cease the current council-run park andride service fromMay 31, 2019, but insteadfacilitate a continuation of service through othermeans.” Most recently, theLiberalDemo-


crat-ledcouncil experimentedwith a system where patrons paid to park, whether or not they had a car. This proved unpopular. Two- and four-year reviews are


scheduled which could allow Ar- riva to bowout of the agreement. Bearsted borough councillor Denis Spooner said: “I have al-


THEman who createdMaidstone’s Park and Ride has welcomed Arriva’s contract as “great news”. DavidHall,ofBearsted,was recruited30yearsagotolaunchthe scheme


in the county town. He said: “The current service is tatty and needsmod- ernising tomake it really attractive.Will the service accept senior citizens’ passes? It should do. “Will there be security in the car parks?The current buses are elderly and


unreliable.Will the newservice rectify this? “So a guardedwelcome fromme, but lots of outstandingissues to be re- solved ifwe are not to end up at square one very quickly.”


ways been a supporter of the Park and Ride service because it is of benefit to the older residents inmy area. “Maidstone Borough Council


thinks that Park andRide costs too much and it’s declining all over the country,with a fewexceptions, andMaidstone’swas hardly being used. “But just seeing it as a massive


loss-maker is not benefiting the wider population.” Michael Jennings,Arriva’s com-


mercial head, said: “We are de- lighted to confirm that we have won the tender to run the Maid- stone Park and Ride, and this will begin operating fromJuly 1, 2019. “Further details


regarding


timetables and pricing will be an- nounced at a later date.”


Fringe festival draws crowds


THE May Bank Holiday weekend saw Maidstone’s ninth annual Fringe Festival of music, with more venues and more events than ever before. Attendances were high and a


number of new venues and events were offered including a Soul Guardians event at Junipers in the High Street. Headline names included Nine


Below Zero and, on May 2, “chap hop” headlinerMr B TheGentleman Rhymer played the Pizza Express Jazz Roomin Earl Street. Local actsmade up the bulk of the


talent. Snodland singer/songwriter Clea Llewellyn, who supportedMr B, is pictured. Local heroes One Day Elliott took to Facebook to say: “Even after 20


years, we’re always surprised and humbled by the amount of support we receive. “Thanks so much to every single person who came to check us out


this evening at the Albion for our set at this year’sMaidstone Fringe Fes- tival.We had a great night and hope you did too.”


ReviewbyNeilNixon Maidstone Weald June 2019 27


News Villagersmiss


the bike shop VILLAGERS in Headcorn have said goodbye toWoods the cycle shop. After more than 35 years in


business, the store inNorth Street – which had been served by gen- erations of the same family – called time, with a sign outside stating the business was closing due to retirement. Comments about the store’s


helpful staff and memories from those of buying their first bike there, and, later, for their chil- dren, were being shared on the final day’s trading. Village


councillor Martin


Round said: “This has been a wonderful business that had val- ued service in the community. Personally, I benefited, and my bike is better for it. I’llmiss it.”


Cliff suicide


MAIDSTONE woman Cheryl Tompsett killed herself and her five-year-old son Leo when she jumped off Beachy Head, a coro- ner ruled. Cheryl (42), of Sutton Road, had been suffering from mental health issues and depres- sion since 2004 and had recently lost her job. She leapt from the beauty spot


on June 18 last year, the East Sus- sex coronerwas told.


Chemist woe


PATIENTS have been experi- encing a backlog in presciptions in Coxheath. Lloyds Pharmacy has been hit


by low staffing levels sparking complaints fromcustomers. They say they have to wait a


fortnight to get a prescrption and 40 minutes in store at the Heath Road pharmacy. Apologising,


a Lloyds


spokesman said: “There have been issueswith the service at this pharmacy over recentmonths but we have listened to our customers and patients about their con- cerns.”


Justice dates


YOUNG offenders are to be en- couraged to take part in work- shops to help them deal with the consequences of their actions. MaidSafe and One Maidstone


have joined with police to launch the “restorative justice” scheme for low-level criminals.


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