21 November 2022

As we gradually head into Winter, I am feeling grateful for the delayed arrival of the colder weather. Temperatures in October were so mild that the government saved £260m on price cap payments to energy companies. Many families will be better off too as a result of this, and the continuing mild weather in the first half of November will have helped lower people's bills too.

BUSES

Sadly the Conservative administration at KCC voted to push through the bus subsidy cuts at the most recent full council meeting. This means that many bus services across our area will stop next February.

In Swale East the affected services are Chalkwell services with the following route numbers 8, 9, 343, 344, 345, 662, 664 and 666 (the Stagecoach 666 from Faversham to Ashford will continue running).

I met with KCC transport officers this week to see if anything could be done to save the services, even on a reduced frequency, but unfortunately was not able to make much progress. I will next be contacting the bosses at Chalkwell buses to try and work out a financially viable route which could perhaps cover more of the villages than the previous routes did.

As things stand, from February onwards, the Kent Karrier will be the only bus option for the majority of adults in Bredgar, Rodmersham, Tunstall, Lynsted, Doddington, Newnham, Conyer and Oare. It only serves villages on 2-3 days of the week, costs £3.50 for a return journey and needs to be booked in advance. I will share more information on this service in future columns, but if you would like to know more, please search 'Swale Kent Karrier' on Google for information relating to this service

WINTER

As noted last month, I have arranged for an organisation called Green Doctors to visit some of the parishes across the area in early December. They will be holding five drop in sessions to give energy advice and money saving tips.

The sessions will take place at the following locations

Thursday 8th December

9.30am to midday – Newnham Village Hall

1.30pm to 3pm – Sheldwich Village Hall

3.30pm to 5pm – Oare Village Hall

Friday 9th December

9.30am to midday – Teynham Community Hall

2.30pm to 4pm – Boughton Village Hall

 

More information on Green Doctors can be found at https://www.groundwork.org.uk/greendoctor/

I will be attending all of these sessions too, so please feel free to come along if you have any other local issues you'd like to discuss.

 

Rich Lehmann

rich.lehmann@kent.gov.uk

https://kentgreencouncillors.news/

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