The couple of months since I last wrote one of these columns have been a real rollercoaster for me. I'm grateful there have been a number of wins to offset some the losses across our area, although sadly none of the wins are on the scale of the loss of a regular bus service to so many local villages.
In keeping with the long held tradition, I'll start with the bad news.
Unfortunately, I've been unable to make headway with the public transport officers at KCC and local bus operators, so the services earmarked for cuts in KCC's budget last year will stop running on 11th February. Bus users in affected villages will have to rely on the Kent Karrier service which costs £3.50 to use even if you have a bus pass and only serves villages on certain days. For Conyer, Lynsted, Rodmersham, Bredgar, Tunstall and Milstead, the bus is available on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays and goes into Sittingbourne. For Doddington, Newnham and Oare, the bus is available on Tuesdays and Thursdays and can take you to either Faversham or Sittingbourne. For more details, please Google 'Swale Kent Karrier' or call 01892 832447. I would urge any parents unable to get their children to school to contact me for information about submitting an appeal for transport assistance. I will continue to monitor this situation in the hope that a new service can be created to serve the villages that are now without regular public transport.
In December, Network Rail applied for the emergency closure of a well used foot crossing at the western end of Teynham Station. This crossing is part of a very popular walking route and was used by hundreds of residents. Network Rail have since applied to divert the public right of way and a consultation on this will be opening shortly. I will ensure local residents are aware of the survey when it opens to enable all those that use the path to share their views on the proposals.
Upcoming roadworks on Boughton Hill scheduled to take place from February to May will cause a huge amount of disruption for residents in Boughton and Dunkirk, especially those that rely on the bus service through the villages. Unfortunately the works are required to protect against the dangerous levels of subsidence in the area. Once the works are complete, the road should be safe from subsidence for the rest of the century. As above, I will do my best to ensure residents are kept updated on the roadworks and the replacement bus services that are put in place.
And onto the good news. The Green Doctors sessions held in early December were very successful. Despite the cold snap, dozens of residents came to visit the events and left with some great energy saving freebies like hot water bottles and draught excluders.
In Teynham, a couple of long awaited improvements finally came to fruition in December. One of the footpaths just north of the level crossing was given a makeover, and some trees were planted on the verge alongside Station Road.
Another project I've been supporting since my election was a speed limit reduction in Sheldwich. The main part of Lees Court Road through the village and beside the green will soon be reduced from a 60mph limit down to a far more appropriate 30mph. Further speed limit reductions in Selling, Dunkirk and along the A2 between Bapchild and Teynham are all progressing well too, so will hopefully be in place by the summer.
Rich Lehmann
rich.lehmann@kent.gov.uk
http://kentgreencouncillors.news/
Councillor's Report April 2024
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