The May issue of the Lynsted with Kingsdown Parish Council newsletter has now been published. Topics include the Lynsted Lane housing application, an update on the Swale Local Plan, proposed cancellation of bus services in the Parish and our planned celebrations for the Platinum Jubilee. Read the latest newsletter HERE
Kent County Council are looking to axe local bus services. The plans range from the withdrawal of some off-peak journeys to scrapping other routes in their entirety, including school run services. These cuts will affect residents in Lynsted, Teynham, Bapchild, Newnham, Doddington and Conyer. Tomorrow (Weds 20 April) is the last day to take part in the consultation if you want to express your views. Given the climate emergency, KCC should be actively supporting increased use of public transport – not getting rid of it. Read the objection letter from your Parish Council HERE
Buses in Lynsted and surrounding areas are being threatened by proposed cuts to subsidies by Kent County Council. These services are vital to many elderly and disabled residents who rely heavily on public transport, as well as children who take these buses to school.
KCC Councillor Rich Lehmann is opposing these cuts and has produced a flier which you can view HERE
Please respond to the consultation by 20 April 2022.
Kent County Council are proposing to make savings by reducing the money they spend on subsidising some unprofitable bus services – mainly in more rural areas, in the evenings and at weekends.
They are looking at ending 48 contracts with a total value of £3 million, which would affect around 55 supported bus services from Summer 2022.
More information and details on the proposed changes to services can be found here: https://letstalk.kent.gov.uk/bus-funding-reductions
Cuts that would affect Lynsted with Kingsdown include:
343/344/345
Newnham, Doddington, Lynsted, Teynham, Bapchild and Conyer to Sittingbourne
662
Teynham to Faversham schools
664
Conyer to Lynsted Primary School
8
Sittingbourne to Kenilworth Court / Conyer
The Kent Karrier dial-a-ride service would also be withdrawn and of course other buses used by Lynsted residents will also be affected.
Please let the Parish Council know how the cuts to these services would affect you by sending an email to: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
The consultation closes on 20 April 2022.
... but Head of Planning "calls in" the application. Swale’s Planning Committee voted UNANIMOUSLY last night to reject the proposal to build 10 houses on agricultural land East of Lynsted Lane. Whilst the application was only for ten homes, the developers made clear in their submission to the Local Plan consultation that their ultimate aim is to build 50 houses on this plot.
It would cause traffic congestion and air pollution in the narrow Lynsted Lane to deteriorate further. Residents who currently park their cars outside their own homes would be forced to park further down the lane on a blind bend. And pedestrian access would be through a busy joinery yard.
The Parish Council would like to thank our ward councillors, Mike Whiting and Lloyd Bowen, for supporting the objections from residents. Thanks also to all the parishioners who wrote in with their comments, spoke up at the site visit and provided photographic evidence.
Around 40 Lynsted residents travelled to Swale House to observe the committee’s deliberations, and many more watched online - demonstrating the strength of opposition to this development.
After the unanimous vote, Swale's head of planning James Freeman decided to "call in” the application. This means a report will be prepared looking at any reasons why the developer might win if they were to appeal and the cost implications for ratepayers if the Council were to lose. This then gets referred back to the planning committee for a final decision.