Arriva 277 bus timetable and routing

Just a quick one. I noticed from my blog statistics today that several people have been searching for the timetable of the 277 bus that runs Tunbridge Wells - Sherwood - North Farm - Knights Park.

For information then, you can click on this link to access the timetable, and this link to see the route.

Hope this helps.

The animation of a tailor's dummy

The village of Lamberhurst in Tunbridge Wells has many claims to fame; Margaret Thatcher lived here, as did the fathers of both Kenneth Clarke and Jeremy Beadle (I wonder if they ever shared a lunchtime pint?) and there was for many years a safe house for Soviets intent on "crossing over to the West".

Until now I wouldn't have given Lamberhurst accolades for its graffiti. And yet last weekend, walking a large cardboard carton round to the dustcart kindly provided by Tunbridge Wells Borough Council every fortnight to take away large household waste, I passed a bus shelter. Inside, neatly graffitied in the apex of the roof, was the legend "Kraftwerk" - the cult seventies trio from Dusseldorf whose electronic "industrial pop" gave hearing difficulties to many a follower.

I was reminded of an article I read at the time. Kraftwerk weren't exactly over-endowed with stage presence, and their shows were basically three completely static keyboard players, whose only moving part was their hands - even that only occasionally since most of the arrangements were pre-programmed into synthesisers. Apparently, Kraftwerk commissioned lifelike dummies of themselves in order that they might play several concerts on the same evening, with only one featuring the real band.

I can think of several public figures at the moment who would be grateful even for the animation of a tailor's dummy.

Well done Tunbridge Wells Borough Council!

You may remember a few weeks ago I joined with officers and members from Tunbridge Wells Borough Council in a series of "Ward Walks" (A Priceless Insight, June 4th). This involved a selected range of houses and roads being dropped a week in advance with a postcard informing the date and time of the Ward Walk, then officers and Councillors in teams of two calling round and talking residents through a series of questions about local amenities and services.

It's a brilliant idea, piloted originally in Medway, Oregon. At times on the doorstep, you did rather feel that you'd opened up a can of worms, but at no time did I get the door shut in my face. Last night, then, was the public feedback session at the TN2 Community Centre. Representatives from the County and Borough Councils, as well as Kent Fire and Rescue, KCC's Little Forest Children's Centre, CORE, Health, Town and Country Housing and many others all turned up to present the results of the consultation to a crowd of residents.

From the second I walked in, I was surrounded by locals, asking for updates on everything from Sunday bus times to road resurfacing; from gulley cleaning to whether I could find a good architect. I've now got a list as long as my arm of actions and issues, but there was a real and palpable sense that the community felt it was being listened to. Well done Tunbridge Wells Borough Council!

Delayed Transfers of Care in Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells

Later this afternoon, I travelled to Portcullis House at Westminster, for a meeting with Greg Clark and Sir John Stanley, Members of Parliament for Tunbridge Wells and Tonbridge and Malling respectively.

The meeting had been called to discuss the issue of Delayed Transfers of Care (bed blocking, or DToCs as they're often referred to) from hospitals in Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells.

Although punctuated by the division bell calling all Members to the Lobby to vote, it was a productive meeting, and I was able to explain some of the successes of our joint working with both the Primary Care and the Acute Trusts, and some of the outstanding issues which need to be addressed.

Above all, it was great to see our local MPs taking such a keen interest in this issue, which is one of the most critical aspects of the Government's "Our Health, Our Care, Our Say" White Paper last year. If we can't get the joint working right, none of the aspirations can possibly be delivered.

TN2 Community Trust - one year on and getting better every day

I went along to the Annual General Meeting of the TN2 Trust this evening. TN2, you may remember, is the community trust we set up to run the new community centre on Greggs Wood Road. It doesn't seem like a year since we opened the doors of the new building and let local residents take over.

Sadly, the outgoing Chairman, Zoe Jangaard couldn't be there as she's off with a bug at the moment, but Vice Chairman John Beadle read a report in her place. It talked about the extra numbers of people using the centre, the additional groups with which TN2 are working - the FRED Club and Four Walls, both working with disability groups. The new Toddler and Co group for mums, dads and child minders. The football teams who play in the sports hall on Tuesdays and Fridays. The Tea Time Club and the Leisure Group.

Above all, this was a story of local people. People who worked hard and learned new skills. And above all, people who persevere, day after day, to give their community better than it used to have. I congratulate the incoming Chairman, Lynne Weatherley - she's immensely talented and has a tough job ahead as the TN2 Centre takes the next leap towards self-sufficiency.

And - although not mentioned this evening - thanks should go also to Nazeya Hussein and Estelle Grant from Tunbridge Wells Borough Council who have worked really hard to support the residents in this brave new venture.

TN2 Community Trust - one year on and getting better every day.

Surrounded on all sides by beautiful gems

I got up yesterday at 6am - unusual for a Saturday - and jumped in the car with my eldest daughter - even more unusual that she was up at 6am too! We had to be in Milton Keynes for 9.00 to pick up some printing equipment that I'd bought last week on eBay.

We arrived at 9.30, having stopped for breakfast en route, and loaded the car. On our return, the traffic on the A21 was stacked, so we diverted via Five Oak Green.

Driving through Tudeley we passed the entrance to All Saints' Church and I mentioned to my daughter the stained glass windows by Marc Chagall for which the church is famous. She asked to see them, so we turned around and stopped off.

How lucky are we in Kent? We're surrounded on all sides by beautiful gems such as this - and how often do we just pass by and take them for granted?

'Thought Showering' the Tunbridge Wells way

Hot on the heels of its new and hugely impressive logo, Tunbridge Wells Borough Council has now coined a new buzzphrase - "Thought Showering".

Apparently afraid of offending people with mental illness or epilepsy, the Borough Council has thought up their new phrase to avoid using the word "brainstorming" - despite the fact that the National Society for Epilepsy actually use the term "brainstorm" themselves.

The borough council "thought shower" was derived from one of the council's "regular equality and diversity training sessions with all staff", and whilst they "welcome the clarification" from the National Society for Epilepsy, they urge that "if the term does offend even a small minority of people, they should get in touch."

So, a Thought Shower? Or a a collection of slow drips...

Café society comes to Tenterden

Went to Tenterden today to look for a present for a friend. It's been a while since I went there, and what a surprise I got.

It seems to have become the same as every other small shopping centre - all the usual large-chain coffee shops and clothes shops; the little gents barbershop closed down, the 'antique' shops increasingly selling not-really-antiques.

It seems to me a pity that the individuality of Kent's village shopping centres is being sold out - whether due to high rents or council business rates I don't know, but all the same, it's a real shame. What do you think?

Making a difference on the Oak Road Estate

Last week saw the inaugural "Val Joy Community Awards" event at David Salomon's Centre in Tunbridge Wells (http://www.tchg.org.uk/news.php?page=view&item_id=48). Hosted by the Town and Country Foundation, the awards are named after local Sherwood resident Val Joy, who sadly died last year.

Categories were Community Group of the Year, Community Champion of the Year, Volunteer of the Year and Young Volunteer of the Year. On the night, the CORE group (Community of Oak Road Estate) scooped the major prize - Community Group of the Year. The photo above shows Zena and Dave from CORE with their award at yesterday's TN2 Fun Day.

As I said when I wrote to congratulate them, it was no surprise to me. Working out of the changing room block on the Colebrook Recreation Ground that I managed to get refurbished back in 2002, the tiny group of volunteers headed up by Dave and Zena have organised events, parties, activities for local kids and fundraisers - only last month they organised an event to raise money for little Karl Richardson http://kevinlynes.blogspot.com/2008/05/sweet-shop-for-day.html

I've been happy to fund lighting and sound equipment, and more recently a bouncy castle from my KCC Member Grant for CORE, because they take their role very seriously - they're well organised, well attended and passionate about making a difference on the Oak Road Estate.

A Priceless Insight

Although yesterday had been a long day, nevertheless I kept my appointment in Sherwood - and how pleased I was that I did. I met at the TN2 Community Centre with officers and Councillors from Tunbridge Wells Borough Council, to undertake a "Ward Walk".

This great initiative, dreamed up by the Borough Council, involves officer/member pairing calling door to door, inviting residents to complete with us a detailed questionnaire on local services and amenities.

I was paired with Nazeya Hussein, Head of Community and Corporate Planning. She and I got on extremely well anyway, and I think we both really enjoyed meeting with and finding out about the residents whom we met. I learned far more from the Ward Walk interview than I ever could from the doorstep canvassing that politicians usually do.

Ward Walks are a fantastic idea, and although I'm sure the questionnaires will evolve over time to become more streamlined, they gave a priceless insight into what local people really think about their local services.

All aboard the Barna-Bus!

I spent yesterday in my constituency, and dropped in for a coffee with Father Edward Tomlinson of Saint Barnabas' Church in Quarry Road.

It's wonderful to see that his vision for a pre-school nursery has come to fruition. Saint Barnabas Parish has long needed decent pre-school provision, and although the catchment of Sherwood's Little Forest Children's Centre includes St James', Sherwood and Pembury, it's ridiculous to imagine that young Mums from Camden Road and its surroundings would actually push their youngsters all the way to Friars Way.

The Barna-Bus Pre-School opened on 6th May for two to five year olds, on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays each week. Offereing two sessions a day from 9am to midday, and from midday to 3pm, it's just £7.50 a session and free for children over three years.

But the Pre-School is just the start of the ambitious vision for this site - watch this blog for details.

If you want further details on the Barna-Bus Pre-School, contact Pippa Anderson on 0776 577048.

The tip of the iceberg

I notice from Today's Saturday Observer that Greg Clark, MP for Tunbridge Wells has met with Chris Burchell, Managing Director of Southern Trains, over plans to scrap the service from both Tonbridge and Tunbridge Wells to Gatwick.

In an age where rail fares to some destinations are almost as expensive as taking a taxi; where the cleaniness of carriages is little better at the beginning of the day than on the last train; and where decent fare-paying passengers are herded like cattle into overcrowded outdated rolling stock, to begin pulling airport services from commuter areas like this is beyond the pale.

It's bad enough that facilities at many of our rural stations are non existent - visit many smaller branch stations and you'll find the ticket office shut, the public conveniences locked and the only appearance of human contact is a system of computer-operated voice loops which from time to time tell you that if you leave your bag unattended, it may be removed for security purposes.

Who would do that then? A virtual Station Manager?

This Government has presided over a slow, painful and embarrassing decomposition of our once-great national rail system. I applaud Greg Clark for fighting to save the important routes, but this issue is only the tip of the iceberg.

A Fascinating Insight

Having promised my new PA for some months that I would take her into my constituency and show her around, yesterday I finally managed to get around to keeping that promise.

We met in Tunbridge Wells at 9am, and I showed her around Pembury, stopping to admire the new Football Pavilion and new classroom block at the Primary School. It confirmed to me that Pembury is really very well served by amenities. The new children's playground at the recreation ground, pavilion and football pitches, new classrooms, an excellent village hall, plenty of elderly care facilities, a large supermarket at the end of the village, great pubs and restaurants.

Before leaving Pembury we stopped to admire the new and imposing Cornford House residential home, before stopping at Pepenbury for a coffee in the sunshine, being impressively served by one or two of the learning disabled residents.

Moving on to Sherwood, we visited the Primary School, saw the new Little Forest Children's Centre, the changing room block used so effectively as a base by the Community of Oak Road Estate, then drove round to the new TN2 Community Centre. It was great to see the centre so well used - pre-school toddlers playing so happily alongside a busy library with story time in progress, a well-attended community cafe and downstairs the "Fred Club" - activities and outings for young adults with learning disabilities. It was also good to see the resurfacing work to Greggs Wood Road had begun!

In St James, there's much to do; litter, graffiti, general parking and traffic issues. Pavements and road surfaces leave much to be desired, but meetings have been set and the pressure will be on Kent Highways to deliver. St Barnabas Church, cheek by jowl with the school, have moved mountains to be able to offer good pre-school nursery facilities, and the take-up by local children has been astonishing. The newly re-elected Borough Councillor will need to impress with action after the promises made at local elections.

But throughout the day, I was struck by the sense of community. Local people improving their surroundings and facilities by pushing and cajoling local decision makers. To see all three wards - each with their own character - in one visit was as useful to me as I hope it was to my colleague. It was a fascinating insight into a large part of Tunbridge Wells.

Marooned at Dunorlan!

My youngest, Elise, was asking all day if she could go to the boating lake at Dunorlan Park and "have a go on one of those pedalo things". I was still really tired after the events of the last week, but she'd been so good this morning that I agreed.

We hired a pedalo for half an hour, and set off across the lake. Elise wanted to steer, so I provided the horsepower!

For the first fifteen minutes it was all very pleasant - sunny day, slight breeze, sedate circuits of the lake. But during a rather over-confident 'figure of eight' we suddenly slowed abruptly and stopped.

Trying to pretend we were deliberately standing still, we began to attract a small crowd of onlookers onshore; after ten minutes of unobtrusive pedalling and getting nowhere, the sound of a motorboat got louder, then the voice of our rescuer - "hello sir; I see you've found our resident sunken tree stump..."

And so we were rescued from being marooned at Dunorlan...

The Most Important Day

Another day, another leaflet in St James. Helpers from Sevenoaks came down to help deliver in St James' ward, and we'd finished every letterbox by early afternoon. Our candidate and his helpers did a couple of hours of door to door canvassing before finishing, tired but pleased. Apparently three people actually stopped them in the street to wish him luck!

Tomorrow is election day in Tunbridge Wells, and the Liberal Democrats will try to hold on to four seats. It will be an interesting day.

For my part, I'll be interested to see the impact on local results of the national swing to the Conservatives.

So it's an early night, as I start my 'telling' stint at 7am, set up our systems to monitor the voting progress, then join the team dropping the next leaflet in St James' throughout the day.

So best of luck to the candidates, on the most important day of the campaign!