58 Bus Service - What does the future hold?

KCC have just announced a new pilot bus service between Addington and Tesco Leybourne Way, via Leybourne, West Malling High Street, and East Malling. Consultations will be held with local people, but there are a few things you need to know. Firstly, it looks as though this new route will mean the number 58, which links these villages direct with Maidstone Hospital, will be withdrawn. We know that a withdrawal of the existing service will be of great concern to the people in East Malling who rely on the 58 service to get to hospital appointments or onwards to Maidstone.

Secondly, the route between Leybourne Chase and West Malling Station is a condition of the planning consent for Leybourne Chase, and must be pr ovided in any event. Thirdly, if this bus runs at appropriate times, it could provide at long last a bus link along New Hythe Lane to The Malling School for pupils living in north Larkfield, and links to West Malling High Street, Martin Square, Larkfield Library, and Larkfield Leisure Centre for people from the villages to the west . We'll let you have more information as we get it.