Kent on Sunday (Mid Kent), January 24, 2015

17.8 MB·English

by  KOS Media

FREE
Kent on Sunday
www.kentnews.co.uk January 25, 2015 W E E K L Y F R E E N E W S P A P E R O F T H E Y E A R Mid edition No 644
London and South of England Media Awards
ENERGY
Nuclear plant’s
10-year boost
Dungeness told it can
keep going until 2028
POLITICS
Sharing a beer with
TRANSPORT the Pub Landlord
Stack: The
We speak to South Thanet’s
comic candidate
ENTERTAINMENT
road to hell
Bowie, Beatles, U2
Stones and Muse
Pressure grows to ease chaos
The big bands and their small
caused as M20 grinds to a halt
Kent shows on road to fame
The best garage
is a safe one
Security, convenience & reliability
When it comes to remote controlled In 2006 Essati introduced the insulated aluminium
rolling garage door systems, Essati is a rolling garage door system, a sleek and beautiful
modern rollerdoor of superior quality, conveniently
leader in innovation and quality.
operated by a small hand held key fob. This
Since 1995 Essati has been an inventive roller system combines security, convenience and
shutter garage door company catering for the reliability, with a beautiful stylish door of infinity,
needs of the residential market place. and it’s completely maintenance free!
www.essatigaragedoors.co.uk
01245 396910
JUST
£699
Remote controlled insulated aluminium rolling garage door
inc vat & fitting
2 Week ending January 25,2015 kent-life.co.uk www.kentnews.co.uk
Kent on Sunday PAGE PAGE
14 » 11»
WEEKLY FREE NEWSPAPER OF THE YEAR
London and South of England Media Awards
Sister title of www.kentnews.co.uk
Resolving Stack remains
a priority all year round
THERE is an entertaining Ben Elton it is unusual for it to last for so long,
book which talks about a world where but it does happen and it does leave
the road network of a major city is so us terribly exposed.
fragile and so busy that it takes just a There will, it is fair to say, be lots of
few unconnected incidents to bring it tub-thumping from politicians all of PAGE
to a grinding halt. Gridlock, in fact. whom will be demanding action. 6 »
And it’s hard not to think that it With a May election around the
would take little for Kent to suffer corner there are certainly some easy
that fate. Because when the M20 political points to be scored. But
becomes crippled by Operation Stack there is also an added requirement
- an event which causes one of the for the commercial operations that
main arteries of the county to derive so much income from the
become blocked from west to east cross-Channel route to actively seek
(delays stretched back to Wrotham a resolve too. And to invest to ensure
let us not forget) - we have to if, as has been the case, they have
rely on a wing and prayer a difficulty, the rest of the coun-
nothing else happens. ty doesn’t pay a high price. PAGE PAGE
Just imagine if there was a The only good to have come 21 » 19»
pile-up on the M2 which this week is that at least the
caused that to close too. It situation wasn’t made worse
would cut off all the main by predicted snow. Can you
methods of traversing the imagine all rail and roads
county. The chaos to the being blocked simultaneously? PAGE
county’s economy would Fingers crossed by the 27»
be extraordinary. time you read this,
Granted, the we’re returning to
introduction of normality. Have
Stack is rare. And Editor Chris Britcher a great weekend.
(cid:2) Kent on Sunday and its journalists are committed to abiding by the Society of Editors Code
of Practice. If you have a complaint which can’t be resolved by Kent on Sunday editor Chris
Britcher ([email protected]) please contact the Independent Press Standards
Organisation, c/o Halton House, 20-23 Holborn, London, EC1 2JD, or via [email protected].
uk. More information about IPSO and its regulations can be found at www.ipso.co.uk
Contents
News The Arts Why breakfast re- HOW TO CONTACT US…
PAGE Publisher: Simon Irwin
mains a key meal
12 » Email [email protected]
5 High Street’s 29 Thank folk
Property Editor: Chris Britcher
Email [email protected]
£2.3m boost for that...
Address: Kent House, 81 Station
38 Another year
Road, Ashford TN23 1PP
Plans unveiled to Fairport Convention Editorial: News: 01233 653475
of recovery? Sport/Leisure: 01233 653479
enhance town centre are back on the road
Email [email protected]
8 Operation 31 Circus with Predictions suggest Advertising:
Jobs/Notices: 0845 671 4460
continued growth
Stack hell a twist Business: 01233 653461
Sport Email [email protected]
Retail/Leisure/Motors: 01233 653461
Fury as county grinds Cirque Berserk comes Email [email protected]
to a halt for the week to the county 54 Community Distribution: 01233 653470
11 New power Travel for Angels FOLLOW US ONLINE @
• kentnews.co.uk
generation 34 Bounce on Non-league club opens • kentnews.co.uk/mobile
• jobsforkent.co.uk
up for fan ownership • homes24.co.uk
Dungeness gets 10 Down Under
• drive24.co.uk
year life extension • twitter@kosmedia
Take a trip to the Plus
12 Pint with Pub Published in Kent and printed by Archant Print,
unforgettable outback division of Archant Community Media Limited
Agenda ......................Page 7 (Co Reg No 19300). Registered Office: Prospect
Landlord Food House, Rouen Road, Norwich NR1 1RE
Letters .....................
Page 36
We chew the fat with 35 Go to work Motors .....................Page 41
Al Murray’s alter ego
on an egg?
kentnews.co.uk kent-life.co.uk NTW Week ending January 25, 2015 3
4 Week ending January 25,2015 kent-life.co.uk www.kentnews.co.uk
s k
Row erupts over number
e
e
w
y t
s of suicides in our prison
a
p

e
h
a
t

g
By Jamie Weir
n
i [email protected]
r
u
d
d
FIGURES to be officially released
this week are set to reveal a prison
k
on Sheppey has one of the highest
u suicide rates in the country.
. The Ministry of Justice is set to
o confirm the figures, which were
c released this week by the Howard
. League for Penal Reform.
n s It claims HMP Elmley has the top
w suicide rate in the UK - joining
Wandsworth prison in London.
e
The league, which campaigns for
n fewer people to be jailed, says the
t figures demonstrate that as
n funding cuts reduce the number of
e e staff, so the number of suicides CONCERNS: Suicide figures are worrying
k rises. But Government officials
have denied its claims. allow the prison population to the vulnerable individuals in official statistics to be released
@
A total of four people took their increase while it cuts staff, and prison whose wellbeing is the during the coming week.
own lives at Elmley last year, with that has led to an increase in absolute priority of prisons staff It is not the first time the
v s another four dying from natural people dying by suicide.” and ministers alike. Sheppey jail has made the head-
e causes, while one further death is But prisons minister Andrew “Every death in custody is a lines for the wrong reasons.
still waiting to be classified. Selous hit back at the allegations, terrible tragedy. We remain HMP Elmley has recently been
n
Frances Crook, the chief execu- saying that the figures were being focused on doing all we can to blasted by the chief inspector of
li tive of the Howard League, said: “It deliberately twisted by the Howard prevent them.” prisons, after an inspection
d is evident that people are dying as a League. Officials at the Ministry of Justice revealed that staff shortages were
a direct result of the cuts to the He said: “They are deliberately said they were unable to comment critical at the prison. The report -
e e number of staff, particularly more misrepresenting the situation in on the figures as they were not which was released last November
h experienced staff, in every prison. our prison for their own ends. verified. - recommended the prison recruit
“The government has chosen to “This helps no one – least of all They said they expected the new staff urgently.

e
h
t
s e
High Street’s £2.37m Dream trip to Thailand turns
d
a
m regeneration scheme to to tragedy for 23-year-old

h
c be unveiled next month
A 23-year-old backpacker from Annesley died from natural
i
h Orpington has been found dead causes. She had tweeted about
w on a paradise island in Thailand having to buy antibiotics before
popular with tourists. her death.
JUST a year after supermarket giant But it came a cropper when the Christina Annesley died on Koh A Foreign and Commonwealth
s
Sainsbury’s pulled out of a multi- supermarket opted, instead, to pull Tao on Wednesday. It is not Office spokesman said: “We can
e
million-pound scheme which would the plug on expanding its stores. believed there were any suspi- confirm the death of a British
i
r have transformed the centre of Canterbury also suffered a similiar cious circumstances and an national in Thailand on January
o Tonbridge, a new scheme has been blow. It left council chiefs fuming but investigation into the cause of 21. We are providing consular
t unveiled. determined to push ahead in order to her death is under way. assistance to the family at this
S
Going on show to the public next inject new life into the town. Reports suggested that Ms difficult time.”
month, the £2.37m project aims to The new plans will go on show at
breathe new life into Tonbridge High Tonbridge Castle from Friday,
Street, which has suffered from busy February 6. Hunt for hit and run mobility
» Download your free through traffic and competition from The scheme has been developed by
nearby rivals. Kent County Council and Tonbridge
Kent News iPhone The scheme aims to boost the local and Malling Borough Council. scooter driver in her sixties
and iPad App available economy and enhance the town’s Work on the improvements is
heritage, while also tackling the planned to start later this year.
at the Apple App Store problems of traffic congestion and air Leader of Tonbridge and Malling
pollution. Borough Council, Nicolas Heslop, POLICE are trying to trace a Sandgate Road, Folkestone, at
It includes a 20mph speed limit, said: “This £2.37m investment is a mobility scooter rider, believed to around 3.30pm on December 22.
cycle routes and widening of quality scheme to enhance the High be in her 60s, who crashed into two The rider of the mobility scooter,
pavements. Street. It will build upon our efforts pensioners, knocking them to the who did not stop after the incident,
» Follow us on It follows in the footsteps of a £70m to help the vitality of the town centre ground, before driving off. is described as a white woman in
scheme by Sainsbury’s which would and support the priority for econom- The two victims - one in her 60s, her 60s of medium or large build
Twitter @kosmedia or have seen the store dramatically ic regeneration.” the other in her 80s - suffered a with a plump face.
Facebook KOS Media expand its existing site, improve links It will be funded by the Local sprained ankle and cut heel and She was wearing a bobble hat
with the High Street, and usher in a Growth Fund, awarded through the were left “shocked and shaken” by and yellow camel coat. She drove a
new council-run leisure centre and a South East Local Enterprise Partner- the incident, which took place large metallic burgundy mobility
multiplex cinema. ship. outside the KFC fast food outlet in scooter.
kentnews.co.uk kent-life.co.uk NTW Week ending January 25, 2015 5
s kk
ee
ee Coroner opens inquest into death of Pat Lamb
ww
y st st AN INQUEST opened this week into the death of Pat A massive hunt for the 28-year-old was launched
aa Lamb, whose body was found in the River Medway after he was last seen on a night out with friends on
pp almost a month after he went missing during a night out December 13.
in Maidstone. His body was eventually recovered at Cuxton
e e Mr Lamb, who lived in Greenhithe, died from Marina two weeks ago after being spotted by a
a hh “oipmemneedr saionnd” w, tahse tihneqnu eadstj oinu rthnee dc ouunntitly A tpowriln 1 h.eard as it pwahsaste cra-buys.e Tdh hei si ndqeuaeths.t will look to establish exactly
tt

gg
nn
riri Remembering a legend: HISTORIC: Magna Carta in Kent
d uu
dd Remarkable
kk
uu 50th anniversary of the discovery of
..
oo
Magna Carta
cc
.. death of leader Churchill
n ss
ww
A LEADING historian has made the
ee
startling discovery that one of just four
nn surviving copies of the original 1215
tt By Maria Chiorando Magna Carta was once held at Canter-
nn cover without adverts - the first time bury Cathedral.
e [email protected]
ee this had been done since World War The Magna Carta, signed and sealed
kk One. by King John at Runnymede, is one of
YESTERDAY marked the 50th anni- The Queen paid tribute to Sir Win- the most famous documents in the
@@ versary of Winston Churchill’s ston, saying: “The whole world is world.
death. poorer by the loss of his many-sided It enshrines the concept that everyone
v s s Generally considered to be one of genius, while the survival of his is subject to the law of the land and laid
ee the greatest statesmen of all time, Sir country and the sister nations of the the foundation for modern society.
Winston, born in 1874, steered Brit- Commonwealth in the face of the And now it appears that Kent was
nn
ain through some of the darkest greatest danger that has ever threat- home to one of the original copies.
lili times of the 20th century. ened them will be a perpetual me- Professor Louise Wilkinson, from
dd He suffered a severe stroke on Jan- morial to his leadership, his vision Canterbury Christ Church University,
aa uary 15, 1965, and died on January and his indomitable courage.” was one of the co-investigators of the
e ee 24 shortly after 8am in his London By decree of the Queen, Sir Win- Magna Carta Project along with
hh home. ston’s body lay in state in Westmin- Professor David Carpenter, from Kings
He was 90 years old. ster Hall for three days, visited daily College, London.

ee He died with Lady Churchill, their by his widow. She explained: “This is an amazing
hh three children and two grandchil- For many years, he had wanted to discovery. Only four copies, from the 13
tt dren at his bedside. It is believed that be buried in the grounds of his Kent known to have been issued in 1215,
s e e hsiitst ibnegl oavte tdh em faoromt oafl hadise bceadt. Jock was HERO: Sir Winston Churchill ha ocmhea nCghea rotfw heella, rbtu at nevde nwtausa lllayi dh atod rbeym Laininco inln t Chae twheodrlrda tl,o adnayo;t hoenre b iys held
dd News of his death was given to the rest at St Martin’s Church near Blen- Salisbury Cathedral and two are in the
aa media at 8.30am that morning, and heim, close to his birthplace and an- Cotton Collection at the British Library.
mm within half an hour of the an- lines around the world, with obitu- cestral home. “It is one of these two in the Cotton
nouncement, silent crowds began to aries by world leaders, friends and The state funeral was held six days Collection that has been identified as
h h gather around Hyde Park Gate in former colleagues filling the news after Sir Winston’s death, on Janu- Canterbury Cathedral’s Magna Carta.”
mourning. bulletins and press. ary 30, and was watched live on TV The copy will be put on display by the
cc Sir Winston’s death made head- The Times newspaper ran a front by millions, in Britain and abroad. British Library.
ii
hh
ww
Child abuser, 80, is Gatwick expansion Owls in a flap as their
ss
ee
ii jailed for 14 years faces fresh opposition numbers rise again
rr
oo
tt
SS A PENSIONER found guilty of a string of sex CAMPAIGNERS in west Kent were delighted this BARN owl numbers are bouncing back after the
offences during the 1980s and 1990s was this week after West Sussex County Council withdrew its weather dealt a devastating blow to their population
week jailed for 14 years. support for a second runway at Gatwick Airport. in the county.
Robin Cheesewright, 80, of St Bart’s Road, Airport chiefs have been lobbying for the site near The Kentish Stour Countryside Project (KSCP) has
»» D Doowwnnloloaadd y yoouurr f rfreeee SCaonudrwt fiocrh s, eanptpeenacrinegd abfetefor rbee Cinagn tfeorubnudr gy uCilrtoyw onf CGroavwerlenym toe nbte c eoxmpmanisdseiodn, ahsa sa nb einedne tpaesknedde nwt ith bofe 2e0n1 2ca arnindg lo fonrg t hcoe ldcr weaintuterer so fs 2in0c1e3 tshaew w fierts st uthmeimr er
KKeennt tN Neewwss i iPPhhoonnee five charges of child sex abuse in November. looking at how to expand airport capacity in the south food supplies decimated and then chick survival
aanndd i iPPaadd A Apppp a avvaailialabblele He will also be placed on the Sex Offenders’ east. rates plunge.
Register and remain on there indefinitely. After dismissing plans for the Thames Estuary It is estimated that numbers had fallen by 70 per
aat tt hthee A Apppplele A Apppp S Stotorree He first abused his victim when she was just airport, the commission has put forward proposals to cent nationally since the 1930s.
seven. When Cheesewright was arrested, he expand either Gatwick or Heathrow. But now the organisation says that 2014 saw
denied the allegations. Those living in the west of the county had been numbers rally. Some 50 chicks were seen in nests -
Investigating officer Detective Constable opposed to Gatwick’s plans after complaining of noise compared to just 10 in 2012 and 20 in 2013.
Martin Williams said: “Cheesewright carried out and pollution. Hever Castle, at Edenbridge, even said it Partnership officer Debbie Reynolds said: “Barn
»» F Foollloloww u uss o onn many years of monstrous sexual abuse on a could spell the end of its regular flow of tourists. owls have been having a hard time in recent years,
victim who was scared into silence from the And this week West Sussex County Council joined with UK-wide declines being recorded, due to loss of
TTwwititteterr @ @kkoossmmeeddiiaa o orr beginning and too young to fight back at the time Kent County Council in opposing the plans - present- habitat and lack of suitable nesting sites.”
FFaacceebbooookk K KOOSS M Meeddiiaa it happened. I commend the bravery of the victim ing a 20-page document with changes it feels the Jon Shelton, partnership manager at KSCP, said:
in coming forward and I hope the sentence given proposals need. Back in July 2013, it had given the “Last year was a good year.
to Cheesewright should demonstrate that it is plans its blessing. “But we can do more to help these beautiful and
never too late to report incidents of child abuse.” A final recommendation is due later this year. iconic birds.”
6 Week ending January 25, 2015 NTW kent-life.co.uk kentnews.co.uk
agenda
What will make next week’s headlines…
Get the latest update
Football stadium plans
on Sandwich defences to be unveiled at ground
FULL details of an ambitious Gravesham Borough Council.
THE Environment Agency is Environment Agency, Pfizer and redevelopment of Ebbsfleet Fleet vice-chairman Peter
holding a drop-in session at Kent County Council, it is due to be United’s Stonebridge Road Varney said: “We believe the
Sandwich Quay to update local completed this summer. stadium will go on public plans will be the catalyst for the
residents on the town’s new tidal The drop-in session will take display next week. regeneration of Northfleet.
defence scheme. place between 9am-3pm on have additional questions about the Fans will be able to see the “The new main stand will
The £21.7 million flood defence Thursday, January 29. scheme as it is now in the final plans on Monday, January 26 at house new dressing rooms, a
scheme will reduce the risk of tidal Ian Nunn, operations manager at stages. The drop-in session gives the Fleet Social Club from 6pm sponsors’ lounge, boardroom,
flooding to Sandwich and Stonar Loop. the agency, said: “We understand them an opportunity to come along to 8pm. During the week they commercial facilties, offices and
Delivered in partnership by the that members of the public might and find out more.” will also be submitted to a new community facility.”
…also
Quiz your health chiefs GMB in NHS strike talks Check your train time Stack talks continue
THE NHS West Kent Clinical Commission- NHS staff could walk out on strike on THERE will be no Southeastern services to TALKS will continue this week in a bid to
ing Group will hold a governing body Thursday as the GMB Union continues Cannon Street or London Bridge today prevent the chaos of Operation Stack after
meeting on Tuesday at The River Centre in negotiations in a pay dispute. (Sunday), due to engineering work. much of Kent was blighted by the traffic
Tonbridge. Talks were adjourned on Friday and will All services will be diverted to Charing problems this week.
The public can attend and pose ques- resume again on Monday. The strike Cross. On Saturday, all services to Charing For a full round-up, turn the page to read
tions. Full details at westkentccg.nhs.uk. would be for 24 hours. Cross were suspended for the work. the latest on the M20 problems.
kentnews.co.uk kent-life.co.uk NTW Week ending January 25, 2015 7
MPs demand
action to stop
Stack chaos
By Jamie Weir considerable strain too. At one point,
[email protected] queues stretched all the way back to
junction two of the M20, the turning
for Wrotham.
O
PERATION Stack has The group of MPs said that the is-
caused chaos on the sue had been blighting their constitu-
roads of east Kent this encies for too long, with Mr Elphicke
week, and now, four of branding Operation Stack ‘chaos’.
the county’s MPs have He told KoS that road users
demanded urgent action. shouldn’t have to suffer the problems
Conservative MP for Dover and which Stack brings.
Deal, Charlie Elphicke, alongside MPs He said: “What we are seeing on
Damian Collins (Folkestone), Tracey Kent’s roads is a disgrace, and it is to-
Crouch (Chatham) and Damian tally wrong that road users should
Green (Ashford) spent parts of Thurs- have to suffer like this. “But this isn’t enough. I, and other are partly responsible for.” tion Stack was implemented.
day meeting with transport minister “There needs to be a solution to this MPs in Kent are working tirelessly to Mr Elphicke says, that as the coun- She said: “It has played havoc with
Patrick McLoughlin and the roads urgently.” make sure that these problems are ty he calls the ‘gateway to England’, my business, and I know a lot of oth-
minister John Hayes. The MP said that although Opera- solved quickly for residents who are Kent should not have to bear the ers are suffering as well.
Operation Stack takes place when tion Stack has caused carnage, there struggling right now.” brunt of problems when cross-Chan- “Deliveries can’t get through
cross-Channel travel from the Port of have been recent developments to try Mr Elphicke adds: “I want to see a nel travel is disrupted. quickly, which means you are always
Dover, or the Channel Tunnel is dis- and solve the problem. network of new lorry parks being Small businesses are also feeling running behind, and the time it takes
rupted (see story to the right). He said: “There is movement down built to take these trucks off the road. the pain of Operation Stack, which if you need to go out to do something
This week ‘phase two’ was imple- there for Eurotunnel to bring in an- “And rather than burden the coun- has left local shops struggling as sup- adds an extra cost.”
mented which sees the coastbound other 300 spaces at its site and for the ty’s taxpayer, I think they should be plies, and staff, take longer to get But it isn’t just the direct impact
section of the M20 between junctions port to provide parking for a couple of paid for by foreign truckers. through the jams. which has cost the business accord-
eight (for Leeds Castle) and nine hundred HGVs. “The money should come from the Dover Fruit and Veg is a small, local ing to Ms Thompson.
(Ashford) turned into a lorry park. “The county council are also trying levy on foreign HGVs travelling business based in the centre of the She says that fewer customers have
All other traffic was forced onto A- to get a new lorry park off the ground, through Kent. town. been willing to visit Dover as a result
roads, causing congestion across the and there have been a few smaller “Eurotunnel also needs to pay to Its owner, Sharon Thompson told of the traffic issues.
county. While the M2 was put under parks being brought into use. sort out this utter mess, which they KoS that it has struggled since Opera- She said: “It isn’t just getting sup-
Golf
Societies Sunday
Food and roast
Golf at Lunch
£18.00 £7.95
THE COURSE DINING
100 RoFuleMnxCdie somM ropbefo meGrrabosthleefri £ps 5h 9ip0 + Vat Thseu dpseteasrribg o n1fe 8td hh ebo lyse h Pgoaowtlrf i iccsko t uhDreas we, son. BaSS nurweanwecdkeasskyt.e, LBrfo’uosrn o RBckehrinse. tgaOak iuufsarr aa stnltew,ta Laimsuy nosoc pfa hecd nhav enitsfod’as tbB,h ldaeere fpsMouirgeb onalui lcasr l 7la ndda ys All DOap7ye D nMa tyeons t uah, e wB Preeueabkkl ifca s t,
50 Rounds of Golf £395 Join as a Member and enjoy, the menus, preparing meals from fresh local Light Bites, Main Meals
100 Rounds of Golf £750 social golf, competitions, produce which range from bar snacks to a and Desserts
7 Day Membership aLdavdaiensc,e G oennlitnleem beono’ksi nangd, foofu fra vcoouurristee dbienenresr, .l aOguerr bs aarn hdo asnts e ax treannsgiev e Silver Roast on Fridays £5.95
SuInnddiavyid G£u4oa9llf .G 9f5oo rlp f4 eL rpe Mlsasyooennrtssh £T1o2t aela £c6h9 VV40ies tiostto hSreescr a tcriooenu wsrs,e eplsclu ofmsre peel .at oy wFUinNe lCisTt.IONS RidSguen dSapye cRioaalss tF Lroumnc ohn £ly7 .£935.95
Green Fees from only £9.95 play at The Ridge 7 days Evening private dinners are fully inclusive, Fixed Price Functions
for 18 Holes a week; you can look hire of Brewster’s restaurant, Full 50 Guests Buffet £650
Golf Societies Food & Golf forward to an excellent Operating Bar, Dance Floor. Birthday parties, Weddings All Inclusive £2000
start at £18 forlolouwnedd o bny a s gormeaet o cfo ouurrs e, cohr rdisintenneirnsg, sw, ea ncnativeer rfsoar reievse,r cyo orcpcoarsaitoen l.u Snecphaersa, te Large Patio overlooking
Drivingfr oRman £g3e Balls renowned catering in Brewsters. fduentactiliso no rr otoo mboso akr ec aalvl afrielaeb 0le8 0fo0r 0F2u4n 8e7ra3l0s.. For more the 18th Green
For more details or to book call free 0800 024 8730
The Ridge Golf Club, Chartway Street, Sutton Valence, Maidstone, ME17 3JB
Tel: [phone] www.theridgegolfclub.co.uk
8 Week ending January 25, 2015 NTW kent-life.co.uk kentnews.co.uk
Tempers fray after tunnel fire
STACK: Causing carnage on
our roads
It was a weekend to forget for the Channel Tunnel when first a minor fire and
then an electrical fault caused thousands of travellers to be disrupted. Not only
that, but the problems would be the catalyst for Operation Stack on the M20
E
UROSTAR says it is to re- been identified, work could begin
view its procedures follow- with a view to getting services run-
ing the fire last weekend in ning again. Although on Sunday a
the Channel Tunnel which separate electric problem caused fur-
caused such chaos to the ther hold-ups. This continued
services of both it and Eurotunnel. through the week prompting one
Thousands of passengers were de- bore to remain closed and causing
layed, disrupted and disgruntled by the backlog of lorries which sparked
the fire which was detected in the Operation Stack.
France-bound bore of the tunnel on In total last weekend, around 120
the French side of the Channel on Sat- Eurotunnel trains were cancelled dur-
urday morning. It was attended to by ing the disruption, affecting an esti-
French emergency services and swift- mated 10,000 to 11,000 passengers.
ly brought under control. Some 26 Eurostar trains were can-
But it forced all tunnels to be closed, celled on Saturday and a further 11 on
cancelling all Eurostar services - the Sunday, each carrying up to 750 people.
fast passenger train from London to Eurostar, however, came under fire
plies through that’s the problem. It is Paris - and Eurotunnel trains - which from customers on Twitter for not
actually getting customers in. carry cars and freight from the termi- providing customers with enough in-
“As soon as anyone hears that Op- nal at Cheriton. formation, not allowing tickets to be
eration Stack is in place, they’re in- John Keefe, Eurotunnel’s director of exchanged online and keeping pas-
stantly going to think, ‘why would I public affairs, explained: “The train sengers on hold for too long when
go there’. had to be stopped and passengers tak- they phoned the call centre.
“Customers will be choosing to go en into the service tunnel, where they Eurostar spokesman Rob Haycocks
somewhere else. That costs me mon- were collected by a minibus. said: “There are never good moments
ey, which, in an economy which isn’t “Then we had to get all the other when lots of customers have been dis-
exactly flush, is not very helpful.” trains out of the tunnel, by reversing rupted. Two things are of absolute
Did you suffer in Operation them if necessary. We have to empty primary importance: safety, and cus-
Stack? Share your views and both tunnels completely so we can in- tomer service. We want to make sure
write to: The Editor, KoS, Kent spect and manage what’s happened customers get where they are going
House, 81 Station Road, Ashford totally safely.” with minimum disruption.
TN23 1PP or email us editorial@ Once the cause of the trouble – a “Sometimes you can’t control what
kosmedia.co.uk. smouldering load on a truck – had happens in the tunnel.” CANCELLED: Eurostar had to cancel 26 trains last weekend
kentnews.co.uk kent-life.co.uk NTW Week ending January 25, 2015 9
10 Week ending January 25,2015 kent-life.co.uk www.kentnews.co.uk