Helen Grant, Member of Parliament for Maidstone and the Weald, has written to the Trains Minister demanding he visit Maidstone for an urgent public meeting as concern grows that the long-promised City Thameslink Service from Maidstone East may face even further delay.
Mrs Grant has written to the Minister following a response to her recent question in the House of Commons in which the he was unable to recommit the Government to delivering the service by the end of this year. She has asked him to visit Maidstone in the coming weeks to meet with local business leaders and commuters who are desperate for the introduction of the service before the end of this year.
The news of Helen’s request comes as MPs from across West Kent also plan to join together to write to write to Chris Grayling, the Secretary of State for Transport, to seek reassurance that the Thameslink service will be delivered as promised by the end of the year. They will also be asking to meet with Secretary of State to make clear the importance of the proposed service to businesses and commuters across the West of the county. Furthermore, it is likely the MPs will seek time for a debate in the House of Commons on the issue.
Helen Grant MP said, ‘The City Thameslink service from Maidstone East is long promised and desperately needed. We know it would be a game changer for our County Town; attracting business investment and improving the quality of life of thousands of commuters.
I am growing increasingly concerned that the service may be delayed again from the current deadline of the end of this year and this is totally unacceptable. I have therefore invited the Minister to meet with commuters and businesses in Maidstone at a public meeting, so he can understand just how important the proposed service is to our community.’
