Wednesday September 19 | 2018
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Times OF TUNBRIDGE WELLS
INSIDE
Record payout to
rail commuters sparks concern
CHILDREN SHOCKED Playground is closed after electricity scare Page 5
By William Mata SOUTHEASTERN paid a record £3.5million to commuters last year who made a claim for late running trains under the Delay Repay scheme, according to new data. The franchise, which serves Tunbridge Wells and Tonbridge railway stations, has faced questions about its performance, following the release of the Department for Transport figures. Critics are concerned the amount paid out in compensation could lead to higher ticket prices in the future, as rail firms look to balance their books.
FRENCH CONNECTION Jean-Christophe Donnellier on embassy visit Page 13
Upgrades Monetary compensation is available for passengers who have waited half an hour or longer. In 2016/17 [the most recent year on record] Southeastern paid out £3.5million, compared to £2.2million in 2015/16 and just £148,000 in 2011/12, when records began. John Reynolds, chairman of pressure group Tonbridge Line Commuters, said: “A lot of the delays will be caused by the upgrades to London Bridge, which is still causing problems. “They are having constant signal problems and tracking failures. And there are other factors, such as people trespassing onto the line.” On the £3.5million, he added: “The money must come from somewhere, and we could see passengers having to pay more for tickets.” Under-fire train operators Govia Thameslink Railway and Virgin Trains West Coast topped the list, paying out £14.9million and £13.1million respectively.
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ON THE WALL: Jason, Jacob and Isobel Dormon show off works contained in new exhibition The Forum: 25 Years and Beyond P7
Demand for ‘urgent’ action helping children with mental health issues By Jonathan Banks HUNDREDS of young people trying to deal with mental health issues are being forced to wait months for treatment and the fear is that some might end up waiting more than a year. This Friday [September 21], an influential health committee is meeting at Kent County Council to discuss the performance of the Children & Young People’s Mental Health Service. Tunbridge Wells MP Greg Clark has written to the committee to highlight what he believes are areas of concern requiring ‘urgent attention.’ In his regular column for the Times [Page 26] the MP said: “I was told that 343 young people in the Maidstone & Tunbridge Wells area have been waiting
over 18 weeks for treatment but no information was disclosed on how that total breaks down i.e. how many people are waiting six months, or one year or more.
‘It is vitally important young people receive treatment as soon as possible’ MP Greg Clark “Without this information, we do not have a clear picture. It is vitally important that young people start receiving treatment as soon as possible as many mental health conditions can worsen over time without it.” The MP added: “If we have a physical ailment, we expect to be seen promptly and receive whatever care is needed.
This should be exactly the same for a mental health condition.” Last year, a new five-year contract was awarded to North East London NHS Foundation Trust (NELFT) to provide mental health services to Kent’s children and young people. Mental health services in general have a ‘scandalous history’ where children and teenagers have sometimes waited a year and a half to get an initial appointment. It was six years ago when Greg Clark first raised alarm bells about young people having to wait an ‘unacceptably long time’ to get the treatment they needed for mental health difficulties and the distressing impact this was having on families.
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LET’S RAISE A GLASS First Beer Weekend becomes toast of the town Page 10
THE PIANO MAN
See Elio Pace perform Billy Joel classics at Trinity Page 60