Residents’ fears over ‘vital’ bus

Residents of a Kent village fear that when Arriva Kent Thameside axes a ‘vital’ bus service it will leave them stranded.

The 489 bus is the only direct means of public transport between New Ash Green and Gravesend; Arriva, however, says it will cease to run the service on Sunday 1st June.

Don Houghlin, who lives along the route in Hartley, said: ‘I’m concerned for the older folk; if there’s no buses, they won’t be able to go anywhere.’

A spokesperson for Arriva Kent Thameside said that low passenger numbers on the 489 service meant it was no longer financially viable to run.