Last Thursday the Mayor, Cllr Maxine Chakowa, opened a new bus shelter and with other passengers and stakeholders took a ride on a vintage Routemaster bus round part of the new route.

The new 431 bus service which started on 24th July runs Monday to Friday from Sevenoaks to Orpington and for the first time the bus goes to the entrance of the garden centre so passengers will not need to walk from the road.

Following the controversial decision of Arriva withdrawing their 402 service between Bromley and Dunton Green, leaving residents in Knockholt, Halstead and Badgers Mount without a bus service to Sevenoaks. Go-coach have stepped in to operate the new day time service between Sevenoaks and Orpington High Street.

Peter Bensted, Director of Polhill Garden Centre said “We were thrilled to be asked by Go-Coach to have a bus stop included within our site on the new 431 bus route. We had often been asked by customers for a closer bus stop than the previous Arriva 402 bus had provided and a stop right by our food hall entrance sounded an ideal solution for the local community to be able to reach us. Since announcing the new stop we have received so many comments and emails from customers excited that they will be able access the centre on this route we are sure it will be much used service and a great success.”

Details of the service can be found on the go-coach web site, or just pick up a timetable on the bus or at Sevenoaks Bus Station. For further details contact Andy Wells, Operations Manager or Austin Blackburn, Managing Director on 01732 469800.

Go-coach hire are a small independent bus operator based in Otford operating 46 routes and employing over 50 local staff.

Submitted by Austin Blackburn