In our article about Michael Portillo’s visit to Sevenoaks on Monday we suggested, tongue-in-cheek we thought, that he might take time to fix the lights at the Kippington entrance. So it was to our surprise that magically the lights were fixed on Monday.

We will still be following up with Southeastern why it took over three weeks to repair these lights. Southeastern’s own staff have to pass through this area several times a day on the way between the station and the staff car parking spaces in Car Park 4, and in doing so they must have noticed that the lights had failed. So why did no-one report it? Or, if it was reported, why did no-one at Southeastern HQ arrange for the maintenance company to come and fix it?

After all, we should not have to rely on Michael Portillo coming to Sevenoaks every time a light bulb fails.