It will be all change on the buses in Swale when a new timetable is introduced for Chalkwell services from September 1.

The alterations will see the 320 and 321 school buses no longer stopping in Leysdown and Warden, although the 320 between the island and Sittingbourne will now serve Sheerness and Minster, including Thistle Hill.

There will be an increase in the number of 326 services between Sittingbourne, Newington and Medway on weekdays and nearly every 326 and 327 will continue to Gillingham and Mid-Kent College.

Roland Eglinton, commercial director of Sittingbourne-based Chalkwell, said there would also be cuts to the 326 and 327, particularly at weekends,

“The very last round trip of the day on Monday to Saturday will cease to operate due to low usage, with the cost savings reinvested back into the daytime service when people are more likely to make use of it.

“Saturdays will alter considerably with a revised timetable and a reduced number of journeys.

“We will still run regular services at the most important times on Saturdays, but savings generated have been reinvested back into the service as a whole through the other improvements.”

“Saturdays will alter considerably with a revised timetable and a reduced number of journeys" - Chalkwell commercial director Roland Eglinton

From Tuesday, September 1, the 339 to Hempstead Valley will be available on Tuesdays as well as Thursdays and will include Medway Maritime Hospital and Chatham, meaning people can get to the hospital without having to change buses.

However, the service will leave Sheerness before 9.30am, meaning anyone with a bus pass will have to pay, albeit a reduced fare.

The 322 service to the prisons at Eastchurch will be slightly altered to go in and out of Sittingbourne via the Bobbing link road and Chalkwell Road, avoiding the low bridge near the station.

Passengers are to be told about the new timetables via leaflets and the new times and routes are due to be available on the Chalkwell website, www.chalkwell.co.uk