What’s happening where you live...

of something yellow or spotty brought a colourful day, as children were keen to participate, each paying at least £1 for the privilege. Preparations for the Friends of Collier Street Christmas Fair on Saturday, December 3 from 2-4pm are ongoing. FOCCS members would be delighted to receive donations of chocolate, bottles, soft toys, secret Santa gifts and volunteers to man the stalls. Temporary road closure: Claygate Road will be closed to traffic from Monday, November 28, for up to five days to facilitate the installation of new drainage to prevent flooding by KCC Highways. The alternative route is via Jarmons Lane, B2162 Benover Road, Lees Road, Laddingford and vice versa. Correspondent: Maureen Jopson, 68 Stockett Lane, Coxheath, ME17 4PY Tel: 01622 746086 joplot8@ hotmail.co.uk Ladies Group: The next meeting is on Thursday, December 1 in the committee room at the village hall at 8pm. For details about forthcoming events and speakers phone Mary Wright on 01622 746621. Parish council: The next meeting is on Tuesday November 29 at 7.30pm in the village hall small hall. All villagers are welcome to attend. Correspondent: Jenny Cosgrove Tel: 01622 630462 jenny.cosgrove@ hotmail.co. uk Art show: During the Christmas tea party in the village hall on Saturday, December 3, the Watercolour Group hope to hold a display of their work in the committee room. Contact dorothymandrews@live. com for details. Advent: Sunday, November 27, marks the beginning of Advent. There will be a service of Holy Eucharist at St Martins Church at 10.30am. Correspondent: Mike Brine Tel: 01732 845825 mbriney.yoda@ hotmail.com Quiz night: The next Kilnbarn quiz will be on Sunday, November 27 at 8pm. Teams of up to eight at £2 per head. All welcome. Book now: Tickets are on sale for this year’s seasonal events at the community centre. On Friday, December 9, it’s Eighties night with Back to the Eighties live band, tickets £10. On Saturday, December 17, dance to Todd Miller with the Joe Loss Orchestra, tickets £17 and see in the New Year with the Peter Elligate Showband, tickets £17. Tickets are available from the parish office. Call 01732 844749 or email

clerk@dittonparishcouncil.gov.uk Council date: The parish council meets in the community centre on Monday, December 5 at 7.30pm. Residents are welcome to attend. Correspondent: Martin Hider Tel: 01622 736327 mhider5@ gmail.com Carols and lights: Carols will be sung and the Christmas lights will be switched on at the community centre on Saturday, December 3 from 4.30pm to 5.30pm. For details phone 01622 717466. Bazaar: There will be a Christmas Bazaar at the community centre on Saturday, November 26 at 2pm. Many stalls. Meet Father Christmas. Free entry. Church bellringing: Novice bellringing will take place at St Nicholas Church on Monday, November 28 at 7.30pm and there will be a bellringing practice on Wednesday, November 30 at 3pm. For information phone 01622 861143. Advent: A Service of Light will be held in St Nicholas Church on Advent Sunday, November 27 at 6pm. Correspondent: Maureen Jopson, 68 Stockett Lane, Coxheath, ME17 4PY Tel: 01622 746086 joplot8@ hotmail.co.uk Coffee: The Christmas coffee morning is on Saturday November 26 from 11am-1.30pm in the old school hall, Lower Road. Raffle, cakes, hand made cards, preserves, etc. Coffee from 11am; soup and rolls, etc from noon. Proceeds in aid of Church funds. Craft Fair: There will be a Vintage Collectables, Craft and Hand Made Fair in the old school hall, Lower Road on Sunday, November 27 from 1-4pm. Entrance £1. WI: The Farleighs WI has organised a Wish meeting for Wednesday, November 30 at 7pm for 7.30pm start in the WI hall, Forge Lane. Ray Davidson will be entertaining his audience on his experience of working for the Foreign Office in North Korea, which should prove interesting in this little known area. This meeting is open to all (men and women). £3 entrance including refreshments. Farmers market: The November market had an excellent variety of stalls and the delicious take home soup offered by new trader Sunnyside Bakes proved popular. As a result, £100 was donated to a new charity, Make a Difference to Maidstone, which is based at 49 Church Street, Maidstone. Its principle aim is to support the homeless, vulnerable and socially isolated in our town. You can also help directly by donating men’s shoes, trainers, boots, clothing (especially track PARISH COUNCIL: There had been one reported crime, that of a burglary from a shed in Kettle Lane. The additional work on the Bridge Feasibility Study would be funded out of this year’s budget from Highways Improvements. After discussing the preliminary draft budget for next year, the clerk was asked to make some changes, ready for discussion at the December meeting. Only 2% of cars that passed the Speedwatch deployment on October 26 were speeding. The fete working party had agreed on a different format event for 2017 from 3-6pm to include live bands. Village car park: As no response had been received from Triple M to the parish council’s small claim, it was agreed the clerk should go to the High Court Sheriff. The parish council is in possession of a line painting machine and the bay delineation lines would be re-done once volunteer availability and a dry day coincide. The contract for the car park attendant had been agreed and adopted. Next meeting : Tuesday December 6 in the Old School Hall, Lower Road at 7.15pm, preceded by the planning committee at 6.45pm. Correspondent: Mike Brine Tel: 01732 845825 mbriney.yoda@ hotmail.com Free advice: Members from the Citizen Advice Bureau will be at Headcorn library on Friday, December 2 for an open surgery from 10am-noon. Council date: The parish council meets in the Filmer Hall on Wednesday, December 7 at 8pm. Residents are welcome to attend. Correspondent: Fran Smith, 14 Pitt Road, Maidstone, ME16 8PA Mob: 07791 650955 Tel: 01622 720623 fransmith@ talktalk.net Autumn market: St Michael’s Church, Tonbridge Road holds its Autumn Market on Saturday, November 26 from 10.30am-2.30pm. Admission is free to enjoy a variety of stalls, super tombola, raffle and refreshments. Blackthorn Christmas Fair: The trust’s festive event takes place on Saturday, November 26, 10-30am2.30pm (£1 admission for adults) and will be opened by the Mayor and Mayoress. It is always an extra special fair with artisan stalls, hot chestnuts, music and festive food. Phone 01622 838382, email Events@ Blackthorn.org.uk