What’s happening where you live...

storey side and rear extension. Approved. Charter House, Chart Corner, gull and listed building consent for a single storey rear extension with partially pitched roof and flat roof in materials to match existing house. Approved. Decisions from Maidstone Borough Council: Lested farm, Plough Wents Road, extension of farmyard into adjacent agricultural field. Development of an onfarm anaerobic digestion project that will generate clean renewable energy from animal manures and slurries and agricultural by-products from the growing and processing of fruit and vegetables, with the addition of some energy crops. Permitted. 8 Marsham Crescent, demolition of side extension and garage and the erection of part single and part two storey extension with garage. Permitted. Lake House Farm, Green Lane, full and listed building consent for the conversion of outbuilding to provide annexe accommodation. Permitted. High Rooks, Chart Corner, garage conversion and alterations to front porch. Permitted. School news: On Monday, January 16, after school clubs will resume. Also on Monday, Discovery Class will receive an E-safety talk from the local police community support officer. On Thursday, January 19, school worship will be led by the Family Trust. January celebrations: The Chequers in Laddingford is holding two special celebration dinners this month. On Saturday, January 21, a traditional Burns Night celebration will take place followed on Saturday 28 by a Chinese New Year dinner. Booking are being taken for both events. Pop-in Get Together: The popular monthly sessions held at the church will be continuing this year on Wednesdays from 2-4pm. The dates for the year are January 18, February 15, March 15, April 12, May 10, June 14, July 12, August 16, September 13, October 11, November 15 and December 13. For full details of the first one on Wednesday, call Margaret Ashworth on 01892 730323. News magazine: The Collier Street News Magazine (the old parish magazine) will be starting 2017 with its first edition at the beginning of February. Thanks to a wonderful team of volunteers, the publication is delivered free to every home in the parish. Editors Jacki and Jeannie took over production of the magazine in 2016 and had a fantastic first year with lots of positive feedback; the colour cover is particularly popular. Anyone wishing to inquire about advertising, can contact Tracey on 01892 730252. All other inquiries should be sent to editorparishmag@mail.com Church information: In addition to the weekly Holy Communion service at 11am, on Sunday January 15 at 6.30pm, there will also be an Epiphany Evensong at St Margaret’s Church. Anyone interested in reading at church services is welcome to attend a training session held by Father Paul Kish on Saturday January 21. The session, to be held at St Margaret’s, will start with 9.30 breakfast and end at around noon. Speak to the church wardens if you need information or intend to go along. Correspondent: Maureen Jopson, 68 Stockett Lane, Coxheath, ME17 4PY Tel: 01622 746086 joplot8@ hotmail.co.uk Church coffee morning: The first coffee morning of the New Year, in aid of Holy Trinity Church, is Saturday, January 14 from 10amnoon at the Scout hut, Westerhill Road. Everybody is welcome to go along. Correspondent: Jenny Cosgrove Tel: 01622 630462 jenny.cosgrove@ hotmail. co.uk Detling Singers: The pre-Christmas Concert at Cobtree Hall, Willington Street raised nearly £300 for the charity Maidstone Mencap. Detling Strollers: This year all of the walks will be on Thursdays. This months walk is on January 19 and the destination is Milton. All welcome, meet outside the village hall at 10am, approximate return 1pm. For information, phone John or Gill Munson on 01622 630231 WI: The first meeting for 2017 is on Wednesday January 18, which will be registration night. Ian Porter will give an insight into The Real Downton Abbey. Doors will open at 7pm, meeting commences at 7.45. There will be refreshments at the end of the evening. The institute welcomes visitors, so go along and see for yourselves what a friendly group they are. Vacancy: If you would like to be correspondent for Ditton, email dedwards@ thekmgroup.co.uk Community centre: There will be a quiz night on Sunday, January 29 from 8pm. Teams of up to eight with a cost of £2 per person. All These birds would be cock-a-hoop if they could find a new forever home. The three cockerels and two hens were found fenced off and abandoned in a field before they were rescued and brought into the care of the RSPCA. Named Cluck Norris, Cluckleberry-Finn, Ozzy Eggsborn, Mrs Fluffy-Pants and Tree tagging: The parish’s tree Mrs Poopins, the fantastic five are now looking to be homed together. They will need plenty of space to roam during the day and a warm and safe coop to stay in at night time.

If you think you could offer the birds a home, call Leybourne RSPCA centre on 01622 891222.