What’s happening where you live...

the funds for a dishwasher at the church and the Christmas lights. More details to follow. Temporary road closure: To enable low voltage cable installation to be carried out by UK Power Networks, the Lenham Forstal Road, Lenham Heath will be closed from Monday, October 23 for up to 11 working days. The alternative route is via Lenham Forstal Road, Bull Hill, Lenham Heath Road and visa versa. Details www.roadworks.org PARISH COUNCIL: The council no longer has a renewable seven year lease on the Glebe pond, Old Ashford Road as the land has been sold to new owners, so the lease is null and void. The council expects the agreement with the new owners to transfer the land as a community asset to stand. Councillors would meet with the developer of the site to discuss the transfer. In the meantime, the owner has confirmed that the tree clearance works cannot continue as the final bat survey results were awaited to ensure there were no bats roosting prior to felling. Following planning consent from MBC, an application for the new newt licence to start translocation works could be submitted to Natural England, the developer’s ecologists recommend that all works to the pond need to wait until the newts have been translocated, which will result in the works being delayed into spring 2018. The parish council will keep parishioners abreast of developments. Details on 01622 859682. Planning application 17/504450/ REM approval of reserved matters for the erection of 70 dwellings pursuant to 14/502973/FULL - outline application for erection of 82 new residential dwellings together with access onto Ham Lane, internal roads, parking, landscaping and ancillary works on land at Ham Lane will be discussed at the planning committee meeting to be held on Monday, October 2 at 7.30pm at the community centre. Details on www.maidstone.gov.uk Challenge results: The inter village garden competition held by the Charing Gardeners Society at the autumn show on September 23 at Charing, resulted in Charing first place, Lenham second place, and Harrietsham third place. The competition takes the form of seven classes, box of vegetables, five items of fruit, vase of dahlias, Victoria sponge cake, pot of jam, three cheese scones and six pieces of shortbread. The judge decides on which of the three items entered for each class is the best, second and third, the points are then added to see who is the overall winner. This year it was a close run competition. Next year the competition will be held at Lenham. Report submitted by Keith Varney chairman of Lenham Gardening Society. Presentation time: A cheque presentation evening will be held at the Social Club, High Street on Saturday, October from 7.30pm. The funds raised by the 52 cyclists who completed the 20 mile circular bike ride (with several refreshment stops) will be donated to Ovarian cancer research and the Christmas Lights Committee. Thank you to all those who gave so generously. All welcome to attend the event. Wives meet: The Loose Valley Wives Group meet in All Saints’ Church on Wednesday, October 4 at 7.30pm. There will be a talk entitled Curiosities of London by Stuart Robinson. Visitors and new members will be welcome. Details from Marion Cooper on 01622 744850. Parish council: Should applications be received, there will be a meeting of the planning committee on Monday, October 2 at 7pm at the parish pavilion, Walnut Tree Lane. The public are welcome to attend. Agendas can be found on the website (www.loosepc.kentparishes. gov.uk) or on the notice-boards along the Loose/Linton Road (outside Loose Primary School, top of Old Loose Hill (Post Office end) and corner of Holmesdale Close. Horticultural society: Autumn meetings start with an intriguing talk by Helen Howard entitled Molluscs and Me. This will be at the Baptist Church Hall, Knightrider Street on Thursday, October 5 at 7.30pm. Tea/coffee and biscuits will be served. Visitors and new members welcome. Non-members £2. Details on 01622 761423 or visit www.maidstonehorticulturalsociety.org Badminton club: Meets at NLL, Boughton Lane, on Monday evenings. It welcomes new members to intermediate standard. Contact Janet at 01622 745054 for details. Correspondent: Mo Clayton Tel: 01622 831529 WI: The members met on September 7, when they had rather a eerie evening with Neil Arnold. His talk was entitled Spooky Kent and concentrated on events which have occurred around the Blue Bell Hill area over the years. He was an entertaining speaker with a quirky sense of humour. The next meeting will be held on Thursday, October 5 in the Vestry Hall at 7.45pm. The speaker will be Dr Geoff Doel on the subject of A Kent Christmas. Visitors are always welcome. Walking group: Saturday, September 30. It is Patronal Festival and Gifts showcase day, so Group A will visit the exhibition, while Group B will walk round some fields and then visit the exhibition. On Sunday, October 1 at 10am, the walkers will meet at the library to share cars to go walking at Hempsted Forest. The route will be approximately 4.5 miles. Barn dance/hoedown: Organised by Marden in Bloom for Saturday, October 7 from 7.30pm, there will be a barn dance in the memorial hall. Tickets cost £12.50 to include food and entertainment plus a raffle. Contact anne.boswell@ymail. com or check out Marden in Bloom Facebook page. Patronal Festival: Saturday, September 30 from 10am in the church. Showcase your talent plus a silent auction of work at 4pm. Churchyard planting: You are invited to go along to the churchyard on Sunday October 1 to plant bulbs from 3pm. Take along your own bulbs and working tools and help God’s Acre bloom next spring. Thursday Club: On October 12, there will be bingo in the Village Club from 2pm-4pm. Correspondent: Tim Mumford Mob: 07736592918 Harvest Supper: Otham with Langley Churches will be hosting their annual Harvest Supper on Friday October 6 at 7.30pm at St Nicholas Church. Take your own drinks and glasses to be enjoyed with a four-course cold supper. Be entertained with light hearted music and ditties. Raffle available. Tickets £8 each from Ann Ovenden 01622 738790. All proceeds for church funds. Correspondent: Alison Dickerson, 75 Chatham Road, Sandling, Maidstone, ME14 3BB Tel: 01622 762334 British Sugarcraft Guild: The next Correspondent: Alison Dickerson, 75 Chatham Road, Sandling, Maidstone, ME14 3BB Tel: 01622 762334 Macmillan Coffee Morning: Kent Scouts are taking part in The World’s Biggest Coffee Morning on Friday, September 29 from 10am-12.30pm at Lower Grange Farm, Grange Lane, in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support and everyone is welcome. Visitors will get the chance to have a cuppa and a cake, take part in a raffle and take a tour of the site, so please pop along, say hello and support this worthwhile cause. For information prior to the coffee morning contact Rebecca on 01622 729479 or Rebecca@kentscouts.org.uk For information about Scouts in Kent have a look at www.kentscouts.org.uk Correspondent: Tim Mumford Mob: 07736592918 Quiz night: The horticultural society will be holding a quiz night on Saturday, October 14 in the primary school at 6.30pm for a 7pm start. Admission costs £5 and includes refreshments and nibbles. Enjoy a great evening (there will be no horticultural questions). Teams of up to six or join others on the night . For information contact Margaret on 01622 844656.