It’s all fun and games at church socials I know all too well what it’s like to be flooded
There’s really no need to stay at home alone.
St Nicholas Church in Poplar Grove, Maidstone, hosts a regular community café for people of all ages every Tuesday starting at 10am. On offer is a table quiz and games, companionship and some great teas and cakes dished up by Fiona and Alan Foreman.
All are welcome.
There are other more specialist get-togethers at the church too, including the Oasis café for mums and their babes, and a men’s breakfast, plus a regular Messy Church event for children and a Sunday lunch club in the church’s main hall. as well as bible study groups.
For details of all events call the church office and speak to Jenny Stone on Tuesdays or Fridays on 01622 299715 or visit the church website, online at tinyurl.com/Nicsevents take place at the same time?
Don Wright,
Willington Street, Maidstone these proposals.
A roundabout at the junction of the A20 and Willington Street which is ruled out, a gyratory at the Sutton Road/Willington Street/ Wallis Avenue not considered, dedicated non stop lanes at the 20/20 Coldharbour roundabout and a roundabout at the Wheatsheaf.
Much like the alleged improvements on the bridge gyratory four years ago, which did as much harm as good, these ideas will prove to be a costly waste of time and of little use in either improving traffic flow and air quality.
There are numerous junctions that need attention in our borough that are not included. There are other relatively inexpensive tweaks that could improve matters as well.
All that’s needed is a bit of vision combined with political will and the cash to back it up.
Neil Cox,
Address supplied
Floods and wind are a pretty lethal combination.
We haven’t even reached the end of February, yet Britain has already been blasted by three storms in quick succession. Kent survived relatively unscathed this time, compared to other areas to the west and north, but villages on the flood plain of the River Medway, like Yalding, once again took the brunt. Some residents seemed almost resigned to another night of wet carpets. I have every sympathy with them, having encountered the wrath of Neptune when living on the sun-kissed Isle of Sheppey.
I had heard tales of the great flood of 1953 but in January 1978 we still hadn’t woken up to the prospect of global warming and rising sea levels. So Mrs Nurden and I settled on a nice terrace house in Sheerness for our first home. We’d been married less than a year when I was rudely awakened by the haunting whine of the reconditioned Second World War flood siren fortuitously installed on the old library building opposite the very first Cobweb Castle which, because of its size, was really a Cobweb Closet. To be fair, we had been warned of an impending high tide but, like most people, didn’t really believe it would affect us. Besides, the Environment Agency, or whatever it was called then, was building a new sea wall at the time so we were safe. Of course, we had now allowed for galeforce winds to whip up the North Sea or the fact that the builders had gone home for Christmas and hadn’t quite finished the wall. The sea spotted a gap and, like an excited puppy, began exploring the town centre. I remember peering out the front door and watching in horror as a wall of water came down the road and, ignoring hastily placed sand bags, invited itself in to our lounge. Within weeks we’d moved - to higher ground.