COMMUNITY NEWS Staple

Northgate, Canterbury If you have an item for these pages, contact your local correspondent using the details provided. Alternatively, email kmgvillages@thekmgroup.co.uk and we will try to ensure it appears

If you have an item concerning Hoath, please contact the correspondent above.

Ickham

Correspondent: Patricia Hodges patriciahodges44@btinternet.com Carols by Candlelight: Caritas, the Chamber choir directed by Benedict Preece, raised £800 for the Porchlight Charity through their ‘Carols by Candlelight’ concert in the Church in December. The charity’s representatives gratefully received this helpful contribution in early January. Health Matters: Healthwatch Kent is an independent organization set up to champion the views of patients and social care users across Kent. Their mission is to raise the public’s voice to improve the quality of local health and social care services. The team would like to know about your discharge experience after a stay in hospital. They will use the information to help improve the system. The survey should only take around 10 minutes. Visit https://www.surveymonkey. co.uk/r/delayeddischarge and have your say. Winter Keep Fit: Give yourself the best New Year present by attending Pilates classes in the village hall, Mondays, 10am. Improve your posture, flexibility and sense of well-being for just £10 per class or £54 for six consecutive classes. Call/text Stephanie 07890 897851, e-mail stephaniefancy@gmail.com Facebook fancypilateswhitstable.

Kingston

Correspondent: Maureen Taylor, 3 Whitelocks Close, Kingston, Canterbury, CT4 6JG maureen_taylor3@sky.com Covet Lane Closure: An offpeak closure of part of Covet Lane is planned for Friday February 8 between 9.30am and approximately 3.30pm, to allow a detailed bridge inspection to be carried out on behalf of Historical Railway Estates. Covet Lane will be closed in the general vicinity of the disused railway bridge, with local access from either direction up to where the road is closed, but no through access. The alternative route for all through traffic is via Black Robin Lane, Bonny Bush Hill, Frog Lane, Crows Camp Road, Pheasant Hall Road, Westwood Road and Turks Hill back to Covet Lane. Horticultural Society News: Wednesday February 13, Barham village hall, 7.30pm, Jo Arnell will be talking about ‘extra productive vegetable growing’. Jo Arnell, will be giving us hints and tips on how to make our plots more productive, after which she will be happy to answer questions. Magazine Deadline: If you have an article for the Kingston and Bishopsbourne mag- azine to go into the March issue, then it needs to be with the editor by February 16. Send to editor@kingstonandbishopsbournemagazine. co.uk Kingston Ladies’ Group: Members had an interesting talk and demonstration on reflexology at their meeting in January. Helen told how it was believed that different parts of the foot relate to certain parts of the body. For the meeting on Tuesday February 12, 7.30pm, The Barn, Tony will be telling members about his life in flying. Hostesses are Ally Matthews and Gaby Mcguire. Church Services: Sunday February 10 there will be a family communion service, starting 11am, St Giles Church.

Littlebourne

Correspondent: Melanie Moore currentmrsm@gmail.com Coffee Morning: Saturday February 23, to raise money for Teenage Cancer Trust, Littlebourne village hall, 10am-2pm. For more details please call Katy Burton 07515 1644819. If you have an item concerning Lower Hardres/nackington, please contact the correspondent above.

Molash

Correspondent: Geoff Jenkins, Kings View, Shottenden Lane, Molash, CT4 8EZ Tel: 01233 740598 geoff.jenkins195@btinternet. com Church: Next Service at St. Peter’s. Holy Communion (BCP) 9.30am Sunday February 10. Incumbent Canon Brian Chalmers, Readers Janet and Christopher Colthup. Meeting: Parish Council meets in the village hall, 7.30pm, Thursday February 14. Public welcome. Snowdrop Teas: All parishioners welcome to Snowdrop teas in our sister parish Church, Challock, 12-5pm, Sunday February 10. Home made teas, books bric-abrac, tombola etc. Come and have lunch or tea, chat with friends and view the famous murals. The snowdrops should be out in the Churchyard Kings Wood Friends: Another Friends winter walk is Sunday February 17, 2pm from the War Memorial on the A252 at Molash. Further information by text 07523 203458 or email: enquiries@ friendsofkingswood.org As always the walk is free to members and accompanied children, with non members paying £4 on the day. If you have an item concerning Nonington, please contact the correspondent above. If you have an item concerning Northgate, Canterbury, please contact the correspondent above. If you have an item concerning Old Wives Lees, please contact the correspondent above.

Petham

Correspondent: Kris Pole flaxlandblues@gmail.com If you have an item concerning Petham, please contact the correspondent above.

Preston

Correspondent: Sue Taylor, Langton House, The Street, Preston, CT3 1DP news4preston@gmail.com Gardeners Society: Next meeting, Tuesday February 12, Preston Community Centre, 7.45pm. Speaker and demonstration on No Dig Gardening including composting and crop-rotation together with a talk on snowdrops and hellebores. The usual monthly competitions will be for the flower of the month and garden competition, to include anything crafted, cooked/ baked or made at home. Tips for gardening in March will be given. Meetings are held on the second Tuesday of each month and include talks on various topics and visits to gardens of interest. New members welcome.

Rhodes Minnis

Correspondent: Daphne Andrews, 31 Bedingfield Way, Lyminge Tel: 01303 862865 daphneandrews@googlemail. com George Inn: Thursday February 14, 8.15pm you may enjoy an evening of jazz. Wednesday February 20, come and listen to acoustic music and Sunday March 3, local musicians play and sing traditional songs. Booking in advanceadvisable 01227 709170 or email: landlord@ thegeorgeonstreet.co.uk Meals available from 6pm. Yoga Workshop: Saturday February 16, 9am-12pm, village hall. This is suitable for all ages, mats are available on request. £25 per person, includes coffee and cake. Booking is essential 07977 503897 or email: michele. patart@gmail.com Methodist Chapel: Service Sunday February 10, will be conducted by Rev. Derek Hancock, 9.30am. All welcome to worship and enjoy refreshments after. Cat Sanctuary: If you have any unwanted Christmas presents, the Sanctuary would appreciate them for their charity shop. Take them to the Sanctuary in Green Lane or direct to the Cat Basket in Cheriton Place, Folkestone. Lord Whisky: They are again running a poetry competition. This year’s theme is “Sanctuary” and the deadline for entries is May 31. £5 per entry and there are generous prizes. Poems must be 140 lines maximum. For a full list of the rules, please visit www. lordwhisky.co.uk If you have an item concerning Selling, please contact the correspondent above. If you have an item concerning Sheldwich, please contact the correspondent above. If you have an item concerning Shepherdswell, please contact the correspondent above. If you have an item concerning Shottenden, please contact the correspondent above.

St Dunstan’s, Canterbury

Correspondent: Geoffrey Learner, 55 Whitstable Road, Canterbury, CT2 8DG Tel: 01227 639117 glearner@sky.com Parish Church: Sunday February 10: 8am Said Eucharist; 10am Sung Eucharist; 3.30pm Wholeness and Healing. Friends of K&C: The local League of Friends hold a coffee morning, 10am-12pm, Saturday February 16, 17 Manwood Avenue (opposite Archbishops School). Come and help raise money for your hospital. Film Show: Friends of St Dunstan’s Church present The Theory of Everything, the award-winning film about the life of Stephen Hawking, Saturday February 16, 2.30pm in the hall. Admission free; suggested donation £6 (includes tea).

St Peter’s, Canterbury

Correspondent: Carolyn Farrar Mob: 07778 391820 Tel: 01227 455994 carolyncfarrar@gmail.com If you have an item concerning St Peter’s, Canterbury, please contact the correspondent above. If you have an item concerning St Stephen’s, Canterbury, please contact the correspondent above. If you have an item concerning Staple, please contact the correspondent above. If you have an item concerning Studd Hill, please contact the correspondent above.

Sturry

Correspondent: Barb Dice, 6 Pleydell Crescent, Sturry, Canterbury, CT2 0LQ Mob: 07421 029548 Tel: 01227 710218 Quiz: Sam Brown is raising funds to go to the Scouts world jamboree and is hosting a quiz evening at the Guide and Scouts Hall, Park View, Sturry, February 16, 7.15pm for 7.30pm start. Please bring own food and drinks. Nibbles provided. There will be a raffle. Teams of 8, £6 per person or £40 for 8 people. Contact BrownH27worldjamboreefund@g. mail.com or 07865 897361. Meeting: Sturry Parish Council planning meeting, Sturry social centre, Monday February 18, 7pm prompt start. Contact Parish office 01227 710443 www.sturry-pc. gov.uk Aerobics: Thursdays, seated aerobics, 10.30-11.30am, Hersden community centre. Free entrance. Tuesday mornings, yoga, 10-11am, £6 per session. Contact 01227 712040 info@ hnca.co.uk If you have an item concerning Tankerton, please contact the correspondent above. If you have an item concerning Throwley, please contact the correspondent above. If you have an item concerning Tyler Hill, please contact the correspondent above.

Westbere

Correspondent: Lisa Laws, 20 Westbere Lane, Westbere, Canterbury, CT2 0HH lisalaws@btinternet.com PARISH COUNCIL: January 15. The PC has received complaints from residents about the changes to garden waste collections. CCC has suspended garden waste collections between Christmas Day and March to allow Serco crews to focus on tackling the increase in recycling generated over Christmas and then to provide greater resilience across the service especially in the event of any bad weather. The Village Hall committee has obtained two quotes for all windows to be replaced, both about £3,000. The committee has sufficient funds to proceed. Cllr Marsh said all car parks in the Canterbury district are to increase parking charges by 10 pence per hour. He has also given the preschool a grant of £1,000 for various items. Governance Review and creation of new Hersden Parish. CCC has agreed to reduce the apportionment transfer of funds from Westbere PC to the new Hersden PC from £2,041.43 to £953.75. Paths walked in the Two Fields site at Staines Hill opposite the convent. Several Westbere and Sturry residents have confirmed use of paths for 20+ years. The clerk will research next steps required to try and get paths across the site added to the definitive map. Capital grant application for 2019-2020. The grant to cover a backless bench seat being fitted to the space that will be left after removal of the phone box at Staines Hill has been recommended for approval. The capital grant submitted was for £995. Match-funding is required, the PC’S contribution will be £418 and the grant will be £577. Westbere Church Flint wall repairs. The Clerk has received a quotation of £1,620 plus VAT for Church wall repair works. This will look at the entire front wall and make repairs as necessary. This was accepted and the Clerk will speak to the contractor to schedule in the work after frost threats, but before March 31. May 2 2019 Parish Council elections. Cllr Dawson is to retire from the PC and not stand for the next 4 year term. Cllr Dawson asked all councillors to think about their roles if they are to still put themselves forward to stand. Annual Electors meeting will be Tuesday March 26 (provisional date). National Grid have confirmed they will send a guest speaker. Speeding traffic through village: Residents have raised this issue of speeding traffic along Westbere Lane in particular. It is not PC responsibility to enforce speed limits but the PC has tried to address the problem with the slow down stickers. Improved signage could be considered or a chicane to make traffic wait for oncoming traffic in Westbere Lane. The 20mph roundels painted on the roads need to be repainted. The Clerk will contact Kent Highways and complete their Highway Improvement Plan Template explaining the issues and possible solutions. National Grid Richborough Connection update. National Grid have now finished building their new 400kv overhead line electricity connection between Richborough and Canterbury. The new line went live at the end of November connecting an electricity link between Herdersbrug near Bruges in Belgium and Richborough, near Sandwich. National Grid