What’s happening where you live

Time Music Hall at the WI Hall in The Street on Saturday, October 29 from 3.30pm-6pm. The pParish council presents for your delectation and delight, all the way from London, the Players Theatre Club. Tickets are free. Priority to those 60 years and older. You must live in the Bearsted Parish. Application form available on online at www. bearstedparishcouncil.gov.uk, from the Community Warden, in the local libraries or by phoning 01622 630584. Firework display: The parish council will hold it’s annual Firework Spectacular on the Elizabeth Harvie Field on Friday, November 4 with the gates opening at 6pm and the display starting at 7.30pm. Family, adult and child tickets available. Children under four admitted free. Under 16’s must be accompanied by an adult. Tickets available online at www.wegottickets.com/BearstedParishCouncil Remembrance: An Act of Remembrance in memory of Alfred Cotterell, who was killed at the Battle of the Somme, will take place at Thurnham Church at noon on Sunday, October 30. WI: Bearsted Green WI will meet at the WI Hall in The Street on Wednesday November 2 at 7.45pm and Roseacre WI will meet at the memorial hall in Manor Rise on Thursday November 3 at 2pm. Visitors welcome. For details phone 01622 739190 or 01622 736391 regarding Bearsted Green WI or 01622 737901 regarding Roseacre WI. Correspondent: Sue Whiteoak Tel: 01634 660097 susanwhiteoak@ talktalk. net New correspondent: We would like to welcome Sue as the new correspondent for Blue Bell Hill. If you have any items for inclusion in this column, please get in touch with her. Correspondent: Alison Dickerson, 75 Chatham Road, Sandling, Maidstone, ME14 3BB Tel: 01622 762334 malcolm.dickerson@ btinternet. com PARISH COUNCIL: The council met on October 3. Three residents spoke about the problems with crossing Grovewood Drive North. The crossing in the middle of the road is not wide enough to accommodate a pushchair and adult, as the pushchair sticks out into the road and traffic does not stop to let people cross. Cllr Davies said the problem had been on going for years and it was getting worse due to more traffic. The parish clerk said the parish council had tried twice to get a pedestrian crossing on the road but had failed on both occasions, but the parish council did agree in principle to give some money towards the project. It was agreed that this needs to be a partnership project and the resident was asked to get a petition going. A Facebook page regarding the petition has been set up and she was talking with other parents. It was suggested that an e-petition be set up. Inconsiderate parking at Provender Way: The parish office had not been able to obtain information on the possible progress of this work and it was agreed that it be escalated to the chairman/borough councillor. Members did agree that double yellow lines would be the best option at the junctions of all roads leading off Provender Way. At Grovewood Drive South it was suggested that double yellow lines at the junction with New Cut Road with the possibility of single yellow lines with waiting restrictions in other parts, however further investigation was needed. Flooding Boxley Road (near Longwood and Brownlowe Copse: Boxley Road had been dealt with and the KCC inspection of Brownlowe Copse had been closed stating that the issue had been dealt with, however a site visit had revealed that two of the three reported drains were still blocked and the office had reported this and asked for an explanation. Bus shelter and bus service from Grove Green: Cllr Wendy Hinder confirmed she had received a letter from MP Helen Whately who had contacted Arriva about a bus service after 6pm but it was not deemed financially viable. The parish council would continue to monitor the service. Friends of Boxley Warren informed members that a seat had been installed in memory of Brian Paxton, a loyal supporter of FoBW who had recently died. Draft budget 2017/18: The problems with Beechen Hall were brought to the attention of the council. The main front door was in need of urgent repair. The small meeting room is little used due to problems with noise from the large hall; it is really not fit for purpose. The parish office is sometimes used as a meeting room which means the office staff has to close down computers, move equipment which takes time and effort. Sound proofing would cost approx. £10K. Borough Cllr Wendy Hinder had complaints about the overgrown vegetation, but MBC was doing some cutting back in Boxley Road. Next meeting: At the European School of Osteopathy, Styles Lane, on Monday November 7 at 7.30pm Valuation day: The Friends of both Boxley and Detling churches invite you to take your family treasures to find out if you have a fortune in your attic or it is time to visit the tip. Canterbury Auction House will be in Grove Green Community Centre (next to Tesco’s car park) on Saturday, October 29 from 11am-2.30pm. The charge will be £5 for up to three items. There will be refreshments available. No need to book. Valuation day: The Friends of both Boxley and Detling churches invite you to bring along your family treasures to find out if you have a fortune in your attic or it is time to visit the tip. Canterbury Auction House will be with us in Grove Green Community Centre (next to Tesco’s car park) on Saturday, October 29 from 11am-2.30pm. The charge will be £5 for up to three items. There will be refreshments available. No need to book. Vacancy: If you would like to be correspondent for Broomfield/Kingswood, please contact Debbie Edwards, email: Kingswood WI: The next meeting is open to anyone interested in ice cream. It takes place at 7.30pm on Monday November 14. Angela Stillwell will talk about Taywells Ice Cream and perhaps we will be able to sample some products. Details from Pat Lyne on 01622 843672. Kent Cynophobia Assistant Dogs Group: The group is seeking to recruit calm dogs and their handlers/owners to join on a Monday from 5.30pm-6.30pm. The word cynophobia is children who are terrified of dogs. Sessions are about 90% successful, which not only improves the child’s life, but also Lead the Way Canine Training: If you have a puppy and would like him/her to learn basic training and manners, contact Janet Tandy on 01622 842209 to discuss puppy socialisation sessions. Dog training takes place on Wednesday evenings at Kingswood Village Hall. Classes commence with the puppies through to Gold class. PARISH COUNCIL: The council met on October 17. The clerk advised that Rob Reader, RLR Contractors had accepted the position of handyman for the parish. The clerk had supplied a work order which had already been commenced. Parish News: Cllr Clark reported that she was happy that the Parish News would be ready to go for the end of November and requested the clerk to contact participants requesting their articles to be made available by the beginning November. Next meeting: Monday, November 21 at 7.30pm in Kingswood Village Hall, Gravelly Bottom Road. Halloween fun: There is lots going on locally to celebrate Halloween this weekend. A spooky fun day on Yalding Fen on Friday October 28, organised by the Community Rail Partnership and an all day Halloween party at The George, Yalding on Saturday October 29 with a bouncy castle, hog roast, fancy dress and live music after 8pm with Fox Force 5. There is pumpkin weigh-in and pumpkin carving at The Chequers in Laddingford on Sunday October 30 at 4.30pm. Take along a pumpkin you have grown for the weigh-in, or if you have not grown a pumpkin, turn up for the carving with one you have bought. Weekend walks : Meet at Marden library to walk to look at local trees on Saturday October 29 at 2pm, or on Sunday at 10am for a six mile West End wander with Geoff Burr. Details from Steve McArragher on 01622 831007. Most loved PO: See Yalding column. Benefice service: There will be no service in the village on Sunday, October 30. Instead a Benefice service with Holy Communion will take place at St Peter & St Paul’s in Yalding at 10am. Pop-in Get together: This popular monthly event in the church was again well attended on October 19. Everyone enjoyed the cakes, tea/ coffee and chatter. Money raised from the teas and raffle is donated to local causes, and this month the group agreed to donate £100 to Medical Detection Dogs and £100 to The Kenward Trust in Yalding. PARISH COUNCIL: The Joint Parish Flood Group, an important group started by Collier Street parish councillors Goff and Grandi, is now accepted as the main route for discussion with the Environment Agency and other agencies on flooding issues in the region. Parishes now involved are Collier Street, Hunton, Marden, Nettlestead, Yalding, East Farleigh, Wateringbury and Headcorn. Meetings are also attended by Helen Grant MP, and borough Cllr Steve McCloughlin. They meet again on Tuesday, October 25, to discuss their experiences of the Environment Agency exhibitions at Yalding and Collier Street, when the EA tried to explain why they have decided not to provide any flood defences for the area. Yalding Almshouses: See the Yald

ing column. Correspondent: Maureen Jopson, 68 Stockett Lane, Coxheath, ME17 4PY Tel: 01622 746086 joplot8@ hotmail.co.uk Ladies Group: The next meeting is

on Thursday, November 3 in the Correspondent: Jenny Cosgrove Tel: 01622 630462 jenny.cosgrove@ hotmail. co.uk Parish council: Joint event: Showground: Correspondent: Martin Hider Tel: 01622 736327 mhider5@ gmail.com Halloween party: Be prepared to be scared at the annual children’s Halloween party at the community centre on Saturday, October 29 at 6pm. Fancy dress competition and spooky discos for the youngsters. £1.50 on the door. Details on 01622 862730. Any answers: A quiz will take place at St Nicholas Church on Wednesday November 9 at 7.30pm. Take your own nibbles and drinks. Details on 01622 737684 or 739129. Service: There will be an All Souls Service at St Nicholas Church on Sunday October 30 at 3pm. PARISH COUNCIL: The council met on October 4. Peter Fincham was co-opted as a member of the council. A proposal to widen Gore Court Road was refused. Further, there was no opportunity to appeal the decision. MBC had advised that dog bins would be removed and all waste should be placed in new co-mingled bins. Old Church Road/Spot Lane review: Cllr Cheesman reported that having checked on a noise in Old Church Road, she was initially pleased to learn that KCC was clearing overhanging vegetation but disappointed so little was undertaken. Clerk to ask Steven Waring if he would help with an action plan for planting/upkeep of plants for the area around the granite tablet. Environmental suggestions required to maintain the area as a woodland extension. OSC would be holding a working group on November 26 at 10am. It was noted that care would need to be taken when removing nettles as several small plants had established themselves. While still retaining an interest in the parade of shops, Rajen Kantaria will no longer be acting as the representative. However, he would like to follow progress by attending future DPC meetings as a member of the public on an ad hoc basis. Rajen was thanked for all his help over the years and wished all the best for the future. The convenience store has been sold - details of the new owner not yet known.