Correspondent’s Picture
You can share your views on the proposed change using thw Post Office’s easy and convenient new online questionnaire postofficeviews.co.uk, and entering the branch code 19594899. Setting to one side councillors’ concerns about the possibility of our ending up with no post office in our village at all, the two big issues discussed were parking (quote: ‘limited time-restricted roadside parking is available on Market Street, 90 metres away’ – well, whoever wrote that nonsense should try parking there sometime), and the increased walking distance from the majority of our residential areas (0.7 miles ‘away from the current branch, along varied terrain’). Any talk about the convenience of bus stops from an access stand-point is irrelevant - are the residents from The Quarter at the south end of the village going to catch a bus? No. More importantly, there is a senior-citizen hot spot in Bell Lane, McCabe Close in particular, which is just a short walk from the current post office, so with the added 0.7 mile to the proposed location, it is a two-mile round trip, which is too far. The Railway Tavern: The station bus stop, right outside the stntion Newsagents, has become a real hazard since the pub closed and its car park blocked off. This is where we need Maidstone MBC to take a holistic view when considering the planning application (MBC’s reference 16/505966/FULL) for the change of use and conversion of The Railway Tavern to one dwelling; and the erection of a detached dwelling (in the car-park area). While the pub was open from a parking stand-point this arrangement was perfect, because the newsagent’s busy period did not clash with the pub’s so an amicable arrangement persisted with the publican allowing the newsagents’ customers the use of the car park. For both passing trade and the village community, this provided a really convenient stopping-off point. Now all the newsagent’s customers arriving by car or van, park on the pavement, presenting a genuine hazard to both pedestrians and people queuing for the bus. This disturbing state of affairs has inevitably taken a toll on the newsagent’s business which, if it is not resolved, will eventually kill off this once-thriving business altogether. With the shape of the village about to change (both the substantial increase in population, and the relocation of the retail hub from The Parade to the station), the loss of these two vital amenities, a pub and a newsagent, has to be prevented. MBC must block any change-of-use for this site. It was reported at the meeting that some of the facts in the ‘Viability Report’ (see in the documents associated with the planning application on MBC’s website) were suspect, ‘Within a three mile radius there is approximately 10 other public houses’. Approximately? The fact is that there is now just one pub in the actual village, and there is a second in the parish, two miles to the south. No mention is made about any increase in the trade which will accrue from the retail development which will inevitably take place, immediately work starts on the big housing estates. Hawkenbury Bridge crash: Both of our MBC councillors helped with fiasco which resulted from the latest crash. John Perry reported that it took the police two-and-a-half hours to arrive on the scene, about which he has made an official complaint. Cllr Louise Brice, taking her mum out for a Mother’s Day treat happened to be first on the scene, where two vehicles had collided, one of them through the barrier and in danger of falling over into the field. While using a passing Land Rover to pull the car back onto the road, John and Louise directed traffic around the carnage until the police eventually arrived. Cllr Perry made the point that accidents on the Hawkenbury Bridge are a regular occurence, and the frequency can only increase with the amount of additional traffic, particularly once work on the Fishers Farm housing estate gets under way. The bridge dates from the Medieival period and can never be widened, so the only answer is the installation of traffic lights. Saturday surgeries: Parish chairman Rory Silkin will be available in the library to discuss parish matters on Saturday April 8 from 10-11am. Hospice Bluebell Walk: On Sunday, April 30, the Heart of Kent Hospice is holding its annual Bluebell Walk. To register visit www.hokh.org. For information phone 01622 790195 or email fundraising@hokh.co.uk. Free tennis sessions: The cricket and tennis club is running free sessions for children aged three and upwards on Easter Monday. Email enquiries@se-tennis.co.uk to book your place. Monarchs Football opportunity: Easter crafts: Jubilee Field football: Correspondent: Leila Ware Tel: 01622 842330 Litter pick: Join the parish council litter pick on Sunday, April 9, to tidy up our roads and lanes. Meet in the village hall car park at 8am. High viz jackets, gloves and bags will be provided. Note that under 16s are not allowed to take part as the insurance does not cover them. For information, or to say you are helping, contact Fiona Kenward on 01622 891889, or Helen Anderson parish clerk, on 891945 Palm Sunday: There will be a service of Holy Communion, with palm crosses for all, on April 9 at 11am in All Saints’ Church. Tea and coffee will be served afterwards. Correspondent: Christine Byron Tel:
01622 812023 Quiz night: Teston & Wateringbury Pre-School will be hosting a quiz night in Teston Hall on Saturday, April 22 at 7.30pm in aid of Teston Preschool and the chosen charity is The Brain and Spine Foundation. All are welcome, £10 per person including a sausage and chip supper. To book your place contact Tina on 07805 796353. Explorers thank you: The Explorer Scouts would like to thank everybody who helped with their recent jumble sale, whether they collected jumble, transported it, sorted it, sold it, displayed posters, made cakes, prepared the hall or counted the money, it was all much appreciated. They would also like to thank everyone who generously donated so much jumble and to those who attended and bought it, without which they would not have had such a huge success and a super atmosphere. They raised more than £850 towards their planned Canada expedition in the summer. Toys and play: The WI meets in the village hall on Thursday, April 13, when Helen Allison will talk about 100 Years of Toys and Play. The monthly members’ competition is a childhood book, game or toy. Visitors welcome, the meeting starts at 2pm. Easter Faith Fun: Calling all primary school aged children in Wateringbury. Do join in celebrating the Easter Story in a morning filled with fun, songs and craft activities on Saturday, April 15. The cost is £2 per child for the event running from 9.30am-12.30pm at the church. Booking is essential because of numbers. Visit www.wateringburychurch.org.uk for a form or phone Debbie on 01622 814793. Palm Sunday: On April 9, a Family Service will be led by Barry Fisher in the Church. Then at 6pm in East Malling Church, the joint choirs in the Benefice will sing The Crucifixion. Easter services: On Good Friday, at 10am there will be dramatic readings of The Passion, brought to life through a variety of perspectives. On Easter Sunday, there will be a Holy Communion Service at the Church. Other services within the benefice are listed in Coxheath and East Farleigh. Easter roast: There will be an Easter Roast (and more) from noon-4pm at The Good Intent on Easter Sunday. PARISH COUNCIL: Concern had been expressed about a planning application for a dwelling in The Hollow, on the site of the row of six garages. Many villagers attended and there was concern that the site is so small and there would be issues with access, the siting of a cess pit, the height of the roof and the proximity to a listed building. The parish council was unanimously against the development and advised those affected on how best to proceed. A three year grounds maintenance contract for grass and verge cutting had been awarded to Larry Johnson. The pot holes in Ewell Lane and Lower Road had been reported to Kent Highways for repair. It was agreed to re-plant some bulbs on the grass verge between Kettle Lane and the lay-by. Grants had been given for the maintenance of the churchyard, Evergreens and the WI. The installation of some adult gym equipment on The Green was being investigated. Correspondent: Jenny Scott Mob: 07785 974951 Palm Sunday: On April 9, a Procession of Witness will start at the war memorial at 9.15am, followed by Palm Sunday Communion in church at 9.30am. Taize evening worship starts at 6.30pm. The Baptist Church will hold a special all age Palm Sunday service at 11am, led by the Family Trust, at the Baptist church. Coffee morning: On Saturday April 8 from 10am, Hunton Bowls Club is holding a coffee morning at the club house, which is behind the village hall. Plant stalls, bric-a-brac, tombola, cakes and refreshments will all be available in a warm friendly atmosphere. Donations to the stalls on the day welcome. Little Fishes: Bit bigger fishes, in the form of older siblings, will be made welcome to the April Little Fishes meeting in church on Monday April 10 from 1.45-3pm. As usual, there will be story, craft, music and a snack for the youngsters, while parents and carers enjoy a cuppa and chat. Call Rachel on 01622 817337 for information. Village Pensioners’ Club: All retired residents are welcome to join the Village Pensioners’ Club at its next meeting on Tuesday April 11 from 2-4pm at the Social Club. Bingo, refreshments and chat provide a pleasant afternoon out. Call Peter on 01622 814123 for information. Meeting with EA: The chairman and clerk of Yalding parish council met with Environment Agency manager Julie Foley recently. The plans to adopt Property Level Resilience (PLR) are going ahead, if somewhat later that expected. Property owners, whose properties are deemed at high risk of flooding will be contacted regarding surveys. Riverside Gallery: The Riverside gallery preview evening last Friday was a great success and the exhibition is well worth a look. Fliers are available in the Post Office indicating the changing exhibitions through the summer months. The current one, with digital imagery, oil paintings, sculpture and ceramics, all by interesting local artists, runs until April 24. Opening hours are 2-5pm on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays. There is also art work by resident artists Mel Rae and June Chapman; some of which is work in progress. There is always a welcome and a cuppa for visitors. In fact, there will be cream teas starting in May, too! PARISH COUNCIL: An apology from me for giving not only the wrong date but also the wrong venue for the April parish council meeting in last week’s issue. I am sorry for any inconvenience. In fact the meeting takes place on Tuesday, April 11 at 7.30pm at Laddingford church hall. As usual, inform the clerk, Angela Gent, should you wish to address the councillors at the meeting on 01622 814134 or email clerk@ yaldingparishcouncil.gov.uk WI fashion show: The WI meeting on Tuesday, April 11 at 7.15pm, will in fact be a fashion show by Bon Marche. Members will be modelling some of the clothes and orders for items will be taken. The competition is for a home made tiara. Visitors and new members welcome. Call Doreen for information on 01622 813384. Supporting Sensible Development: A large meeting attended by a number of KCC, MBC and parish councillors along with 80 + residents was held in The George last Thursday. Members of the inner group for Sensible Development clearly outlined the six main objections to the proposed planning application for 75 new homes to be built on glebe land off Vicarage Road. The planning application hearing will take place in Maidstone in May on a date yet to be announced, but we do need to be there in large numbers. Up to the minute information available at www.facebook.com/YaldingResidents/ or email yaldingresidents@ gmail.com 100 club: The Friends of Yalding Church 100 club drew their raffle last Sunday. The winners were Michael Stewart first with number 97, Jane Knight second with number 57 and Rob Bird third with number 78. The next draw is May 7.