DELIVERED TO 5,000 HOMES
Phil quits Independent Party
AUGUST 2012
Published by Kennington Community Forum
KENNINGTON councillor Phil Sims has resigned from the Ashford Independent Party. He will serve the rest of his term on Ashford council unaligned with any group. Phil won the seat last year from the Tories. He had campaigned against
plans to build homes in North Kennington and development which included the Hockey Club site in Ball Lane. He said: “This will make no difference to the way I represent the people in my ward, and I still support the Party’s manifesto."
Best-ever Fayre smashes records IT was the wettest June on record but the best-ever Kennington Summer Fayre. A record crowd, estimated at more than 2,500, enjoyed a great day of family entertainment. The final amount raised for local voluntary organisations and charities is expected to be nearly £10,000 — a record amount. Kennington PTA made £1,900, St Mary’s Church £1,000 and the Scouts £850. Early morning drizzle and a brisk breeze threatened to put a dampener on the day, but the sun came out and crowds poured in. Bell ringers rang a special peal from St Mary’s Church and then Towers Cheerleaders led the Mayor of Ashford, Cllr Bob Davidson into the arena for the opening ceremony and the dedication of an oak tree planted to commemorate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee by Kennington Community Forum. The Cheerleaders put on a thrilling display and were followed by the Downs View Infants choir, Hyung Je Martial Arts, the Reel Eire Dance Show Team, Fitness and Judo displays, Impact Dance and Cheer, and Soak the Vicar! Attractions included a children’s funfair, owls, rescued greyhounds, guide dogs and beat-the-goalie. There were long queues for hotdogs and ice creams. The 35 stallholders all did well and some had sold out by mid-afternoon. “The atmosphere was friendly, vibrant and fun, and there was something for all the family —
So cool: Nothing beats a nice ice cream whether it was books for me, plants for my wife or fairground rides for my little girl,” said Mark Street of Ball Lane. “The entertainment was also top-notch, made all the more enjoyable by knowing how much of the talent is drawn from Kennington.
£50,000 BOOST FOR CRICKET CLUB KENNINGTON Cricket Club has received £50,000 from Sport England towards the £100,000 needed to replace its ageing pavilion. Treasurer John Cunningham said: “After we have met potential contractors in August we will have a clearer idea of the timescale to complete this major project.”
Picture: PETER BAINES
“So many people value the Fayre as it give people a sense of belonging and community.” Natalie Grove of Kennington Cricket Club said: “We had a great day. We have never done anything like this before so we weren't quite sure what sort of money we could raise. As it turned out, we raised a lot more than we expected. I’ve lived in Kennington for 40 years and attended most of the Fayres. This was by far the best and I loved the layout.” Grand Draw winners: Back Page
CALL FOR CROSSING GAINS SUPPORT THE need for a pedestrian crossing in Canterbury Road where the footpath from Little Burton Farm emerges has been raised several times via Kennington Forum and is now gaining momentum. It has the support of county councillor Andrew Wickham He said: “An extension to the footpath is not going to happen so this is something to consider instead.” Cllr Wickham became involved after Ted Pragnell told a meeting of the Forum that it was agreed 80 years ago to extend the footpath on the Little Burton side of the road but nothing had ever happened. Andy Padgham, KCC traffic engineer, said: “It is a very tricky location for a zebra crossing. There are some possibilities, but we need to show there is sufficient demand for it.” If you support the idea of a crossing please contact Cllr Wickham or Forum chairman Chris Morley. Details in back page information panel.
BIN MEN WILL TAKE PLASTIC THERE could be big changes to rubbish and recycling collections in Kennington. From April, if all goes to plan, plastic, Tetra Pak cartons and cardboard will be collected along with paper, glass and metal. Domestic waste which cannot be recycled or composted is used to produce electricity. No waste will go to landfill. Further details when the contract is finalised by the council in the autumn.
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2 KENNINGTON Community Forum represents the views of people living and working in Kennington and communicates those views to Ashford council and other statutory organisations. It is an independent, voluntary group with its own constitution. THE Forum is led by a Core Group comprising the Chair, Treasurer, Secretary and up to nine other members. It is supported by an officer from Ashford Council. YOU will be very welcome at the Forum’s meetings which are held every two months at St Mary’s Community Centre, Rylands Road.
31 JULY, 7.30pm 25 SEPTEMBER AGM, 7.30pm
Ideas galore for new look at Bockhanger LOCAL residents put forward their views on the future of the heart of Bockhanger at a public consultation. The site includes Bockhanger Library, Bockhanger Community Centre, shops and open space. Over 50 people attended the event and had an opportunity to discuss ideas with officers from Ashford Council, Kent Libraries, and borough and county councillors. Hang 10, the youth service for Ashford, were also on hand to find out views from younger residents. A wide variety of comments were recorded, and views on the appearance of the square ranged from “tired” to “a useful community resource in need of smartening up”. Visitors suggested new activities
IT’S NEVER TOO LATE TO LEARN
which they would be keen to help organise at the Community Centre, from trampolining through football training to theatre. Derek Standing, chair of the Bockhanger Redevelopment Site Steering Group, said: “We were pleased with the constructive feedback and we plan to hold a further event later this year to look in more detail at ideas for improvements to the area.” Derek can be contacted on 01233 639032 or email derekwstanding@ntlworld.com READ ON . . . Bockhanger library welcomes volunteers through its Time2Give scheme. The library is open Mon 2-5pm, Wed 10am-1pm, Fri 2-5pm and Sat 10am-2pm
BOCKHANGER Community Centre U3A — the University of the Third ings, scrabble, bridge, old-time can be hired for many Age — has no exams or degrees. dancing, current affairs discuspurposes including: It is an organisation, largely volsions and book groups. If you wish parties, wedding untary, run by and for people no to find out more you are invited receptions, cultural longer in full time employment. It to a Coffee Morning at St Mary’s events, club and group has more than 250,000 members Community Centre, Rylands Road meetings. Rates: and Kent has dozens of branches. on Tues 14 August from 10.30am Monday to Friday 9am-7pm, Wye and District has more than to 12.30pm. For more details go £7.50 per hour. 100 members, some from Kento www.u3asites.org.uk/wye or Monday to Friday 7pm-11pm, nington. Activities include outcall David Mann on 01233 623051. £11.45 per hour. Saturday & Sunday 9am-11pm, TWO boards £15 per hour dated 1777 For all inquiries please contact which hang Nikki on 07860 169353 in St Mary’s Church, Kennington, are to be restored thanks to a donation of £2,046 from The Friends of St Mary's. The boards detail ancient benefactions to the Parish. THE REV Richard King will be switching his day off from Fridays to Mondays from 14 August.
A disgrace! THE £470,000 paid by Kent County Council to developers to resolve a legal dispute over land earmarked for the Goat Lees primary school is an absolute scandal. Taxpayers will have to foot the bill because of an appalling blunder the authority wanted to hush-up. The huge settlement was only disclosed after a Freedom of Information Act request. The site, off Hurst Road, Kennington, was given to KCC as a developer’s contribution when work began on the Goat Lees estate in 1998 — on condition that work on the primary school started within 12 years. When the deadline passed the land had to be returned to the Goat Lees development consortium. Area education officer David Adams says the authority still does not accept the developer’s claim. Yet KCC decided not to contest a scheduled High Court hearing and agreed to an out-of-court settlement. The long-running dispute also reflects badly on the developers who have cashed in on a project that would benefit the community at a time of constant cut-backs. Both parties should hang their heads in shame. THE EDITOR
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Stop drivers speeding before someone dies
S
OMEONE will be killed soon if steps are not taken to stop speeding and poor parking in Faversham Road, fear residents. They are angry that despite many accidents — three of them serious — no action has been taken by the police or Kent Highways. It was only after the latest accident, when urgent concerns were raised, that traffic experts decided to arrange a site meeting to look at ways of solving the problem. Faversham Road resident Peter Powell said: “When the WI Hall is in use — at any time of the day — cars park from the end of the yellow lines up the road on that side towards Broadhurst Drive. “Traffic coming up the road does not give way to oncoming vehicles, who have precedence, but accelerate to pass parked vehicles. The 30mph speed limit is grossly exceeded, particularly if there is a line of parked cars. “There have been at least three serious incidents in the last two years. The latest was on 5 June when a vehicle coming up the road hit a parked car and overturned. It can only be a matter of time before someone is killed.
“Pavement parking is a real problem. I’ve lost count of the times I have seen elderly people in electric buggies and mothers with pushchairs having to bump into the road to negotiate a route around vehicles.” Mr Powell said if the double lines were extended towards Broadhurst Drive it could reduce the number of accidents, broken mirrors and cars mounting the pavement. He said traffic calming was urgently needed, whether it be islands, speed humps or tabling. Mrs Sandra Blackmore, who lives near Towers School said: “Cars race up and down the road often mounting the pavement because of large oncoming vehicles and not
KCC Highways is considering installing bollards to stop people parking on the grass verges in Faversham Road. Above: While some residents keep the Call for verges outside houses between speed Vicarage Road and Ulley Road checks in good condition, many others Write off: are being used for parking or for vehicle turning and the This grass becomes mud. parked The verges do not belong to Nissan Micra was the properties but are, like the hit by a car lime tree avenue, the responsibility of Kent Highways and having time to slow down. Trying should be an attractive feature to get in and out of our driveway is of that part of Faversham a nightmare and we are often Road. KCC went to some exabused by drivers. County councilpense about three years ago to lor Elizabeth Tweed paid for two reinstate many of the verges. speed indicators, but unfortunateIt is an offence to drive over double yellow lines, cross ly they have no effect at all. “Speeding traffic is having a knock the pavement and park on a verge or park on wider pave-on effect as cyclists use the ment where it exists — outside paths. Parents who drive children to school often park on the kerbs.” the Rose Inn for example.
Cllr Tweed has asked police to carry out speed checks.”
LATE NEWS: KCC traffic engineer Andy Padgham said: “This site is to be looked at as a crash remedial measures issue. This means that there is no need for any finance to be input from county councillors’ highway funds. Any required expenditure will come from the KCC Highways safety budget.”
TIME IS UP FOR ZIG-ZAG PARKERS
County councillor Andrew Wickham is getting a traffic regulation order to enforce the zig-zag lines outside Kennington schools which will outlaw the type of parking seen here. He hopes it will be in force by September. MONEY for good causes and projects is available from borough councillors. Cllr Michael Claughton (Bockhanger) has used part of his £2,750 allowance to give a Jubilee bench to the residents of Gerlach House. Any groups or organisations in need of assistance should contact their ward member. MESSAGES now appear on the call board at New Hayesbank Surgery if appointments are running more than 30 minutes late. Winter flu jab reminders will NOT be sent out this year.
THE LUCKY 7 coffee shop and off-licence in Faversham Road closed after the landlord obtained a High Court Writ of Possession.
Bollards could save verges
INCONSIDERATE drivers are still blocking paths and parking near bends. To report them call 101
SIGNS put up on the green in Grasmere Road were removed after complaints from residents who feared the land was going to be fenced in or developed. The signs were to protect the green from unwanted use, such as travellers moving onto it. An
Ashford council spokesman said: “They would give the council a stronger case if it ever needed to act to prevent misuse. “In no way were they meant to deter people from using the green for walking their dogs or other recreational activities.”
MORE BACK WATER PARK
KENNINGTON JUNIORS won the Large School Shield for the sixth consecutive year at the Ashford and District Primary Schools Olympics. More than 700 youngsters took part in the event at the Julie Rose Stadium. Every competitor was given a commemorative T-shirt. PUPILS were allowed time off school to watch the Olympic torch pass through Ashford. © GRENDEL
MORE than 200 people visited the Conningbrook Lakes exhibition and were able to comment on plans for transforming the site into a country park with water sports, a restaurant and 300 homes. The project was well received with the only concerns being extra traffic and the “S-bend” in Willesborough Road. The Brett Group is expected to submit a planning application in September. If approved, the public could be allowed on part of the land next spring, using facilities at the Julie Rose Stadium. www.conningbrooklakes.info TWO ANGLING clubs at Little Burton have folded and the lake now needs work done to maintain its ecological value. It is hoped help may be available from the Kentish Stour Countryside Partnership, Kent Wildlife Trust, Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust and The Conservation Volunteers.
Six of the best
ELLA BARNES was one of the youngest carriers of the Olympic torch. After her run in Canterbury 12-year-old Ella of Friesian Way, Kennington, said: “It was the best day of my life.”
OUTSTANDING! SURE STEPS Children’s Centre has been judged “Outstanding” by Ofsted inspectors. They said the Kennington centre was very welcoming and children made excellent progress. Free events for under-5s in August include messy play, arts and crafts and a toddler energy session at the centre in Belmont Road and a picnic on Little Burton Farm estate. For more details call 624857. PHOENIX Primary school would welcome volunteers to come in on a regular basis to listen to the children read. If you are able to spare some time please call 01233 622510.
THE WI goes from strength to strength with the gardening, walking and arts group proving particularly popular. On 14 August members visit Eastbourne. Anyone interested in joining the WI is invited to a Taste and Tipple evening on 14 Sept. Details from Ursula Jones LISTEN: AHBS Community Radio broadcasts on 107.1 FM. It is entirely commercial free and is run by volunteers.
FUNDING is available to provide new facilities for young people in Goat Lees to hang out and have fun. Anyone aged 11-19 who wants to be part of a youth project group, which will make decisions about what equipment is installed should contact SallyAnne.logan@ashford.gov.uk or call 01233 330 293.
Information COUNTY COUNCILLORS: Elizabeth Tweed 01233 714689 elizabeth.tweed@kent.gov.uk Andrew Wickham 01233 840902 andrew.wickham@kent.gov.uk BOROUGH COUNCILLORS: Kennington: Phil Sims 01233 627603 philip.sims01@gmail.com Bockhanger: Michael Claughton 01233 635969 michael.claughton@ntlworld.com Bybrook: Andrew Buchanan 01233 627696 andrewjohnbuchanan@hotmail.com Little Burton: Marion Martin 628811 marionmartin168 @btinternet.com Boughton Aluph: Winston Michael 636644 winstonmichael@aol.com NEIGHBOURHOOD POLICE : Kennington: Tom Knight 07772 226032; Little Burton: Fergus Mackay 07772 225992, Bockhanger: Jason Brett 07772 226047. Bybrook: Covered by all of the above. IF NONE IS AVAILABLE DIAL 101 NEW HAYESBANK SURGERY: 624642 KENNINGTON FORUM: Chris Morley, chair, 01233 611196 chris.f.morley@gmail.com Sandra Dunn, secretary 01233 634165 sandradunn@sky.com Kennington News is published quarterly. Editor Robin Britcher 01233 634410 kennington.news@hotmail.co.uk @kenningtonnews
IF YOU have difficulty using or accessing public transport a car service is available. Call Volunteering Ashford on 01233 633219.
Summer Fayre Draw winners 1. Night of Luxury for Two at Eastwell Manor: Owen Wanstall; 2. Day trip to France with P&O Ferries: Emily Walker; 3. B&B at Holiday Inn, Bybrook: Scotts; 4. Picnic Hamper: Barton; 5. Cookery lesson: Chris Twydell; 6. Champagne: Gordon Thrussell; 7. Cricket bat signed by Kent 2012 squad: Ayres; 8. Rimmel make up bag: Kennington Jnrs PTA; 9. His and Hers perfume: Pearson; 10. Simon and Matt Halls voucher: Green; 11. Wine and 10 cans of Stella: Towers Interact; 12. Shepherd Neame tour: Imogene; 13. Cuddly toys: Quested; 14. Cinnamon Spice voucher: J Graham; 15. Football: Crouch; 16. Old Mill voucher: Connelly; 17. Christie’s Hair and Beauty voucher: Heritage; 18. His
and Hers perfume: Smythson; 19. Marino’s Fish Bar voucher: Robin Beresford; 20. Old Mill voucher: Wood; 21. McDonald’s voucher: Peter Newson; 22. Boots gift set: Cunningham; 23. Imagine Play Centre voucher: Sage; 24. Football: Dear; 25. Play tunnel and tent: Burrell; 26. Old Mill voucher: Kennington Jnrs PTA; 27. Giant jigsaw: Handley; 28. Aroma Garden voucher: Curry; 29. Marino’s Fish Bar voucher: Kennington Jnrs PTA; 30. Slow cooker: Pearson; 31. Imagine Play Centre voucher: Pricker-Cook; 32. Kingswood membership: Hyland; 33. Turkish Delight: Chris Morley; 34. Cupcakes voucher: Kennington Jnrs PTA; 35. Fitness First Membership: Kennington Jnrs PTA