Parish News and Announcements

[...also see the new Parish Council news page
and the Crime and Information page]

Casual Vacancy for a Parish Councillor

Can you help your local community and Parish Council by serving as a Councillor??  There is one vacancy and your experience is needed! Interested...contact the Parish Clerk or see the formal Notice for more information.

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Emergency Road Closure - Lenham Road, Ulcombe

A road closure is planned for Chartway Street, Broomfield and Kingswood. This road is due to be closed on Saturday 4th February 2012 for approx 2 days to carry out essential carriageway repairs.  The proposed diversion is along Ulcombe Hill, Headcorn Road, A274 Headcorn Road, Chartway Street.

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Scheme To Cut Teenage Pregnancies Goes Mobile

A new mobile phone app has been launched to help the drive to improve sexual health and reduce unplanned teenage pregnancies in Kent. The Kent C Card iPhone app has been designed to give teenagers aged 19 and under the information they need on how and where to get free condoms using their C Card – a successful community-based contraception scheme set up in 2007. Visit www.foryoungpeople.co.uk for more information.

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Debt Advice Service

The services of the Community Centre for Debt Advice in Staplehurst is available to residents in the wider Maidstone area. This centre, staffed by volunteers, offers a free, face-to-face debt advice service with a hands-on approach. See more details .

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Exercise Classes for Older People in Rural Areas

Classes will be aimed at those who have had a fall, or have a fear of falling or have low bone density. The class costs are heavily subsidised to include as many older people as possible. They are run by Brighter Futures who understands how older people can struggle to get to venues, and so have chosen suitable places and aim to have volunteer drivers in place to transport those who need it.

Classes to be held in Staplehurst, Lenham & Coxheath.  Costs are only £3 per hour, transport available if needed.
Please call Brighter Futures for Older People on 01622 677337 or or email danny.hewis@vam-online.org.uk.

For more information, please see the Poster .

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Home Heat Helpline

The Home Heat Helpline campaign has been launched. The main focus of the campaign is to encourage people to call the Helpline if they are worried about paying their energy bills this winter.

The Home Heat Helpline has revealed that one in ten UK households are entitled to some form of assistance with their fuel bills. But many people don’t know what help is available. That help is worth an average of £250 for each household.

The Home Heat Helpline's campaign raises awareness of its free telephone service - 0800 33 66 99, that provides independent advice to people on low incomes on how to get help with their gas and electricity bills, including grants for insulation and new boilers, discount or rebate schemes, and other help with keeping warm. You can also access the service online by visiting www.homeheathelpline.org.uk.

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Help People Help Each Other - A Public Competition

Kent Connects are running a competition for members of the public to come up with ideas on how to improve public services. Do you have an idea on how to make your local area a better place to live using technology? Do you want to win the chance for your idea to be turned into reality and win up to £3000 in prizes?

This competition is to stimulate collaboration between public services, entrepreneurs and communities to develop innovative ways of using technology to improve their neighbourhoods…and we need your ideas!

Here are the two sub-challenges:

1. Help people help each other in your neighbourhood

2. Make it easier for you to report issues to your council

To submit your idea and for a lot more information: Go to http://bit.ly/submityouridea

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Parish On-Line Discussion Forum Launched

Our two lovely villages are a great place to live with a sense of local community and beautiful surroundings.  But have you any ideas, suggestions or simply something on your mind that your want to share with others??  The brand new on-line Message Discussion Forum has been launched and this is how you can give your views.

Thanks primarily to the efforts of Parish Councillor Paul Beaney the Parish has launched a new on-line message discussion forum which is now live.  Simply click on the green ‘Forum’ button above, follow the instructions and away you go – it’s yours to use, have your voice heard, discuss local issues, put forward your own ideas, enjoy, make comment, have a moan, share something that’s good and even get to know other people in the Parish!!

Why not use the Forum to raise awareness of local clubs and organisations that you are involved with - let everyone know what’s going on in and around the neighbourhood. Maybe you might want to advertise forthcoming events and activities, your business, a sports club...etc. Perhaps you’ve had a particularly good service from a local tradesman – plumber, electrician, builder, gardener to name but a few – and would like to recommend them to others.

The list and use is endless so why not get stuck in and start posting your messages today and make sure to tell your friends and neighbours about this great new method of local communication!

Look out for more information in the September edition of the Kingswood and Broomfield News..

(Please note: anyone wishing to post a message must first read these Website Forum Participation Guidelines opening in a new browser window. Then, go to the Message Forum page and share your views with us. You can also comment on what others have written by adding your own message within an existing theme.  All messages are moderated and will not appear in the lists until they have been checked by the Message Centre Administrator.)

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Affordable Housing Opening Ceremony and Time Capsule Burying, Peter Pease Close, Kingswood

Following an initial Housing Needs Survey conducted in 2003 by Action with Communities in Rural Kent in conjunction with the Broomfield and Kingswood Parish Council, on 7th July 2011 eighteen new Affordable Homes at Peter Pease Close, Kingswood, were finally declared open by the Mayor of Maidstone, Cllr Brian Mortimer.

Above: Sir Richard and Lady Ann Pease arrive at Peter Pease Close for the Opening Ceremony
 
Grey skies and showers aside, during a speech given prior to the opening, the Chairman of the Parish Council, Cllr Tom Hoy, welcomed guests, residents and pupils and staff from Kingswood Primary School. Cllr Hoy thanked and paid tribute to the different organisations that had been involved with the project, including Orbit Homes, Jenners Contractors, ACRK, Richard Daniels Associates Architects and Maidstone Borough Council.

Above, left: Chairman of the Parish Council, Cllr Tom Hoy, welcoming guests, residents and pupils and staff from Kingswood Primary School to the ceremony.
Above, right: Sir Richard Pease and the Mayor of Maidstone, Councillor Brian Mortimer, at the burying of the time capsule in Peter Pease Close, prepared by children from Kingswood Primary School.

In particular, Cllr Hoy welcomed Sir Richard and Lady Ann Pease who had made the journey from their home in Gloucestershire to be present at the opening. The couple had spent the night before the ceremony in Leeds Castle’s newly opened hotel and were entertained to dinner at The George, Leeds, by resident and local historian, David Lyne and his wife, Pat.

Above: close-up of the time capsule plaque, courtesy Jenners Contractors

Sir Richard is the brother of Flying Officer (Arthur) Peter Pease, after whom the road is named. Peter, whilst serving with 603 (City of Edinburgh) Squadron based at Hornchurch, was shot down and killed whilst flying his Spitfire over Kingswood on 15th September 1940 having been scrambled to intercept a large formation of enemy aircraft.

Above, left: The Mayor chats with children from Kingswood Primary school at the Opening Ceremony and burying of the time capsule prepared by them.
Above, right: Sir Richard and Lady Pease (left) chat to long-time resident, Mrs Barbara Sands, who witnessed the crash of FO Peter Pease on 15th September 1940. Also shown are residents David Lyne and Mike Till (far right) who have hosted Sir Richard and Lady Pease during their visit to our Parish and tend the memorial site of Peter Pease in the field adjacent to the Village Hall.

Prior to the ceremony Sir Richard and Lady Ann were taken to visit Peter’s memorial in a field adjacent to the Village Hall in Gravelly Bottom Road, by resident Mike Till and with the kind permission of Mr & Mrs Edmed of Street Farm, East Sutton. Mike, who himself formerly served in the RAF, has, with other local residents, tended the memorial for many years Unfortunately, windy weather put paid to the planned surprise fly-over by a Tiger Moth, the type of aircraft Peter would have trained on as a young pilot.

Above: Sir Richard and Lady Pease visit Peter's crash site memorial in the field adjacent to the Village Hall, Gravelly Bottom Road.

Sir Richard expressed the delight of the Pease family in the naming of the road in honour of his brother and that in so doing, Peter’s name and the sacrifice he made will always be remembered.

Also present at the Ceremony was long-time resident of Kingswood, Mrs Barbara Sands. Barbara, as a girl of 10, had witnessed the crash of Peter Pease’s aircraft after it clipped the top of some Oak trees in Gravelly Bottom Road - over 70 years later, Barbara still recalls that day very clearly.

Above: Resident, Barbara Sands and Lady Pease share wartime memories

The Mayor, having declared the homes open then set to work with several of the Primary school children in burying a time capsule prepared for the occasion by them, assisted by Sir Richard, at the entrance to Peter Pease Close. A plaque, provided by Jenners, marks the spot where the time capsule was buried by Kingswood children on 7th July 2011 and commemorates the British Forces struggle in 1940 and in particular, FO Peter Pease.

The more formal part of the proceedings over invited guests joined with the Mayor, Sir Richard and Lady Pease, Barbara Sands and members of the Parish Council, in viewing one of the new homes and enjoying a buffet lunch, again supplied by Jenners.

Parish Clerk, Sue Wotton, said, “It has been a significant and memorable occasion for the community and has taken a long time and a lot of hard work by everyone concerned to have got where we are today. The affordable homes have been designed and built to a very high standard and demand has been high. They are a much needed and valuable asset to the community and will remain in perpetuity for the Parish, for those with a proven connection.”

[All photographs above, courtesy Kingswood Photography Group, except where noted.]

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Kingswood Primary School Community Governor Vacancy

Kingswood Primary School are in need of an additional Community Governor. No previous experience or qualifications required, just an interest in school life, enthusiasm and a desire to help the school meet strategic targets. The school is growing fast and this is an exciting time, so if you can spare a few hours to attend six meetings a year and spend a little time in school we want to hear from you. Full, free training is provided. For further details please contact the school office on 01622 842674 and a member of our Governing Body will contact you.

Families Matter Most Service

Tomorrow’s People provide the Families Matter Most service to all residents in the Maidstone local area. We are based at 5 Park Wood Parade, next door to Fusions HLC.  We have now increased our opening times as follows:

Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday 9.00am – 5.00pm

Local residents have said they would welcome a Job Club and Families Matter Most are delighted to announce that this will now be available. All residents are welcome, we will open our doors week commencing August 8th 2011.  We will provide support with CV’s, application forms, job search, interview skills and preparation. We can provide access to the Internet, job papers, stationary and postage.

Job Club Sessions are held each Tuesday and Thursday 2.00pm – 4.00pm.  No appointment is necessary, just call in and meet with one of our friendly Advisors.

SO WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?……………….Come and have a cuppa. Our doors are always open to anyone who needs support or advice.

Disability Venue Access Information Website

www.DisabledGo.com is an award-winning nationwide website run by disability organisation DisabledGo. It is free to use and covers a huge range of venues across the UK and Ireland, including cinemas, hotels, hospitals, colleges, sports grounds, restaurants, dentists, tourist attractions - the list goes on and on. The service has been developed in constant consultation with disabled people.

DisabledGo-Maidstone for our local area is due to be updated shortly, bringing the opportunity for users to suggest new venues to be featured.  Launched in March 2009 and funded by Maidstone Borough Council the guide features around 700 venues across the Borough. The guide is kept up to date through an annual review where all changes to a venue’s physical access will be checked by a DisabledGo surveyor to ensure the information stays as up to date, useful and reliable as it possibly can be.

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Kent Trading Standards - Alert Information

The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) is warning people to steer clear of scam loan companies who take upfront fees but fail to provide credit or offer clearly unsuitable credit alternatives.

The OFT is alerting consumers after seeing a 50% year-on-year rise since 2009 in complaints about loan scams, particularly credit applications which involve the consumer 'wiring' or sending upfront fees through money transfer companies. People should be vigilant when dealing with or taking calls from loan companies that want upfront fees and who are not interested in consumers' credit history.

The OFT's “do’s and don'ts” to help consumers spot scam loan companies are:

Do:

• Do be very careful when dealing with loan companies that charge upfront fees
• Do be cautious if a loan company cold-calls you
• Do some research about the business offering the loan - look for proper phone numbers and physical addresses and ask for information in writing
• Do check that the company has a credit licence on the Consumer Credit Register at www.oft.gov.uk/ConsumerCreditRegister

Don't:

• Don't believe adverts which indicate a loan is 'guaranteed'
• Don't give out your card details 'for security reasons' as the company may then debit your bank account without you knowing
• Don't wire money to loan companies using money transfer services when applying for loans
• Don't go ahead with a loan if a company approves it and then demands a fee before you get the money.

David Fisher, OFT Director of the Consumer Credit Group said: 'We have seen an increase in complaints about companies who are not interested in the applicant's credit history, that ask for payment of fees upfront and then disappear with the money.

'We advise people to check out the company carefully before agreeing to anything, including asking for a landline number, a physical address and doing a search about the company online, as well as checking that they have a valid credit licence. If consumers think they have been approached or tricked by an advance-fee loan scam, they should report it to Consumer Direct.'

For advice on loan scams or any other consumer issues call Consumer Direct on 0808 156 2256 or visit www.direct.gov.uk/consumer. Free, confidential debt advice services are available for those facing financial difficulties through their local Citizens Advice Bureau by visiting www.citizensadvice.co.uk.

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Home Safety Alarm Lifeline Service

You may be aware of the restructuring of Supporting People funded services in Kent. Some older or more vulnerable people may no longer qualify for wellbeing calls or visits they are accustomed to and this may leave them feeling insecure or isolated. Golding Homes Lifeline Service is expanding its service area around the Maidstone area, bringing the security of a social alarm to many more people.

The units are easily fitted through a landline facility and offer immediate access to help in a crisis. A pendant can be worn around the neck or on the wrist which, when pressed, activates the unit to dial the telecare centre. Calls are answered within one minute by an operator who will have access to information about the caller, including responders and medical information. Units are available to victims of domestic violence and young carers where reassurance of rapid support can be offered.

To introduce the new areas to the Golding Lifeline service, and for a period of three months, installation of units will be free, saving the customer, £32.00 (installation costs apply for short term or holiday contracts). The monthly payment for the service and rental of the equipment is £14.02.

Arranging installation is simple. Just call 01622-212711 or email susan.marshall@goldinghomes.org.uk to make an appointment. Usually this can be done within two or three days, however if necessary, fitting can be done within 24 hours.

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Kent Health Watch

Kent Health Watch is a 24 hour a day response line which is open 365 days a year on 08458 247 103.

There is always a person at the end of the line to listen to complaints or compliments on health and social care.  Kent Heatlt Watch are particularly keen to tell you about this service now when increased numbers of Kent residents are using their local health services for illnesses such flu. Please visit the website at www.kent.gov.uk/healthwatch

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Your Village Hall Needs You!

The Kingswood Village Hall Committee is looking for volunteers to take on executive positions, particularly a Secretary is urgently needed. If you are interested in giving a little of your time and expertise to help the Hall Committee, please contact Mrs C Jenkins on 01622 842327.

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Volunteering Opportunities Throughout Kent

Are you, or do you know someone who is interested in volunteering but cannot commit long term? If so then the Kent Event Team could give you the opportunity.  Read more details. [A PDF file opening in a Reader in a new browser window.]

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FROM THE CLERGY TEAM, February 2012
 
As I write, Christmas has been and gone – I hope you all had a joyful, peaceful time. It was wonderful to see our churches full at most of the special services we provided and particularly on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

We now have the season of Lent ahead of us and this of course starts with Ash Wednesday on 22nd February and there will be a service in Hollingbourne church at 10.00 am. Lent always brings a slight glimmer of hope on the horizon – the days start to get a little longer and the nights a little shorter. It is a season to prepare ourselves for the most important season of the Christian calendar – Easter.

Lent for some is still a season to be rather quiet and reflective and traditionally this has meant that we are the exact opposite of what Easter is. I always tell the children in our schools that this doesn’t mean we have to go around during Lent with a ‘glum’ face – but we do have to remember and ‘re-tell’ the narrative of Christ’s Passion. But we can do this in a positive way and look at our own lives and revisit what it means to be a disciple of Jesus and how we put that into our daily lives.

I hope that many of you will be able to join our Benefice Away Day on Saturday 11th February at Leeds Castle. Robin wrote about this last month and we are very pleased to welcome Ted Harrison (professional broadcaster and journalist) as our speaker. If you haven’t yet told me you are coming to our Away Day or would like further details – please phone me. I hope that we are able to use Lent as a time to explore our Christian faith at a deeper level and that this will enable us to look forward to a joyful celebration of the Resurrection at Easter.

  
Nigel

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Advocacy Volunteers Needed

Rethink (an Advocacy Service in the Maidstone area provides independent, free and confidential support to those who experience mental ill health) are in need of volunteer advocates. Advocates offer a vital service to people in the community with mental health problems. They listen to the mental health service user, offer support and information and aim to reach the desired outcome. Training is provided. For contact details please see the advocacy flyer. [Opens in PDF format in a new page]

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KCC Family History Research

This new service started November 2009.

Community Responder Team Based at Leeds Castle

A community responder team has been launched at Leeds Castle in partnership with South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS Trust. Please click here for more information.

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MVB Maidstone Seeks Volunteer Drivers

Not working? Any spare days in the week? At a loose end? Want something worthwhile on your cv? Perhaps you can help us?

The MVB volunteer transport scheme, which helps the elderly and disabled get to hospital appointments etc, is short of drivers at the moment! For more information and contact details, please click here.

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