Parish News and Announcements

Inter-Parish 6-a-side Football Tournament

A football tournament and Family Fun Day will be held at Kingswood Primary School on Saturday 17 July 2010. Grouped into ages and for under 16s only, no established football teams. For more details and to enter your team, see the website.

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Closure of Kingswood Doctors Surgery

The Surgery in Cayser Drive has had to close recently. Get more details.

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Maidstone Older Persons Forum, 26 March

If you are 55 and over don’t miss the next Older Persons Forum to be held on Friday 26 March, 11am (tea & coffee served from 10.30) at the Hazlitt Theatre, Exchange Studio (entrance in Rose Yard—off Earl Street and High Street).
Get more details. [opens in PDF format in a new page]

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Job Opportunity - Administration Manager in Local Charity

A job advertisement for an Advocacy Administration Manager with CROP (Citizens Rights for Older People) has been placed locally. Details on how to apply are in the attachment: Get more details [opens in PDF format in a new page]

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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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New Toddler Group

There is a session for toddlers on Tuesday morning between 9.00 to 11.00am at Kingswood Primary School. Term-time only. More information from the school on 01622 842674.

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Friends Of Leeds And Broomfield Churches

The Friends of Leeds and Broomfield Churches have published their Annual Report and Newsletter 2009.

Read the Annual Report and Newsletter. [In PDF format, needs a PDF viewer.]

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KCC Family History Research

This new service started November 2009.

Road Sweeping and Litter Picking Schedule 2010

Dates of planned road sweeping and litter picking within the parish have been set for this year. See the planned dates.

Dumped rubbish and litter continues to be a problem in our village and especially along our lanes. Please help to stop this unsightly menace. Go to more information and advice.

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Affordable Housing Development - Hearing on 24th September Result

Maidstone Borough Council Planning Committee approved the Affordable Housing development in Kingswood on 24th September 2009. Go to more details.

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Hedge Cutting

It has been noticed that many hedges in the parish have become overgrown and are causing problems for pedestrians walking along footways. The Parish Council would be very grateful if hedge owners could please cut back their hedges to provide a safe passage for pedestrians. For more information, please click here.

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Guided Walks by Bearsted & Thurnam Society

The Bearsted & Thurnham Society has arranged a series of monthly walks from January to June 2010. These are for any local people to find out about the local parishes and area. If you wish to join in, just turn up ready for the start.

For more detailed information, including contacts and routing, please click here. [Opens as PDF file in new window]

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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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Go for Gold at Leeds Castle - Future Sports Stars Sponsored

Maidstone and area’s potential 2012 athletes will be given an opportunity of a lifetime to gain sponsorship for the London Olympic Games, thanks to the charity that owns Leeds Castle. The Leeds Castle Foundation, has a long tradition of supporting sport. Now the Foundation is going a step further, putting the beauty and glamour of the castle to work in encouraging local and national businesses and sponsors to support the potential stars of the 2012 Olympics – who are all part of Maidstone Borough Council’s project – Maidstone’s Dream.

A dinner, hosted by the Foundation, will be held at the castle on Friday, March 26 from 6.30pm. Expected guests include Lord Moynihan, the Chairman of the British Olympic Committee; Alan Willett, the Lord Lieutenant of Kent; and Hugh Robertson MP, Shadow Minister for the Olympics. The guests and potential sponsors will meet the young athletes and offer support to them as they dedicate their time and effort to training for the most important competition in their careers.

Charity Chief Executive Victoria Wallace, said: “This is a charity dinner with a difference. Our guests will be invited to make pledges of support to athletes, whether in financial terms, or with “in kind” arrangements. We know many organisations want to help young people with a dream, and to get involved with one of the most exciting events ever to take place in London, right on our doorstep. We’d read about the efforts of Maidstone Borough Council to bring business and sports stars together through the ‘Maidstone’s Dream’ project, and decided to sponsor aspiring local archer Jacqui Gould after her inspirational comeback from what could have been a devastating injury to compete at national and international level.

“But we realised we could also play a role in encouraging other organisations and individuals to make a difference to the lives of more of these dedicated young sportsmen and women, by hosting an event at the castle, and bringing everyone together. It’ll be a glittering event, which we hope will lead to a greater chance of gold medal success in 2012.”

Maidstone Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Leisure and Culture, Cllr Brian Moss, said: “We are absolutely delighted to be working with Leeds Castle to help the athletes on the Maidstone’s Dream website. This is a marvellous opportunity for them to gain some sort of sponsorship. Many of them juggle work or school with their training and competitions and if a business can relieve this pressure in any way then they’d be grateful.”

The charity also announced the establishment of a fund for local young athletes to draw on to support their costs of travelling to training events or competitions. Donations can be made through Leeds Castle’s website, or if you would like to support an athlete directly, via the Maidstone’s Dream website.

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KIG Update, November 2009 (Go to the StopKIG website for more detailed information)

At the KIG Public Inquiry held on 10th November 2009, Cllr Beth Hendy, Chairman of Broomfield and Kingswood PC, gave a submission opposing this development. Go to the submission.

[Earlier updates] The Parish Council has written to DEFRA regarding the closure of certain public Rights of Way in Bearsted which are likely to be associated with the planned KIG development. Go to the letter, in PDF format.

The Maidstone Borough Council Planning Meeting to consider the Kent International Gateway development application was held on Thursday 7th May 2009 at The Maidstone Studios, New Cut Road, Grove Green. More information - click here.

A special edition of THE ECHO, Broomfield and Kingswood Parish Council's own newsletter is now out. It has more information about AXA's Planning Application, MA/07/2092, for the Kent International Gateway development.

Please click here to read THE ECHO, click here to see the Poster announcing this and click here to download a PDF version of a postcard with suggested points of objection that you may consider appropriate.

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Maidstone Town Centre Access Map for Disabled People

The latest edition of the Town Centre Guide for Disabled People has hit the streets of Maidstone. The 2009 guide is now available and details access to car parking facilities in the town, including the Mall Chequers, which offers a shop mobility scheme for disabled people, and Fremlin Walk.

The large map shows dropped kerbs, accessible public toilets, disabled parking bays, raised kerbs at bus stops, subways and more. There are also useful contact details for public transport and travel information. It’s a great tool for people with disabilities, as well as those with pushchairs. Maps of Whatman Park and the Maidstone Millennium Park are included, as well as information about facilities and accessibility along the 10km route between Allington and Teston.

The guide is sponsored by Euro Mobility and Maidstone council and is available from Maidstone Town Hall and other council receptions.

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Senior Citizens Outing, Tuesday 8th June 2010

The Senior Citizens’ Outing for 2010 is planned for Tuesday 8th June 2010. A grand River Thames cruise on MV Princess Pocahontas from Gravesend will be laid on. More details in Spring 2010.

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DOG WASTE BAGS

In the interests of keeping our parish clean and free from the very unpleasant issue of dog waste on our streets and at the sports field, bags are provided free of charge by the parish council and can be obtained from Avenue Stores / Post Office in Charlesford Avenue, Kingswood. All you have to do is pop into the shop and ask. 

Please be a considerate and responsible owner / walker and always clear up behind you dog - after all, with free bags at your disposal, there really isn’t any excuse, is there!  Thank you!

View an information poster about dog fouling.

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GYPSY AND TRAVELLER ACCOMMODATION

A meeting was held recently in Maidstone where the needs to provide accomodation spaces to the gypsy and traveller community was discussed. The meeting was prompted by South East England Regional Assembly (SEERA) who reviewed this issue.

For more information and a brief report on the meeting, please click here.

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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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