Snowy Otford As I write the village is labouring under a coating of snow, ice and frost. Kent Highways have fulfilled their regular programme of gritting on main routes and hills, and the District Council workers have treated areas near the High Street shops. The amount and frequency of the snowfalls required 12-hour shifts and 24-hour use of many of the vehicles. The parish council received a small supply of salt/grit just in time to treat the most important parts of the car park and we asked County Highways to treat other parts of Otford that were badly affected.


There is a page on the website: "Directgov", dealing with householders clearing snow


and ice from pavements that states, "There's no law stopping you from clearing snow and ice on the pavement outside your home or from public spaces. It's unlikely you'll be sued or held legally responsible for any injuries on the path if you have cleared it carefully. Follow the snow code when clearing snow and ice safely", and then gives the snow code.


It also makes the point:"don’t use the salt found in salting bins - this will be needed to keep the roads clear". And it is put in strategic places for council worker use. JGA


I hope you all had an enjoyable Christmas and hope that you have a happy and healthy 2011.


DISCTRICT COUNCIL NEWS Telephone: 01732 227000 www.sevenoaks.gov.uk


Cllr.Lowe@sevenoaks.gov.uk


As you know 2011 is going to be hard year for the District Council as we start making some very severe cuts. This is very difficult for me personally as I did not seek to be a councillor to start slashing our services. But there is no money so we have no choice. One of the areas that we are going to have to cut is the minibus service for the elderly where our drivers take people to day clubs and shopping. If it were not for this service many of these people would not be able to leave their homes. However, the service costs the District Council £300,000 a year (a very large sum per person), and in this present climate we have no choice but to disband the service.


I am delighted to report that many voluntary organisations have approached the


council to see if they can pick up the slack - so we are more than hopeful that although the Council won't be running the service, our elderly people will still be able to get out and about and that is the most important thing, and a big relief to all concerned.


Local planning matters that I would like to bring to your attention include the


Hopgarden Farm, Telston Lane appeal which was postponed from 8 December due to the snow and will be rescheduled soon. Very disappointingly we lost both appeals for extra development at the Mayola site on Station Road. I really do feel that this is a setback for the village as back garden grabbing is bad enough, but this case involved front garden grabbing. However I will continue to do my best to fight these unwanted developments so that we can keep Otford as the beautiful and desirable village that it is today.


With best wishes, Michelle 14


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