Government guidelines were suggesting that ‘larger parishes would best suit the needs of the area’. Our parish councillors and the staff in the parish office provide a wide variety of services and support to the village of Otford, and I for one think that it would be a great shame if in the name of ‘progress’ this function was to be centralised. Some of us may not be aware of the wide range of services Otford Parish Council offer, here are a few examples:-


Maintain the churchyard and additional burial ground, the pond, the recreation ground and its toilets, palace approach, palace field and the chalkpit. Comment on planning applications, liaise with Kent Highways to maintain our roads, help set up Speedwatch to reduce traffic speeds. Plant trees and seek funding for a new children’s playground at Hale Lane recreation ground. Provide an environment for our community warden to meet with residents and discuss any concerns. Provide a monthly Citizens Advice surgery. They also produce a monthly parish newsletter providing details of meetings for the many societies and clubs that are active in our village, an essential aid for any Otfordian’s social calendar.


If like me you like living in a vibrant village community with its own parish council and office and want to conserve the local provision of these services then maybe you would like to make your views on this matter known.


If you have any views on merging or grouping parishes, altering parish boundaries or potential changes to parish names you can contact Ian Bigwood, Electoral Services Manager, Sevenoaks District Council, Council Offices, Argyle Road, Sevenoaks, TN13 1HG. Or, email selreg@sevenoaks.gov.uk.


Andrea Kelly Otford Society Committee Member


29 March 23 April 27 April 4 June 5 June


23 June 7 July


Otford Society AGM St George’s Day Lunch Quiz Night Tea Rooms Annual Village Fete


Dates for your Diary 8pm


Memorial Hall


12.30pm Woodman Pub 7.30pm Hospice of Hope Theme Olympics


Queen’s Diamond Jubilee St Bartholomew’s Fair


Otford Society Garden Party 2pm Castle House Broughton Manor


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Retired Single Next Otford Society Newsletter – June 2012 Chairman: Tony Wiltshire 524887, 111 Evelyn Road, TN14 5PU


Newsletter Editor: Carol Griffiths 523140, 11 The Old Walk TN14 5PP Newsletter Distribution: Elisabeth Lindsay 534604 Membership Secretary: Vincent Tilley 522491


Web: www.otford.info/otfordsociety E-mail: otfordsociety@otford.net Printed by Silver Pines Services Sevenoaks


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