Town Talk


TEACHERS, staff and parents who blocked the road at the en- trance of a school as a safety measure to prevent motorists driving to the school gates have won their campaign. Town Talk highlighted the prob-


lem at the Church of England Pri- mary School, in Roberts Road, Snodland, in February. Although there is a car park at


the community centre at the Pad- dlesworth Road entrance to the school, parents and carers con- tinued to drop off their children at the main entrance in Roberts Road causing concern about the safety for children and adults walking to the school. The human barrier outside the school gate at the start and end of the school day was advised by thepolicetomovetothe pave- ment, but achieved its aim. Holley Blount, the school’s act- ing head teacher, said: “We feel


Hose pipe ban


hits town flowers THE popular hanging bas- kets, which have been pro- vided by Snodland Chamber of Commerce around the town since 1999, will not ap- pear this year due to the hosepipe ban. Alan Totham, chairman of


the chamber, explained: “With most of the Midlands and southern half of the country under a hosepipe ban, the Snodland Chamber of Com- merce felt it only right that we did not put up our normal hanging baskets this year. “We do thank those who


have commented on their ap- preciation of the displays along the High Street in past years. I am sure that people will miss them being there again, but will acknowledge the decision not to proceed this year. “Drought problems permit-


ting, we will look to reinstate them for 2013.”


Homes on nursery site A FORMER play group has been


earmarked for two houses. Poppets Montessori day nurs-


ery at 130 Malling Road, Snod- land, closed in 2010. Rodic Davidson Architects have ap- plied to Tonbridge and Malling Council for permission for a change of use of the site.


SNODLAND Short Mat Bowls Club, which is now in its 25th year, has donated £805 to the Heart of Kent Hospice. Twenty-four teams of triples


from all over Kent and Sussex took part in the competition when the cheque was presented to the hospice’s representative, Katrina Farrell, by the club’s


Local news for Snodland and Halling School blockade makes parkers think again


Parents and teachers block the school entrance to stop motorists driving through


like we have achieved so much. “No cars have tried to drive up


thereorparkthere. Manypar- ents stood with us on the pave-


ment in support. As there are no cars at the end of the road, it now means that parents and children have a safe place to stand. It’s


been brilliant and it’s not only down to those who are support- ing us, but also to those parents who are now parking elsewhere.”


Jubilee concert hits royal note


THE first event in the pro- gramme of the Queen’s Dia- mond Jubilee celebrations in Snodland was a concert called Queens of England in Christ Church, Malling Road. KyokoMurai (soprano), Nicola Semple (mezzo soprano) and Richard Smith (bass), who have all performed in the town before, and the directors were Andrew and Brenda Ashbee. Most of themusic, about coro- nations, was very special and is rarely sung in public. Brenda raised a laugh from the audience when she said she was going to invite theQueen, but what would she have done if the Queen had turned up?


Donation to cancer research


Halling Active Retirement Association (HALARA) has presented a cheque for £1,000 to the Mid Kent Breast Cancer Research Ap- peal. Peter Jones, a senior consultant breast surgeon at Maidstone


and Somerfield hospitals, is pictured receiving the cheque from Pat Hubbard, a major fund-raiser. Mr Jones said he set up the charity with his wife, who is also a surgeon, in the 1990s. Unlike the big charities, where so much goes on expenses, every penny raised goes directly to patient care. He said hundreds of thousands of pounds had been raised


over the years and “this fantastic contribution, which is a big sum of money for which we are grateful” would be used towards a biopsy machine, the first in England.


Bowlers’ annual competition boosts hospice funds


chairman, Kath Bradley, and president, Don Cribben. Don said: “The winning team


was Tunbury ‘B’ and I would like to thank everybody who en- tered the competition and all the helpers on the day.” The late Claude Jefferys founded the club in 1987, and hiswife, Shona, is still treasurer.


The club holds a charity day


every year and has helped Snod- land Church, community centre and medical practice, the Royal National Lifeboat Institute, Hear- ing Dogs for the Deaf, Demelza House and other charities. It has now joined a summer league and club members enjoy bowling holidays every year.


No change on town council


EVERYTHING looks very familiar on Snodland Town Council after its annual meeting. Anne Moloney was re-elected chairman and Peter Misy vice- chairman. Chairmen of the main commit-


tees were re-elected: Dave Kee- ley (amenities and recreation); David Purll (planning and envi- ronment) and Debbie Alford- Smith (policy and resources). At the earlier annual town meeting, a presentation was given by Ian Paterson, commu- nity rail project officer, on the Medway Valley Rail partnership.


Charity golf date WE HAVE been asked to explain that in the last issue of Town Talk, a cheque for £600 donated by Snodland Working Men’s Club to the Firemen’s Benevo- lent Fund in memory of club trustee, Tom Perkins, a retired firefighter, was raised by mem- bers and friends at a golf day at Southern Valley Golf Club.


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