Call to umpires CRICKET fans whowant a slice of the action without taking their turn at the crease can get involved with Bearsted Cricket Club next season. The club is looking for more umpires and scorers to help with their various teams. A knowledge of the game is clearly essential, but no umpir- ing qualifications are needed, as the club will pay for suc- cessful applicants to go on an appropriate course. One of the club’s umpires has
left and one or more replace- ments are needed, while a number of scorers are needed to help on either Saturday or Sun- dayafternoons–orboth–in the summer. Although the cricket season doesn’t start until next April, umpiring courses take place in the winter months, so anyone who would like to learn a new skill and make new sporting chums should contact club sec- retary Steve Pearce as soon as possible. Email stephenand-
katie@btinternet.com or call 01622 297626
St Mary’s meeting THE future of St Mary’s Church in Thurnham will be discussed at a public meeting at the Tudor Park Hotel. The event, which will be attended by representa- tives of the church and the parish council, is at 7.30pm on Wednesday, December 5.
‘Old guard’ should quit
THE former chairman of Bearsted Parish Council has called for the “old guard” to step down in the interests of the village. Paul Young, who resigned
from the council earlier this year, claims the council is look- ing backwards instead of for- wards, and failing to represent a cross section of the community. Mr Young (pictured) said: “There is an ‘old guard’ of coun- cillors, resistant to change and only interested in maintaining the ‘status quo’. “I tried unsuccessfully to
move the council forward into the modern day, to get things done pro-actively and to im- prove the council’s finances so that it was not overly reliant on Bearsted taxpayers’ money. “Sadly, the old guard spends
more time looking at the past than getting things done in the present.” Mr Young said he left the council because of the constant negativity and criticism he en- countered from senior council- lors and members of the community. One example he gave was the steering group for a long-term plan – an idea mooted by Mr Young in March, but handed over to Cllr Geoff Licence to pursue. “Cllr Licence has been running it for seven months and
tilecompany
Visit our showroom for an extensive range of beautiful tiles
Mosaics Porcelain Ceramic
Natural Stone Glass
tiles and splashbacks
Showroom at... 32-34 Union Street, Maidstone Kent ME14 1ED
Tel: 01622 683375
info@ceramictileagency.co.uk
www.ceramictileagency.co.uk 16 East Visit Downs Mail’s website —
downsmail.co.uk
spite the proposed cuts from Maidstone Borough Council. He said: “My biggest worry is
that the present council will go back to the days of achieving nothingwhilst increasing coun- cil tax at the same time. “Bearsted residents need to
has not moved it forward at all,” said Mr Young. He expressed further concern
that the council could increase the precept without offering a better service. He said: “The parish council
is failing to get simple things done around the village – like the overgrown footpaths,which I asked Cllr Richard Ash to ad- dress in June 2012. “It appears that it was left to
local residents to clear the foot- path behind Hampson Way, while the free trees planted around the church car park by volunteers are most probably dead, due to lack of mainte- nance.”
Following a decrease in the precept in 2012, Mr Young said he worked hard to agree a budget for 2012/2013, which would leave the council in surplus, de-
keep a close eye on this in the coming months to see what the council intends to do with our council tax next year. “The only solution to the council's current problems is for the old guard to step down and let a new generation of younger, pro-active people take over and start to move the council for- ward for the benefit of the peo- ple of Bearsted.” Cllr Richard Ash, chairman of
the parish council, said: “I would welcome sitting down with Mr Young and telling him what has been achieved since I took over as chairman on May 8, 2012.
“Perhaps we could also take a
walk around the parish to see what is being done and what is planned. Most of what Mr Young says is rhetoric. Perhaps if we can have a meeting he could put some facts on the table to back up what he says. “At the Novembermeeting we
will be welcoming three new councillors, which just leaves one vacancy, which can be filled by co-option.”
Supporting Preserving the emotional wellbeing of children in hospital
Presents; Santa’s Grotto at
1st Floor, The Cornerhouse, The Square, Lenham, Kent, ME17 2PQ
Tickets £8
£1.50 of every ticket sold will be donated to Emilia’s Little Heart
Pre booked tickets only Grotto opening times:
Every Saturday throughout December at 10am-12pm, 12.30-2.30pm & 3-5pm
To book your tickets please call Santa’s helper Amanda on 01622 297375 or 07825 718645 or pop into
Amanda’s Party Place in Lenham!
the
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56