Town Talk More parking


spaces planned HOLBOROUGHLakes developer Berkeley Homes has pledged to provide more visitor car parking bays on the estate where the shortage of spaces has been a bone of contention for several years. The company has submitted amended details to Tonbridge and Malling Council for phases 12 and 13 of the Snodland develop- ment,which have received outline approval for 55 homes. Residents had objected to pro- posals which would have meant the loss of 16 spaces following the removal of a visitor’s car park and three spaces in Poynder Drive. They also expressed concern that too few spaces were being pro- vided for the new homes. But planning officials said the proposed 99 spaces, including garages, exceeded the original planning permission for 1.5 per dwelling. Following negotiations with officers, the firm agreed to add 11 visitor spaces, equating to 0.2 per unit. It had since written to the coun-


cil, confirming its intention to pro- vide more visitor bays throughout the site, although this was not part of the current application. The houses were designed to


bridge the existing “New Eng- land” and “Kent” styles on neigh- bouring areas of the development.


Soccer mums take to pitch


THE popular Coffee and Chat group run by the Beat Project has started the new year with a new co-ordinator. The Beat Project sets up and facilitates a wide range of initia- tives based around music and the creative arts. Started in Snod- land in 2008, it helps young peo- ple build self-esteem and self confidence. Laura Bailey succeeds Nicky Delacey, who started the Coffee and Chat group in Snodland Working Men’s Club last year and has been involved in a num- ber of activities in the town. Laura, who lives in East Malling, ran a Heritage Lottery project in Sittingbourne until De- cember. She knew about the work of the Beat Project, which has its head office in Sitting- bourne. She has a background in


music and photography and worked at the O2 setting up a musicmuseum about the history of British popular music. The Coffee and Chat group at-


tracts about 40 people per ses- sion, from mums and toddlers to children and adults with learning difficulties, vulnerable people, NEETS (Not in Education, Em- ployment or Training) and pen- sioners. Laura said everybody is wel-


Local news for Snodland and Halling Laura will keep the Beat going


Laura Bailey is welcomed to Coffee and Chat by volunteer helper Wayne Mallard


come. There will be help, advice and support for people who need it, cookery, music, singing and fun. “It is what people want to do,”


she added. The Beat Project is a charity supported by Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council, Smur- fit Kappa Townsend Hook and the Snodland Partnership. Mark Raymond, the council’s corporate services manager, said: “The borough council is pleasedtowelcome LauraBailey as the Beat Project’s new repre-


sentative for Snodland. “Laura replaces Nicky Delacey


and will be taking forward many of the excellent projects and ini- tiatives that Nicky has developed for the town over the past couple of years. “We wish Nicky well in her new


job with TBG Learning, a com- pany undertaking work to sup- port young people and families in the area.” The sessions at the club in Hol- borough Road are from 11.30am to 2.30pm everyWednesday dur- ing the school term.


MUMS are being invited to take part in a 5-a-side football event as part of Snodland Town Football Club’s penalty shootout competition – a major fund-raiser for the club. It is being held on May 18 at


the Church of England primary school, where many of the Snodland Nomads games are played and is being followed by the presentation night in the community centre. Jason Cook, one of the or- ganisers, said all the young- sters have sponsorship forms and, along with their parents, have a lot of fun. Last year 6,000 penalty kicks


were taken. This year, Jason thought that getting the mums playing football would add to the occasion. At the presentation evening


all the youngsters are pre- sented with a trophy and there are other awards for man- agers’ players, players’ play- ers, Nomads and sponsors’ trophies


Carnival date set SNODLAND Carnival will be


held on July 6. Details are available from the town coun- cil offices atWaghorn Road or telephone 01634 240228.


Andy Dodds with the successful youngsters at the Fighting Chance judo project Teens in with a Fighting Chance


SIX youngsters won yellow belts in the first Fighting Chance Judo Project held in Snodland.


They completed the 12-week course under coach Andy Dodds, and have been invited back to help the participants in the next course. The aim of Fighting Chance is


to reduce anti-social behaviour through the spirit of judo. It is or- ganised by Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council, Kent Police and the Kent Integrated Youth Service, with funding from the Kent People’s Trust and Kent Fire and Rescue Service. Trust director, Bryn Price, told Town Talk the programme was


aimed at youngsters on the verge of being excluded from school. “The aim is to use a sport like


judo to encourage kids to learn anger management and self discipline,” he said. “Andy Dodds is the best in the


area for working with kids. We started with 12, but the change in the young people who have stayed has been really great.” The sport also helps young-


sters who lack confidence or have been the victims of bullying. PCSOKim Bashford said: “The course has been really success- ful and has affected the children in a good way. It has boosted


their confidence and they feel better about themselves.” Alison Finch, the borough council’s Safer and Stronger Communities manager, explained that sport is an effective way of breaking down barriers and con- necting with young people. “This course has not only suc- ceeded in that, but it has also given these young people the opportunity to learn a new skill that, otherwise, might not have been available to them.” The next course was due to


start as Town Talk went to press. Formore information, call Alison on 01732 876247 or email csp@tmbc.gov.uk.


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