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Youth club aiming to aract more members


BEARSTED Parish Council Youth Club is to launch a recruitment drive. want to do.


The Villager Play scheme


expansion PARENTS of children who at- tended the summer playscheme are to be asked if they would like it ex- tended.


The parish council heard the two-


week scheme, which drew up to 100 children each day, could be ex- panded to three weeks, but only if the supervisor Amanda Franklin was willing to run it and comply with Ofsted regulations. A two-week scheme is not subject to Ofsted inspections, but a three- week scheme would be, members heard, which would also mean greater expense in hiring staff and getting them DBS checked. Maidstone Council had been


overwhelmed with requests for fi- nancial support for playschemes this year and Bearsted had been un- successful, the council was told, al- though Downswood Parish Council had contributed £125 for children attending from its area. Cllr Mike Cumin suggested users be asked if they would like to see the scheme extended and then see if it would be feasible.


The club, which meets in Madg- inford Hall on Wednesday evenings from 7 to 9pm, has suf- fered from diminishing numbers – partly blamed on the lighter sum- mer evenings – although an ex- ploratory open evening with year six pupils at Madginford Primary School had proved quite success- ful, the parish council heard. Cllr Geoff Licence, who runs the


youth club with his wife Wendy and community warden Adam McKinley, said the club had proved very successful in support- ing two young people with learn- ing difficulties under the Me Too project with Young Kent and the


Drivers asked for


consideration RESIDENTS in Sutton Street are being asked to exercise care when parking in the lane. With increasing numbers of cars passing along this narrow lane and a limited number of passing places, inconsiderate parking can not only be problematic but dangerous, ac- cording to community warden Adam McKinley.


Adam is appealing to all resi- dents of – and visitors to – proper- ties in Sutton Street to think twice before they park, with particular at- tention to visibility in and out of the entrance to Roundwell.


club was looking at new activities that would help to increase num- bers.


Members heard a youth club at Holy Cross had significantly more members but was designed for younger children, while the parish council youth club is for young people attending secondary school or college, aged between 11 and 18. Meetings are informal, with an opportunity to play pool, table ten- nis, Wii, X Box and board games. There are also occasional quiz nights, trips out and outdoor sports in the summer term. Other activities can be arranged, depend- ing on demand and what members


The cost is £1.20 per night, which includes refreshments.


Cllr Tim Licence said he agreed that the club was not well sup- ported at present but said: “We should get behind it. It is very im- portant to provide a youth club in the village and we should be en- couraging it.”


The club is run by trained and


vetted voluntary youth workers to- gether with the community war- den.


For further details phone the parish office on 01622 630165 or Geoff Licence on 01622 739324.


Fireworks


tickets on sale THE skies are set to sparkle over Bearsted with plans well underway for the council’s firework fiesta. The fun will take place on the Elizabeth Harvie Field on Saturday November 1, with gates opening at 6pm in readiness for the bonfire and firework display at 7.30pm. Bearsted Scouts will once again be manning the barbecue and re- freshments so visitors are advised to arrive early to get a taste of the action.


Council vacancies


Illegal parkers not covered by insurance Sports day withstands rain


RAIN failed to stop play at Bearsted’s annual sports and activities day. A few children turned out between the downpours and braved the activities organised by community warden Adam McKinley. Unfor- tunately, the weather meant it was unsafe for the bouncy castle to be inflated and many of the stallholders failed to appear.


DRIVERS who park irresponsibly on pavements might not fear the long arm of the law, but they could invalidate their insurance. Following a meeting of the Maid- stone Rural Neighbourhood Police and Parish Council Forum Cllr Alan Rowe told members of the council that poor parking, particu- larly around schools, was a major issue in Bearsted.


Cllr Les Ethridge remarked: “We


have more problems with danger- ous parking than crime in this vil- lage.”


Whilst members accepted that police did not have the resources to check illegally-parked vehicles, Cllr Rowe advised drivers were still putting themselves at risk. He said: “If there is an accident and a car is parked illegally, the


This page is sponsored and edited by:


Bearsted Parish Council www.bearstedparishcouncil.gov.uk


36 Maidstone East October 2014


THERE are two more vacancies on Bearsted Parish Council. Cllrs Trevor Smith and Bernard


Carine (pictured) have resigned and anyone who wishes to apply for co-option to the council should contact the clerk.


driver will find he or she is not cov- ered by insurance and will not only have to foot the bill for the damage to their own vehicle, but to any other vehicles involved and to per- sons injured. They could lose tens of thousands of pounds, their house – everything. “If people were more aware of that, they might think twice when they park their cars.”


The firework display is being put on by a professional company and the pyrotechnics are among the best around at this time of year. Tickets are on sale at the same price as last year from www.we- gottickets.com. They will also be available from local schools and some village shops. A family ticket, which costs £15, admits two adults and two children aged 5-16 or one adult and three children. Tickets are £6 for adults and £4 for children aged 5 to 16 Under 16s must be accompanied by an adult and children aged four and under are admitted free. Pre- booking saves £1 per ticket. Entry to the field will be via Cross Keys or Church Lane. Visi- tors are advised to bring a torch but not their cars, as the Church Landway car park will be closed, except for pre-booked disabled drivers.


Council Office: Madginford Hall, Bearsted Telephone: E-Mail:


01622 630165 Chairman:


clerk@bearstedparishcouncil.gov.uk Richard Ash


MEETINGS HELD SECOND TUESDAY OFMONTH (7.30PM) AND THE PUBLIC IS VERY WELCOME


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