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West Malling Parish Council Southern Gas Networks (SGN) returned to complete replacement of the gas main in the High Street. Although the work was scheduled over a three-week period, the contractors were able to complete the upgrade in well under two, finally restoring the traffic flow to the High Street and Swan Street on August 6. Parish councillors liaised with the contractors on a daily basis and found them very helpful and quick to amend discrepancies, such as missing signs.


Local flood risk strategy The parish council is involved in managing a wide variety of local issues including flooding problems. Councillors, with their extensive and personal knowledge of the area, can often provide historic details on events as well as signposting areas that have repeat drainage problems when adverse weather occurs. KCC has been tasked with drawing up a Flood Risk Management Strategy to identify the threat from surface and ground waters as well as rivers, streams and ditches etc. While WMPC has already responded to the consultation on the strategy, councillors would welcome any observations, particularly where old streams and ponds have “disappeared” which could lead to flooding in the future.


Maceys Meadow As part of their work with the Kent Orchards for Everyone Project, the volunteers at Maceys Meadow are running an Applefest on Saturday, October 3. This will include an opportunity to taste freshly pressed apple juice as well as learning about the way the meadow is being run and conserved as part of West Malling’s history. Other events are being planned, including a Wassail Walk in the New Year as well as occasional wildlife surveys (this year’s Bat Watch and moth spotting survey in July were both very successful). Please check out the Kent Orchards Project website to see what kind of work is already being done in the county as well as in Maceys Meadow.


Vandalism There has been a noticeable increase in wanton damage and destruction in several areas of the parish since the middle of July. To date there has been substantial damage to the tennis court and the village hall, the ball park between the


Call in for a cuppa THE St James Centre and Café have


undergone some exciting changes and now have new names too.


They are now known as the East Malling Centre and the Centre Café and lots of fun events are being lined up. Here are some must-do dates for your diary.


Friday, October 23: Fiddle and Faff. LOCAL CONTACTS


Trudy Dean, Malling Action Partnership Chairman E: trudy.dean@kent.gov.uk T: 01732 843 119


Citizens Advice Bureau – T: 01732 440488


Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council main switchboard – T: 01732 844522


Travel Enquiries


Trains – T: 08457 484950


Nu-Venture Buses – T: 01622 882288


Arriva Buses – T: 0871 200 22 33


Pothole reporting – T: 08458 247800


Police – non-emergency T: 101


www.malling.org.uk


school and cricket ground and, most shockingly, to some of the trees in Macey’s Meadow. The parish council is facing a repair and replacement bill of more than £5,500 and some of these facilities may have to be temporarily suspended while the refurbishment is done.


What can you do to help? If you notice anything unusual - something or someone that makes you look twice or simply doesn’t feel right, remember that you can call the police on 101. This is the non-emergency service, although if the call handler at Maidstone Force Control considers the matter to be urgent, they will upgrade the call.


By using 101 to report an “incident”, you can discuss the situation and help to improve community safety. Please note that you can request that the police do not visit your home but they do like to contact you at some point to update you, so please be prepared to disclose your phone number. And the good news is that calls to 101 (from both landlines and mobile networks) cost 15 pence per call, no matter what time of day or how long you are on the phone.


The Crime, Rural Advisory Group (CRAG) has commissioned the Country Eye phone app to help residents report information on crime in the countryside. The app can be used to log reports for a number of incidents in the countryside, ranging from theft (vehicles, metals and cables, livestock); crime (arson, fly-tipping), animal and wildlife crime (poaching, and animal welfare) as well as heritage crime from off-roading, metal detecting and nighthawking (where artefacts are stolen from protected sites under the cover of darkness). The app can be downloaded from the usual sources by searching “Country Eye”.


A note for your diary The West Malling Christmas Lights will be shining brightly from November 29.


Finally Please note that parish councillors can be contacted via the parish clerk on 01732 870872 during office hours. Or why not come to one of the monthly meetings in the village hall in Norman Road? Full details are available from the parish clerk’s office.


7pm for 7.30pm start. Food-jackets and chilli. £10 per ticket


Friday, November 20: Bowjolie. 7pm for 7.30pm start. Food – Vanessa’s special ploughman’s. £10 per ticket.


Sunday, January 31: String Theory. 2.30pm for 3pm start. Food – afternoon tea. £10 each.


Please drop in to say hello and find


out more about all the activities and events or check the Facebook page for information on everything that is going on as well as spaces to hire: www.facebook.com/ TheEastMallingCentre.


The café is open Monday to Friday from 9am to 3pm so please pop in for a cuppa.


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