May/June 2017


Serving local people, businesses & events in Addington, Birling, East Malling, Kings Hill, Larkfield, Leybourne, Mereworth, Offham, Ryarsh, Trottiscliffe, West Malling


Village hall needs bags of cash


SHOPPERS are being asked to help raise funds for West Malling’s award-winning village hall.


Money is needed to foot the bill of £8,000 to £10,000 for urgent repairs to the main roof of the building which is in regular use by community groups.


The committee of volunteers has obtained a grant of about £2,000 from County Cllr Trudy Dean, but is still away


short of the target.


Chairman Chris Gosney said: “Tesco have agreed that we can use their Bags of Help in-store scheme to raise the rest and we are currently one of three projects featured in the store in West Malling High Street. If, when you are shopping in the store, you could manage to ask at the checkout for one of the blue tokens and post it in our box, then we would be most grateful.”


Helping to get Larkfield Together


A LARKFIELD woman who wants to bring the community spirit back to the area, is calling on fellow villagers to join in.


Mrs Jackie Hirsch, a member of Larkfield Women’s Group, called a successful first meeting to set up Larkfield Together which was attended by 40 people. Now she is planning a meeting to get a social committee together to organise events.


She would like to see regular events bringing neighbours and residents together, such as a picnic in the park during the August bank holiday which could involve groups and organisations from the village.


She said: “I would like to see everyone involved with maybe a dog show, a cake stall, and a football competition. There are six estates in Larkfield and they all seem to be their own entity – I want to bring us together as one village and get the community spirit back.”


Jackie, who has lived in Larkfield for 40 years, said: It’s really exciting. I was very pleased with the response to the appeal in the Downs Mail. We had put 20 chairs out and then twice as many people turned up so we had to quickly find more seats. We decided to form a social committee to organise events and in the longer term we would like some form of community centre.


“The meeting was very successful and lots of people wanted to be involved, as they agreed that Larkfield’s once community feel has long been lost. Quite a few residents hardly even know their immediate neighbours.


“Enough people came forward to form a committee with many offers of help, and we are hoping to organise our first committee meeting towards the end of May, when we will decide what social event we wish to start with.


“I would have been happy to start with a good old fashioned summer fete, but this may be a bit ambitious at this late stage. However, a picnic in the park event at the August bank holiday may be more manageable.”


Larkfield Women’s Group meets 8pm on Wednesdays at Church Farm, New Hythe Lane. New members are always welcome.


To contact Jackie, email jackiehirsch56@yahoo.co.uk or call 07563 196479.


As Malling Mail went to press, the hall management committee members were hoping for news from assessors from Action with Communities in Rural Kent (ACRK) that the village hall had reached the required standard to be awarded a Level 3 Hallmark Award. The hall has already gained Levels 1 and 2 awards, and Level 3 is the highest available and relates to the way in which a hall is run.


SCHOOL ADMISSIONS PEOPLE have been urged to send in their views on the proposed federation of Brookfield Infant and Junior Schools.


Opening in September, the scheme would mean there would be one executive headteacher and single governing body, with a senior leadership structure in each school. Both schools would retain their separate identity in respect of budget, admissions, performance tables and Ofsted inspections.


The proposals were outlined at a parents’ drop in meeting but concerns were raised about the infant school being over-subscribed for the first time this year. County Cllr Trudy Dean said that 22 children, for whom Brookfield was their first preference, have been turned away. They included six who are thought to have a sibling link.


While supporting the proposed federation, Cllr Dean has taken up the issue of admissions with Jared Nehra, Area Education Officer. She urged KCC to consider expanding the school as a matter of urgency to enable it to take at least the pupils who have older siblings in the junior school and Larkfield pupils who have been unsuccessful. A temporary mobile classroom was suggested as the school’s preferred option to accommodate them.


In her response to the consultation, Cllr Dean said: “I think an executive head will strengthen the focus on teaching and learning, and the federation will facilitate inter school co-operation in teacher professional development and cross year working.”


Written responses to the federation proposals should be sent to Rachel Pearson, Clerk to the Governors, c/o School Office, Brookfield Infant school, Swallow Road, Larkfield, or email clerk@brookfield- infant.kent.sch.uk. Closing date is June 9.


A Malling Action Partnership publication CONCERNS OVER


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