Town Talk


A PETITION signed by 276 families complaining about the poor state of the footpaths and roads in the Godden Road, Roberts Road and Taylor Road area of Snodland is to be presented to Matthew Balfour, Kent County Council's cabinet member for planning, highways, transport and waste. It was reported in the August


issue of Town Talk that Dave and Ruth Chapman, who have lived in their house in Godden Road since 1967, had complained to MP Tracey Crouch,


councillor,Sarah Hohler and Snod- land Town Council. Ruth has received correspon-


dence from Cllr Balfour, and Cllr Hohler agreed that the roads were unsightly. She told Town Talk she had re- ceived a letter from Mr Balfour on August 19 saying some patching was planned for Roberts Road and was pleased that contractors started work two days later at 8am until midday. However, the rest of Roberts Road, in a far worse con- dition, was left. “In the last few weeks, I have


been walking around with the peti- tion and have been talking to the residents about their concerns,"


carnival great This year's Snodland carnival pa- rade was almost called off through lack of support but was saved by Annemarie Lea and John Morgan who encouraged people to be- come involved. Plans are being put in place for


said Ruth. “When I give my petition to Mr Balfour, I will bring up many of the concerns that residents have raised.” Ruth was contacted by a resident


in Roberts Road who was “really cross”. She had visited a friend in Offham who told her KCCwas put- ting in a new traffic calming system made up of pebbles and was cost- ing £1m. Ruth said: “I phoned Offham


KCC


Parish Council and spoke to the clerk who very kindly told me that they were having a new traffic calming system that is made of granite set into gantries at the sides of the road. I didn't ask how much it cost, but I am sure the informa- tion I was given sounds about right.”


Jaimee Mallion, of Taylor Road,


wrote to Cllr Balfour: “I am a 22- year-old manual wheelchair user, who is resident in Taylor Road. I am writing regarding the state of the pavements and roads surrounding my house. Despite being a very in- dependent person I am unable to wheel aroundmyarea of residence without assistance.” She added that the camber of pavements made it incredibly chal- lenging to self-propel in a wheel-


Local news for Snodland and Halling Petition to make pavements safe


Local resident Darren Smith signs Ruth Chapman’s petition


chair. Dropped kerbs are breaking up and gaps are appearing be-


Join in to make New school head forValley


next year’s event, but again the support of residents is required. Annemarie wrote on Facebook


that only a handful of people at- tended the first meeting for next year’s carnival. She said: “There are some amazing ideas and it could be the best yet – but not without the support of you in the community.” And she asked people to get in- volved, adding: “It’s a few hours once a year but it is a big part of Snodland history. “Snodland Town Council has


been so supportive and returning the favour with this event would be amazing. So let’s show how amaz- ing the Snodland community is.” The rules for organising a float


were explained at the meeting and application forms, on the STC Facebook page, need to be sub- mitted by 26 January, 2018. The carnival will be on July 7,


the theme will be Charles Dickens and the charities will be Porchlight (a homeless charity) and child poverty, which have local connec- tions with Snodland. The nextmeeting is on February


8 next year.


VALLEY Invicta Primary School at Holborough Lakes, which was opened two years ago, has a new head teacher. Lisa Vickers, who lives in Ley- bourne with husband, Matthew, and their four-year-old daughter, has pre- viously taught at Kings Hill Primary School, Thurnham Infants, Bearsted, South Borough Primary, Maidstone and St George's,Wrotham. She has worked across all key stages and two of her main passions are PE and maths. She has a masters in Special Education Needs and Valley Invicta is her first headship. She said: “I have received a lovely warm wel- come from staff, pupils and parents and I am looking forward to working with the school and wider community.”


Woodland to benefit from grant


A £10,000 grant from Postcode Local Lottery to the KentWoodland Employment Scheme (KWES) will help add a host of improvements and activities to the ancient woodland at Holly Hill, near Snodland. Holly Hill, a managed mixed broadleaved woodland of sweet chestnut, ash, birch and oak, has historically been coppiced. It is ideal for walks and the North DownsWay (Wrotham to Cuxton sec- tion) passes by the entrance. There are great views, including a viewing point from where, on a


clear day, the City of London and Isle of Grain can be seen. It also has picnic benches. Tonbridge andMalling Borough Council owns the 31-acre site and


a spokesperson said: “KWES, which trains foresters, will use the funding to repair footpaths, install way marking and create glades in woodland, as well as holding working days for volunteers and events and activities for local residents and school children. “An aim of KWES is to encourage more visitors and volunteers to


the site to help look after this heritage woodland. The site is open to the public all year round and KWES coppices the woodland during the winter months to enhance the environment for native wildlife.”


tween the edge of the pavement and road surface.


Counting down


to switch-on THE switch-on of Snodland’s fes- tive lights by Father Christmas will be Noverber 25. And, a usual, he will be assisted by the Mayor of Tonbridge and Malling, who this year is Roger Dalton. For the first time Snodland Town Council will be using the BT car park in the High Street for com- mercial stalls, leaving the adjoin- ing Rocfort Road car park free for the Scouts’ stalls. Santa's grotto has been moved


from the Pavilion Cafe. A shed has been acquired for the grotto, which will be open from noon to 4pm, and volunteers are needed to help decorate it. At a meeting of the Christmas in Snodland committee Karen Sowten, the council's chief execu- tive officer, reported on funding re- ceived from local businesses and it was suggested that other local businesses should be ap- proached. There will be a bucking reindeer


for children over 10 from 2pm to 5pm and a live band will play in the BT car park from switch-on at 4.30pm until 6.15pm. It was suggested that small local businesses be encouraged to set up stalls advertising themselves to local residents and there may also be a few fairground rides. The charity for 2017 is the Heart


of Kent Hospice, which has con- firmed it had cared for 116 pa- tients from Snodland.


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