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Anotherincursion at Larkfield park


TRAVELLERS have moved back onto a popular park in Larkfield for the second time in six months. The families - in five caravans -


LOVELY litter-pickers from Lark- field – not just a tongue twister, but well deserved recognition for residents going the extra mile for the area in which they live. Seven individuals and 14 groups


pulled on to Gighill Green in Lunsford Lane on Sunday October ,, releasing dogs on the popular public open space and setting up washing lines within hours. It is un- derstood the fami- lies in- volv ed have been offering tree felling services to residents in the area. Parish council chairman David Thornewell says more has to be done to stop the travelling com- munity running circles around the police and local councils. He says the job ofmoving on trav-


in our area have picked up praise and LoveWhere You Live Environ- mental Champions awards from Tonbridge andMalling council. Certificates were presented by


mayor Cllr Roger Dalton for com- munity efforts inEastMalling,Lark- field, Wouldham,


Snodland,


AylesfordandDitton onOctober 27. Linda Bailey, who litter picks


near her home in East Malling, re- ceived an individual award for lending a helping hand over the


AN APPEAL for help to keep Snod- land’s Millennium Museum open has beenmade by the chairman of the town’s Historical Society. AndrewAshbee told the society’s


general meeting that helpers are needed to man the museum on Wednesdays and Saturdays. He said: “My thanks to Bob


ellers for a second time will run into thousands of pounds The last inci- dent, in early summer, costing the parish council £1,200, with the trav-


Coomber and Valerie Brown who have manned the museum on Wednesdays. We must look ahead


Lier pickers reap their awards


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ellers simply moving on to take up temporary residence elsewhere in the area. He said: “They just seem to be


Call for volunteers as museum looks to the future People visiting had increased


doing the rounds. These incidents have affectedWest Malling, forcing the closure of the village hall, and Leybourne, and now they are back in Larkfield. The police told resi- dents that this was a civil trespass when they reported it and that they couldn’t do anything and obviously the council offices were closed be- cause it was the weekend. These travellers know and play the sys- tem.” The council’s legal team served an eviction notice but it took aweek to enforce. Cllr Thornewell held talks with Laddingford Engineering in an effort to increase security further on the public land, near the M20. Valdemar Kalinin (pictured), of


the National Gypsy-Traveller-Roma Council said recently that local councils must provide designated traveller sites or “tolerated zone” which gypsy convoys can move onto. He said: “It comes down to racial prejudice against this com- munity.”


to the time when Bob and I will not be around and other volunteerswill be necessary to ensure that this im- portant facility can continue to serve the community. “I am working on updating our


lists ofwhatwe hold so please think about being a volunteer helper.” Andrewsaid the society had com-


pleted 20 years of activitywhich he thought had been useful to the community.


Clare Park litter pickers gain recognition for loving their local environment


last 10 years. Shewas nominated by communitywardenMandyHarris. In the group category, certificates


went to residents ofClare Park and leader Michelle Tatton for keeping the park in EastMalling and Clare


Lake clear of litter, running fun days and planting hedges. They were nominated by Larkfield and EastMalling Parish Council. At Ditton, Brampton Field Resi- dents’ Association received praise


for picking up litter on the estate after being nominated by Moat Homes and Ditton Parish Council; Aylesford Litter Pickers, led by Bob and Gail Grange, from Aylesford, were also up for an award. The avid couple, along with other reg- ularAylesford-based litter pickers, work in Hall Road and Quarry Wood each week. They were nom- inated by Cllr Trevor Walker. The 1st SnodlandKiplingCubs at Snod- land carry out regular litter picks with leaders Sarah Hood and Joanne Mason. They were nomi- nated by Snodland Town Council. Medway Tidal Tidy Up – led by


‘Spooktacular’ at the farm


again and there had been a good number of group visits. He thanked Peter Jeffries, who


looks after the website. A year ago, there were some 300


were 984 from the USA, 223 from Russia, 139 fromAustralia, 58 from Canada and 41 fromNew Zealand.


online visitors amonth but this had now increased to about 700. Most were fromthe UK but there


MAKE the most of the October half-term holiday at Kent Life Heritage Farm Park’s Halloween Spooktacular in Maidstone. Brave kids are invited to the vintage village to knock on doors and


discover who – or what – is lurking behind them from October 21-31. The award-winning attraction at Sandling, near Maidstone, has a few


other tricks up its sleeve to turn its usual exhibits into frightening farmhouses and horrifying homes. Youngsters can try pumpkin carving, dressing up and the Ugly Bug Ball. On October 25, there will be more spooky goings-on with Kent Life


5-6pm and, for older visitors, from 7-8pm. If you would like to know more about any of the above, call 01622 763936.


After Dark, This event includes a spine-chilling tour suitable for under-eights from


Mike Pearce and Jay White, from Wouldham– have also taken on the monster task of deep cleaning the tidal area from Wouldham to Halling. Their Medway Tidal Tidy Up attracts more than 50 volun- teers and removes more than 100 bags of rubbish and plastic waste from the waterway. They were nominated by Wouldham Parish Council. Larkfield Litter Pickers – another popular group, attracting over 50 volunteers, also received an environmental champion’s award. Theywere nominated by Larkfield and EastMalling Parish Council. To nominate someone, email waste.services@tmbc.gov.uk.


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  


               


             


       Optometrists


introduced 


           


 


    Buchanan   





      can be contacted on 01732 617557.


If you want the best personal care and beautiful spectacles, then you do not need to travel far.


               


           


 


  


Call now on 01732 617557 56 Malling Road, Snodland, Kent ME6 5NB


01732 617557


      


                          


       


       


   


modern and        


 


       


 


registered Optometrists in the UK, to be voted as the best is an incredible accolade. Alisdair Buchanan said “I am privileged to be considered amongst the elite of optometrists in the UK. There are about 14,000 optometrists, to be voted by industry experts as number 1 is a lifetime achievement. My practice, Buchanan Optometrists is 57 years old and has an incredible heritage. When I took over in 1999, I wanted to offer an exceptional standard of care. Winning optometrist of the year is recognition of that. I am very proud of my support team, and they are essential to the level of attention we give and the reason we have won 3 previous awards.” Alisdair


fo


   


 


   


  


        


  


     


 


        


                    


       


          


      


                     


       


  


   


 


        


      


early eye diseases – this was recognised and commended by the judge’s panel when voting for Alisdair. Alisdair goes above and beyond to ensure he and his team provide exceptional personal care moreover, bespoke services


 


        


   


 





  


patient – something the judges look for when voting for their Optometrist of the year.


         


  


   





               


  20% OFF 


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