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Thousands aended successful fireworks


MORE than 2,700 people attended the Bearsted fireworks display at the Elizabeth Harvie Field – andwas hailed a “huge” success.


The weather was kind to the vis-


Village geing ready for big


Christmas fair BEARSTED’S Christmas fair takes place on November 25 on The Greenwithdozens of stallsbooked for the event. It takes place between 2pm-8pm.


ItThere will be entertainment throughout the festive event in- cluding horse and carriage rides, face-painting, glitter tattoos, craft activities and livemusic fromlocal groups. Stalls will be selling a range of


Christmas gift ideas aswell as pro- viding food and drink, including tapas, curry, pizzas and gourmet burgers. There will be stalls selling hot


and cold drinks as well as others providing alcoholic beverages. The official Christmas lights


switch-on happens at 4.30pm and FatherChristmaswillbe therewith his elves from2pmto 6pm. A spokesman for the fair said:


“Youcanfindsome originalChrist- mas gift ideas too – plenty of local produce includinghoney, jams and preserves, biscuits, sweets, cakes andfudge, alongwithhandcrafted jewellery, unusual gifts for the home and even beard oil.” This year the parish council has


been forced to charge visitors £1 to avoid passing on aMaidstone Bor- oughCouncil street-trading licence charge of £30 per stall to the stall- holders. Clerk Sarah Lewis said: “We


wantedpeople tobe aware that this was something that we had to do and to explainwhywe’re doing it.” No cars are to be parked on The


Green, except for a limited number of stallholder, to avoid damage being caused to the grass. Around 75 stalls have been


booked for the event with around 20 grouped near theChristmas tree to form a “food court”with amar- quee for diners.


Volunteers praised for help


THE Old Time Music Hall event on October 28, which was organised by the parish council, was a full house with standing room only at the vil- lageWI hall. A shuttle bus was laid on to ferry


people from Madginford Hall to the venue towitness the showput on by the Players’ Theatre Club. Acouncil spokesman said: “Itwent


really well – we’ll be looking to bring it back again next year.” Cllr Tony Ryan, who helped organ- ise the vent, said that the council


may have to look for a bigger venue next year, such was the demand for the event. He added: “We need to say a big


thank you to all the people who helped out.” WI members helped out with the


teas and the village’s community warden team also lent a hand. Cllr Pat Marshall said: “I wa particularly grateful for the coach this year - it was absolutely excellent. Everyone was aksing ifwewere going to put it on again next year.”


Summer scheme return date


THE summer play scheme will return again next year after its success during the summer. The council voted unanimously to stage it again after hearing from


organiserAmanda Franklin at a recentmeeting. The twoweek schemewas swapped to Roseacre Primary School this


year as the usual venuewas unavailable. Amanda said shewas happy to take on the role again next year. The council heard virtually all the places had been taken and the scheme showed a profit.


This page is sponsored and edited by:


Bearsted Parish Council www.bearstedparishcouncil.gov.uk


30 Maidstone East December 2017


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itors on November 3 as the 20 minute show was staged to the sound of Disneymusic classics, in- cluding I Wan’na Be Like You and Bear Necessities from The Jungle Book.Drinks and food stalls all did a roaring trade on the night with queues at each outlet. Parish councillor Pat Marshall,


whowas selling tickets on the night at the Cross Keys entrance, said: “The feedback from everyone I have spoken to has been extremely good – very positive. One lady on


her way out came over to me and said it was the best fireworks dis- play she had even been to and said that she hoped to be able to attend next year’s firework display. That was really excellent to hear.” The event – co-ordinated by as-


sistant clerk Erin Sugden – has cov- ered its costs, according to parish clerk Sarah Lewis. Most tickets were purchased in advance using an online ticketing service.Many of the parish councillors turned out to help with the organisation on the night, including parish council


chairman Richard Camp. She added: “It’s not an event designed to make money but it we have more than covered the costs of put- ting it on.We have had a really, re- ally good response fromthe people who attended the event and that is very gratifying.” Mrs Lewis said there had been a


few items of lost property handed in. Yet to be reunited with their owners are a bobble hat and a pair of child’s gloves.Contact the Parish Office if you think these itemsmay belong to you.


Newmember THEparish council has co-opteda


new member at it November 14 meeting. Energy trader Marcel Boonaert, 39, has lived in the village for a decade. He is married to Emma and they


have a son, Sebastian (4). He said that after having a childhe felt itwas “time toput something back into the community”.


Rockets ban


PEOPLE who let off fireworks on TheGreen face criminalprosecution, the parish council haswarned. It comes after an incident where


scorchmarkswere left in front of the cricket pavilion after a group set off a rocket during the bonfire season. Cllr JohnHughes said: “They can be prosecuted and they can be fined.”


Lorry pledge


CONCERNS about lorry move- ments through the village during M20 roadworks has prompted bor- ough councillor Van Springett to offer to start a LorryWatch scheme at short notice.. Hundreds ofHGVs and cars have


been counted by Cllr Springett and another resident during overnight closures, reflecting similar experi- ences in communities near the mo- torway. Cllr Springett has complained to


Highways England and asked for suitable signs to deter lorries using the village as a cut-through.


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


01622 630165


clerk@bearstedparishcouncil.gov.uk Fiona Redman


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


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