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THE parish is looking for volunteers to helpwith two up-coming projects. The first is to survey the flora and


fauna of Meadowbank, the land at the top of Bell Lane. Medway Valley Conservation Part-


nership is to head this survey and training will be given to any inter- ested parties. A study is necessary to help decide what to do with the


Exchange idea A LOCAL trading scheme where local people can swap goods and services with other residents has been launched. Colin Chuter says the idea is to


earn credits to exchange for items other members may have to offer, such as helping with gardening or moving furniture, under the Bearsted Local Exchange Trading Scheme (LETS). Examples of the scheme include


garden produce, cleaning, ironing, carmaintenance or firewood. “Every transaction provides a


point of social interaction and com- munity support,” he said. Details from Colin on 07811 395518 or visit letslinkuk.net.


Fighting fund THE Campaign to Protect Rural Englandwill be contacted to invite it to apply for funding for its High Court battle against Woodcut Farm, near J8 of theM20. Other parish councils havemade


contribution towards the fighting fund which opposes the develop- ment of farmland into an industrial estate. A suggested contribution of


£1,500 to the CPRE was made, should the group formally apply.


Clerk’s course IT WAS agreed that parish clerk Sarah Lewis will attend a Gover- nance, Procedures and Trans- parency seminar run by the Kent Association of Local Councils (KALC). The cost is £72.


Council dates THIS year’s full council meetings are being held on: Feb 20 (Madgin- ford Hall, MH); Mar 27 (King George V Hall, KGV;May 1 (MH); Jun 6 (KGV); July 10 (MH);Aug 14 (KGV); Sept 18 (MH);Oct 23 (KGV) and Nov 27 (MH).


area, and how tomanage it. The second project is for green-fin-


gered individuals, with a planting programme for the bank opposite the railway station where soil qual- ity is poor. Watering would be nec- essary for the first two summers so that plants can become established. Having discussed the possibilities with the gardeners fromSnowfields,


downsmail.co.uk Helpmake our parish a better and brighter place


a mix of rhodedendrons, azaleas andwoodland plants should suit the soil and give colour and shape to an area that has long been neglected. The plan is to brighten the area for the benefit of residents and visitors alike. If you can spare an hour or so a week, we would be keen to hear from you. Contact the clerk if you think you can help.


Neighbourhood plan need is under review


THE decision by Cllr Paul Young to step aside fromhis lead role in exploring the possibility of a neighbourhood plan for Bearsted has prompted the authority’s members to examine other op- tions. A neighbourhood plan allows a


parish council to feed its views and recommendations into the bor- ough’s Local Plan review with re- gard to future development. But it can take up to five years to


complete, must be inspected inde- pendently and then be put to a ref- erendum. Cllr Young blamed pressures of


work for standing aside. Cllr Richard Ash has always ex-


pressed doubt that Bearsted needs a neighbourhood plan as the parish has limited land left to develop, un- like other villages such as Head- corn and Staplehurst which are earmarked for significant increases in housing. At the parish council on January


16, Cllr Ash asked: “What will we achieve with a neighbourhood plan? All our spare greenfield spaces have been built on already.”


Options for an alternative to a neighbourhood plan for Bearsted are to be discussed at February’s full councilmeeting


Cllr Fabienne Hughes said there


is limited time left to embark on such amassive venture and echoed views that a plan could not be com- pleted by one person alone. She added: “We have more im-


portant things to achieve to im- prove and safeguard Bearsted.” But Cllr Fiona Redman said that


the opportunity should not be al- lowed to slip away for lack of time. She suggested that a professional organisation could be engaged to appraise the benefits of such a plan.


Cllr JonathanAskin said that the


authority could explore whether orders could be imposed on avail- able land to prevent inappropriate development. Borough councillor Denis


Spooner advised Bearsted to con- tact other parish councillors to ex- plore whether “the benefits justify the massive amount of effort” needed for a neighbourhood plan. Councillors agreed to defer the


matter until the next full council meeting on February 20.


Easing commiee load PCSOs atmeetings


THE parish council has agreed to replace its commu- nity and correspondence committee –which co-ordi- nates the major events in Bearsted – with a series of steering groups. Each groupwould harvestmembers fromother rel-


evant committees on the council – such as finance or environment – to sit on the bodies which will put on events including the annual fireworks display and the summer play scheme. Themove comes after concerns about theworkload on the “comms” committee and councillors’ time.


This page is sponsored and edited by:


Bearsted Parish Council www.bearstedparishcouncil.gov.uk


28 Maidstone East February 2018


CLERK Sarah Lewis is to contact Boxley Parish Council following reports it has managed to get a police representative to return to itsmeetings. Councillors have been expressing concern that the


regular PCSOpresence at parish council has ceased. Borough councillorVal Springett noted that some


local councils have guaranteed their own police presence by employing their own officer. Cllr Fabienne Hughes said any officer’s time is


better spent on the ground than attending parish meetings.


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


01622 630165


clerk@bearstedparishcouncil.gov.uk Richard Camp


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


downsmail.co.uk


Oakwood five thrive to get places at Oxbridge


FIVEstudents fromOakwoodPark Grammar School have been of- fered places at Oxford and Cam- bridge this year. The school claims the achieve-


ment of the five sixth formers is par- ticularly remarkable considering the record number of applications na- tionally this year to the two eliteuni- versities. UCAS reported that there was a


7% rise in applications from Eng- land this year. The risewas partly caused by the


reduction in the number of AS ex- aminations taken at the end of year 12,whichwere traditionally used as an indicator of students' chances for success in their application. Cambridge introduced pre-


admission testing to respond to the removal ofAS levels. Oakwood Park’s five successful


students (pictured right) had to take a test, submit written work and at- tend interviews at the colleges to which they had applied – and have now been offered their places, de-


pendent on their final A-Level grades this summer. The two students with places at


OxfordUniversity areBrunoRobin- sonwho has a place to studymaths


atWadham College and Alexander Wainwright, who has a place to study engineering at St Catherine's College. Cambridge offered a place to


study English to Ailsa Burnham at DowningCollege, a place for lawto Isabelle Pymat SelwynCollege and a place to Oli Sampson for history and politics atHomerton College. A spokesman for OPGS said: “I


am delighted for the students who are fantastic young people. “Our staff have enjoyed giving


themmock interviews andmarking their practice tests. “It is testimony to the strength of


our sixth formthatwe have somany different subjects represented in these offers.” Kent education specialist Peter


Read said: “Most grammar schools would normally produce two or three students who would go to Oxbridge. “The school is to be congratulated


for nurturing its brightest pupils. They have donewell.”


INVICTA Grammar School has dropped proposals to give first preference to pupils fromits own academy primaries. Head teacher JulieDerrick (pic-


tured) has revised its admissions policy so that pupils fromtheVal- ley Invicta Academies Trust (VIAT) are not favoured. In a letter home to parents,Mrs


Derrick satates: “Following feed- back and our desire to meet the needs of our local community,we have revised our admissions pol- icy. Please note we have removed the inclusion of a priority for chil- dren attending a trust primary school ahead of other children.” VIAT runs Aylesford, East Bor-


ough, Kings Hill, Leybourne Chase andHolborough Lakes pri- maries.


Denture care to make you smile


SB Denture Design Ltd (formerly known as SB Dental Laboratory) are now pleased to offer our services directly to the public. SB was founded in 1989, producing quality denture work for dentists in Maidstone and the surrounding areas. Since then Steve, the founder of SB Denture


SB Denture Design Ltd (formerly known as SB Dental Laboratory) are now pleased to offer our services directly to the public. SB was founded in 1989, producing quality denture work for dentists in Maidstone and the surrounding areas. Since then Steve, the founder of SB Denture


Design has been clinically trained so we are able to provide our services directly to you. He gained further clinical qualifications at the University of Central Lancashire (with merit) and this enables him to treat patients directly thus alleviating the need to visit the dentist for the impressions, denture try in and the fitting of the dentures. Any necessary after care would be provided by us as well.


repairs and adjustments through to new sets we can offer a complete denture care service. Although the work is done ‘in house’ with


With over 25 years of experience in manufacturing all styles of dental appliances, we can now hand craft your dentures for you from start to finish. By dealing directly with the technician who will make your dentures we can tailor your prosthesis to your own personal individual requirements. Using only the highest quality materials and all


the latest technologies you are guaranteed a product of the very highest standard. From


T: 01622 766077 E: steve@sbdentures.co.uk W: www.sbdentures.co.uk


Design has been clinically trained so we are able to provide our services directly to you. He gained further clinical qualifications at the University of Central Lancashire (with merit) and this enables him to treat patients directly thus alleviating the need to visit the dentist for the impressions, denture try in and the fitting of the dentures. Any necessary after care would be provided by us as well.


repairs and adjustments through to new sets we can offer a complete denture care service. Although the work is done ‘in house’ with


partial dentures and other more complex cases we work closely with the dentist. It is essential that the health of any remaining teeth are checked out before denture construction. This is necessary to ensure the prosthesis is a long term solution. We can accept referrals from you own dentist or we can arrange an appointment with one of our dental colleagues at your first appointment. Having the laboratory on the premises reduces


With over 25 years of experience in manufacturing all styles of dental appliances, we can now hand craft your dentures for you from start to finish. By dealing directly with the technician who will make your dentures we can tailor your prosthesis to your own personal individual requirements. Using only the highest quality materials and all


the latest technologies you are guaranteed a product of the very highest standard. From


T: 01622 766077 E: steve@sbdentures.co.uk W: www.sbdentures.co.uk


the waiting time for some services, some services like repairs can even be done while you wait. It is also an advantage as some larger adjustments can be done in house We pride ourselves in making sure everyone we


treat is happy with the product we produce and want our patients to have the confidence that their denture has been constructed with the utmost care and using only quality materials. Our aim is to make people comfortable with our treatment and confident with our product.


SB Denture Design Ltd 2 Wallis Avenue Maidstone,


partial dentures and other more complex cases we work closely with the dentist. It is essential that the health of any remaining teeth are checked out before denture construction. This is necessary to ensure the prosthesis is a long term solution. We can accept referrals from you own dentist or we can arrange an appointment with one of our dental colleagues at your first appointment. Having the laboratory on the premises reduces


the waiting time for some services, some services like repairs can even be done while you wait. It is also an advantage as some larger adjustments can be done in house We pride ourselves in making sure everyone we


treat is happy with the product we produce and want our patients to have the confidence that their denture has been constructed with the utmost care and using only quality materials. Our aim is to make people comfortable with our treatment and confident with our product.


Kent ME15 9DX


SB Denture Design Ltd 2 Wallis Avenue Maidstone,


Kent ME15 9DX Maidstone East February 2018 29 Denture care to make you smile


SB Denture Design Ltd offer FREE consultations and can advise you on the best denture options available.


Business Focus


SB Denture Design Ltd offer FREE consultations and can advise you on the best denture options available.


News


School drops priority plans


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