Local News
A Fire Station for New Ash Green?
For a long time the Kent Fire & Rescue Service has been concerned that they cannot meet their 10-minute response time for calls to this area. On Wednesday 15 February the Fire & Rescue Authority will be considering a proposal, in their Integrated Risk Management Plan, to replace the Horton Kirby fire station with one in the New Ash Green area. The site they have earmarked is just outside New Ash Green, in Chapel Wood Road, opposite the Meadows Farm business park. If the Authority approves the plan on Wednesday, there will be consultation with local people before an application for planning permission is made to Sevenoaks District Council. For more details follow this link.
Billet Hill Closed
Billet Hill will be closed for carriageway repair work from Monday 13 February until Friday 17 February. The alternative route is via South Ash Road to the A20.
Why Weight
Sevenoaks District Council is running a free weight management programme in New Ash Green, starting on Friday 24 February. The 12-week course will be run by qualified professionals at Ash Green Sports Centre (Milestone School) starting at 9:30am for 90 minutes a week. It is open to anyone aged 18 or over with at least two stone to lose. Places are limited and must be booked in advance - if you want to sign up, speak to your GP, practice nurse or any health professional and for further information visit www.sevenoaks.gov.uk/health or ring 01732 227000.
Free Tickets for My Big Kent Weekend
Visit www.mybigkentweekend.co.uk to apply for free tickets for visits on Saturday and Sunday 17 & 18 March to many local attractions. Apply by Monday 13 February and there will then be a ballot to allocate tickets.
Another chance to improve Broadband speed
Residents and businesses in the Sevenoaks District are being urged to vote to make sure that their area gets a share of funding to improve broadband.
Kent County Council has £20m of public funds available, and is hoping to attract a further £23m of private money, to improve broadband speeds throughout the County.
Sevenoaks District Council is encouraging communities with slow internet connections to register their support by voting. The greater the demand, the more broadband providers will invest.
To vote for better broadband visit www.sevenoaks.gov.uk/broadband. If anyone would like a paper copy of the form they should call 01732 227000 or e-mail business@sevenoaks.gov.uk.
Police appeal for witnesses
There was a serious collision early on Tuesday 10 January at the junction of West Yoke Road and Chapel Wood Road.
Click this link for the Police appeal for witnesses.
Keen Cyclists Wanted
Sevenoaks District Council, in partnership with British Cycling and Kent County Council, are planning to run 10 community led Sky-rides in the Sevenoaks District for beginners through to more experienced cyclists. Leaders are needed and training will take place on 28 January and 4 February in the Gravesend area. For more information, click here.
Newsletter Erratum
Page 4, Item 4: The telephone number for the Village Association should read 01474 872691.
Hospitals and Older People
The Sevenoaks District Seniors Action Forum has a meeting on Friday 13 January to discuss the proposed imtegration of the NHS Trusts that run Darent Valley and Medway Maritime hospitals. If you are interested, click here for more information.
Important Information about Drain Blockages
From October 2011 Thames Water has assumed responsibility for the foul water drains in New Ash Green that are outside the limits of the property they serve or which serve more than one property. If you experience a drain blockage, please ring Thames Water on 0845 9200 800.
Please also inform your Residents' Society and the Village Association Office on 01474 872691 so that we can monitor the success of the changeover.
Chrismas Tree Collection
Sevenoaks District Council will collect real Christmas trees for free in January so they can be composted. The Council will collect trees with a trunk up to 89mm (3.5”) in diameter.
Trees should be left alongside the road, the night before the usual day of the Council’s Garden Waste Collection service - that's Wednesday or Thursday 18th/19th January in New Ash Green.
The Council cannot collect trees that are decorated or in pots or stands, nor will they take artificial trees. If the tree’s trunk is greater than 89mm, it can be recycled at one of Kent County Council’s Household Waste Recycling sites, including Pepper Hill or the Teardrop in Swanley where you can also dispose of artificial trees that have reached the end of their lives.
Winter Warmer Newsletter
The Sevenoaks District Seniors Action Forum has published a newsletter with useful information to help older people keep safe and warm during the winter. For a copy, click here.
Baby Talk
New Ash Green Children's Centre has an informal antenatal social group on the 1st Tuesday of every month, starting on 10 January (yes, we know that's a second Tuesday!). Click here for more details.
Baby Club
For mums with babies under 12 months who would value a chance to chat over a cuppa on Thursday mornings and seek advice on a wide range of baby-related subjects, click here for information about the Children's Centre Baby Club.
Strengthening Families Strengthening Communities
A 13-week course for parents of children from 3 to 18 years is being run by New Ash Green Children's Centre, starting on 12 January. The course aims to help parents improve their self-esteem and achieve positive change in their parenting. Click here for more information.
Numeracy to help your child
Do you want to know more about how schools teach numeracy today? Click here for details of a 4-week course for people with children aged 3-5 to be held at New Ash Green Children's Centre starting on Monday 16 January, 9:30 - 11:45am.
Messy Play
On the last Thursday of each month, beginning 26 January, at the Children's Centre there is an opportunity to have a fun time with your child (aged 6 months and over) exploring all sorts of messy play and crafts. To book your place, follow this link.
First Aid for Parents
Monday 6 February from 6:00pm to 9:30pm is your chance to learn how to deal with those emergency situations that affect your child. Spaces are limited so follow this link for information on how to book.
Story Sacks - A Course about Child Development
A 4-week course, starting on Monday 20 February, 9:30 - 11:45am at the Children's Centre, will help you to understand more about child development, focussing on communication and reading skills. Information on how to book a place is here.
Toddler Drop-In
Every Wednesday in term time the Children's Centre invites parents or carers and their toddlers to New Ash Green Village Hall for two hours from 10 o'clock. More information can be found here.
Little Shooterz
New Ash Green Children's Centre is running a football coaching session for 2-4 year olds with a professional coach on Saturdays in term time, 1:15-2:00pm. The cost is £4.50 per session but you must register and book with Shelly or Jo on 01474 872411. Click here for details
Youth Work Course
Kent County Council will be holding an Introduction to Youth Work course between January and July 2012. It will take place on Monday evenings between 7:00pm and 10:00pm in Swanley. Follow these links for more information and an application form.
New Pilates Class
Every Monday morning and evening in the Village Hall
Times: 11am-12noon / 6.45pm-7.45pm
FIRST LESSON FREE
£40 for a 6 week course
Contact: Paul Madden 07828 228457
ARK at the Sports Pavilion
Musicians and music fans are welcome at the ARK on Sunday evenings in Bart's Bar at the Sports Pavilion. Click here for details.
Young Footballers Wanted
New Ash Green Junior Football Club need more players for their Under 11 and Under 10 teams for the new 2011-12 season. For more information, ring Martin Watson (07789 272724) or Gary Webber (07904 707081) for the Under 11 team and Andy Larcombe (07860 381618) for the Under 10s or click here.
Drains in the Orchard
Drainage problems in the shopping centre have led to the surface water soakaway in the Orchard being blocked with grease. The soakaway has been excavated while the source of the problem is being investigated and put right. The Village Association, on whose land the soakaway is sited, has worked as quickly as possible with the managers of the shopping centre to deal with this issue and now believes that there will be no recurrence. Meanwhile the site of the soakaway has been fenced off until the soakaway can be cleaned out. Please keep children and dogs out of the fenced area.
Blood Donor Sessions
The next opportunities to save a life by donating blood in New Ash Green Village Hall are on:
- Friday 17 February
- Friday 9 March
- Friday 25 May
- Friday 13 July
- Friday 9 November
All sessions are from 14:00 - 16:30 and 17:30 - 20;00. Ring for an appointment on 0300 123 23 23 or just turn up on the day.
Proposed Closure of Longfield Sorting Office
Amongst Royal Mail's plans for modernisation is their decision to close their delivery office in Hartley Road, Longfield and move their operations to Dartford.
If you are opposed to this you are invited to sign a petition which will be sent to the Chief Executive of Royal Mail, Moya Greene, and to Parliament requesting that plans for the closure of Royal Mail Longfield be stopped and the office be allowed to continue to provide a much needed local service.
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