NOTICE – Parish Council Office Closure – 28th September 2021
Please note that the Bearsted Parish Council Office will be closed on Tuesday the 28th September 2021 due to staff training.
Heart Of Kent Hospice – Make a Will Month
During the month of October Heart of Kent Hospice are teaming up with seven local Solicitors who are all pledging their time for free to allow local residents to make or update their Wills in exchange for a suggested donation to the Hospice. Last year saw a huge rise in the number of people making or updating their Will, however three in five UK adults have still not written a Will meaning that 31 million people may not have their wishes met when they die.
Whether you need to update your existing Will or make a new Will, our supporting Solicitors will be happy to advise you on the necessary steps needed to ensure that your loved ones are looked after, whilst helping to raise vital funds for the Hospice. For full information on the month and how to book your appointment, please see the attached information sheet.
If you have any further questions please do not hesitate to contact me at claire.ashby@hokh.co.uk
Thank you for your support.
Claire Ashby
Supporter Care Manager
Heart of Kent Hospice
FREE Mental Health Support for Local Adults & Businesses In Maidstone
Mind, Mid Kent – Tom Fishenden – Community Engagement Officer
Mental Health has affected us all in one way or another – and you never know who may seek help if we make them aware that it’s out there.
As we begin to return to our workplaces, it is more important than ever before that we continue to provide people with access to mental health support when they need it.
This is where Mid Kent Mind’s Recovery Action plans come in.
These are FREE sessions in which an individual will have the opportunity to work with one of our Wellbeing Workers for a duration of six weeks. Participating individuals will have the opportunity to identify areas which they would like to work to improve and will be supported as they continue to develop techniques and strategies which will allow them to manage those areas better.
Funding has been provided with a focus on supporting people in areas which may have been affected by the pandemic – i.e. anxiety, but it is not restricted to this. Our RAP programme aims to adapt to the needs of an individual person – so that they feel confident progressing forwards with their lives.
We appreciate that you will likely have your own HR mechanisms in place – but sometimes people may feel more comfortable accessing external support, and this is where we can help.
More details can be found here: https://www.maidstonemind.org/virtual-recovery-action-plans/
Bearsted Traffic Speed Surveys – May 2021
Between 25th- 31st May, Bearsted Parish Council organised for Automatic Traffic Count Surveys to be undertaken on 7 routes traversing the parish. Trackers were laid on:
North to South Axis
- The Landway
- Roseacre Lane
- Yeoman Lane
- Otham Lane
East to West axis
- A20 Ashford Road
- Ware Street
- The Street.
The trackers monitored the volume of traffic, speed of traffic as well as the type of vehicle using the road.
Please see a summary of the results below.
amended - traffic_survey2Old Time Music
Bearsted Parish Council are excited to host the return of our Old Time Music afternoon.
We will be welcoming back The Players Club to the Bearsted WI Hall on Saturday 16th October 2021.
This is a free music event for residents of Bearsted with tickets prioritised to those over 60.
For tickets please call either the Parish Office (Monday-Thursday) 01622 630165 or Sally Williams 07813 712105.
A complimentary bus will be available from Madginford Shops to the WI Hall please just inform us if you need this transportation.
Parish Office Opening Times
The Parish office will be closed for a period of time over the next week.
| Thursday 26th August | Closed |
| Friday 27th August | Closed |
| Bank Holiday Weekend | Closed |
| Tuesday 31st August | Closed |
| Wednesday 1st September | 9.30am – 2.30pm |
| Thursday 2nd September | 12noon – 3pm |
| Monday 6th September | 9.30am- 2.30pm |
| Normal hours resume |
Volunteer for Cancer Research UK – AUG 21ST & 22ND – MOTE PARK.
Cancer Research UK’s much-loved events are to return to Maidstone this summer but with socially distanced measures to keep participants and staff safe. Money raised will help scientists find new ways to prevent, diagnose and treat cancer.
The Race for Life events are open to people of all ages and abilities and offer the perfect opportunity for people across the South East to run, walk or jog and raise money for life-saving research.
Events include a 3K, 5K, 10K as well as Pretty Muddy, a mud-splattered obstacle course.
Volunteering Opportunities
Cancer Research UK are currently organising the Mote Park, Race for Life and Pretty Muddy events on Saturday 21st and Sunday 22nd August 2021. Due to Covid, over 400 live events were cancelled last year, having a huge impact on fundraising for life saving research. As a result, volunteer numbers are also very low and without the support of key volunteers, the events just couldn’t happen.
Cancer Research UK are looking for support within the borough, with the current roles including marshalling on course, helping manage obstacles, handing out water and medals, and assisting on the start and finish lines. No previous experience is required, just a positive and can-do attitude to help support participants taking part, have the best experience on the day. The event is set to raise over £250,000 for vital cancer research and we wouldn’t be able to do this without our wonderful volunteers.
If you would like to support the event please register here:
https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/get-involved/volunteer/race-for-life-event-day-volunteer-0 you will just need to select Mote Park and the day/s you would be available.
Please also forward to friends and family or anyone you know who may also like to support the charity.
Project A – Post consultation announcement
Over the past 12-weeks, Bearsted Parish Council has run an informal consultation to gain feedback from residents about Project A.
Project A is the name given to a community project with aims to benefit our current residents but safeguard facilities for generations to come.
In September 2020 Mr and Mrs Richard Ashness offered to donate to Bearsted Parish Council a parcel of land to home a new allotment garden with the caveat that the Bearsted and Thurnham Tennis Club would be given the opportunity to extend their facilities.
This opportunity was considered by members of the council, and they took the chance to address a number of issues residents had bought to the council‘s attention. These included: the security of the Church Lane car park, the condition of the Church Landway, overcrowding of the car park at specific times during the week and parking concerns on the Ashford Road and in Crosskeys.
The Parish council also wanted to address the growing waiting list for allotment plots. Bearsted Parish Council is committed to the health and well-being of residents and see the benefits an allotment plot can have for people of all ages. Project A would give at least 20 more residents the chance to benefit from an allotment.
Councillors have worked hard to put forward an idea that would have overall advantages for the many and not just the few. They empathise with allotment plot holders that this project may be inconvenient in the short term but have suggested ways to assist with a move to a new allotment. However, the plan is not finalised, and members of the allotment garden have been invited to join the Working Group so that they can stipulate what it is they would need from a new allotment garden. This offer is still available to them.
The proposal of Project A was announced in what was believed to be the best means possible while the COVID-19 restrictions were in place. This meant that Bearsted Parish Council was prevented from calling a public meeting. At the first opportunity, three open days were scheduled for residents to meet with Councillors to discuss the idea.
Bearsted Parish Councillors dedicate their time to serve their community and always aim to work on behalf of residents to keep Bearsted a safe place to live with a great community with facilities for all ages and interests.
However, over the past few weeks a number of leaflets have been distributed, without any consultation with the parish council. The parish council does not condone and has had no involvement in either leaflet, both of which contain inaccuracies.
All feedback about Project A that has been received by the closing date of the consultation period (3rd August 2021) will be considered by the Working Group in September and Bearsted Parish Council will communicate a summary of the outcome in due course.