Market on the Green – 1st December

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Sunday 1st December at Bearsted Market on the Green the Christmas Tree lights will be switched on to the music of The Kent Police Band. The market will open 10am with extended hours until 4pm when the Christmas Tree lights will illuminated.

The Christmas Tree at Egremont Road will also be switched on at this time, once again bringing a festive feel to the whole of Bearsted.

If you are intending to visit Market on the Green we would like to remind you that there is no parking available at this event.

Please ensure that you do not park outside marked parking bays, in front of residents access kerbs or on The Green itself.

If cars are found to be parked illegally they will receive a parking ticket.

 

Local Plan Review – Call for Sites

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Following Maidstone Borough Council’s (MBC) Call for Sites exercise, 6 sites in Bearsted have been offered as potential sites for development within the Parish. All suggestions are subject to normal planning processes and permission processes and are part of the MBC Local Plan Review Process.

The sites offered up are:

Site 088 – land south of the Ashford Road – proposal for 7 bungalows with access between 174b and 176 Ashford Road

Site 129 – land to the rear of  164 Ashford Road – proposal for 45-55 houses with access from the driveway to 164 Ashford Road

Site 135 – land south of the Ashford Road – proposal 20-40 houses with access from driveway to 164 Ashford Road.

Site 160 –  Ware Street – proposal for 20 houses with access from Ware Street (opposite Sandy Mount)

Site 240 – Banky Meadow – proposal for 70 houses with access from Ashford Road.

Site 297 – Bearsted Library – proposal for 6 houses with access from The Street.

The planning committee of Bearsted Parish Council(BPC)  have considered each of the sites and have agreed valid objections to all of them. These objections will be put forward to Maidstone Borough Council, where BPC  hope to clarify which sites in the borough are likely to be put forward into the MBC Local Plan.

Working with the Joint Parishes Group and The Bearsted and Thurnham Society, BPC are also looking at sites put forward outside of the Parish, which could have significant impact on our residents. The borough map can be found via the following link:   Borough map.

Sites proposed to the immediate south of the Parish, in Otham, total a further possible 300 homes. To the East of the Parish at Ashford Road, Hollingbourne there is potential for approx  650 houses plus commercial development and in Thurnham another possible 200 homes.

Large sites have been put forward in Lenham (approx 7000 houses), Leeds, Langley, Warmlake and Kingswood (approx 6900) and Detling (between 1750 and 4000 dwellings).

The vehicle movements associated with this level of development will only exacerbate the congestion and poor air quality experienced by an already stressed road infrastructure. BPC plan to put objections forward to Maidstone Borough Council before Christmas.

Any parishioner who wishes to register comment is encouraged to do so via the Maidstone Borough Council planning portal.  BPC will continue to strive to protect the very few and very valuable green sites remaining within the Parish.

Planning and Traffic Update for Bearsted

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Bearsted Parish Council is working hard to tackle a number of issues, which are having or could have a negative impact on the parish. Behind the scenes, councillors have been putting in a great deal of time and effort in trying to preserve the parish as a pleasant place to live.

The recently formulated Highways Improvement Plan identifies the need for pedestrian crossings along Ware Street, where discontinuous pavements force pedestrians to frequently cross the road. The feasibility of these is currently being discussed with KCC. It also highlights the need for traffic calming measures along Ware Street, Roseacre Lane and Yeoman Lane, where speeding traffic is causing a danger to pedestrians and other road users. Traffic monitoring and speed surveys have recently been conducted on both Roseacre and Yeoman Lane, a necessary prerequisite to gain KCC’s commitment to introducing measures. The plan, amongst other things, also calls for measures to restrict dangerous parking on corners around the parish.

A consultation has been conducted with the residents of a section of Ware Street to find a suitable solution for the parked cars, which are parked sometimes dangerously along this section. The results of the consultation are currently being analysed to find a workable solution.

It has been identified that a great deal of traffic is using Otham Lane, Spot Lane, Roseacre Lane, Yeoman Lane and Ware Street as cut-throughs to the M20 junction 7, in order to circumnavigate long traffic build ups on the A274 Sutton Road, Willington Street, A20 Ashford Road and New Cut Road. Earlier this year, Bearsted Parish council joined with Boxley Parish council to try and find mitigating measures and possible solutions to these issues, which are being put to KCC/MBC.

Much of the increased traffic is due to extensive development along the A274 Sutton Road corridor. In recognition of this, Bearsted Parish Council planning committee is also keeping a close eye on future developments outside of the parish but which may have a traffic impact on our roads. The development of the Popes Field schools in Boxley parish, was vehemently objected to by Bearsted Parish Council and recently letters of objection have also been put into MBC against further development at Bicknor Farm, Otham and the application for a further 440 houses at Church Road, Otham. Both of these developments would have a serious traffic impact on Spot Lane, and other ensuing rat runs.

The recent call for sites has also identified further development sites both within the parish and in neighbouring parishes, which Bearsted Parish council is investigating.

Finally, Bearsted Parish Council has provided its comments on the Local Plan Review to MBC regarding growth in the borough. Our overriding focus was that the cumulative effects of development plans on the road and social infrastructure must be considered and the necessary infrastructure put into place before more planning applications are agreed, to ensure growth is sustainable.

Bearsted’s Best of British Fireworks 2019

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Bearsted Parish Council is delighted to announce the date for the hugely popular Annual Fireworks Display! 
The event is going to have bigger bangs, sky scrapping rockets and wizzes to wow you, all provided by award winning Dynamic Fireworks.
Following on from the success of the fireworks being set to music, the winner of the poll is ‘Best of British’.
The event will open at 6pm and there will be a number of stalls selling hot food and drinks. Last entry will be at 7.15pm, fireworks starting at 7.30pm.
Please remember: No personal fireworks, no sparklers, no glassware, no unaccompanied under 16 year olds.
Peddlers outside the Elizabeth Harvie Field are not part of the event and so we recommend you purchase all ‘light up’ goodies from inside sold by the local Scout group.
There is no parking at this event, you should make your way by foot to either the entrance at Wilson Avenue (Bearsted Woodland Trust) or via Cross Keys.
Please be aware there will be road closures on the day. Further details to follow.

Discounted tickets are available at www.wegottickets.com

Gas Mains Replacement Works

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WCB Utilities have contacted Bearsted Parish Council to inform us of gas mains replacement works they are carrying out in the Parish.

The dates below have been given to BPC however we are told that these could change depending on any difficulties experienced site.

All residents will be notified of any works commencing in their street by the utilities company.

Gas Works.xlsx

Every Mind Matters – World Mental Health Day – 10th October 2019

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Bearsted Parish Council and KCC is supporting the national ‘Every Mind Matters’ campaign this World Mental Health Day  by reminding residents of the support services available locally and across the county.

Launched by Public Health England, ‘Every Mind Matters’ is the first national NHS mental health campaign encouraging adults to be more aware of their mental health and helps them to discover simple steps to look after their mental health and wellbeing.

It offers a range of useful resources that help spot the signs of common mental health concerns, provides practical self-care tips and guidance and, importantly, explains when to seek further support.

There is also a free NHS-approved online tool which helps people build an action plan to deal with stress and anxiety, boost their mood, improve their sleep and help them feel more in control. The tool and information of Kent support services can be found at www.kent.gov.uk/everymindmatters

One of the support services commissioned by KCC is Live Well Kent which provides a free, person centred, holistic service that supports people to manage issues in life that impact on their mental health and wellbeing. It is open to any Kent residents aged 17 or older. Shaw Trust is the strategic partner providing the service in the West Kent, with Porchlight providing the service in east Kent. The service is funded by joint commissioners Kent County Council and the seven clinical commissioning groups for Kent (but not Medway).

Live Well Kent works in partnership with clinical services providing an alternative which is focussed on wellbeing, connectivity, prevention and recovery. It is based on open referrals – anyone can access help when they need it – for more details, go to www.livewellkent.org.uk or call 0800 567 7699.

Meanwhile, the theme of this year’s World Mental Health Day is suicide prevention and Kent residents needing help are also urged to contact the Release the Pressure Freephone helpline – 0800 107 0160 – where support is available from trained and experienced staff 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The campaign website www.releasethepressure.uk also includes case studies from men in Kent who have turned their lives around after attempting suicide.

For more information on all the support services available in Kent and to access the ‘Every Mind Matters’ online tool, go to www.kent.gov.uk/everymindmatters

For young people, there is a new web resource attached to the Kent Resilience Hub available at www.kentresiliencehub.org.uk offering information on promoting and protecting good emotional health. This includes videos and tools, as well as activities and service information. The site is called Moodspark www.moodspark.org.uk and has been developed with young people in Kent, including a young people’s editorial board. There is also a resilience toolkit to help schools and organisations consider how they can promote emotional wellbeing within everything they do. These resources have been developed by HeadStart Kent, part of Children, Young People and Education Services. HeadStart aims to help young people cope better when faced with difficult circumstances in their lives, preventing them from experiencing common mental health problems

Brochure_Mental Health Help

KRF Parish Partner Pack

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The Kent Resilience Forum are there to help prepare for emergencies in Kent and Medway.

They have put together this helpful pack to prepare homes and business ahead of an emergency.  With winter approaching it might be something you would find useful to look through to put in place plans should something happen.

There are also some links to help you prepare for Brexit on 31st October 2019.

Official - KRF Parish Partner Pack v2.0

Old Time Music Hall – 12 October

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We are thrilled to announce that Bearsted Parish Council and The Players Theatre once again are staging ‘Old Time Music Hall’ at Invicta Grammar School.

Taking place on the afternoon of 12th October the school will come alive with the sounds of Leonard Sachs and the Good Old Days. 

We are now inviting applications for free tickets to this event, priority to those over 60 and living in the Bearsted Parish. Please contact Barbara Dunsford for tickets on 01622 630584. 

Doors open at 3.30pm and transport will be provided from Madginford Shops and The Village Green.  

 

Fireworks 2019

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Bearsted Parish Council are pleased to announce the details of this years Fireworks Display taking place on the 8th November at the Elizabeth Harvie Field.

The Fireworks this year will be set to a selection of British artist and groups to help celebrate the nation!

Gates will be open at 6pm for attendee’s to grab some hot food and drinks, enjoy the music and maybe treat the little ones to a ‘light up’ fun stick.

Discounted tickets are now on sale at www.wegotticket.com giving those who book online savings compared to buying tickets on the door.

We would remind people that there is no parking at the event and attendee’s should not bring glassware or any personal fireworks including sparklers.

There will be some road closures along Church Lane and Crosskeys on the 8th November 2019 to ensure the safety of spectators attending.  More details will be publish nearer the time.