DECEMBER COPY
Christmas Message From Westerham Town Council
On behalf of the Councillors and Staff, I would like to wish all residents of Westerham and Crockham Hill a very Merry Christmas and happy New Year.
We recognise that for many, circumstances are difficult so we hope
2014 will bring welcome improvement.
Alan Wesley, Chairman,
Westerham Town Council
Kent County Council Community Warden
Our Community Warden Steve Taylor has been promoted to a supervisory post in another district and we wish him well in his new post and thank him for his past assistance.
Following discussions with KCC Area Manager it has been agreed that until the post is filled in February 2014, following training, cover and visible presence will be provided by the Sevenoaks Community Warden Team. This will consist of Paul Robertson and Steve Armstrong providing cover for the Talk Time Sessions in the Library on a Wednesday and for either the Thursday surgery in the Library or the Tuesday coffee morning in the Church.
The Warden phone number for Westerham 07813 712760 will be diverted to the District Supervisor Siobhan Mackay who will respond to any community issues and will visit Westerham on an ad hoc basis.
The River Darent
The Darent Catchment Improvement Group is currently developing The Darent Catchment Improvement Plan andasking if you will fill in a survey.
This plan will identify the actions needed to improve and maintain a natural river for the benefit of both wildlife and people.
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/YM5JLJZ
The questionnaire is one way the North West Kent Countryside Partnership are engaging with the local communities and users of the river and valleyto help shape the Catchment Improvement Plan and develop projects and priorities for improving the river.
As you will see the questionnaireprovides a first chance for the wider stakeholders (that’s all of us)to contribute to the actions for the future of river.
Please promote and send the link to the questionnaire to your neighbours, friends and organisations as well as anyone who lives in the valley or uses the river. It is important to get a wide cross section ofresponses to ensure that the Catchment Improvement Plan reflects the views of everyone who cares about the river and the valley.
Gatwick Area Conservation Campaign
London Airspace Consultation.
www.londonairspaceconsultation.co.uk
Important Information affecting Westerham.
1. The London Airspace Consultation concerns the design of new flight paths into and out of Gatwick Airport. It is sponsored by Gatwick Airport Ltd (GAL) and National Air Traffic Services (NATS).
2. IT IS ONE OF THOSE NASTY AND CLEVER CONSULTATIONS THAT DEAL ONLY WITH BROAD PRINCIPLES FOR THE DESIGN OF NEW FLIGHTPATHS AND DOES NOT REVEAL WHERE THOSE FLIGHTPATHS MIGHT BE.
Worse still, they do not intend consulting again when their intended flight paths are known.
3. The end result could POSSIBLY affect Westerham and
individual responses are vitally important.
THE DEADLINE IS THE 21st January 2014.
4. The maps in the consultation lack real clarity, however the Plans include;
· New flight paths over areas which are at present peaceful in order to increase aircraft numbers.
· More concentrated flight paths.
· Point merge systems so that aircraft follow a single final approach path.
5. The main motive is to allow flight numbers to grow.
GACC regard the health and wellbeing of people on the ground as more important than unfettered growth in air traffic.
PLEASE READ AND RESPOND TO THE CONSULTATION AFTER LOOKING AT THE GATWICK AREA CONSERVATION CAMPAIGN BRIEFING ON THE TOWN COUNCIL WEBSITE - www.westerhampc.kentparishes.gov.uk WHICH IS VERY HELPFUL.
Prepare for Severe Weather
During severe weather you can find out about the latest refuse collection arrangements by visiting the SDC website www.sevenoaks.gov.uk or calling 01732 227000 . For details of winter gritting and snow clearance from roads and pavements, visit the Kent County Council website at www.kent.gov.uk
Christmas tree recycling
After this year’s festivities have ended, Sevenoaks District Council can collect and recycle your real Christmas tree for free.
The Council will collect any tree with a trunk of up to 89mm (3.5”) in diameter with its scheduled Garden Waste Collection Service from Monday 30 December until Friday 31 January, except for New Year’s Day.
Simply leave your tree by the boundary of your property, where you’d usually put your refuse and recycling sacks, the night before our Garden Waste Collection Service takes place in your road.
If you’re not sure when the service is scheduled for your road, call Sevenoaks District Council on 01732 227000 or e-mail .
Please be aware that the Council cannot take trees that are decorated or in pots or stands.
The good news is that all the trees we collect are turned into environmentally-friendly compost.
If your tree is too big for this service, you can recycle the tree at one of Kent County Council’s Household Waste Recycling sites. Call KCC on 03000 41 73 73 for locations and opening times.
Christmas and New Year refuse collections 2013
Sevenoaks District Council’s refuse crews will be going the extra mile over the festive period, working most of the break between Christmas and New Year to minimise disruption. Most collections will be one-day later than usual over yuletide with one collection, Wednesday 25 December, deferred for just over a week.
See your revised collection dates below. Please remember to put your bags out by 7am on your collection day.
Usual collection day / Revised collection dayMonday 23 December / Normal collection
Tuesday 24 December / Normal collection
Wednesday 25 December / Next collection on Thursday 2 January.
Garden waste bin and sacks (Week 1 / green week) next collected on Wednesday 8 January
Thursday 26 December / Collected the next day, Friday 27 December
Friday 27 December / Collected the next day, Saturday 28 December
Monday 30 December / Normal collection
Tuesday 31 December / Normal collection
Wednesday 1 January / Collected the next day, Thursday 2 January
Thursday 2 January / Collected the next day, Friday 3 January
Friday 3 January / Collected the next day, Saturday 4 January
For more information call Sevenoaks District Council on 01732 227000.
FORTHCOMING TOWN COUNCIL MEETINGS
Thursday 5th December Planning and Development
Monday 9th December Council
Thursday 2nd January Planning and Development
Monday 13th January Finance and General Purpose
Thursday 16th January Planning and Development
Monday 20th January Allotments Playing Fields
Monday 27th January Council (Budgets)
Thursday 30th January Planning and Development
Members of the public are very welcome to attend these meetings. The first ten minutes of every meeting are available for members of the public to raise any issues with Councillors. All meetings start at 7.30 p.m. - except Planning which is held at 9.30 am, in the Town Council Chamber in Russell House.
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