Spring 2009 Extracts
 

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By Mike Porter, Parish Council chairman WELCOME to the 2009 Spring edition of the Ditton Gazette and I offer a special warm welcome to all of our new residents. As the credit crunch bites this year we will all be looking at ways to save money, including Ditton Parish Council. With this in mind and by careful budgeting, the parish council has managed to keep the council tax at almost the same rate as last year (just a 1p increase on a Band D property). Harsh decisions had to be made but we were all aware of the need to make savings wherever we could during the present economic climate. The amount a parish council needs to raise to run a parish is called the precept. To arrive at the amount of precept needed, this council requires each of its committees to hold a budget meeting during November each year and present a draft expenditure plan to the Finance and Administration Committee. This committee then scrutinises the draft plans to see if any further savings can be made. When this committee is satisfied that no further reductions are possible, the estimates are then placed before the full council for approval. The precept required by each parish is shared between the council tax payers of the parish and the amount each person pays depends on their property banding. Parishes with large populations naturally have more people to share the costs. Ditton has a great deal of open space within its boundary resulting in far fewer properties and less dense housing than East Malling and Larkfield, Snodland and Aylesford. However, this means Ditton has fewer council tax payers to share the costs. During 2009 Councillors will be undertaking a complete review of the operation of the council to see where further savings can be made. By the time you read this we will have had new play equipment installed at Kilnbarn Recreation Ground. The equipment chosen was the result of dialogue and meetings with a group of local youths. It is being financed by grants from The Big Lottery Fund and a Section 106 Agreement payment from the new housing development off Kilnbarn Road. When the current financial situation settles down we hope to look at more play equipment provision at New Road Recreation Ground. I am pleased to report that crime figures in Ditton have decreased substantially over the past year and I thank our neighbourhood policing team for their dedication and hard work in reducing crime. Finally, the Annual Parish Meeting will be held on April 27 in the Don Carman Hall and we hope to see you there.

By Sue Kavanagh, Parish Council clerk I ALSO wish a warm welcome to all our new residents and I look forward to meeting you all in the future. The parish office is open 8.30am to 4pm every weekday and we are always happy to see you and answer any questions you have or deal with any queries. If we don’t know the answer, we probably know who does. We continue to work closely with our neighbourhood policing team and can pass on any concerns you may have directly to them. There is also a police and Warden letter box in the foyer of the Community Centre for residents to use as a further means of communication. We have produced lots of helpful information leaflets for our residents and these are available from the parish office, at the rear of the Community Centre, and also available on the website. The parish council’s website www.dittonparishcouncil.gov.uk has lots of other useful information and is updated on a weekly basis. We welcome items of interest from residents and local organisations which we can be put on the website and/or include in the Ditton Gazette, so let us have your news and views. All items can be emailed to mandy@dittonparish council.gov.uk or clerk@dittonparishcouncil.gov.uk The parish council continues to assist local organisations financially and considers requests for grant aid from local organisations during February each year. Funding for grant aid is raised by the parish council at the parish council functions held throughout the year. Requests for grants must be received by mid January each year and be for a worthy cause and of benefit to the community. Further information and application forms can be obtained from the parish council office any week day between 8.30am and 4pm. I am very pleased to announce that Ditton Quarry has now officially been designated a Local Nature Reserve which will ensure it is preserved for future generations to enjoy. On behalf of the council I would like to sincerely thank the Working Party for all their hard work in achieving this status for the Quarry. There will be an official opening in the Spring and details will be posted on parish notice boards and on the website. Please note that members of the public are always welcome at parish council meetings which include an adjournment for parishioners to raise any items for the council’s attention. A timetable of meetings is available from the parish office and is also on the website.

 

News from St Peter’s Church
Perfect venue for a wedding ARE YOU planning to get married or have your marriage blessed in the future? Would you like us to help you plan for your special day and make it the most memorable one for you and your family and friends. Look at what your local church can offer you: A beautiful Norman building, an organist to help with music, Bell ringer, someone to oversee seating and practical arrangements, a specialist flower arranger and a service that is personal, meaningful and a spiritual experience underlying the importance of marriage. Joanna and Carlo Gargiulo were married at the church last year and were delighted at the way things went. Joanne said: “We met Priscilla Payne (assistant minister) a few weeks before so that we could choose the hymns and readings for the service and she asked us if we had talked about our future life together. “She reminded us how important it was to ensure we talk about our thoughts on starting a family, money worries and growing old together. “We had a rehearsal a couple of nights before the big day which ironed out all our last minute nerves about standing in the right place and saying the right things at the right time. “Since the day, many of our guests have said how much they enjoyed the service and what a beautiful setting it was. “We were made to feel so special and we were both so pleased we had chosen to marry in St Peter's.
Ditton Community Day BOOK Sunday, June 28, in your diary if you don’t want to miss out on all we have in store for you. An open air service begins the celebrations at 3pm. We are excited to have Steve Legge with us as our speaker at the Open Air service. Steve, pictured above, is a member of the prestigious Magic Circle and he blends his Christian faith with lots of humour and fun that leave people inspired by his message. He has appeared at many top venues throughout Britain and made numerous appearances on national TV. Some of the children of Ditton Junior School will be taking part in the afternoon events. St Peter’s Church and Ditton Parish Council work jointly in bringing the community together, meeting with friends and to enjoy all that’s on offer. We provide free children’s rides, cream teas, flower festival in the church and other entertainment.		Priscilla opens shop THE good relationship between the St Peter’s and One Stop resulted in the Rev Priscilla Payne being asked to open the shop after its refurbishment last year (above). The church has built on this relationship with the past events of Carol singing, giving mince pies to customers, the same at Easter when church members speak with people and give out Hot Cross Buns. The shop had been closed for over a week while a complete reordering took place. Priscilla spoke of the way the shop was a very central and important part of the community, then said a prayer for the staff.
A united front THERE has been a school in New Road, Ditton, for over a century, starting with the Victorian Church School of the late 1800s. The original buildings can still be seen today. The Church of England has always played a prominent part in the education of the masses, over the years St Peter’s Church has been at the forefront of educational change, helping to provide elementary education from the late 19th century to the present day. Indeed, many generations of Ditton children have received Bibles from St Peter’s Church through the trust of Lord Wharton, an 17th century philanthropist who made provision for the children of the parish to receive their own Bible. As a designated Church of England school, the governing body has a constitution that ensures a majority of Church-appointed Governors, including a governorship for the incumbent of St Peter’s. There are numerous events and activities undertaken by the church and school. The Rev Ross Terranova and the Rev Priscilla Payne lead worship (assembly) at least once a week in school. They both serve on the Worship Committee that meets with teachers to plan assembly themes and religious content. School services are held regularly in St Peter’s Church – with Harvest Festival, Christmas and Easter services attended by all pupils and staff. The school hosts regular Sunday School groups for children in the main school hall. Also, the ever popular Sports Plus Club operates on Wednesdays after school, run by volunteers from St Peter’s where the school facilities can be used. The Rev Terranova himself has ventured into the classroom to deliver RE lessons or to be interviewed about his work in the community. As part of the RE curriculum, classes will visit St Peter’s to discover the church and its grounds. As visitors enter our school they are greeted by The Carman Cross, a large wooden cross in the entrance hall donated by the late Donald Carman, MBE, in 2003. Mr Carman epitomises the special relationship between our school and St Peter’s Church. A local man who attended Ditton School in the 1920s, he worshiped at St Peter’s Church throughout his life, and in his later years returned to school as a volunteer helper. I am sure there are other examples of this human link between the church and school, since we should not forget that it is individuals and their personal stories that are at the centre of our special relationship. The Carmen Cross stands proudly in the entrance hall as a permanent reminder of that special relationship; something that I hope will continue to grow and unite Church and School for many years to come. Mr R W Holder, Head teacher, Ditton C of E Junior School		A matter of life and death I AM WRITING this article in the after-math of terrorist violence once again hitting the people of Northern Ireland. Two soldiers shot dead who were preparing that very night to go to Afghanistan and then a police officer killed for showing great bravery attending an incident knowing it could well be a trap. Wherever you have a process of conflict resolution in our world, wherever there are those who want to move on from the past and live for the future you will have those who want to the opposite. The killings in Northern Ireland have reminded all of us of the constant battle we are engaged in - the struggle of hope against despair, truth against the lie, good against evil, love instead of hate, forgiveness instead of bitterness. The human story has in large part been one of making sense of these contradictions we find within ourselves. Nowhere is the outworking of this drama more clearly seen than in the events of that first Easter. Here, in the agony and seeming futility of Good Friday, we see Jesus entering fully into the pain and anguish of suffering and death. Indeed, for those watching, it seemed that evil had won. Where is God as Christ dies alone and rejected on the Cross? Is it any surprise that on the first Easter Sunday the followers of Jesus just could not take in the reality that he had risen from the dead - he was really and truly alive! It wasn't part of the script! At Easter we remember that even in situations of abject despair, God is present and He has triumphed over the powers of evil. He can and does give to us the assurance that in life and death He is with us. Let’s celebrate that victory this Easter.   The Rev Ross Terranova, Rector of Ditton
		Easter at St Peter’s   Maundy Thursday April 9th Holy Communion 8pm Good Friday April 10th Family Worship 10am. Good Friday Meditation 6.30-7.30pm Easter Sunday April 12th 10am All age Communion service. Easter Praise 6.30pm

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Get your Freedom Pass

KENT County Council introduced the Kent Freedom Pass (KFP) scheme in June 2007 to make travel easier and more affordable for young people by having the freedom to travel on any public bus service.
The £50 pass allows students to travel on any public bus at any time, including weekends.
To apply for a KFP students must meet all of the following criteria:

Attending school in a pilot area
In academic year 7-11 in September 2008
A resident of Kent, paying Council Tax to Kent County Council

Pick up a leaflet from the Parish Council Office at the rear of Ditton Community Centre or visit www.kent.gov.uk/kentfreedompass for further information.

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Grants for Young People

THE following Grant opportunities are available to young people:

 
Young People’s Fund
This fund is open to young people who need small amounts of money (between £25 - £150) to achieve a personal goal. For example, money towards equipment, short courses, trips or other events that help with personal development.
For further information please call Marc Burrett on 01622 694210 or email marc.burrett@kent.gov.uk

 
Youth Opportunities Fund
This fund provides Activity Grants of up to £7,000 for young people aged 13-19 years (up to 25 years of age for young people with learning of other disabilities).
For further information please contact the Youth Opportunity Fund, Kent County Council Youth Service, 3rd Floor, Invicta House, Maidstone, Kent ME14 1XX.
Applications forms for both funds are available from the Parish Council Office at the rear of Ditton Community Centre or from Kent County Council.

FA Cup Final barbecue   The Kilnbarn Club will be putting on a barbecue for this year's FA Cup final on Saturday, May 30. So why not come along and join in the fun. Food will be served from 2pm. Bring the kids along too, so they can enjoy themselves in our new adventure playground.

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Share your memories

DO YOU have memories, photographs and stories of the Medway Gap and how it has changed over the years? Would you like to help record other people’s memories? If so we would like to hear from you.
Information gathered from the Medway Memories project will be used by Valley of Visions in interpreting key sites within the Medway Gap. It will also be used to encourage people to learn about, celebrate and explore their local heritage.

Contact Details are:
Valley of Visions Landscape Partnership Scheme, The Cedars, Holborough Road, Snodland, Kent ME6 5PW
Tel: 01634 242826
Email: mail@vov.kentdowns.org.uk
Website: www.valleyofvisions.org.uk

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      Arrest after TV plea
PC Matt Roddick

OFFICERS investigating the murder of Danny King broadcast an appeal for information on BBC’s Crimewatch on Tuesday, January 27 about the theft of two Peugeot 207 Cabriolet Coupes. A man was arrested the next day on suspicion of burglary in connection with the theft of a Peugeot 207 Cabriolet in Dartford. The appeal also included previously unseen CCTV footage and a number of calls were received following its broadcast.
We are grateful to all local residents for their co-operation and understanding during the investigation and would encourage anyone with information to call 01622 654863 or email DannyKingAppeal@kent.pnn.police.uk
Tragic incidents such as this are, thankfully, very rare and the most recent crime statistics show encouraging results for Ditton. All crime is down by 28.3 per cent.
Anti-social behaviour is down by 34.7 per cent. burglary down by 29.7 per cent, vehicle crime down by 18.6 per cent and violence against the person down by 27.6 per cent. Robbery stays the same with no increase or decrease.
These crime statistics, which are updated monthly, are available from the Kent Police website www.kent.police.uk – simply log on, click on crime statistics and choose the areas that you would like to view from the drop-down menus. If you would like to talk to me about any local policing matter please get in touch by calling 07870 252604 or emailing malling.neighbourhood@kent.pnn.police.uk

    Introducing PCSO Rob Sayer

PCSO Rob Sayer

I AM the new police community support officer (PCSO) for Ditton. I am looking forward to getting to know ‘my patch’ and local residents over the coming months. In the meantime, I’d like to give you an update on priorities that local people identified as needing action.
Off-road vehicles using Ditton Quarry and the footpaths leading to Aylesford in the evenings and weekends have been a cause for concern. Local officers carry out regular patrols in the area and seven warning notices have been issued to offenders. The area has been quiet recently but we will continue to monitor the situation.
Young people congregating in Pear Tree Avenue have been a nuisance for residents. However, no problems have been reported recently and the neighbourhood team will continue to patrol the area.
Anti-social behaviour in Woodlands Parade and New Road has also caused problems. Officers continue to carry out high visibility patrols in the area and to work with local shops to prevent both sales of alcohol and cigarettes to underage people and proxy purchasing (where adults buy cigarettes or alcohol on behalf of an underage person).
This action seems to have had an effect as things have been quiet in recent weeks but we will continue to keep an eye on this area. If you would like to discuss any local policing concerns, please call me on 07772 226088 or email malling.neighbourhood@kent.pnn.police.uk

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The future’s bright, the future’s Red & Black Stripes

Stones in new link with Minors

 

DITTON Minors FC and Maidstone United are pleased to announce a new footballing partnership link.
More experienced coaching staff from Maidstone will be on hand at training sessions to pass on their experience to both Ditton's players and coaching staff, to allow the children to develop their skills.
This partnership will also give some of the youngsters the opportunity to progress, not just to Maidstone level, but from there to a higher level and hopefully the top flight of football. We would all love to see an ex-Ditton player battling it out in the Premiership.
There has been a good link between the two teams for many years, with several Ditton players making the transition to play for Maidstone United. In fact the sons of two Ditton Minors FC former chairmen have played for Maidstone, recently Peter Hawkins on loan from Ebbsfleet FC, and previously Graham Porter.
Ryman's League Maidstone United believe one of the best ways to encourage youngsters and families to come along and support their first team is to get involved in grass roots football themselves. It is for this reason that they have teamed up with Ditton Minors FC and invited all the Ditton teams to bring their players along to watch them play.
In return Ditton have once again invited Maidstone to attend the Ditton May Day Fete five-a-side Tournament to defend the Community Shield which they won last year.

Soccer trials at Easter DITTON Minors FC will be holding trials/training sessions for children in Years 2, 3 and 4 during the Easter Holidays at the Community Centre. These sessions, on Tuesday, April 7, will be have the support of Maidstone Utd in the Community coaches. For more information see www.dittonminorsfc.co.uk or contact club chairman Graham West on 01732 845263 or email ditton minors@yahoo.co.uk

DITTON Minors FC would like to thank Brakes in Larkfield, together with The Co-op in Dartford for sponsoring rain jackets for the under 16s and 15s respectively. These are both newly formed teams and without the generosity of the Tandoori Palace restaurant, Pinions Pet Foods and A & D Fisheries these teams would not have had the kit and equipment necessary.

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Short Mat Bowls Club

ARE YOU trying to find an activity to keep yourself healthy and happy? Why not visit the Ditton Short Mat Bowling Club at the Ditton Community Centre on either a Monday or Friday afternoon at 1.15pm to try your hand at this very pleasant and interesting sport.
We have vacancies for some 15 members and would like to see some new residents try their hand at this enjoyable indoor sport. We have the necessary bowls etc. for you to practice with, to see if you like this sport before purchasing your own equipment. All you will require to start with are some slipper type shoes such as moccasins to protect the mats we use to bowl on.
Short mat bowling is a very social and friendly so why not come along and see what it is all about. We will be only too pleased to provide some tuition to newcomers and I am sure that once you try it you will be hooked and your life will changed forever.
If you would like further information, please contact the secretary, Mrs Kathy Morgan, on 01732 843291.
The club is now about to enter its 25th year. We are proposing to celebrate this with a special afternoon competition when we hope all 60 plus members will take part and have some refreshments and fun.
We recently held our annual presentation dinner at the Grangemoor Hotel in Maidstone with some 50 members attending. The trophy winners were:
Mixed Triples: Jim Crowther, Jenny Longhurst and Lily Tuohy.
Mixed Pairs: Brian Tills and Jenny Longhurst.
Ladies Pairs: Merry Huthwaite and Pat Watkins.
Men’s Pairs: Brian Tills and John Stace.
Ladies Singles: Maureen Staple.
Men’s Singles: Derek Ford.
President Cup: Roy Toms.
Club Champion: Ray Ryder.
Victor Ludorum: John Day.

CHRISTMAS LIGHTS COMPETITION

The Christmas Lights competition 2008 was won by Mr & Mrs MacKintosh of 661A LONDON ROAD
Congratulations on a superb display.

Tax it, or risk getting cubed

OPERATION Cubit targets abandoned vehicles in Tonbridge and Malling.
In the first week in December 36 abandoned and untaxed vehicles were removed from the streets of the borough.
Operation Cubit is run in partnership across the county by Kent Police, Kent County Council, Kent district councils, Medway Unitary Authority, Kent Fire and Rescue Service and the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA).
Launched in 2001, the scheme continues to randomly target Kent districts and has contributed to a significant fall in the number of abandoned and untaxed vehicles across the county.
Once removed from the streets, abandoned and untaxed vehicles are taken to a compound.
Vehicles not claimed with the prescribed period (usually seven days) are destroyed (cubed). Vehicles owners have to pay a £200 fine to reclaim their vehicle or provide proof of a valid tax disc and pay the appropriate storage/removal fee.
Over the last five years, Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council has seen an 87 per cent drop in the number of abandoned vehicles reported with figures plummeting from 607 vehicles in 2002/03 to just 80 in 2006/07.
As well as helping to organise Operation Cubit in the borough, Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council also re-moves abandoned vehicles reported to the Council throughout the year and runs a free Vehicle Surrender Scheme to help owners of unwanted vehicles dispose of them legally and in an environmentally friendly way.
Cllr Owen Baldock, Cabinet Member for Environmental Services, says: “There?s no doubt that Operation Cubit continues to play an important role in discouraging people from dumping unwanted vehicles.
“We are winning the battle to rid our streets of these eyesores, which contribute to the fear of crime in the community, and we will continue to work hard to help make people feel even safer in their neighbourhoods by removing abandoned and untaxed vehicles as quickly as possible.”
Inspector Dave Pate adds: "Abandoned or untaxed vehicles are not just unsightly, they can make communities feel less safe. Operation Cubit continues to be an effective method of tackling this problem, which is of great importance to many of our local residents.
“We are committed to working with our partners on future initiatives and are encouraged by the results of this most recent operation."
To report an abandoned vehicle in Tonbridge and Malling or for more information on the Council?s free Vehicle Surrender Scheme, please call 01732 876147 or visit www.tmbc.gov.uk.

 

Vehicle Surrender Scheme (VSS)

Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council introduced the VSS to help owners of unwanted vehicles dispose of them legally, free of charge and in a way that is environmentally friendly.
Vehicle owners living in the borough can contact the Council on 01732 876147 to arrange for the collection and processing unwanted vehicles.
The scheme is open to owners of cars, vans and motor-bikes. Trailers, caravans and vehicles containing rubbish will not be collected.
Once the council receives notification that someone has a vehicle to surrender, its contractor, Ripleys Auto Spares Ltd, will contact them and remove the vehicle within 14 days (excluding Sundays and Bank Holidays).
The vehicle owner will need to provide identification, with either a passport, utility bill or photo driving licence and make the logbook (V5 document) available at the time of collection.
Make sure the keys to the vehicle are available on collection.
On collection, the vehicle's details will be checked and the transfer section of the logbook will be completed. The owner will then receive an official „disposal of vehicle? document.
Next, the contractor will notify the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) that the vehicle has been surrendered and destroyed and a Certificate of Destruction will then be issued to the owner by the DVLA.
People who surrender a vehicle using the scheme will have no further responsibility for it from the time the vehicle is collected. The scheme is good for the environment too because all hazardous fluids and materials are re-moved from the vehicle and anything that can be recycled is reused.
For more information please contact Sally Seal, Media & Communications Officer on 01732 876008 or email sally.seal@tmbc.gov.uk

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Be a part of the Scouting family

WHEN Robert Baden-Powell founded the Scout Association in the beginning of the 20th Century, it is unlikely that he would have foreseen the tremendous impact it would have upon the Ditton community.
The first Ditton Scout Group was founded in 1929 by Reverend Wedgewood, but it was not until 1956, however, that the current site between New Road and the old recreation ground was acquired.
The 1st Ditton Scout Group currently consists of two Beaver colonies, two Cub packs, and two Scout troops. River Beavers meet on Mondays, Tiger Cubs on Tuesday, and the Lion Cubs on Wednesdays. On Thursday evenings both the Woodland Beavers and the Otter Scouts use the hut, and finally, on Fridays, the Beaver Troop Scouts assemble.
The assortment of weekly events that take place in the Scout Hut vary greatly, allowing for a huge range of different activities. For example, one week there may be a Knots and Lashings session, whereas the week after there might be a hike, or a swimming session at Larkfield Leisure Centre.
But don’t just take my word for it. Speaking to Grace, a Woodland Beaver, I was told (very confidently) that “it’s fun and most of my friends are here.” An Otter Scout, Robbie, told me that the best things they do at Scouts were “the games and the camping.”
The Cheeky Monkey Challenge, which the Group organised last year, was a weekend which included camping, activities and fundraising, designed to raise money for the charity, Children with Leukaemia.
Grabbing the bull by the horns, the Ditton Scout Group not only subjected themselves to 26 different fund-raising activities, but also raised a staggering £1,151.10 which was split between the Group and the charity.
Though not a camping sort of person myself, I did get the feeling that going on camp with the Scouts was a very good idea indeed. In fact, most of the things they do are interesting, fun and (remarkably) fairly educational.
All in all, I can heartily recommend the Beavers, Cubs or Scouts to anyone between the ages of 6 and 15. Not only is it fun, but it’s also a brilliant community to be involved in and, who knows, you might make some new friends!
Ditton Scouts are always on the lookout for new members, as well as new Leaders and Assistant Leaders to help support the group. Training can be provided if you have the enthusiasm and commitment.
For further information, ring Clive Blundell on 01732 840269. To find out more about the 1st Ditton Scouts, go to www.1stditton.co.uk

James Waters

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Country roads are more dangerous than motorways

ONCE again it has been very quiet for us in the Ditton area. We have attended a few automatic fire alarms which have sounded and given a bit of help to the ambulance service in the car park at the community centre, but thankfully not much else.
As a fire service we deal with a number of different kinds of incident, but the one that routinely involves death and destruction is the road traffic crash. A lot of people believe that if you are not on a motorway you are a lot less likely to be involved in a crash.
Please forget this misconception, you are more likely to be killed or seriously injured on a country road than a motorway! Please think about the following things when you next get into your car:
Hit somebody at 40mph and there is a 90 per cent chance that they will die Hit somebody at 30mph and there is a 90 per cent chance that they will survive
A seat belt takes approximately three seconds to put on – what journey can be so short that it is not worth putting a seat belt on?
Seat belts save in the region of 200 lives a year, in a crash at 30mph you will be thrown forward with a force of 30 to 60 times your own body weight!
Be aware of the road conditions and use your mirrors so you know what is around you. Always drive within your limitations.
Of course, it is not all road traffic crashes. Our core business is still fire safety so please remember the following points:
Fit and maintain a smoke alarm. You should have one on each level of your home and test it weekly. The ideal position is on the ceiling, in the middle of a room, or on the hallway and landing.
Test it weekly. A working smoke alarm can give you valuable time to get out, stay out and call 999.
Don’t remove the batteries. If your smoke alarm keeps going off accidentally while you are cooking, don’t remove the batteries. Instead move the alarm or change it for one with a silencer button.
In the event of a fire ‘Get out, Stay out and Call 999!’ Don’t delay for valuables, don’t investigate or try to tackle the fire. Use a mobile, a neighbour’s phone or a phone box to call 999. If someone needs to be rescued, wait safely outside for the firefighters who have the equipment and training to do it. Never go back in.
Plan your escape route. Make sure you and your family know the quickest way out in the event of fire. Consider an alternative route in case your usual one is blocked.
Electric blankets. Make sure they are turned off and stored flat or rolled up (not folded) when not in use. Never use them with a hot water bottle. Statistics show that of fires caused by electrical appliances, electric blankets have the highest rate of injury, with 441 injuries for every 1,000 fires. If you would like more fire safety advice or if you have any concerns phone 0800 923 7000 for your free home safety visit.

Dean Firmin, Station Commander, Larkfield Fire Station.

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Pupils make mark on heritage centre IT HAS been a busy time for the Ditton Heritage Centre committee and volunteers as fund-raising and community service went hand-in-hand. In July this year, every child attending Ditton Junior School participated in a tile painting project, with the head teacher Bob Holder and the teachers working with the committee. Each child was provided with an unglazed tile and with the help of ceramic artists, they painted a picture on the tile. The tiles were then carried off to the studio of Slap ‘n Dash in Hawkhurst, where they were glazed. Once glazed, they returned to the Centre and on Friday, November 14, were displayed for the children, teachers and parents to see. Each class of children came to Ditton Heritage Centre and admired their own and other children’s work. They then sat at the Victorian school desks and were taught in a Victorian style by a teacher/committee member who dressed up for the occasion. By way of thank you to the children, each one received a pencil. The tiles will be used in the corridor connecting the Centre to the cloakroom and toilets and will be a permanent reminder of the children attending the school this year. The opening of the new pub in New Road, the Kentish Quarryman was also accompanied by the presentation of a cheque to Ditton Heritage Centre for £200, which will con-tribute to the renovation and restoration of the Centre, so a big thank you to Shepherd Neame for this contribution. Thank you also to all the residents who supported the Ditton Heritage Centre Autumn Raffle and the Halloween Dance Tombola. We are happy to say that these combined activities add valuable money to the ‘Flush Fund’ and the toilet building project. If you would like to sponsor a brick at £2 a brick, do get in touch with either Tony and Marilyn Mulcuck on 01732 844195, or John and Liz Day, at 01732 840937.	Playground a hit AS PART of the conditions for the development on the New Road Business Estate site, the developers gave a sum of £60,000 towards road safety measures at the entrance to the site and the provision of leisure facilities. Of this sum Ditton Parish Council received £15,000 for play provision in the parish. Meetings were held with local youths to ascertain what equipment they would like to see provided and they asked for an adventure trail. This has now been provided at Kilnbarn Recreation Ground, at no cost to the parish, and is much appreciated and used by the youth of the village as can be seen from the picture. Since 1990 parish council staff have organised and voluntarily run five parish dances a year to raise funds to help with the parish operating costs and to date they have raised £109,394.40 from ticket sales. In addition they have raised £26,828.94 from the sale of raffle tickets at the dances and this income has been used to make donations to local worthy causes. Pictured is the Todd Miller and Joe Loss Orchestra at the Christmas dance.

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