Ditton Parish Council - Parish Announcements

	THE NEW iPLAY UNIT IS AWARDED TO DITTON
In addition to the new youth shelter and games wall, Ditton is to receive an iPlay unit from Tonbridge and Malling Play Partnership’s grant from The Big Lottery. The high-tec iPlay is an innovating, stimulating, healthy and intelligent play system which combines interactive electronics with conventional playground equipment. It is fun, energetic and addictive. It has multi player options and can be played by 1 person or up to 6 people and is suitable for people of all ages and abilities. iPlay is solar powered and individual scores can be uploaded onto the internet at www.iplayweb.com
	It will be the first iPlay unit in Kent and is sure to generate a lot of interest and be well used. If you want to learn more about the exciting iPlay, call into the Ditton Parish Office any weekday between 9.00am and 4.00pm where we will be happy to see you.

CLOSURE OF DITTON FORD

The Parish Council has been informed by Kent Highway Services that they are to temporarily close the Ford which will hopefully lead to permanent closure to motor vehicles later this year. The letter below dated 14 May 2008 has been sent to residents living close to the Ford.

Dear Resident,

RE: CLOSURE OF THE FORD

As you are aware, the Parish Council undertook a consultation with local residents, last October, regarding the closure of The Ford. The majority of residents were in favour of closure and the results were conveyed to Kent Highway Services (KHS).

The Parish Council has been informed that KHS have started the legal procedure to permanently close The Ford to vehicles, but this is quite a lengthy process that can take up to 9 months.

More and more cars are continuing to get stuck in The Ford causing disruption to local residents and as a result KHS have informed me today that they intend to enforce a temporary closure order on The Ford from Monday 19th May 2008, which will be extended to keep it closed until the permanent closure is imposed, hopefully later this year.

If you experience any problems, please contact KHS helpline on 08458 247 800.

Yours sincerely

(Mrs) Sue Kavanagh
Clerk of the Council

Indoor Markets at Ditton Community Centre
Date	Organisation	Stall Bookings
05.10.2008	2374 SQUADRON	0794 8289101
12.10.2008	1ST DITTON SCOUTS	01622 201973
19.10.2008	DITTON HERITAGE	01732 844195
26.10.2008	ANIMAL WELFARE	01622 812195
02.11.2008	2374 SQUADRON	0794 8289101
16.11.2008	1ST DITTON SCOUTS	01622 201973
23.11.2008	ANIMAL WELFARE	01622 812195
30.11.2008	TWINNING ASSOCIATION - CHRISTMAS FAYRE
07.12.2008	2374 SQUADRON	0794 8289101
14.12.2008	1ST DITTON SCOUTS	01622 201973

Kent Trading Standards has received information (18.12.07) that mailings are being sent to Kent consumers claiming to be an Age Concern monthly lottery draw. There is an Age Concern logo on the letter. Householders are being asked to supply personal and banking details

Kent Trading Standards advise consumers to be wary of unsolicited mail and telephone calls. Never give banking or personal details out unless you are certain of who you are dealing with.

Unsolicited mail can be restricted by registering with the mailing preference service by calling 0845 703 4599 or registering online at www.mpsonline.org.uk. Unsolicited marketing calls can be restricted by registering with the telephone preference service by calling 020 7291 3320 or registering online at www.tpsonline.org.uk.

For information and advice call Consumer Direct on 08454 04 05 06.

Doorstep sellers were operating in the Highfield Road, area of Ramsgate on 19.07.07. They were described as three white males in a small white unsigned van. Were "cold-calling" in the area looking for gardening work.

Trading Standards advise consumers to be wary of doorstep callers. We also advise not to give out personal information. Do not agree to have work done immediately. There are very few circumstances where work on a property has to be carried out at once. Ask friends and neighbours to recommend reliable tradesman and try to get at least 2 written quotations or estimates before making a choice.

Kent Trading Standards has been made aware of a scam involving consumers being telephoned by people alleging to be from the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) asking for personal and financial information. This includes asking for bank account details in order for the OFT "to reclaim bank charges on behalf of consumers". The Office of Fair Trading is a government department and therefore consumers could easily be misled into thinking that such requests are legitimate. They are not.

These callers have no connection with the OFT, and their sole intention is to use the information for identity theft or to run up bills or commit crimes using stolen details. The OFT will never contact consumers asking them for personal bank details.

Kent Trading Standards and the OFT are warning consumers not to pass on personal or financial information to cold callers either over the phone or via email. If they have already done so they should contact their bank as soon as possible and review their credit card and bank account statements to see if there have been any unauthorised transactions.

Please report similar incidents to Kent Trading Standards via Consumer Direct on 08454 04 05 06.

Each year the Environmental Health section at the Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council receives a large number of complaints alleging nuisance due to smoke from garden bonfires.

Whilst it is accepted that people will light bonfires from time to time to dispose of garden refuse, it should be noted that this may well cause nuisance and annoyance to neighbours and prevent them from enjoying the use of their garden. Because of this, it is the least acceptable method of disposal; the most preferred being to compost the garden waste. If this is not practicable it should be taken to a local Waste Disposal Site, e.g.

We suggest that the following guidelines will help to prevent a smoke nuisance from being caused:

1. Compost as much garden refuse as is possible and burn only when there is no other reasonable method of disposal.

2. Garden refuse should be dry before burning and care must be taken to add material to the fire only in small quantities. The sudden heaping of large quantities of refuse onto the fire will produce large quantities of smoke. The Golden Rule to follow is to feed the fire little and often.

3. Never add household refuse, plastic or rubber materials to the fire or sump oil to try to light it.

4. Site the bonfire as far away from neighbouring properties as is possible.

5. Do not light a bonfire when the weather conditions will cause problems. The bonfire should only be lit when the wind is light and steady, and in a direction that will cause the least annoyance to neighbours.

6. Bonfires can be dangerous and should never be unattended. Do not allow the fire to smoulder, as this too creates large quantities of smoke; dowse it properly with soil or water.

There are no byelaws currently in force within Tonbridge & Malling Borough to control the lighting of bonfires. However, under the Environmental Protection Act 1990, smoke and ash from a bonfire that is causing nuisance to persons in the vicinity can be deemed to be an offence, rendering the person having the bonfire liable to prosecution. It is not the Council's wish generally to take legal action when you are undertaking activities within your home and we suggest that consideration to neighbours along the lines mentioned above, will go a long way towards preventing a nuisance from being caused.

Further information can be obtained by contacting Environmental Health at the TMBC Council Offices, Gibson Building, Gibson Drive, Kings Hill, West Malling, Kent ME19 4LZ, telephone number (01732) 844522.

Highway faults can be reported direct to Kent Highway Services on 08458 247 800 or via the website at www.kent.gov.uk. Anyone wishing to report faults via the post can do so on the report cards which are available from the Ditton Parish Office or local main library.

Share your journey, share your costs!

Kentcarshare is a free, simple, secure, internet-based service that enables you to register your car journey on-line and match drivers and passengers with those who do similar journeys, sharing driving costs and reducing congestion.

Over 1,750 are now members of Kentcarshare since the launch by Kent County Council in September 2005 and more and more people are discovering the benefits of carsharing. New members join by registering for free on the site www.kentcarshare.com/ and record their journeys. The system matches those travelling similar journeys and members then make the arrangements to start car sharing.

More than 1700 people countywide have already joined the scheme. As a result they have reduced the number of miles travelled on Kent's roads by over a million miles a year. Kent has one of the largest road networks in the country and the volume of traffic creates a high demand for road maintenance.

Every user who signs up to the scheme will be entered into a free prize draw for a year's car tax.

To find out more, or register visit www.kentcarshare.com/

Did you know there are Brownies in Ditton?

Being a Brownie is an adventure with lots of exciting and challenging things to make and do - come and have an adventure on Wednesday evenings.

We meet at the Guide & Brownie Headquarters, Kilnbarn Road on Wednesdays 6.00pm to 7.15pm.

We are currently recruiting for September 2006 and you need to be between the ages of 7 - 10 years to join.

Become a volunteer Tree Warden

Play a valuable role in caring for trees in your local area

Get involved in tree surveys & planting projects

Learn new skills by going on our FREE training courses

Meet new friends and share experiences

To find out more about being a Tree Warden,
please telephone Virginia at Kent BTCV on 01233 812033.
Email: v.hodge@btcv.org.uk

Looking for a team for the first time or wanting a change? Then look no further...

Holtwood Rangers F.C. under 12 Team (current Year 7) are looking for new members for next season in all positions including a goalkeeper.

We are a local, friendly club providing football to everyone in the community and play our home matches at the Maplesden Noakes School on Sunday mornings.

Interested? Then don't delay -- call Rene Bennet on 01732 872892 for more information.
Or see our web-site.

Ditton Minors football club are looking for players for an under 15's team for the 2008/09 season. Training sessions are now taking place on Tuesday evenings at Kilnbarn Recreation Ground, Ditton between 6.00pm to 7.00pm.

Neighbourhood police officer, PC Matt Roddick and the KCC Community Warden Paul Crispe are holding a police surgery in The Acorn Room, at Ditton Community Centre, once a month on Tuesdays 7.00pm - 9.00pm.

The surgery gives you a chance to raise any concerns you have about local policing issues. PC Roddick and Community Warden Paul Crispe will see people individually on a first come, first served basis.

If it is not possible to see everyone during surgery hours, we will take your contact details and get in touch later.

PC Roddick is based at Snodland and can be contacted on 01622 600975 or 07870 252 604.
PC Andy Dalton (07870 252341) also covers Ditton Parish at times.

The introduction of Neighbourhood Police Unit, which plans to have Police Officers, Police Community Support Officers (PCSO's), KCC Community Wardens and Special Constables all working and based in their designated communities, means Ditton now shares Police Constable Matt Roddick (07870 252 604) as a Community Policeman with Larkfield. In addition Ditton has PCSO Lia Bishop (07772 226 023) and now has a new KCC Community Warden, Paul Crispe, to replace Tom Hawkwood, who left the parish in February 2008.

The Parish Council has made accommodation available for both of them within the Community Centre, but you will mainly see Paul Crispe, the Community Warden walking around the village.

If you have any concerns about unlawful or unacceptable behaviour or happenings in Ditton, please make contact any members of the Neighbourhood Police Unit.

This event has been running for over 20 years and this year, 2008, promises to be a really successful day. The Sponsored Bike Ride takes place on Saturday 13 September 2008 from 10am to 6pm.

Over 700 churches across Kent -- including our parish church -- will be involved, welcoming riders and walkers, often with refreshments. Money is raised through sponsorship and is shared between a nominated church and the Friends of Kent Churches, who give grants for church repairs. Last year more than £140,000 was raised.

Riders can plan their own route, long or short, flat or hilly, challenging or relaxed, whatever suits you. This is a lovely day out for all the family.

Ditton Parish Council *...in the Garden of England...*
Parish News and Dates