Alan White - Councillor for Horton Kirby, South Darenth and Farningham

If you receive a message like this, think twice about responding. It’s a scam to capture your personal details.

If you have responded you should consider changing your passwords. And depending on the level of information shared you should alert your bank to ensure your funds are protected.

Fantastic to have the support of neighbours to help with the Spring Clean weekend. We collected 22 bags of litter and 13 large nitros oxide gas cannisters.

As well as Heathside, the team cleaned Station Road, Lombard Street, Rays Hill, The Street, Bull Hill, Esparto Way, East Hill, New Road, Mussenden Lane and Shrubbery Road.

Huge thanks to the Team for their time and support
Joel Kentish
Paul Wheeler
Paul Thurlow
Janet Fitzgerald
Becky Parsons
Phil Edwards
Richard Callender
Sarah and Neil Bennett
Jill and Mick Hills

Thanks also the South Darenth Co-op for providing bottles of water.

⚠️ Reminder - M25 Road closure ⚠️

The M25 between junction 10 (Wisley) and junction 11 (A320 Chertsey Interchange) will be closed both ways from 9pm TONIGHT (15 March) until 6am Monday 18 March.

Diversions will be in place but heavy congestion and long delays are expected in and around the area. Please only travel if your journey is necessary.

More information, including a map of the diversion route can be found here 👉 http://spkl.io/61814LuVf

To keep up to date with the closures, make sure to follow National Highways: South-East

M25 junction 10 - National Highways We're restoring heathland and upgrading the junction with the A3 Wisley interchange and to reduce congestion, improve safety and create more reliable journeys.

https://www.kentonline.co.uk/ashford/news/99-of-kent-businesses-want-return-of-eurostar-302983/

99% of Kent businesses want return of Eurostar Hundreds of Kent firms hope for Eurostar services to return amid claims its withdrawal has hit them in the pocket.

Great article, all about Farningham village and what makes it so special

Picture-postcard Kent village with three pubs and a stunning nature reserve This beautiful village is ideal for a day-out

Pretty terrific news being able to achieve this solution which in turn will help to support those in the district to get on your a better financial position

👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

Funding for Citizens Advice to help residents | Sevenoaks District Council Funding for Citizens Advice to help residents - Sevenoaks District Council has secured £40,000 of new, external grant funding on behalf of the local Citizens Advice to support their work in the coming year.

https://www.sevenoaks.gov.uk/news/article/428/council_protects_waste_collection_service

Council protects waste collection service | Sevenoaks District Council Council protects waste collection service - From 1 April 2024, the Council will no longer supply residents with black waste sacks and by autumn 2024, all households will receive a sack for life for their recycling. The changes will save money, protecting weekly collections, while cutting the Council...

I was strolling around Horton Kirby this morning. I took the opportunity to look out for Potholes and report them for repair on the Kent County Council website.

I also reported the Potholes at the junction of Horton Road and new Road in South Darenth.

As well as the multiple Potholes in Lombard Street outside Oakview Stud Farm.

References - 782261, 782263, 782265, 782266 and 782270

You can report Potholes, or obstructions in the road using this WebLink https://www.kent.gov.uk/roads-and-travel/report-a-problem and clicking on Report a Problem.

I’m at Dunbrick, Sevenoaks for a 7 am meeting with our environmental enforcement team. Keen to understand what help they can provide for the fly tipping we are experiencing.

This morning’s view in Horton Kirby

This morning I visited two warm spaces.

The first was a breakfast cafe at Shad Hall in Farningham. I spoke to a number of those present about what was niggling them and it wasn’t a surprise to hear it was their concerns on Pedham Place.

I then visited the South Darenth church which provides a variety of games, hot drinks and a lunch. Today’s was paste bolognaise which was delicious. Their topic of discussion was the irregularity of the 414 bus.

Roger Gough is already speaking to the provider and I’ll add the views of residents I heard from today.

**Water Companies: social tariff**

I’ve just come across this and thought it useful to share with you; if you’re on a low income it’s worth checking to see if you are eligible for your water company’s ‘social tariff’.

Do help to spread the word

👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/utilities/cut-water-bills/

Cut your water bills If you need help with your water bill, fitting a meter could save hundreds of pounds. Beat the average 2% price rise with Money Saving Expert.

Look at this post on Facebook

👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻

https://www.facebook.com/share/vkkeYmG92TtX7rEv/?mibextid=WC7FNe

Whenever you need support, there is someone there who can help you. To find out more visit www.linktr.ee/victimvoice

As you can see, there has been fly tipping at the entrance to the Horton Kirby Cricket Club. I have reported this and would hope it is cleared in the next couple of days.

It’s a real shame to learn that Ebbsfleet won’t be accessible to travel to France or Amsterdam.

With the station being just 5 miles / 16 mins drive, Europe is practically on our doorstep.

Services stopped March 2020 with Covid lockdown and simply haven’t been resumed.

https://www.kentonline.co.uk/ashford/news/eurostar-confirms-no-kent-stops-in-2024-299705/

Eurostar confirms no Kent stops in 2024 Eurostar has announced its services to the continent will not return to Kent this year.

Last litter pick of the year.

Three bags collected just along Lombard Street.

Clearly there’s a Corona and Peroni graveyard in the vegetation.

Registration number plates discarded are also a concern something dodgy has occurred.

Enjoy tonight celebrations.

Delivering leaflets today with Cllr Ball to help inform residents of the local plan and of Pedham Place.

Three options to dispose of your real Christmas Tree for free.

Three ways to dispose of your Christmas tree for free | Sevenoaks District Council Three ways to dispose of your Christmas tree for free - Three ways to dispose of your Christmas tree for free

Hello everyone

I posted a short while ago, urging you to give your opinion on the Local Plan 2020 on the Sevenoaks District Council website. The deadline for you to comment or to vote for your preferred option is January 6.

At this stage the Plan shows that the sites that have been offered up by property-owners for possible development. The Plan (or Option) that will be adopted is very likely to be the Option that more people vote for.

That being said, I am told that Option 2 has the most votes at present. If you want this, or another option, please go to the website and vote for what you would prefer to happen in the District. Dont forget the deadline on January 11th.

A reminder that whichever Plan or Option is adopted that normal planning procedures will be followed. This may take several years as consultations with various Statutory Bodies must take place and Plans would have to be produced. Members of the Public would still have further opportunity to comment on whatever proposals are put forward.

There is a meeting at the Shand Hall, St Peter and St Paul's Church, Farningham tomorrow (Wednesday 20th December) at 19:00H. The Local Plan 2040, including Pedham Place, will be discussed.

There is also a "pop-up" presentation at the Farningham Village Hall on 4th January 2024. You will be able to look at some of the proposed developments and then discuss them with Officers from the District Council.

I’m attending the Civic Carol Service at St Mary’s Church, Swanley.

I’m hope there’s a number of better singers than me, I’ve a voice of a wolf hound

Fantastic to see three new salt/grit bins now in situ in readiness of winter weather.

Delivery the ‘Reporting Back’ leaflet to residents on the activities Cllr Laurence Ball and I have being doing this year.

All residents in Farningham will have received their leaflet, with the grateful support of Cllr’s Horwood, Holt and Clack

Residents in Lombard Street, Rashleigh Way, Horton Road, The Street, Rays Hill and Mussenden Lane will have received there’s today.

In South Darenth I offered to deliver to Residents in East Hill. There are some very steep and numerous steps to front doors. It will certainly have toned me up.

More deliveries will be made tomorrow.

Out and about in Farningham delivering the ‘Reporting Back’ leaflet for Cllr Ball and I.

Grateful to have support from other councillors in delivering to all residents.

Hmm...

Something tells me the contractor for Kent County Council Highways Team was in a very bad mood when replacing the damaged salt/grit bin at the junction of Bull Hill, The Street and Horton Road.

I appreciate the location has been hit by numerous cars in the past 12-18 months but did they need to make it look more like a dumping ground?

It's fortunate that the Parish Council don't have to pay for the salt. There must be more wasted on the ground than there is in the bin.

Talk about doing just the bare minimum.

My feedback email to KCC Highways is already in their inbox.

Walking home tonight I came across this scene.

Clearly a vehicle has been driven at some speed to have completely damaged this grit/salt bin.

It’s the second occasion the bin has been driven into and I believe it’s the fourth occasion a vehicle has hit this spot, sadly involving one fatality. 

Reported to KCC to be replaced.

Participating in the regular quiz with tonight’s event raising funds for St Mary’s Church.

I often know the answers when I told. 🤪

We came fourth!!
Tonight raised £600. The next quiz is 23rd Feb in aid of Cry - Cardiac Risk in the Young.

This is just infuriating.

A resident has just brought this issue to my attention.

School Lane, Horton Kirby was closed, only just the other week to clear fly tipping.

No sooner has that been removed they are back dumping wood, bricks, sand, and other items completely blocking access for residents.

I’ve just reported it, and the reference number is FT/3134.

The team clearing such incidents are very swift to act, but this might take a little time to organise so please be patient.

INFORMATION AND DATES OF POP-UP SESSIONS

Residents are urged to have their say on the new Local Plan.

Local people can soon comment on the Council’s draft Local Plan, which includes proposals to meet the District’s future housing and development needs.

Sevenoaks District Council is working on ‘Plan 2040’, a new Local Plan, which sets out what can be built and where over the next 15 years.

Plan 2040 will help to deliver much needed new homes, including affordable homes, while promoting residents’ health and wellbeing and protecting the environment, including the overwhelming majority of the Green Belt.

While Plan 2040 proposes to make the best use of land within existing built up areas, the Council faces a big challenge as the Government has told the Council the District needs 10,680 new homes from 2025 to 2040.

As the Sevenoaks District is 93% Green Belt, the third highest proportion in England.

The Council has to consider a limited number of Green Belt sites to meet the District’s future housing and development needs.

The sites under consideration are in the most suitable locations, close to existing settlements, transport and services. Some are on poorly performing Green Belt, such as land that may already have been built on.

Local people can comment on Plan 2040 from Thursday 23 November 2023 until midnight on Thursday 11 January 2024 at www.sevenoaks.gov.uk/plan2040. They can also view Plan 2040 at local libraries, town or parish council offices and Sevenoaks District Council’s offices.

The Council is also running ‘Pop-up’ sessions at the following locations where the public can find out more and comment on Plan 2040:

• Monday 4 December 2023, 4.30pm to 7.30pm at Sevenoaks District Council’s offices, Argyle Road, Sevenoaks, TN13 1HG

• Wednesday 6 December 2023, 4.30pm to 7.30pm at the Eden Centre, Four Elms Road, Edenbridge, TN8 6BY

• Monday 11 December 2023, 4.30pm to 7.30pm at White Oak Leisure Centre, Hilda May Avenue, Swanley, BR8 7BT

• Tuesday 12 December 2023, 4.30pm to 7.30pm at the Village Hall, London Road, West Kingsdown, TN15 6BZ

• Wednesday 13 December 2023, 4.30pm to 7.30pm at the John Fryth Room, St. Mary the Virgin Church, The Green, Westerham, TN16 1AS

• Thursday 4 January 2024, 4.30pm to 7.30pm at Farningham Village Hall, High Street, Farningham, DA4 0DH

• Tuesday 9 January 2024, 4.30pm to 7.30pm at Sevenoaks Leisure Centre, Buckhurst Lane, Sevenoaks, TN13 1LW

Cllr Simon Reay, the Council’s Cabinet Member for Development & Conservation, says: “Plan 2040 focuses on the current and future needs of our local communities and reflects local issues.

“Not only has Government told us we need to enable 10,680 new homes up to 2040, we know there is an acute need for new affordable housing. Plan 2040 puts forward proposals for these much needed new homes along with business space and new infrastructure to meet our future needs.

“At the same time, Plan 2040 proposes to protect the overwhelming majority of the Green Belt while ensuring new developments provide high quality places and spaces and have the minimum impact on the environment.

“We’re really keen to hear the views of local people so I would urge them to get involved in our consultation.”

Local Plan 2040 | Sevenoaks District Council Resident can comment on our new Local Plan from 16 November 2022 until 11.49pm on on Wednesday 11 January 2023

Great to have the company of a good neighbour helping me on the litter pick around Horton Kirby this morning. Together we collected three full bags.

Shame to see oily fluid leaking on the pavement from a dubious drain pipe. Stopped by two dog owners who were annoyed at the condition and needed to walk in the middle of a busy road.

Clearly it was safer for them to walk in the middle of the road as the pavement was a dangerous place with quad bikers choosing to drive at speed on the pavement.

I’ve reported the antisocial behaviour to the police VCN-26324-23-4646-03