Thu, 8 Jul 2010 11:30:12 +0100 http://www.plaxtol.com/village/ Village News en-gb http://www.plaxtol.com/village/images/logo.gif http://www.plaxtol.com/village/ gary.starling@btinternet.com http://www.plaxtol.com/village/Article124.html AS the first decade of the millennium draws to a close, Peter Ellis is appealing for residents to share their memories for an interactive CD.The idea is to create a comprehensive pictorial account of Tonbridge and Mailing life over the past 10 years - through the eyes of the people.The subject matter is completely open and can be as diverse as people want it to be.Peter is looking for pictures and text/audio comments of events to make it an illustrative memory bank of 2000 to 2010.By using the latest technology the CD-ROM will contain details of all 28 of the Boroughs Towns, Villages and Hamlets which can be navigated by users according to their own preference.The final contents are very reliant o­n contributions from Individuals, Societies, Schools and Businesses.Contributions can be a complete entry or just a single picture – i.e. A Public event in your area such as the Tour de France – A visit from your Twin Town – Your own families celebrations.Short stories (in audio and text); Musical items and Poems from local groups or individuals would enhance what is expected to be a goodly variety of items for all tastes and ages.The CD-ROM will also include elements of news of events that have affected residents without any political bias.  There will be ‘Headline News’ such as the Big Robbery in Tonbridge – to residents winning awards for a variety of actions and talents.  Plus items o­n House Building – Building of local Bye Passes – etc. The range o­nly limited by contributions.Peter was responsible for the Council’s CD-ROM Recollections and Aspirations made to celebrate the Millennium and with residents’ help wants to make the new o­ne worth having as a keepsake for every family.This is a purely voluntary project and any profits made from futures sales of the CD-ROM will be given to local charities.It is hoped that there will be updates o­n the progress of the project o­n the Council’s Web-site with the expected publication date being November 2010.In the first instance please contact Peter at his e-mail address pafellis@hotmail.co.uk. Or Telephone 01732 503562 Thu, 8 Jul 2010 11:30:12 +0100 http://www.plaxtol.com/village/Article123.html Scams and Cons – its surprising how many people fall foul of these, perhaps it’s the thought however slim of making a bit of money. The thought of getting rich seems to turn off the usual guarded and careful approach to financial dealings and that is probably what the con artist is hoping for. There is a letter doing the rounds at the moment, I’ve had one myself. The letter usually purports to be from a vice chairman in a Chinese bank informing you that someone with the same surname as yours invested millions in their bank, this has grown through careful investment. Then the account holder died in a tragic accident in China leaving no next of kin. The writer of the letter has sole access to the file and as you have the same surname as the deceased he can arrange for the money to come to you, suggesting for his troubles that the millions are split 50/50 between you and him. Apparently it’s done all the time in Hong Kong and it’s the opportunity of a lifetime. Is it heck, my guess is that if you respond to the letter there will be a twist. It will be you handing over your money to pay for this transaction to take place. You won’t see the millions or your money again and Mr Lee will be happy with the couple of hundred you have sent him for no more work than writing you a letter. I came across another opportunity of a lifetime recently. This one has a glossy website and literature and was very open about what it was doing. It suggests that there is a housing crisis and more houses are needed. As land for development is running out the government is going to have to meet this crisis by freeing up other land for development. Here is your opportunity to buy some of this land. The website makes it clear that there is no current planning permission on this land and no certainty that development will be allowed, it is a gamble, but one worth taking. I’m not so sure, I will leave you to decide if this is a con or not. You could just end up with a plot of land on which all you can do is graze a cow. Antony Wiles PC8024 – Borough Green 8024@kent.pnn.police.uk Wed, 7 Jul 2010 16:44:15 +0100 http://www.plaxtol.com/village/Article122.html WI Monthly Report for June 2010. Speaker - Helen Kendall-Tobias on "How To Age (Dis)Gracefully" see Village Societies section. Tue, 8 Jun 2010 14:41:08 +0100 http://www.plaxtol.com/village/Article121.html Minutes of WI monthly meeting for June 2010 - Villages Societies Section Tue, 8 Jun 2010 14:40:25 +0100 http://www.plaxtol.com/village/Article120.html There are a number of artists in and around the village with exhibitions on in June. South East open studios website Sue Lamb: 2 Laburnum Cottages, The Street, Plaxtol, Sevenoaks, Kent, TN15 0QP Ted Summerhayes: 2 Springfield Cottages, Reeds Lane, Shipbourne, Kent, TN11 9RR ClassAct: (6 artists) Hop Pickers Yard, Winfield Lane, Claygate Cross, TN15 8PX Fri, 4 Jun 2010 11:05:57 +0100 http://www.plaxtol.com/village/Article119.html The following statement was released by Plaxtol Living Off The Soil (PLOTS)." Due to the ill-feeling which we feel was caused due to lack of information offered to Plaxtol residents by the Parish Council P.L.O.T.S. feel unable to now use the piece of land offered which is currently used for football etc. We would request that the Parish Council now look for another site for us and would ask whether a different area of the Spoute Rec. has been considered. Since our members have already invested financially in their allotment as regards plants, tools etc. we would urge the Parish Council to give this urgent consideration.We would like it to be publicised that the land was offered by the PC and not requested by P.L.O.T.S. and that we are withdrawing from that area because we o­nly want to grow veg. and not engage in a fight or cause ill-feeling." Tue, 13 Apr 2010 11:58:55 +0100 http://www.plaxtol.com/village/Article118.html As manufacturers have done more to make cars harder to steal, especially the top of the range models we have seen an increase in house burglaries where the purpose of the burglary is to find the car keys. Investigations carried out recently into this criminal activity have shown that some of the offenders have been operating in this immediate area. Those of you living in roads where we know that there has been activity will already have received a warning letter from Kent police. They are looking for the opportunity or perhaps lining up cars to take in the future, there are plenty to choose from in this part of Kent. So many of us can be a little complacent when it comes to what we do with our car keys when we get home. It’s no good leaving them in view on a table or hook just inside the front door or even in the back of the door itself. The fruit bowl on the kitchen table or on top of the microwave with all the other junk, which collects there, well it does in my house. I am sure that most of us without too much trouble could come up with a list of the usual places where car keys are left, so can the criminals. Hide keys away, don’t leave them on view or within reach of a letterbox. Make sure all your ground floor windows and doors are locked and secure before you retire for the night. If you can set your house alarm to cover the ground floor without too much inconvenience it may be advisable to do so. It’s worth remembering that if your car is on the drive overnight and the keys are in the house then in all likelihood you are probably at home and in bed. Antony Wiles PC8024 – Borough Green 8024@kent.pnn.police.uk Mon, 5 Apr 2010 11:00:42 +0100 http://www.plaxtol.com/village/Article117.html Minutes of the Plaxtol WI March 2010 Business Meeting are in the WI Village society section Mon, 8 Mar 2010 18:45:15 +0000 http://www.plaxtol.com/village/Article116.html Dogs and their owners – Over the Christmas holiday I took a walk from Weybridge on the Thames to Godalming in Surrey, following the towpath of the Wey navigation. During the course of the walk I became a little annoyed with dogs, or perhaps I should more accurately say with their owners. Several things caused this, firstly not everyone is happy to have large salivating dogs running towards them barking, not everyone is happy to be jumped up at and have the resulting mud and muck all over their clothes. Then there was the young family with two small children, one of whom fell over and ended up in a pile of dog mess, which got in his hair and all over his hands. On my way home that evening I called into see some friends who were bemoaning the fact that their son had ended up in a similar pile while playing rugby on a school playing field. On returning to work several days later I found myself dealing with an incident of livestock worrying by dogs, which left six sheep dead. Responsibility among some dog owners seems to be an issue, lets hope a more responsible attitude will evolve. Perhaps it could be a new years resolution. Now to move onto something else – for those of you who live in Borough Green and Platt you may have been aware of a number of house Burglaries in the run up to Christmas. A couple of offenders were caught making off from a burglary in West Malling and at the time of writing this article, one has been charged with burglary with a further 18 offences to be taken into consideration. These offences were committed in Borough Green, Platt, West Malling and the Sevenoaks areas. He was not a local man and should now be out of circulation for a number of years. Great news to start off the new year. Antony Wiles PC8024 – Borough Green 8024@kent.pnn.police.uk Wed, 27 Jan 2010 09:07:04 +0000 http://www.plaxtol.com/village/Article115.html For the last few months I have had difficulty finding anywhere to shop without my senses being bombarded by the sound of Jingle Bells, the Snowman and large laughing Santa’s. Yes its that time of year again, Christmas is almost here. Only two sleeps to go – as one little lad told me last year when I called at his house. Well there is no need to panic and stuff the turkey in the oven just yet; there are still a few more sleeps to go to the big day. For most Christmas will be a time of fun and laughter, but for a few it will be a time of sadness and grief. Unfortunately some of that grief will be caused by the selfish and thoughtless actions of others. I am thinking in particular about the problems of drink driving. I doubt that there are many tea total office parties and as happens each year at this time people will be tempted to drive home after a night of drinking. So please if you are going to drink over the festive period leave the car at home. You don’t want to be the cause of a family sitting at a hospital bedside instead of round the dining table on Christmas day. It’s just not worth the risk and you don’t want to start off the New Year without a driving licence. May I take this opportunity to wish you all a Happy Christmas. Antony Wiles PC8024 – Borough Green 8024@kent.pnn.police.uk Sun, 29 Nov 2009 13:59:56 +0000 http://www.plaxtol.com/village/Article114.html The 2010 Festival builds o­n the success of the 2008 concerts hosting a mix of jazz, choral, solo instrumental and the internationally famous. The Mayor of Tonbridge and Malling will open the first event in January with a poetry and prose recital from two of the UK’s most famous actors Timothy West and Prunella Scales and close with a recital by the international violinist Tasmin Little. Claire Jones, harpist to HRH The Prince of Wales returns, this time in a joint percussion recital. There is a jazz evening with the David Rees-Williams Piano Trio over a picnic in private gardens and a choral concert from the King’s School Canterbury’s Crypt Choir. In addition, both Claire Jones and Tasmin Little will be giving workshops at Plaxtol Primary School.[continued...click o­n title above] Tue, 20 Oct 2009 09:08:53 +0100 http://www.plaxtol.com/village/Article113.html Theft of metal – I have written about this before and since my last article the thefts have become more ingenious and daring. The demand for and price of scrap metal has remained high and until it drops I fear that this is a problem, which will not be going away. I have visions of the offenders reading the FT with their morning cuppa and deciding what metals to target that day.We are all aware of the age-old crime of stealing lead off church roofs, a problem that has escalated over the last 12 months. What you may not be aware of are some of the other ways they now target copper and lead. Electric companies often have to take you offline if they are carrying out major work in the area, to keep you supplied with power large generators are placed in your neighbourhood. These are targeted at an alarming rate as they are connected to the grid with temporary copper cables. When the cables get stolen you lose your power. In some places electric companies have to put 24hrs security o­n the generators to stop this happening.Recently another method has come to light where the criminals are targeting roadside manholes, often in broad daylight to get at underground communications cabling. The cable will be cut at o­ne manhole and then pulled out of another several hundred yards away. To the casual passer-by someone working in a manhole with a high viz jacket o­n may not look out of place, but look again, be sure. Are there any BT or other appropriately marked company vehicles parked nearby. If a tatty looking van is pulling the cable out with its tow bar then something could be wrong.If you are at all unsure or feel that something is wrong then give the police a call and we will check it out.Antony Wiles PC8024 – Borough Green8024@kent.pnn.police.uk Sat, 26 Sep 2009 21:37:42 +0100 http://www.plaxtol.com/village/Article112.html Tonbrige Adult Education Centre are inviting you to find out more about what's going o­n in your local centre! There will be a wine appreciation demonstration, with free tasting, in the evening. During the day there will be demonstrations from some of the wide range of courses we offer, such as sugarcraft, dance, DIY, art, clock repair, pottery, upholstery and more! All visitors will recieve a free coffee/tea and a muffin, and can enter into the FREE PRIZE DRAW. Come along and find out what we can do for you! Fri, 14 Aug 2009 15:19:10 +0100 http://www.plaxtol.com/village/Article111.html I recently attended a counter terrorism lecture, part of our ongoing training with regard to the problem of terrorist activities in this country. What’s that got to do with the communities served by this website I hear you cry. My answer to that is that it has everything to do with us. Terrorism is not something, which is going to go away, it affects us all. The terrorist and the cause may have changed, but what has not changed since my time as a police officer in London during the early 80’s, at the height of the IRA troubles is the need for us all to play a part in combating this problem. Terrorists may well target high profile sites in our major cities but they live and work and plan their crimes while living as our next-door neighbours, in our communities. That makes us all best placed to notice and report suspicious activity, which may be linked to terrorism. How often after an attack have people been surprised that those responsible have lived in their street, shopped in the same shops. Then all of a sudden that odd behaviour, the strange comings and goings all make sense, but it’s too late then. Last year in a parish nearby we were called to a house fire in a quiet residential street. The happy chilled out members of the fire service, refusing to use their breathing apparatus were an indication that something odd was going on, just joking, they had stumbled on a house being used to grow cannabis. All right this had nothing to do with terrorism, but it proves a point, for when we started talking to neighbours many mentioned having seen odd activity related to the property, none of which had been reported. So please if you do have concerns or suspicions let us know, don’t wait until after the attack. Antony Wiles PC8024 – Borough Green Fri, 29 May 2009 08:22:35 +0100 http://www.plaxtol.com/village/Article110.html Fly tipping – It’s probably a problem we all recognise even if we are unsure of how it got its name. The Tipping bit is fairly easy and probably comes from the tilting up of a truck or container so as to discharge its contents. The Fly is perhaps a little more obscure but seems to have been slang for wide or clever. We use it to describe something, which is crafty or dishonest. Fly tipping is therefore the illegal dumping of rubbish. More often than not at the roadside, in fields, woodlands and gateways, piles of unsightly rubbish are becoming commonplace. It’s amazing what you come across; yes it was me you may have seen trying to strike up a tune on half a piano dumped in The Hurst. This is a problem, which I doubt will go away and may well become worse. We all know that landslides take place even though it’s rare to see them, much the same could be said about fly tipping, we know it’s taking place but how often do you come across it in progress. It is therefore a difficult issue to police. That said we can all play a part in reporting dumped rubbish on public or council land or on the highway to the borough Council. The prompt removal of rubbish is key to stopping an area becoming an unauthorised tip. It is also important to consider when you pay someone to clear out your garage or workshop where that rubbish will end up, be careful who you use or it could end up on the roadside. If you do see it going on please try to get the registrations of the vehicles involved and pass the information on to the Council or the police. In the long-term perhaps we need to look at the rules and regulations governing local authority tips, perhaps if it was easier and cheaper to dispose of rubbish legally there would be less of a problem with illegal dumping, but that’s just a thought. Antony Wiles PC8024 – Borough Green Mon, 4 May 2009 19:52:44 +0100 http://www.plaxtol.com/village/Article109.html  Plaxtol WI - report of April 2009 Meeting.  Speaker Ela O'Farrell o­n "Polish Seasons - What's Cooking?" Sun, 12 Apr 2009 17:36:30 +0100 http://www.plaxtol.com/village/Article108.html A plant fair will be held at Basted Farmhouse (turn right at the bottom of Plough Hill) o­n Friday 5th June 2009, from 10.30 am - 1.00 pm.  In addition to a good selection of perennial and annual plants there will be stationery and cards from Phoenix Trading.  There is ample parking in the field, and tea and coffee will be available.  All profits from the sale go to Sevenoaks Mencap, a local independently funded charity supporting those with learning difficulties in the Sevenoaks area.For further information please call Tessa Baker o­n 01732 780889 Tue, 7 Apr 2009 16:51:12 +0100 http://www.plaxtol.com/village/Article107.html The next Plaxtol Footpath Group Walk is o­n Sunday 10th May, and will be starting from the Plough Pub, Basted at 2pm.  Parking will be available in Bridge House Car Park (on the right at the bottom of Plough Hill).  We are aiming to walk through Basted Woodlands, up to Crouch and back along the Bourne Valley. It will take approximately two hours and could be a bit muddy and steep in places.  If you have need further information please call Tessa Baker o­n 01732 780889 Tue, 7 Apr 2009 16:50:48 +0100 http://www.plaxtol.com/village/Article106.html Some years ago I was visiting a friend in Holland, a country that is well known for its liberal views o­n cannabis, but I was a little surprised o­ne evening to find my friend rolling a joint which he cheerfully told me he was making to take to his grandfather in hospital. I was more concerned o­n arrival back at Stansted airport as I watched an excited drug sniffing spaniel leaping all over the bags in the baggage reclaim area as it dawned o­n me that my bag had been under the table where I had seen the joint being made, could anything have fallen in, luckily not but I looked a little nervous. [cont.] Fri, 3 Apr 2009 16:51:28 +0100 http://www.plaxtol.com/village/Article105.html There's still plenty of time to join the campaign.Although our active campaigning ends o­n 31 May, we still need as many residents as possible to take the Safe Lanes Driver Pledge and commit to safe, slow driving in Plaxtol.  o­nly with everyone's support can we create a local culture where driving too fast is unacceptable.  Do something for the community today - take the Safe Lanes Driver Pledge.  Go to our web page for more details.  Mon, 9 Mar 2009 13:05:14 +0000 http://www.plaxtol.com/village/Article104.html The latest report from Plaxtol WI can now be found in the WI section. The next meeting is in the Memorial Hall at 7.45pm o­n Thursday 5th March when Jack Wheeler will be talking about "Japanese Gardens". Mon, 23 Feb 2009 11:43:08 +0000 http://www.plaxtol.com/village/Article103.html It is a crime, which is targeted at the more vulnerable in our communities, the elderly and the ill or disabled, those who often live alone. As I write this there have been a total of ten such crimes in the West Kent police area this year and I am sure that by the time you read this there will have been others. Two of these crimes were committed in Platt and Borough Green so they are not something that happens elsewhere, they affect us as well. The offenders will use some story to gain entry to your home; they often pretend to be an official from a gas, water or electricity company. Whatever story is given and they are many and varied its sole purpose is to get you to allow them into your home. Once inside you will be kept occupied in the kitchen filling basins of water or looking under the sink while another offender is looking for your purse or handbag. If you are asked for change for a £10 note that’s just so they can see where you keep your money. We can all think of vulnerable people in our communities who could become victims. It falls to us all to keep an eye on them, to intervene if we see them letting people into their homes. We will often be able to recognise their normal pattern of visitors, so if something looks out of place take some action, even if its just calling round to borrow some sugar, that simple action could deter the offenders and make them leave. We can also educate our family and friends, make them aware of the issues. The message we need to get across is that you do not let people into your homes unless you are sure of them. Utility companies do not usually turn up unannounced, they do not need to come into your home to turn the water off, they can do that in the road and they certainly won’t ask you to fill up buckets of water and watch the kitchen tap for blue dye to come through. Do not let these people in, if necessary leave them on the doorstep and phone a friend to come and verify who they are. We can all help in preventing this sort of crime; we can all play a part in getting this message across. It is important to act quickly if you think such a crime is taking place, phone the police and above all record details of any vehicles involved, that one registration may be so important in the bigger picture, please report anything suspicious. If you are part of a group or organisation, maybe the WI or a coffee or lunch group and you feel that the group would benefit from a visit by me to explain these issues then please get in touch on 01732 379391. Antony Wiles PC8024 8024@kent.pnn.police.uk Tue, 17 Feb 2009 17:41:16 +0000 http://www.plaxtol.com/village/Article101.html With the departure of Andy Swanson the PCSO (Police Community Support Officer) for the parishes of Borough Green and Wrotham and the appointment of his successor Mark Thomas we have taken the opportunity to make a few changes. Mark will have responsibility for Borough Green as did his predecessor but will lose Wrotham. He will instead have a responsibility for Ightham, Platt, Plaxtol and Shipbourne, parishes which previously had no PCSO assigned to them. This is good news for Plaxtol as it means you now have a Police officer and a PCSO. What is a PCSO - they are members of the support staff employed, directed and managed by Kent Police. They work to complement and support regular police officers, providing a visible and accessible uniformed presence to improve the quality of life in the community and offer greater public reassurance - you can see I've just read the manual. Once Mark has finished his training he will be out and about with me and I will be introducing him to you. Antony Wiles PC8024 - Borough Green Sun, 18 Jan 2009 10:07:58 +0000 http://www.plaxtol.com/village/Article100.html I can say with a fair degree of certainty that sometime over the Christmas and New Year period people will be killed or seriously injured throughout the country and possibly in this county through alcohol related crashes on our roads. Its not a nice way to start an article in this festive season, but it is an undeniable fact that a proportion of the motoring public will get behind the wheel and drive having consumed far too much alcohol. Its got to be one of the most selfish actions a person can take, in short saying that the welfare of other motorists and pedestrians does not matter. Is the inconvenience of leaving the car at home and taking a taxi that great when compared against the life and well being of others, I think not. I am sure that as in previous years there will be an increase in police activity in relation to drink/driving. It's not worth taking the risk of being caught or having a crash. Don't blight your Christmas and that of others by taking the chance. If you are going to drink leave the car at home. Christmas is about new birth, hope for the future, family and friends. it would be a shame to remember this season of good will because of an alcohol related tragedy on the roads. From the team at Borough Green police office we wish you all the best this festive season. Antony Wiles PC8024 Mon, 24 Nov 2008 21:18:04 +0000 http://www.plaxtol.com/village/Article99.html Plaxtol Local History Group has launched a project requesting the owners of Plaxtol properties to lend us their house deeds, in order that we can record for our Archives details of past owners. [continued...] Fri, 21 Nov 2008 16:23:35 +0000