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Gary Starling
01732 886220

Memories of Tonbridge & Malling 2000 - 2010

Thursday, July 08, 2010 - 11:30 AM

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

Cons and Scams

Wednesday, July 07, 2010 - 04:44 PM

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

Plaxtol Allotments

Tuesday, April 13, 2010 - 11:58 AM

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."

Car Keys and Burglary

Monday, April 05, 2010 - 11:00 AM

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

Dogs and their owners

Wednesday, January 27, 2010 - 09:07 AM

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

Drink Driving over the festive period

Sunday, November 29, 2009 - 01:59 PM

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

Safe Lanes. Has it improved road safety in Plaxtol?

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