This is the Plaxtol Village website.

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

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

Tuesday, October 20, 2009 - 09:08 AM

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]

Saturday, September 26, 2009 - 09:37 PM

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 Green
8024@kent.pnn.police.uk

Friday, August 14, 2009 - 03:19 PM

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!

Friday, May 29, 2009 - 08:22 AM

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

Monday, May 04, 2009 - 07:52 PM

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

Sunday, April 12, 2009 - 05:36 PM

 Plaxtol WI - report of April 2009 Meeting.  Speaker Ela O'Farrell o­n "Polish Seasons - What's Cooking?"

Tuesday, April 07, 2009 - 04:51 PM

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

Tuesday, April 07, 2009 - 04:50 PM

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