Parish Council Update

Kirsty Lane • 8 June 2020

Latest news

Like everyone, we’ve had a very different few months to what we had planned. It was a shame to have to cancel the special VE commemorations but it was lovely to see the posts on the community page of everyone commemorating the day from home. We received a particularly lovely message from a resident who said that one of our amazing volunteers, Carol Campbell, had made house-to-house doorstep visits to those on their own in the village, with a bowl of flowers singing ‘We’ll Meet Again’. It’s actions like this that have really lifted peoples’ spirits and reminded everyone what a wonderful community we live in.

May is usually when we host our community lunch for our over 50s residents. Sadly, this will have to wait too but we’ve all agreed that when it is safe to do so, the Village will come together to celebrate all the volunteers who have helped friends and neighbours over the past few months. We had over 30 residents register as ‘official’ volunteers but we know that there were many more who have helped their immediate neighbours. A very special thank you to all these volunteers, and also to those who have been volunteering their time in different ways such as litter-picking - it’s all much appreciated by the Parish Council and also the wider community.

As many of you know, Crockenhill Parish Council already had an emergency plan in place, so when this pandemic hit, we were ready to respond quickly and we have been regularly calling all our residents who have registered as requiring help/support, arranging for shopping and prescriptions to be collected when needed. Every person was given the Parish Council number which has been diverted to ensure that out of hours calls have been answered too.

As lockdown measures are lifting slightly, we are starting to move forward with some of the other projects that we have planned for this year and we will be updating you on these over the coming few weeks.

Rubbish/litter

With the ease of lockdown restrictions, we have also seen a vast increase in the amount of rubbish in the bins on the Village Green, Harvestfield and on the Cricket Meadow. Our Amenities Assistant reported that one of the bins that was emptied on Saturday was already full again by Sunday! We have therefore decided to increase the emptying of the bins in the short-term to twice weekly. We would however like to politely request that if bins are looking full, please take rubbish home with you and please DO NOT dispose of your household rubbish in these bins.

We are also planning on replacing the open bins on the Village Green and at Harvestfield as these are very old and litter sometimes blows out in the wind or is removed by animals.

Fly-tipping

You may have also seen one of the projects our Parish and District Councillor, Rachel Waterton, is working on to try to tackle the fly-tipping problem that we are experiencing. We are certainly not alone in this, and problems are being experienced across the County but please click here to see how we can all help: https://www.facebook.com/100048968591555/posts/145930477049238/?d=n

Village Green

You may have noticed that over the weekend the wall on the corner of the Village Green was jet cleaned by a resident who volunteered their services for free. Special thanks to Everest Professional Driveway Services https://www.facebook.com/everestprofessionaldrivewaycleaning/
for a fantastic job. This has prepared this area nicely for the plans to re-vamp this whole space, which will include a special memorial to commemorate Alf Thorpe, our school lollipop man who sadly passed away a few months ago. So many came out to pay their respects that day and it was clear how much he was thought of by so many in the community. The family approached us to ask about a memorial and it was decided that a fitting tribute next to the crossing would be ideal as this is a real focal point for the village. Sylvia Halls has also volunteered to help the Parish Council in choosing the most suitable plants and shrubs for this area. More details about the plans will be revealed shortly.

Annual Parish Meeting

Due to government restrictions on holding public meetings, we were unable to hold our normal Annual Parish Meeting this year. We did however still gather reports from the various village groups and organisations in the village, including the Parish Council, and this document is published on the Meetings and Minutes page of our website. www.crockenhillpc.org.uk

WI update

by Kirsty Lane • 3 June 2025

Response to WASPS announcement

by Kirsty Lane • 21 November 2024
Since the announcement by the WASPs Rugby Club on 11th November regarding ‘securing’ land within the South East, many residents have contacted Crockenhill Parish Council with their various questions and concerns. Unfortunately, we have been unable to answer many of these questions with any certainty. We can only assume the location of the land in question is within the Parish of Crockenhill as this was one of the two potential sites that was put forward by WASPS as part of Sevenoaks District Council’s new Local Plan consultation. We have spoken with several Crockenhill landowners north of the parish for clarification and have been assured that they have no plans to sell their Grade 2/3 agricultural land or smallholdings. However, we do know that Swanley Town Council own a section of land within the parish - an area around Petham Farm. We also know that they held an extraordinary meeting on 30th October in which the only item on the agenda for this meeting (which the public were excluded from) was ‘Petham Farm agreement’. In terms of publicly available information, we can only find two documents on Swanley Town Council’s website relating to this potential development. One was their response to Sevenoaks District Council’s Local Plan consultation earlier this year in which they OBJECTED to the WASPS stadium, and the other was the agenda item on 30th October. It would appear that Swanley Town Council has, at some point during this year, privately changed its position - despite overwhelming public objection locally. It is not surprising that residents expect Crockenhill Parish Council to have been consulted regarding a significant agreement on land within their parish. It came as a surprise to us when Crockenhill Parish land was originally earmarked as a potential site within the consultation. Crockenhill Parish Council feel that they, and the public, have been deliberately kept in the dark throughout the whole process. We can only assume that plans, meetings, and agreements have been conducted entirely behind closed doors, without transparency, and against our wishes. We are appalled that Swanley Town Council, a neighbouring council, believe it appropriate to conduct themselves in this way. We have requested information from Swanley Town Council regarding this and are awaiting their official response. Speaking about the WASP’s announcement, Sevenoaks District Council Member and Chair of Crockenhill Parish Council, Cllr. Rachel Waterton said: “We have been blindsided. Whilst other local councils, groups, and residents are working together to protect the greenbelt from inappropriate development, we believe Swanley Town Council is working against us. With so many other large sporting facilities close by, a sports stadium on agricultural land within a rural location, near an already overstretched road network (often gridlocked) is not the development that the local area either wants or needs. This development is going to hinder considerably more residents north of the district than it will benefit.”

Talk on scams by KCC Trading Standards

by Kirsty Lane • 17 July 2024
Join us!

Community Lunch

by Kirsty Lane • 20 May 2024
Join us!

Hedgehog Highways

by Kirsty Lane • 26 February 2024
The Parish Council has joined the Hedgeway Highway initiative. We have surrounds available for sale (£1.50 each) from the Parish Council office. A hedgehog Highway is a 5 inch gap in a fence or wall allowing access for Hedgehogs. These gaps are essential in the battle to prevent the extinction of our endangered spiky friends. The Hedgehog Highway allows hedgehogs to: *Forage for food *Meet mates to breed *Access nesting sites For more information, please visit www.hedgehogsrus..co.uk

Emergency Plan Contact List

by Kirsty Lane • 29 January 2024
Dear Residents, Emergency Planning Contact List Crockenhill Parish Council is in the process of updating its Emergency Plan. The Plan provides a framework for us, in the event of an emergency, to help those who may be vulnerable. Emergencies include power cuts, heavy snow and flooding. We are updating our lists and would like to know of anyone who may rely on services such as electrical equipment or delivery of medication; are on their own and have no family living nearby; or are elderly and more vulnerable. You do not have to be a certain age to qualify. In most cases this will likely be just a quick call in an emergency to make sure all is well. In other situations, it may be that more help is needed, so Councillors will work with other agencies to ensure that support/assistance is directed where needed most. We are also looking for more volunteers who may be able to help during an emergency. Obviously, Emergency Services are always the first port of call but there may be times when we need additional support for residents. For example, those with 4x4 vehicles may be able to assist getting people to hospital and getting shopping; those with a generator may be able to help people who rely on electrical equipment; those with Nursing experience may be able to help some of our most vulnerable. This is not intended to be a regular commitment, just help in an emergency situation. If you would like to be added to our Emergency contact list or register as a volunteer, please contact clerk@crockenhillpc.org.uk to request a short form which can be completed in a few minutes and returned to the Clerk by 28th Feb 2024. Thank you

Crockenhill Parish Council's response to SDC's Local Plan

by Kirsty Lane • 10 January 2024
Crockenhill Parish Council has published its response to Sevenoaks District Council's Local Plan consultation: https://www.crockenhillpc.org.uk/planning

Attention Crockenhill!

by Kirsty Lane • 13 December 2023
Please come along to the public meeting on Thursday 21st December at 7.30pm, Crockenhill Village Hall, read the guidance being sent to all homes and importantly, TAKE PART in the consultation!

Local Plan Consultation

by Kirsty Lane • 21 November 2023
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. Read more on the Planning page

WI Update

by Kirsty Lane • 18 July 2023
We are a very friendly, active, highly diverse and long established Women’s Institute group based in the Crockenhill Village Hall, Stones Cross Road Crockenhill BR8 8LT. We usually meet on the first Wednesday of the month (see the attached programme of events and activities). Doors opening at 7:30 pm for an 8:00 start. All visitors are welcome, so if interested or want more information, please come along to meet our WI group. Crockenhill Women’s Institute Event Programme 2023/2024 Date Presentation Speaker 7 Jun 20‘23 Hampton Court, Sex and Gossip Sarah Slater 5 Jul 2023 5 years Nursing & living in India Dee Larcombe *13th July, 7.30pm ‘Petanque Taster’ (The Chequers, Crockenhill) 2 Aug 2023 Living in the Trenches (Open evening, guests welcome) Nick Gibson 6 Sep 2023 Reaching for the Stars *Competition: ‘Late summer Corsage’ Paul Read 4 Oct 2023 Members Evening 1 Nov 2023 Look good Feel Good Margaret Clarkson-Bennett 6 Dec 2023 Christmas Party (Singer) * Gifts for Bexley Women’s Aid * Competition ‘Christmas Decoration’ Eliza Mc Lleland Jan 2024 No Meeting 7 Feb 2024 The Love of Wine: Portugal, Port & Madeira * Hyacinth Competition Chris Newlands 6 Mar 2024 Social Evening * Easter gifts for Bexley Women’s Aid * Beetle drive (Date to be announced) 3 Apr 2024 Magician Bob Pound 1 May 2024 Annual General Meeting & Resolutions
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