Author: Rachael (Page 1 of 13)

Kent County Council will be resurfacing a section of the B2026 Hartfield Road at the junction of Cowden Pound Road. Starting on 20th June 2022 the road will be closed from 20:00 to 06:00 each night for 5 Nights (excluding weekends).

During these essential works it will be necessary to close the road completely between the junction of Butterwell Hill and Hever Lane so that we can carry out the works safely for both the workforce and road users. The diversion route will be via B2026 Hartfield Road, B2028 Marsh Green Road, B2028 Moor Lane, B2028 Racecourse Road, B2028 Town Hill, B2028 High Street, B2028 Plaistow Street, B2028 Newchapel Road, A22 Eastbourne Road, A22 London Road, A264 Moat Road, A264 Cranston Road, A264 Blackwell Road, A264 Holtye Road, A264 Colestock Road, B2026 Hartfield Road and vice versa.

Spode Lane Closed at Hartfield Road diversion via Spode Lane, Butterwell Hill and then on to the above diversion.
Cowden Pound Road closed Hartfield Road diversion via Cowden Pound Road, Cow Lane, Blowers Hill and then on to the above diversion.

This type of work can be affected by bad weather, so if it is not possible for us to carry it out at this time, we will arrange a new date and let you know via a letter drop to your home. We will also put up signs along the road, before we start, showing the date we plan to start work.

What we plan to do
We will remove the existing road surface by a method known as milling. The complete area will then be swept by a mechanical sweeper to ensure the prepared surface is clean and free of dust and debris. If required, the existing manhole covers, and rain water gully gratings will be adjusted or replaced to the correct level before the new surface is laid. Please note that this operation is noisy and can be prolonged as it is carried out using pneumatic hand tools.
The new surfacing material will then be laid using a machine called a paver and compacted with a roller. This is a quick process and dependant on the design will either be a one or two-layer process. Finally, following completion of the surfacing, all associated road markings will be re-painted. The road will then be re-opened. Please note that during the whole process, audible warning reversing sirens will be heard along with flashing beacons; this is a health and safety requirement and cannot be turned off but will be kept to a minimum.

Why are we doing this work?
The majority of capital investment in maintaining our highway network is funded through various capital maintenance grants from the Government. To make best use of that finite resource we carry out condition surveys and inspections, using a combination of mechanical and visual means, together with an assessment of local needs, and that helps to inform an annual capital works programme that balances value for money and our duties under the Highways Act 1980. Our approach to highways asset management is based on using robust data to inform how we invest the funds available, so that we spend the right amount of money at the right time to reduce the cost of maintenance overall. Further details of our works programmes and our approach to highways asset management more generally can be found at www.kent.gov.uk.

Kent County Council will be resurfacing a section of the B2026 Hartfield Road at the junction of Butterwell Hill starting on 13th June 2022.  The road will be closed each night from 20:00 to 06:00 for 5 nights.

The diversion route will be via B2026 Hartfield Road, B2028 Marsh Green Road, B2028 Moor Lane, B2028 Racecourse Road, B2028 Town Hill, B2028 High Street, B2028 Plaistow Street, B2028 Newchapel Road, A22 Eastbourne Road, A22 London Road, A264 Moat Road, A264 Cranston Road, A264 Blackwell Road, A264 Holtye Road, A264 Colestock Road, B2026 Hartfield Road and vice versa.
Blowers Hill Closed at junction of Hartfield Road diversion via Cow Lane, Cowden Pound Road and then on to the above diversion.
Butterwell Hill closed at junction of Hartfield Road diversion via Butterwell Hill, High Street, Holtye Hill, A264 and then on to the above diversion.

This type of work can be affected by bad weather, so if it is not possible for us to carry it out at this time, a new date will be arranged. We will also put up signs along the road, before we start, showing the date we plan to start work.

During these essential works it will be necessary to close the road completely between the junction of A264 and Cowden Pound Road so that we can carry out the works safely for both the workforce and road users.

The planned works:
We will remove the existing road surface by a method known as milling. The complete area will then be swept by a mechanical sweeper to ensure the prepared surface is clean and free of dust and debris. If required, the existing manhole covers, and rain water gully gratings will be adjusted or replaced to the correct level before the new surface is laid. Please note that this operation is noisy and can be prolonged as it is carried out using pneumatic hand tools.

The new surfacing material will then be laid using a machine called a paver and compacted with a roller. This is a quick process and dependant on the design will either be a one or two-layer process. Finally, following completion of the surfacing, all associated road markings will be re-painted. The road will then be re-opened. Please note that during the whole process, audible warning reversing sirens will be heard along with flashing beacons; this is a health and safety requirement and cannot be turned off but will be kept to a minimum.

Why are we doing this work?
The majority of capital investment in maintaining our highway network is funded through various capital maintenance grants from the Government. To make best use of that finite resource we carry out condition surveys and inspections, using a combination of mechanical and visual means, together with an assessment of local needs, and that helps to inform an annual capital works programme that balances value for money and our duties under the Highways Act 1980. Our approach to highways asset management is based on using robust data to inform how we invest the funds available, so that we spend the right amount of money at the right time to reduce the cost of maintenance overall. Further details of our works programmes and our approach to highways asset management more generally can be found at www.kent.gov.uk.

Please come along to the Annual Parish Assembly next Thursday 26th May. This will be held in Hever Village Hall at 7.00 pm.

In addition to hearing  about your Parish Council, we have a range of interesting speakers lined up for the evening, such as Tom Tugendhat, MP, and representatives from local organisations and services. Drinks and refreshments are provided and the chance to chat to local residents and Councillors after the presentations too. The event is free to everyone who lives in Four Elms, Hever or Markbeech. The Agenda for the Assembly can be found here: http://hever.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Annual-Parish-Assembly-2022-Agenda.pdf

The Draft Minutes from the meeting of the 10th May 2022 are now on the website and can be found here: http://hever.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/2022-05-10-Minutes-AGM-draft.pdf

The Approved Minutes from the meeting of  9th  March 2022 can be found here: http://hever.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/2022-03-09-March-22-Minutes-Final.pdf

Residents can join local singers for an off the scale musical celebration in honour of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee!

The Council organised ‘Big Community Sing’ will showcase the talents of local choirs, quartets, schools and singing groups of every description and all ages, genres and abilities.

The event takes place at the Stag in Sevenoaks on Tuesday 7 June 2022 from 7pm and all the money raised from the night goes to support local mental health services for young people.

Sevenoaks District Council’s Chairman, Cllr Avril Hunter, says: “After a break, we’re delighted to be holding the Big Community Sing again. It’s a great opportunity for a diverse range of singing groups to perform in front of hundreds of people whilst raising money for local mental health services.

Cllr Hunter adds: “Singing as part of a group is a great way to get involved in the local community and improve health and wellbeing.”

Tickets to watch the Big Community Sing cost £5 and are on sale at the Stag Box Office. Visit www.stagsevenoaks.co.uk or call 01732 450175.

Residents’ waste collections will take place on their usual day over the Spring and Jubilee bank holidays.

Sevenoaks District Council refuse collection crews will be working as usual on Thursday 2 and Friday 3 June 2022. Anyone who has a collection scheduled on these days should put their sacks out as normal.

There will be no changes to garden waste collections over the two bank holidays either.

Residents should put their black and clear sacks out at 7.00 am and garden waste out at 6.30 am on their collection day.

Cllr Margot McArthur, the Council’s Cabinet Member for Cleaner and Greener, says: “Our waste collection crews will be going the extra mile by working the two bank holidays so no one misses a collection. Thanks to the dedication of our staff, we’ve kept our bank holidays collection arrangements simple – residents just need to put their sacks and garden waste out on their usual day.”

For more information visit www.sevenoaks.gov.uk/refuse.

Sevenoaks District Council (SDC) will be making payments to eligible residents, who pay their council tax (Bands A to D) by direct debit, during next week. The guidance relating to the rebate scheme applies to those liable for the council tax from April 2022, in addition the rebate should only be payable once the first payment, or installment, of council tax has been made in relation to this financial year.

As those circumstances are now being met, SDC aim to get payments out to everyone that is eligible (and pays council tax by direct debit) during May.

For those council tax payers that do not pay by direct debit, SDC will begin contacting them from 23 May with details about how to claim.

Information for residents is available on the council website at https://www.sevenoaks.gov.uk/info/20005/council_tax/624/council_tax_rebate

A unique draft 25-Year Environment Plan written by South East Water now needs feedback from local residents on its strengths and weaknesses before it is published.

South East Water is the first UK water company to produce such a plan, following an intensive period working with its customers, employees and other environmental organisations to shape it. The appeal for feedback from local communities is the final stage before it is published in summer-2022.

Not only does the plan set out how the company will limit its own impact on the environment, but more importantly, how it will improve the overall health of the environment and increase its resilience to the effects of drought, flooding and growing demand for tap water.

Supplying drinking water to 2.2 million customers across the south east, the company maintains 83 water treatment works and 9,000 miles of underground pipes, as well as 33 Sites of Special Scientific Interest, two local nature reserves, Lullington Heath National Nature Reserve and numerous Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

The water supplier also works with farmers, landowners and other water users to protect the quality and quantity of the rivers and underground aquifers which are used to produce an average of 520 million litres of tap water each day.

The company is now looking to expand the work of its in-house team of environmental experts to work with other local companies and individuals to improve the environment within a generation.

The consultation runs from 1 to 30 April.  Read the plan and have your say on South East Water’s website – southeastwater.co.uk/25YP.

Easter refuse collections

Following the Easter bank holidays, there will be changes to rubbish, recycling, garden and commercial waste collection days across the District.

Revised collection days are:

Good Friday, 15 April – this collection will take place the next day, Saturday 16 April

Easter Monday, 18 April – all collections this week will be one day later than usual until Saturday 23 April.

Residents are asked to put their sacks out at 7am on their collection day to help prevent attracting animals and the build-up of litter.

Garden waste customers will need to put their bin or sacks out by 6.30am on their collection day.