the website of South Ashford Community Forum
Kent 
County Council have announced that Beaver Lane will be closed from 29th May for up to five days. The road will be closed between the junctions of Cuckoo Lane and Maypits for urgent carriageway repairs. Alternative routes will be in place.
Kent County Council have issued two alerts of fraudulent activity:
Kent Trading Standards and Kent Police have received reports of criminals contacting residents by phone or in person claiming to be a Police or Trading Standards Officer. They will often refer to some previous poor work that might have been carried out and falsely claim the people involved have been arrested or are already in court.They insist the resident pays money which will be reimbursed after the court hearing.
The Police, Trading Standards, or the Court, would never ask for money – under any circumstances.
This type of fraudulent activity is on the rise so please report calls or visits to Kent Police. Residents that have previously been victims of doorstep crime are particularly at risk so please warn neighbours, friends and/or relatives if you think they may be targeted.
Report to Kent Police on 101 or at your local Police station.
Report it to Kent Police online
www.kent.police.uk/services/report-online/kent-police-online-reporting/
Doorstep criminals will take advantage of the current bad weather. Anyone calling at your home offering to do work on your roof, guttering, driveway, or inside your property, should be treated with caution.
Accepting work from a doorstep criminal can result in paying much more than you intended for very poor, unnecessary and sometimes dangerous work.
If you require work done to your home get at least three quotes and never give a doorstep caller cash.
For a list of Kent County Council approved traders
Please look out for neighbours and report any suspicious doorstep criminals to us.
www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/get-more-help/report-to-trading-standards/
For advice and to report issues to KCC Trading Standards contact
Citizens Advice consumer service
www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/ or
phone 03454 04 05 06
Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm.
Kent County Council Public Protection 01 March 2018
Early Partial Review of the Kent Minerals and Waste Local Plan 2013-30 andKent County Council
Opens: 19 Dec 2017
Closes: 27 Mar 2018
The Kent Minerals and Waste Local Plan 2013-30 (KMWLP or the Plan) sets out the minerals supply and waste management capacity provision for Kent up until the year 2031. Following the adoption of the KMWLP in July 2016, further assessments have been undertaken which suggest that the level of waste management capacity required to maintain net self-sufficiency differs from that which was anticipated to be needed when the KMWLP was prepared. In order to ensure that Kent benefits from an up-to-date strategy for waste management capacity the County Council is seeking to undertake an early partial review of the KMWLP to amend several of the policies relating to waste management.
Furthermore, the County Council also seeks to improve the clarity of the policies relating to minerals and waste safeguarding; this should improve their effectiveness when used in practice. This is a part of the Early Partial Review of the Plan at this time.
Parallel to the early Partial Review Consultation referred to above the County Council is holding a public consultation on the Option Sites for the Minerals Sites Plan. This is a Regulation 18 consultation to gather the views of the general community, groups, organisations, mineral operators, other Kent authorities (at the Parish and Borough/District levels) and individuals on what the County Council considers to be potential mineral sites required to supply a steady and adequate quantity of mineral resources to meet the objectives of the Kent Minerals and Waste Local Plan (KMWLP) 2013-30.
Additional supporting evidence documents and Sustainability Appraisal Scoping Reports have been published to support the consultation. Since the start of the consultation the evidence base been updated as follows:
Information concerning the site areas of the following Minerals Site Options:
Assessment of the suitability of mineral site options with respect to the Green Belt.
To engage in the above consultations, please click here.
The period for the consultations is 19th December 2017 to 27th March 2018.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the Minerals and Waste Planning Policy team.
Email: mwlp@kent.gov.uk
Phone: 03000 413328
| Name | The Kent Minerals and Waste Local Plan 2013-30 |
|---|---|
| Description | Kent County Council is seeking to undertake an early partial review of the KMWLP to amend several of the policies relating to waste management. |
| Dates | From 19 Dec 2017 at 00:00 to 27 Mar 2018 at 23:59. |
| Status | Open |
| Consulting Organisation Type | Kent County Council |
| Consulting Organisation Name | Kent County Council |
| District / Borough areas affected by the consultation | Ashford, Canterbury, Dartford, Dover, Gravesham, Maidstone, Sevenoaks, Shepway, Swale, Thanet, Tonbridge & Malling, Tunbridge Wells |
| Consultation Topic | General interest, Environment and countryside, Planning and planning applications, Recycling, rubbish and waste management |
| Consultation Methods | Online survey / questionnaire / forms |
| Contact Details | Email: mwlp@kent.gov.uk
Phone: 03000 413328 |
Kent County Council
Opens: 5 Feb 2018
Closes: 12 Mar 2018
Kent County Council is seeking your views on proposed changes to the archive search room opening hours at the Kent History and Library Centre in Maidstone.
More information on our proposal is available in the consultation document, which can be found in the ‘Consultation Documents’ section below.
No decisions have been made on the proposal at this stage and we are keen to hear all your views. Please fill in the online questionnaire, which is available in the ‘Respond to this Consultation’ section below.
Alternative formats: If you require any of the consultation material in an alternative format or language please email alternativeformats@kent.gov.uk or call 03000 421553 (text relay service number: 18001 03000 421553). This number goes to an answering machine, which is monitored during office hours.
Privacy: Kent County Council collects and processes personal information in order to provide a range of public services. Kent County Council respects the privacy of individuals and endeavours to ensure personal information is collected fairly & lawfully. We will follow our Data Protection Act guidelines to keep your information secure and confidential.
We recommend using Google Chrome if viewing and downloading consultation documents from mobile devices.
| Name | Archive Search Room Opening Hours |
|---|---|
| Description | We are seeking your views on proposed changes to the archive search room opening hours. |
| Dates | From 5 Feb 2018 at 09:00 to 12 Mar 2018 at 23:59. |
| Consulting Organisation Type | Kent County Council |
| Consulting Organisation Name | Kent County Council |
| District / Borough areas affected by the consultation | Ashford, Canterbury, Dartford, Dover, Gravesham, Maidstone, Sevenoaks, Shepway, Swale, Thanet, Tonbridge & Malling, Tunbridge Wells |
| Consultation Topic | General interest, Libraries and archives |
| Consultation Methods | Online survey / questionnaire / forms, Other survey / questionnaire / forms |
| Contact Details | Email: libraries@kent.gov.uk |
The Public Liaison Officer for the A28 Chart Road widening scheme is collating a list of interested parties that can utilise some of the wood available when work is started on the site clearance of 39 trees. To date over 40 organisations and individuals have expressed an interest in recycling the wood. The uses they have specified are very diverse and include a variety of woodland, artistic and construction projects, Tree species include oak, ash, sycamore horse chestnut, lime, elm and hawthorn some of which are ideal for sculpture and turning projects.
People must be able to collect the wood from a storage area being organised in Ashford during a specified one week window – probably towards the end of February or early March. As this forms part of community project for Ashford KCC would like to track what happens to the wood. So they are asking that anyone proposing to utilise any of the wood stays in touch and hopefully send some pictures of what has been made. As part of this project KCC are also hoping to raise money for a worthy local cause and would ask that if wood is taken a small donation is made to this cause. Details of the chosen charity will be confirmed at a later date.
Preparation work for the widening of the A28 Chart Road in Ashford will begin next week (February 12).
Kent County Council will then begin work on the £26 million project to widen Chart Road between the Tank and Matalan roundabouts in March and there will be further information provided about this stage of the works in due course.
The widening work is in preparation for the Chilmington Green development which will see around 5,750 homes being built over the next 25 years.
Vegetation and trees affected by the scheme are being cleared before the start of the bird nesting season.
The clearance will take about four weeks and stop and go boards will be necessary to manage traffic when vegetation close to the road is being cleared but this will be restricted to off-peak hours to minimise delays.
KCC will be providing replacement landscaping after the completion of the widening works that will see an increase in the overall number of trees along the route.
KCC will be providing a landscaping after the completion of the widening works that will see an increase in the overall number of trees along the route.
Rather than disposing of the wood, KCC will be creating opportunities for local charities and local craftspeople by reusing as much of the wood as practical.
More details will be provided shortly but if you know of a good cause in the area that could make use of the wood, contact the public liaison officer, Carole Jones at ChartRoadfeedback@jackson-civils.co.uk
Works are due to be completed by autumn 2019.
Kent County Council 07 February 2018
https://kccmediahub.net/a28-work-ashford-begins-next-week745
For years, fraudsters have used Western Union as a way to receive money from scam victims. Following an investigation in America, Western Union agreed to refund victims who sent money to fraudsters between 1 January 2004 and 19 January 2017. If you lost money to a scam during this time you may be entitled to receive a percentage of the amount you lost.
To be considered you must file a petition on or before 12 February 2018
FILL IN REMISSION FORM
https://kccsecure.com/westernunionremission/Claimant/UnKnownClaimForm
For advice and to report issues to KCC Trading Standards contact
Citizens Advice consumer service
Kent County Council 22 January 2018
http://mailchi.mp/dd6ee5a1cb33/compensation-for-scam-victims-who-used-western-union
Homelessness Support Service for Vulnerable Adults in KentKent County Council
Opens: 22 January 2018
Closes: 4 March 2018
Kent County Council (KCC) funds homelessness support services for vulnerable young people (16-25), adults who are over 18 and offenders who need additional support. Currently, those services can be categorised as either ‘supported housing’, ‘floating support’ or ‘rough sleeper outreach’.
We would like to hear your views on the proposals contained within the consultation document, which refers to plans for those 18+, and your thoughts on how we might improve the future delivery of homelessness support for vulnerable adults in Kent. Your views will be used to help shape the future of these services after October 2018.
We would like to hear your views on our proposal. We recommend you read the consultation document which can be found in the ‘Consultation Documents’ section below. To take part in the consultation, please fill in the online questionnaire which is available in the ‘Respond to this Consultation’ section below.
Alternative formats: If you require any of the consultation material in an alternative format or language please email alternativeformats@kent.gov.uk or call 03000 421553 (text relay service number: 18001 03000 421553). This number goes to an answering machine, which is monitored during office hours.
Privacy: Kent County Council collects and processes personal information in order to provide a range of public services. Kent County Council respects the privacy of individuals and endeavours to ensure personal information is collected fairly & lawfully. We will follow our Data Protection Act guidelines to keep your information secure and confidential.
We recommend using Google Chrome if viewing and downloading consultation documents from mobile devices.
| Name | Homelessness Support Service for Vulnerable Adults in Kent |
|---|---|
| Description | KCC would like to hear your views on proposals for the future of the Homelessness Support Service. |
| Dates | From 22 Jan 2018 at 13:00 to 4 Mar 2018 at 23:59. |
| Status | Open |
| Consulting Organisation Type | Kent County Council |
| Consulting Organisation Name | Kent County Council |
| District / Borough areas affected by the consultation | Ashford, Canterbury, Dartford, Dover, Gravesham, Maidstone, Sevenoaks, Shepway, Swale, Thanet, Tonbridge & Malling, Tunbridge Wells |
| Consultation Topic | General interest, Adult social care, Healthcare and public health, Housing |
| Consultation Methods | Online survey / questionnaire / forms |
| Contact Details | Post: Homelessness Consultation, Community Support, Strategic Commissioning 3rd Floor Invicta House, County Road, Maidstone ME14 1XX |
Kent County Council 22 January 2018
https://consultations.kent.gov.uk/consult.ti/homelessnessconsultation/consultationHome
Kent has earned a hard-won reputation for tough and effective biosecurity to protect plant, animal and human health.
Avian influenza (or bird flu) has recently been confirmed in wild birds in Dorset and Warwickshire, with an ‘avian influenza prevention zone’ now declared covering England.
It is vital that we all remain vigilant and report any wild birds found dead without obvious cause (especially wildfowl such as swans, geese and ducks) to the Defra helpline on 03459 33 55 77.
Any unexplained deaths amongst captive birds, such as poultry or gamebirds, should also be reported to the Animal and Plant Health Agency on 03000 20 03 01.
For further information please contact Tony Harwood (Principal Resilience Officer)
Email Tony Harwood
emergency.planning@kent.gov.uk
For advice and to report issues to KCC Trading Standards contact: Citizens Advice consumer service
Kent County Council 18 January
http://mailchi.mp/9e58280e91ba/avian-influenza
Public Health England advise the risk to public health from the H5N8 strain of bird flu is very low.
www.gov.uk/government/collections/avian-influenza-guidance-data-and-analysis
Some strains of avian influenza can pass to humans, but this is very rare. It usually requires very close contact between the human and infected birds. There have never been any recorded cases of H5N8 in humans.
The Food Standards Agency has said the disease poses no food safety risk for UK consumers. Properly cooked poultry and poultry products, including eggs, are safe to eat.
www.food.gov.uk/news-updates/news/2016/15834/fsa-advice-about-avian-bird-flu
If you employ people who work with poultry or work with poultry yourself, you can also read Health and Safety Executive advice on protecting workers from avian influenza
www.hse.gov.uk/biosafety/diseases/influenza.htm
Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
Animal and Plant Health Agency
www.gov.uk/guidance/avian-influenza-bird-flu
advice for people keeping just a few birds (more…)
Kent County Council (KCC) have announced that the saving proposed on bus subsidy will be reduced from £ 2.25 million to £ 0.45 million, however it has also been announced that KCC propose an extra 1% rise in the precept giving a total rise of 4.99% or 58.82 for a Band D property.
Since KCC published its budget proposals in October 2017:
Kent County Council 15 January 2018
https://kccmediahub.net/kcc-continues-protect-frontline-services745
The change brings the total rise in the Council Tax for a Band D property to £ 75.78 giving a total Council Tax of £ 1639.10.
Kent and Medway Fire Authority’s budget was also announced before the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government raised the referendum threshold for Council Tax rises to 3% and may be reviewed.
The table shows the annual Council Tax for a Band D property
| Council Tax | 17/18 | % Rise | £ Rise | 18/19 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KCC | 1,178.82 | 4.99% | 58.82 | 1237.64 |
| ABC | 154.00 | 2.28% | 3.50 | 157.50 |
| FRA | 73.35 | 2.00% | 1.46 | 74.81 |
| PCC | 157.15 | 7.64% | 12.00 | 169.15 |
| Total | 1563.32 | 4.85% | 75.78 | 1639.10 |
We will update this post as more information becomes available
KCC Budget Strategy 2018/19
https://southashford.org.uk/index.php/2017/10/17/kcc-budget-strategy-201819/
KMFRA Safety and Wellbeing Plan and Budget Consultation
https://southashford.org.uk/index.php/2017/10/24/kmfra-safety-and-wellbeing-plan-and-budget-consultation/
ABC Budget Consultation
https://southashford.org.uk/index.php/2017/12/30/abc-budget-consultation-2/
Kent Police and Crime Commissioner Consultation
https://southashford.org.uk/index.php/2018/01/10/pcc-proposes-12-rise-to-boost-police-frontline/