MARCH 2016 Published by Kennington Community Forum

DELIVERED TO 5,000 HOMES

FOR THE LATEST KENNINGTON NEWS K��������� C�������� F����

Head teacher and his office manager cheated school out of thousands

There are fears that a new estate of more than 700 homes could be built in Kennington. It would be in Willesborough Road, opposite the Little Burton Estate. Councillors Phil Sims and Winston Michael say they have learned the sites will be included in Ashford Borough Council’s Local Plan to be published in April. The document looks at potential development up to 2030. A council spokesman insisted sites in the plan were still at the speculation stage

“and at this stage we do not know what is going where." Cllr Sims (Kennington) said: “There is a proposal which recommends creating a housing estate of over 700 homes. The development would stretch from the Conningbrook Hotel to the bridge over the railway on the Willesborough Road, and north to Orchard Lane. “The land is primarily Grade 1 Agricul-tural Land and is defined by the Nation-al Planning Policy Framework as ‘only to be considered in exceptional circum-

stances’. There are no such exceptional circumstances. The number of vehicle movements would be many thousand per day. There are no plans to enhance the main roads which residents of the estate would use.” Cllr Winston Michael (Boughton Aluph & Eastwell) said: “Recently I learnt these sites would be taken forward into the consultation document and informed my Parish Council. “If this site gets into the Plan it would

CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

‘700 new homes for Kennington’

To mark the 70th anniversary of Kennington’s Victory Celebrations in June 1946 this year’s Summer Fayre will have a 1940s theme. It is hoped stallholders and visitors will enter into the fun and dress up in the style of

those days! The Fayre is on Saturday 25 June at the Recreation Ground, Ulley Road. The latest Fayre news can be found on Facebook: Kennington Summer Fayre email: kenningtonfayre@gmail.com

Forties theme for the Fayre

Former Kennington head teacher Robert Juniper and his ex-office manager Yvonne Pucknell, who together stole £13,000 from the school, have escaped going to prison. They were both given suspended jail sentences at Canterbury Crown Court. Juniper, 57, of Jubilee Fields, Upchurch, near Sittingbourne, was head at Phoenix

Community Primary School,

Belmont Road, for eight years.

He admitted helping himself to more than £4,000 and was given a 30 weeks jail sentence, suspended for two years and ordered to do 150 hours of community work.

Pucknell, 62, of Bybrook Road, Kennington, who previously

denied her guilt, pleaded guilty to fraud by misusing the school’s credit cards, creating bills of £7,523, and stealing £2,091 between January 2011 and April 2013. She was given a 12 months suspended sentence and ordered to do

200 hours of community work. Pucknell, who worked at the school for more than 20 years, used the credit cards to buy petrol, food, alcohol, presents for her daughter and pay an hotel bill. The judge told Juniper: “You

were regarded as pillars of society but you took credit cards and used them to fund your own lifestyle.”

It was Juniper’s successor, Frances Nation, who spotted discrepancies in the school’s records and referred her con-cerns to Kent County Council and then to Kent Police.

The current head, James Tibbles, said the pair had let pupils down and robbed them of opportunities, such as school trips and new musical instruments because the money was not available.

He said: “Over the past three years the school has been transformed into one where children are given opportuni-ties that were not previously available such as learning musical instruments, visiting other countries and trips in

our new minibuses.”

Juniper and Pucknell “robbed pupils of opportunities”

2

MAN DENIES MURDER BID A 25-year-old man denied attempted murder when he appeared at Maidstone Crown Court. Paul Bristow is alleged to have stabbed Darran Bean near The Rose Inn, Faversham Road, on 2 October last year. Bristow, of Chilmington Green, Great Chart, will return to court on 23 March. Mr Bean, 47, was taken to a London hospital with serious injuries and released after a lengthy stay.

COMMUNITY COUNCIL APPROVED

A letter from Councillor Winston Michael in the Kentish Express

(11 Feb) said “residents wonder

if a deal was struck between

Kennington Community Forum and

Ashford Borough Council leaders in order to obtain parishing.”

This implication that the successful

designation as a parish was the result of shady dealing is scurrilous. There

have never been any such discussions between the Forum and ABC.

Cllr Michael (Boughton Aluph &

Eastwell) also said the Forum should

be at the forefront of opposition to

proposals to build hundreds of

homes, adding “so why is their voice

nowhere to be heard?” The Forum hosted two public work-

shops at the start of the planning

stage and sent a detailed response

reflecting residents' views, including

objection to the “submitted sites”.

ABC's Planning Policy officer Simon

Cole has confirmed that no formal recommendations have been made

yet to councillors and this will not

happen until the Cabinet considers

the draft Local Plan. He said: “It is factually inaccurate to

say a formal proposal is in place at

this stage.”

At present the Forum does not have enough facts to mount an effective

campaign. But if these sites are

included we shall, of course, oppose

them as vigorously as possible.

by CHRIS MORLEY

Chair, Kennington

Community Forum

open the floodgates for devel-opments on other greenbelt sites. This is just the tip of the iceberg and could be the next Chilmington Green.” A previous attempt to develop the land was dropped after a huge protest and media campaign. Cllr Winston said: “I do not understand why ABC is wading back into a sensitive area of development. Is this part of a bigger scheme waiting in the background?" ABC Planning Officer Simon Cole said: “No formal recommenda-tions have been made yet to councillors and this won’t happen until the Cabinet considers the draft Local Plan, scheduled for April. “We have been having a series of discussions with various

Ward Members over potential site allocations across the whole borough, but it is factually inaccurate to say that a formal proposal is in place at this stage. “There will be plenty of oppor-tunities for public consultation and comment on what actually appears in the draft Local Plan once it has been approved by Cabinet.” Kennington Community Forum was not invited to the discus-sions and has not seen the draft plan. A Community or Parish Council would have been involved. KFC Chair Chris Morley said: “It is difficult to respond to a leaked report.” Councillors Sims and Michael are urging residents to make their views known to Simon Cole at simon.cole@ashford.gov.uk before the Plan is published.

‘700 homes’

HOMES BURGLED Thieves broke into homes in Church Road and Park Road Kennington on Tuesday 2 Febru-ary between 11.15am and 5pm and stole money and jewellery.

FROM PAGE ONE The formation of a community council for Kennington was approved at a full meeting of Ashford Borough Council in December. It will be in place from early 2019, with elections in May 2019. It will be a warded council of 16 community councillors serving an area approximately the same at Kennington Community Forum. It will gain Conningbrook Lakes from Wxil-lesborough and Sandyhurst Lane will trans-fer to Westwell Parish Council.

ABC will need to make the required Order to form the council. There will be discussions on how a shadow council could be formed to help with the start-up of the council. There will be a consultation on community priorities before the level of precept is decided. Forum chair Chris Morley said: “Anyone who might like to stand for election as a councillor in 2019 can find out more by volunteering for the Forum.”

3

The run-down pavilion on Spear-point Recreation Ground has been razed to the ground to make way for a £918,000 build-ing to be used by sports clubs and community groups, Speaking just before the bulldoz-er moved in, Councillor Jessamy Blanford, Ashford Borough Coun-

cil portfolio holder for culture, leisure and the environment said: “This is an historic day for Kennington. It is something I know all local people have wanted for a long time. The old pavilion has done sterling service but it’s 50 years old and really lets the side down when teams

comes to play in Ashford, so this is an important project for Kennington and the borough.” She said there had been gener-ous grants from the Football Foundation, Sport England and developers’ contributions. The community has raised more than £3,000. Cllr Blanford thanked all

those who had worked so hard to bring this about. These included borough councillors, Ben Moyle of ABC, Kennington Community Forum, and the Ashford and District Sunday Football League. The new layout aligns the build-ing with the sports pitch and allows for extra parking.

It’s gone at last, now for the new pavilion!

Vivid accounts of the day Kennington was bombed and the night a German plane crashed on what is now Spearpoint Recreation Ground are told in a new book. Kennington at War 1939-1945, tells of life in the village during the Second World War and of the Servicemen and civilians who are remembered on our War Memorial. The youngest was 14. There are memories of when food was so short rook pie was served up for dinner; of ammu-nition stored in the Congrega-tional chapel; and of evacuee children who were billeted with local families. For many young-

sters it was a thrilling time. Peter Rainer, who was 14 in 1939, said: “Before the war we

youngsters found plenty of things to keep ourselves amused. Then along came Hitler

and he made everything more exciting.” But while youngsters watched dogfights in the skies above their home and searched for souvenirs from crashed planes, many families suffered heartbreak and despair. Robin Britcher’s book covers life in the village from the 1920s until the Garden of Remem-brance was opened in 1950. It is available from Bella's (Savers Newsagent), Faversham Road, Kennington, and Bockhanger Post Office, price £5, or by sending a cheque for £6.50 (includes p&p) payable to Robin Britcher at 169 Faversham Road, Kennington, Ashford, TN24 9AE.

Night a German bomber crashed in Kennington

Sixty years ago Ted Prangnell and his pal Mike set off for an adventure across Europe in a 1928 Austin 7. “We didn’t have up-to-date maps and the car kept breaking down,” said Ted, of Canterbury Road,

Kennington. Their experiences driving through countries still recovering from the Second World War are recounted in his book A Car and Two Lads. Although ill-prepared, they coped despite language difficulties

thanks to luck, initiative and determination. And they benefited from the good nature of people they met along the way. A Car and Two Lads is available on Amazon and from Waterstones, Ashford.

4

The Kentish Stour Countryside Partnership plans to transform the green spaces beside the river and the lake in Little Burton into a thriving habitat for wildlife. It will also become a learning and leisure resource for the community. Over the years KSCP, along with volunteers from the community, have begun this work, planting up to 2500sq metres of wildflower meadow. Jo Hill, KSCP voluntary officer, said: “We are still looking to improve it further. Part of our plan is to restore the lake and its surrounding area, carry out woodland work and improve the community facilities. We are looking to create a Friends of Little

Burton Group and we need help. If you are interested in improving your local green space and wish to be part of ensuring its future we want to hear from you. The KSCP plans to attend the Kennington Community Forum meeting on Tuesday 29 March and give a short presentation on the Little Burton Project. In the meantime we would welcome your feedback.” KSCP is a non-profit environmental group who work with landowners, community groups and other organisations to improve, maintain and create wildlife habitat and access to green spaces. You can contact Jo at jo.hill@kent.gov.uk or by calling 03000 410900.

by Heather Silk, Chair, Friends of Bybook Nature Reserve

We would like to thank Kenning-ton Co-op staff who helped raise the magnificent total of £363 with their December Christmas Fair plus an in-store tombola. We hope to use this money for educational facilities on the Nature Reserve. Not content with this, Kelly Read, Kennington Co-op Local Forum Organiser, arranged for 18 Co-op volunteers from the local branch and other Co-op stores, to help the Kentish Stour Countryside Partnership with a scrub clearance day. The extra light generated should encourage more wild flow-

ers which in turn, will encourage butterflies and other insects. Stroll along the footpath alongside the Reserve to see the bright yellow early celandines, listen to the song thrush and look for the colourful great spotted woodpecker. If you would like to help the Friends of Bybrook Nature Reserve with the regeneration project, or would like more information, please email Di Comley at kentishstour@kent.uk.gov or call 03000 410900.

The next public meeting is on Monday 14 March at St Mary’s Community Hall, Rylands Road, 7.30pm. New Friends welcome.

Big plans for Little Burton

Many hands make light work: Volunteers help to clear the site.

Co-operative venture is a great success

K ennington cricketers Dave Finch and Ian Hughes were

hoping to be the first British Beer Pong champions. They were play-ing against 64 other teams in Lon-don on 29 February. The winners will represent Britain in the world series in Las Vegas, where the first prize is $50,000. Beer pong is a drinking game where teams throw a ping-pong ball across a table with the aim of landing it in a cup of beer. If successful, the other team drink the contents and the cup is removed. The first team to eliminate all the opponents’ cups is the winner.

5

Irresponsible dog owners are not cleaning up after their pets. Many angry owners have expressed their disgust on the Kennington Community Forum Facebook page. One wrote: “We live off Trinity Road and the pavement is regularly covered in dog poo. I clean up after my dog, why can't others? It’s disgusting when it gets into the soles of children's shoes or into the tyres of kid's bikes and scooters. I’m really fed up with it.” Others comments: “I live in the old part of Kennington and it's no better there. It's awful!”

“It is disgusting in the Beecholme Drive area. I keep doggie bags by the front door and make sure I’ve got one every time I take the dog out. I can’t understand why other people don’t.” “It's everywhere! I walked with my children to Sandyhurst Lane — Ulley Road was bad too.” “I came back from a walk with my baby and her pram was covered in muck. Most I dodged, but got caught out in Upper Vicarage Road.” Dog fouling should be reported directly to ABC using the form at www.ashford.gov.uk/dog-warden-service

FILTHY WAY TO BEHAVE

W ould you be willing to take an elderly person’s dog for a walk? Cinnamon Trust, the national

charity for the elderly and their pets, urgently needs dog walking volunteers in Boughton Lees for a resident who has a friendly five year old Labrador cross who would love to go for a good

walk. If you could help please call the Trust on 01736 758707 or email volunteer@cinnamon.org.uk The Trust seeks to keep owners and their pets together for as long as possible with the help of volunteers. It also fosters pets when owners need hospital care.

T he Sailing Programme at

Conningbrook Lakes begins on 13 March. Eight to 18-year-olds can to take part in weekly Sunday sailing when they have passed their Stage 1 beginners’ dinghy course. All courses and events are under the supervision of qualified sailing instructors, with safety boat. Easter Holiday programme: 21-26 March Stage 1; 28-31 March Stage 2; 5-8 April Stage 1. For more information, or to book places, please email Helen on sailingschool.rcpyc@gmail.com

HEALTH walks take place on Wednes-days at 9.30am for a 9.45am start from New Hayesbank surgery. They are led by volunteer leaders and last for about one hour. There is no need to book. Just turn up on the day for a friendly welcome.

All street lights are to be turned back on after KCC found a cheap-er way to run them. Converting lights to LED tech-nology will cut its bill by about 60%. Every residential area will return to all-night lighting with work scheduled to start in Ashford this month. Part-night lighting was introduced in 2010 with about half of Kent's 120,000 lights turned off. Campaigners opposed it, amid claims of a crime rise. Some lights may remain dimmed after peak hours but all-night lighting will be “here to stay”, the council said. Meanwhile, every street light on the stretch of Trinity Road near Eureka Park has been switched back on following a successful campaign by Kennington Com-munity Forum. Six of the lights which at first were not working have now been repaired.

Victory! Street lights to be turned back on

6

NICK UTTLEY BUILDER Bricklaying Carpentry Painting and decorating Plastering

Conversions Extensions Roofing Conservatories and patios

30 years experience Quality Work Guaranteed

Free estimates Tel: 01233 628999

KEN

TIS

H E

XPRESS

This is going to be a busy month for Kennington WI. Our writers are launching their second book, In Our Own Words, with a champagne afternoon tea; Judy Skinner and her assistants are organising a charity lunch in the Hall to support orphans of the Japanese tsunami, and there will be a Musical Evening with a three-course meal on 19 March. We celebrated our 98th birth-day in February when members enjoyed a singalong with local entertainer Mandy Winters. The big event in January was the pantomime, Little Red Riding Hood, produced by the drama group, (right). There were three performances with lots of audience participation. A special thanks to Yoko Page for her spectacular stage sets. If you would like a “flavour” of WI our meetings are on the second Monday of the month in the WI Hall, Faversham Road, 7pm. Call Pat Owen-Smith on 630134; kenningtonwi.co.uk or Facebook, kenningtonwi

W e still have places available for our trip to the Loire

Valley, 4-9 September. Coach from Kennington, ferry crossing,

tour manager throughout, excur-sions, bed and breakfast and two evening meals included in the

price of £525. For more details call 01233 633550 or email gill-whitling@btinternet.com GW

BYBROOK WI members enjoyed a meal to celebrate the New Year and continued the festive theme at the January meeting by learn-ing about wine and sherry making. The February meeting had a musical theme as members learnt about the Life and Times of George Gershwin and listened to excerpts from some of his works. The competition was

Musical Memorabilia, and the evening finished with a musical quiz. If you are thinking of join-ing a WI we would welcome you. As well as our monthly meeting we have a craft group, a Scrabble group, a monthly walk and enjoy meals out. Our next meeting is on Tuesday 8 March at 7.30pm at St Mary’s Community Centre Rylands Road. DB

KEN

TIS

H E

XPRESS

Would you be prepared to

give up a morning and talk

to children about your

work and answer questions

regarding job satisfaction, necessary skills,

qualifications and, of course, salary?

We are looking for volunteers to showcase a wide range of jobs at our ONWARDS AND UPWARDS day on Thursday 14 July, at Towers School, Kennington. This is an exciting and forward looking event for 9-10 year olds to be inspired about careers and think about the future. You might be a police officer, a vet, an actor, an engineer, or work in education, catering, the health service or the armed forces. Our pupils want to learn about different careers to help them obtain a rewarding job in the future.

If you would like to be involved please contact

Jan Appleby, Kennington CE Academy, learning

mentor, applej01@klz.org.uk

Onward and Upwards!

Tudor Road, Kennington, about 1936. Picture courtesy of Colin Knight

T he Friends of St Mary’s are celebrating 75 years of maintaining and caring for Kennington’s parish church. Since the first meeting in 1941 they have raised money to help with roof repairs, stone-

work restoration and protection of the stained glass windows. The cur-rent project is to provide funds for an upgrade to the external lightning conductors. The anniversary AGM is on 8 March in the Hall next to the church. To become a Friend please call Pat Flawn on 01233 631479.

Down Memory Lane

7

70th anniversary for Alma and Bill Alma and Bill Jacobs of Kennington celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary with a big family surprise party at Sandyacres Sports and Social Club. They married shortly after Alma’s 16th birthday and moved to Ashford in 1966 with the first wave of London overspill families — a move Alma said was “the best of my life.” She was a nurse at the old Ashford Hospital and later worked in the A&E department at the William Harvey Hospital. Bill, now 92, worked for Houchins, then as an engineer at the Railway Works and also at the Little Chart Paper Mill. They have two daughters, six grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren.

There was much excitement in Billy Class as the Reception pupils at Goat Lees primary school met Milo the guide dog. Susie his trainer led an assembly teaching the children about their role and the important job the dogs do to aid the blind and visually impaired. The Guide Dog Association is a voluntary run charity and children came up with lots of ideas of how to raise money. The school is planning to hold an event soon to promote support for guide dogs. Back in the Reception classroom the children were keen to see Milo perform his commands and to give him a stroke and a cuddle!

Downs View Infant School has been con-gratulated by Patrick Leeson, Corporate Director for Education and Young People's Services in Kent, for maintaining consist-ently high standards and improving the educational outcomes for its pupils. In a letter to the head teacher, Mrs Tracy Kent, he said: “It is very positive to see that the school has sustained high standards with 82% of pupils achieving level 2B+ in reading, 83% in writing and 87% in mathematics. It is also good to see that outcomes for Level 3+ remain high at 43% in reading, 25% in writing and

35% in Mathematics.” The results in the Early Years Foundation Stages were singled out for praise. Mr Leeson said: “I would particularly like to highlight your success in improving the proportion of children reaching a Good Level of Development by 13%.” Mrs Kent said: “This is due to the hard work and dedication of my whole staff who go that extra mile to ensure that every child has outstanding learning opportunities everyday.” At its last inspection the school was rated as Outstanding by Ofsted.

If you have any concerns about crime and anti-social behaviour come and speak to PCSO Nikki Potter. She will be holding police surgeries in the cafeteria area of Bybrook Garden Centre on Wednesday 9 March; Wednesday13 April and Wednesday 18 May. Time: 12-1.30pm. People will be seen individually on a first come, first served basis.

School praised for its high standards

T he Spearpoint Trim Trail is expected to be a big attraction once the weather improves. There are 10 pieces of exercise equipment located around a

1,000 metre circuit, starting near the recreation ground car park. They include hurdles, balancing beams, step ups, a vault and parallel bars. Deborah Martin of Ashford Leisure Trust’s Talented Athletes programme cut the ribbon to officially open the trail. She was accompanied by other young athletes. Before the opening, Kenning-ton’s Good Community Citizen — who keeps the rec clean by picking up litter every day — made a special sweep of the area. He wishes to remain anonymous. The trail has been funded by Ashford Borough Council, KCC and Kennington Community Forum.

THE FLOODING problem in Bockhanger Lane has returned. Water comes across the fields from Kingswood Activity Centre through an old drainage pipe. Last autumn South East Water accepted responsibility and made repairs.

Information COUNTY COUNCILLORS: Andrew Wickham (Ashford Rural East) 01233 840902 andrew.wickham@kent.gov.uk

Jim Wedgbury (Ashford Central) 01233 503272 jim.wedgbury@kent.gov.uk

BOROUGH COUNCILLORS: Kennington: Phil Sims 01233 627603 philip.sims01@gmail.com Bockhanger: Luke Powell

01233 713384

lukejpowell1@gmail.com

Bybrook: Andrew Buchanan 01233 627696 andrewjohnbuchanan@hotmail.com

Little Burton: Marion Martin 01233 628811 marionmartin168 @btinternet.com

Boughton Aluph: Winston Michael 01233 636644 winston.michael@ashford.gov.uk.

NEIGHBOURHOOD POLICE : PCSOs Nikki Potter and Katie Scott. Call 101 to be put through to the neighbourhood officer best placed

to deal with your call

PARKING PROBLEMS: 01233 330641

KENT HIGHWAYS: 03000 418181 NEW HAYESBANK SURGERY: 01233 624642

LATE NIGHT CHEMIST: Sainsbury’s, Simone Weil Avenue 01233 662819 MEDICAL HELP BUT NOT AN EMERGENCY: 111 (available 24/7) A&E OPEN 24 HOURS A DAY: William Harvey Hospital 01233 633331

ST MARY’S CHURCH: 01233 664820

STAGECOACH BUSES: 08456 002299

KENNINGTON FORUM: Chris Morley, chair, 01233 611196 chris.f.morley@gmail.com Sandra Dunn, secretary, 01233 634165 sandradunn@sky.com

Kennington News is published in March, June, September

and December. Editor Robin Britcher

01233 634410 kennington.news@hotmail.co.uk

8

Kennington Community Forum takes an active role in looking after the interests of the people and the environment of our area. We hold six public meetings a year and publish the Kennington News supplemented by web and social media sites. The Forum is run by volunteers. For more details contact Chris Morley 01233 611196. Find us on Facebook or at www.bit.ly/kennington

NEXT OPEN MEETING Tuesday 29 March,

St Mary’s Community Centre, Rylands Road, 7.30pm

Printed by Geerings Print Ltd, Ashford 01233 633366

by GRAHAM OXLEY With nine games remaining Ken-nington were sitting a creditable 5th in the Kent County Premier Division. We are out of all cup competitions so can focus on the league and aim for one of the top positions come May. The Saturday Reserves have found things difficult since step-ping up to Division Two East. A run of poor results saw us strug-gle to field teams and we also lost our manager. We were on the brink of withdrawing from the league when club stalwarts

Keith Rice and Brad Russell stepped in to manage the side and attract new players. The side are out of the cups but it is hoped we can get enough points to avoid relegation. Our Sunday side have so far failed to live up to the pre-season hype and are nearer the bottom than the top of the Ashford Sunday League Division One. Inconsistency in available players has seen us blow hot and cold but with the quality signings that have been made we are hoping for some success in the

two cup competitions we are still involved in. We are proud that Kennington FC, founded in 1888, is the old-est club in Kent and one of the oldest in the country. We rely on volunteers to keep going, and with some officers stepping down at the end of this season we are looking for new recruits. If anybody would like to be involved, in any capacity, please contact the club via our website www.kenningtonfc.co.uk or our Facebook and Twitter pages.

Kennington chase a top spot

Kennington cricket club is hold-ing practice sessions for senior members and older colts at Norton Knatchbull School. The juniors’ net practice will be at Towers School on Wednesdays from 16 March to 20 April. There will be two coaching sessions: 5.30-7pm for younger juniors, and a second from 7-8.30pm. All coaches are fully qualified. Those who are inter-

ested can contact Terry Deary on 01233 624905 or Jez Grove on 01233 642859. Alternatively they can turn up on the night. Juniors will have practice ses-sions at the ground during late April onwards in the week and on Sunday mornings. Official signing-on for juniors will be on the weekend of 16-17 April at the ground from 10am-midday on both days.

League games at different ages will be played on weekday evenings. This year Kennington will play in the Kent County Cricket League on Saturdays fielding two teams and one team on Sundays in the Kent Village League The club is part of the local community and as such the pavilion is available to hire for functions. TERRY DEARY

CRICKETERS HAVE AN EARLY NET