VILLAGE REPORT - KAY DRAKE 522727
Otford Evening WI report that despite the snowy evening there was a good attendance at their February meeting to hear David Manz talk about the Kent Air Ambulance Trust. It costs well in excess of £1m each year to operate the service and community financial support is vital.

In March their meeting will be held in the Club Room of the Memorial Hall when their speaker will be Karen Gambrell telling members about "Canterbury Cathedral", past and present. Visitors are always welcome just go along at 7.30pm on March 12 and join them for the evening.

VILLAGE REPORT - KAY DRAKE 522727
The Drive Methodist Church Women’s Fellowship in Sevenoaks urgently need any unwanted balls of wool for making various items for charity. If you have any wool that you would be willing to donate please ring 01732 463029 evenings only.

VILLAGE REPORT - KAY DRAKE 522727
Otford Folk Dance Club meet tonight at 8pm in the Church Hall, High Street, with Roger Letley playing and Chris Turner calling. You are invited to go along for a friendly evening of all kinds of folk dancing. Chris Turner will run through each dance beforehand and call as the dance progresses. The emphasis is on enjoyment rather than technical perfection. Entrance costs £1.50 to include tea/coffee and biscuits. Peter George 01959 522105 can provide more information.

VILLAGE REPORT - KAY DRAKE 522727
Tickets for Otford Players ‘Pick, mix and allsorts’ evening on Friday March 13 and Saturday 14 are selling fast from the box office 01959 525404. Tickets, priced at £6 include light refreshments.

VILLAGE REPORT - KAY DRAKE 522727
Sevenoaks Citizens Advice Bureau hold monthly surgeries at the Parish Offices in the High Street on the first Tuesday of the month between 10am and 12 noon. These surgeries provide the opportunity for local people to seek advice, in confidence, on financial, legal, benefits and family problems. If you would like advice go along and see them, no appointment is necessary, but if you are unable to attend a surgery then the CAB can be contacted on 01732 457958.

Our KCC community warden, Paul Robertson also holds a weekly surgery every Tuesday between 11am and 12 noon at the Parish Offices to discuss any problems or community issues.

VILLAGE REPORT - KAY DRAKE 522727
Otford Gardeners Society meet in the Memorial Hall next Tuesday (March 3) at 8pm to hear David Cheston, a Professional Horticulturalist, talk about ‘The Kitchen Garden’. Admission costs 50p for members and £1 for non-members and includes refreshments. For details of all events contact the Social Secretary, Janet Finney, on 01959 523760, or e-mail gardeners@otford.net or visit their website www.otford.info/gardeners.

VILLAGE REPORT - KAY DRAKE 522727
PCSO Jane Wright took up her post in January and has been seen about the village. If you would like to contact her concerning any problems or village issues her number is 07772 226036.

KOS MEDIA
Police launch appeal after fatal collision
A motorcyclist has been killed in a collision with a car in Otford.

Police have appealed for witnesses to come forward after the incident outside the VW garage in Sevenoaks Road, Otford near Sevenoaks, on Monday.

The motorcycle crashed with a silver Vauxhall Astra at 1.45pm in a queue of traffic.

PC Andy Gallon said: "We would like to speak to the driver of the vehicle at the front of this queue and as they may have witnessed the incident".

The road was closed while emergency services dealt with the incident and police said no further information would be released about the motorcyclist until the next of kin have been advised.

Anyone with any information should call Kent Police’s Serious Collision Investigation Unit on 01622 798 538. [more]

VILLAGE REPORT - KAY DRAKE 522727
Otford & District Wine Clubs Burns Night provided a bit of fun during a rather dreary January thanks to all members.

The next event is the Film Show which will be on Wednesday February 25 at 8pm in the Memorial Hall. This will be a rare opportunity to see a film of the Wine Clubs Victorian Music Hall performed in 1994. It was quite a spectacular event exhibiting the many talents of the people of Otford and surrounding area. During the interval ice creams will be served and later there will be a raffle. This evening is free to members but visitors will be charged £3. You are invited to go along for a good night out amongst friends. If you need more details ring the Secretary 01732 761359.

VILLAGE REPORT - KAY DRAKE 522727
RADIO joins forces with Otford Society. At its recent AGM members of Residents Against Development in Otford (RADIO) voted by a large majority in favour of the organisation being incorporated into the Otford Society becoming, in effect, the planning committee of the Society. The move was prompted by RADIO’s committee, which felt that joining forces with the Otford Society would help it fight more effectively against inappropriate developments in the area.

As a result of the vote Tony Wiltshire, chairman of the Otford Society, will also become chairman of RADIO. The Society will delegate the monitoring of planning matters to RADIO, and will then work closely together on any future objections to inappropriate planning applications.

RADIO continues to be very active in monitoring planning matters in the Otford area, and was recently involved in representations against an application to develop two properties at Darenthmead, which was subsequently rejected. It also continues to keep a close eye on other contentious proposals, including recent attempts to gain permission for development at the Chalk Pit. Local support for RADIO was evidenced last year at a horse racing night which proved a great success raising much needed funds.

VILLAGE REPORT - KAY DRAKE 522727
Knitting wool is urgently required by the Women’s Fellowship of The Drive Methodist Church Sevenoaks for making various items for charity. If you have any odd balls of wool that you would be willing to donate please ring 01732 463029 evenings only.

VILLAGE REPORT - KAY DRAKE 522727
Otford Folk Dance Club, which meets every Thursday in the Church Hall, High Street, have Roger Letley playing with Chris Turner calling at their meeting on February 26. All are welcome for a friendly evening of all kinds of folk dancing. There is always a caller for each evening who runs through each dance beforehand and calls as the dance progresses. The emphasis is on enjoying the dance rather than technical perfection. The cost of the evening, including tea/coffee and biscuits, if £1.50. For more information contact Peter George 01959 522105.

VILLAGE REPORT - KAY DRAKE 522727
Third Otford Guides is now open to any girl aged 10 to 14 as they currently have spaces available. Being a Guide is all about learning new skills, making your own decisions, having fun, making new friends and achieving personal goals within a safe environment. Any girls wishing to join can contact the new unit leader Linda Stromberg 01959 523897.

VILLAGE REPORT - KAY DRAKE 522727
Otford Players ‘Pick, mix and allsorts’ will be performed on Friday March 13 and Saturday 14. Order tickets, priced £6 to include light refreshments, from the box office 01959 525404.

SEVENOAKS CHRONICLE
Pond to lose listed status once repairs are finished
Otford pond looks to have lost its proud and unique listed building status after English Heritage blasted work done to it by the Parish Council.

The organisation that regulates listed buildings in England has said work to reinforce the dilapidated stone pond walls with concrete has "effectively destroyed" the structure.

The 1,000-year-old pond is thought to be the only Grade II listed structure of its kind in the country and was listed in 1971.

But Sevenoaks District Council has now been invited by English Heritage to apply to remove the pond's Grade II listing once the controversial restoration work has been completed.

English Heritage historic buildings surveyor Zoe McMillan said in a letter to the district council: "I am less than impressed with the way in which Otford Parish Council has dealt with what were intended to be repairs to the pond."

"As far as I can tell from the material submitted the listed structure has been effectively destroyed." Permission for work to strengthen the walls was granted in 2002 but that consent ran out after five years.

The Parish Council started the work last year, after the expiry date, and was forced by the district council to stop and apply for retrospective permission. [more]

NEWS ITEM SUBMITTED
A Fun with Food workshop will be taking place at Otford Library on Thursday 19th February, 10am – 11.30am.

The workshop, which is free, is for children between the ages of 3 – 8 and provides a fun way to learn about healthy eating. Games such as fruit and vegetable bingo will be played and the children will have the opportunity to handle a variety of fruit and vegetables.

If you would like to book your child a free place on the workshop please visit Otford Library or call 01959 522488.

This initiative is organised by Sevenoaks District Council in partnership with Kent County Council and funded by NHS West Kent as part of the Choosing Health Agenda, Making Healthier Choices Easier.

VILLAGE REPORT - KAY DRAKE 522727
Girl Guiding in Otford. Following the recruitment of 3 new leaders 3rd Otford Guides are ‘up and running’ again. The unit is open to any girl aged 10 to 14 and they currently have spaces available.

Being a Guide is all about learning new skills, making your own decisions, having fun, making new friends and achieving personal goals within a safe environment. Any girls wishing to join can contact the new unit leader Linda Stromberg 01959 523897.

Both the Rainbow unit (girls aged 5-7) and the Brownie unit (girls aged 7-10) are full at the moment but you can add girls names to the waiting list by contacting Esther Collens 01959 524671 for Rainbows or Jane Woodrow-Clark 01959 523342 for Brownies.

VILLAGE REPORT - KAY DRAKE 522727
Rockdale Housing Association continue with their fund raising initiative with a Japanese Garden Evening on Tuesday March 17 at Rockdale Beatrice Wilson Centre at 7pm for 7.30 pm.

The talk about Japanese Gardens is being given by Jack Wheeler who is a member of the Japanese Garden Society and you will learn a little about the Japanese way of life. Tickets £12 include a glass of wine and canapés and a visit to his beautiful Japanese garden in Sevenoaks in May (three sessions on May 11, 12 or 14).

Tickets available via email: lynn.tier@rockdale.org.uk, telephone 01732 458762 or call 01732 468650 for further details.

VILLAGE REPORT - KAY DRAKE 522727
Otford Players are presenting an entertainment of ‘Pick, mix and allsorts’ on Friday March 13 and Saturday 14. The Players promise this will be great fun and invite you to go along and share it with them. If you would like to order your tickets, priced £6 to include light refreshments, telephone the box office 01959 525404.

VILLAGE REPORT - KAY DRAKE 522727
Hospices of Hope Coffee and Craft Shop in the High Street are now accepting donations of unwanted items which they will distribute to their various shops to sell to raise funds for terminally ill children in both Romania and The Balkans.

If you have anything you would like to pass on the shop is open Monday to Friday between 10.00am and 4.00pm and Saturdays until 5.00pm 01959 524322.

VILLAGE REPORT - KAY DRAKE 522727
Geoff and Fran Veal who run the Fox and Hounds pub and restaurant at Romney Street Knatts Valley have now taken over the Old George Inn in Church Street, Shoreham, and have big plans for its future.

At the Fox and Hounds they offer music on Monday evenings with guest bands as well as open mike sessions for Blues, Jazz, Folk, solo artists and full bands and on Saturday evenings they also feature live bands and solo playing all types of music.

If you would like more details contact 01959 525428.

VILLAGE REPORT - KAY DRAKE 522727
Otford Oast WI meets at 9.30am this morning in the Memorial Hall to hear Sue Atkins talk about Positive Parenting. The audience can get some guidance and ideas on the most important job that they do. There is a free crèche at every meeting and tea/coffee is available for 50p.

PARISH COUNCIL - FEB NEWSLETTER
The February edition of the newsletter is now on-line. Read all about: Otford Pond, Otford Village Fete- Monday 25th May, Indoor Boot Fair, Otford Young Achiever Award 2008, Otford Players, Home Library Service, Police / Warden Surgery, The Otford Parish Plan, An Ancestor on the Screen, Otford Oast WI, Yorkshire 3 peaks Challenge, Otford & District Wine Club, Girlguiding in Otford, Otford Methodist Church, Otford Afternoon WI, Otford Evening WI, World Day of Prayer, Otford Gardeners’ Society, Otford, Seal & Kemsing Trefoil Guild Guiding for Adults, Sevenoaks DFAS, Otford Allotments Association, Knole DFAS, Hatha Yoga Class, Otford Methodist Wednesday Afternoons Women’s Fellowship, Otford Methodist Exercise Group, Sevenoaks Embroiderers’ Guild, Picture of the Month, Citizens Advice Bureau Surgery, Otford Primary Top Draw and Planning matters.

You can contact the Parish Council at The School House, 21 High Street Tel: 01959 524808, e-mail parishcouncil@otford.net with office hours 08:30 - 12:30 Mon to Fri.

VILLAGE REPORT - KAY DRAKE 522727
Otford's Village Design Statement (VDS) is now out in hard copy format. This edition comprises 64 pages plus a map showing Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty and Conservation Areas and covers all aspects of the village and its future. By and large this book has been well received and congratulations go to Rod Shelton and his Design Team for putting together such a comprehensive, easy to understand, and far reaching document. In his Foreward Rod states that it is essential that this document be updated regularly, perhaps every three years, to take account of and respond to new pressures, opportunities and changes in planning processes as these emerge. He and his Team have begun a process for others to follow. If you would like to purchase a copy the Parish Office have a limited supply and can be contacted by telephoning 01959 524808 or you can call into The School House, High Street between 8.30 and 12.30 on weekday mornings.

VILLAGE REPORT - KAY DRAKE 522727
The Otford Parish Plan will lay out a shared vision for the community over the next 10+ years and will contain an action plan to achieve this. There will be lots of opportunities to get involved including meetings, workshops, discussion events and action groups and information is available on the Otford website www.otford.info/parishplan. This is an opportunity for every resident to get involved so pick up a form from the Parish Office and fill it in.

VILLAGE REPORT - KAY DRAKE 522727
Sadly Woolworth's have closed but Otford Players have something for you which may tickle your palate. For two evenings in March, Friday 13 and Saturday 14 the Players present an entertainment of "Pick, mix and allsorts”. It should prove to be great fun and they are hoping that you will go along and share it with them. If you would like to order your tickets, priced £6 to include light refreshments, telephone the box office 01959 525404.

VILLAGE REPORT - KAY DRAKE 522727
Otford Historical Society meet at 8pm on February 18 at The Kings Head public house Shoreham for Tom Browning to tell them all about the perils of a pint. Members free, visitors £1, more details from Jackie Howe 01959 525434.

VILLAGE REPORT - KAY DRAKE 522727
Ian White is giving a talk entitled “A childhood in the 1950’s’ in St Edith’s large hall, High Street, Kemsing, tomorrow and tickets and full details are available from Erica Cole 01732 761772.

VILLAGE REPORT - KAY DRAKE 522727
A Boot Fair is being held in the Memorial Hall between 9am and 1pm on Saturday March 7 to raise money for a local dance school to purchase costumes for the girls to wear at the forthcoming Blackpool dance competition. If you would like to book a table for £8 ring Claire Pegg 01959 525582 or Donna Nicholls 01959 522230.

PARISH COUNCIL - NEWS ITEM SUBMITTED
A reminder about (ticket availability now closing 11th February) ...

Charlton Athletic, through the Parish Council, has made an offer which many Otford residents will surely find it impossible to refuse.

On Saturday March 7 2009, for a total cost of £43 per person, the club will provide a coach to take us to and from The Valley, arrange a one-hour tour of the stadium followed by a brief audio-visual presentation about the club and its history, serve us a three-course lunch in one of their restaurants overlooking the pitch, and give us seats together to watch the Championship game versus Watford.

There are only 53 places and these will be allotted strictly on a first come, first served basis. To reserve a place or places, please contact the parish office, telephone 01959 524808 or email otfordpc@btinternet.com.