SEVENOAKS CHRONICLE
Mystery surrounds plans for protected farmland
A landowner has submitted plans to remove 120 acres of farmland in Otford from a legally binding agreement.

The proposal for Park Farm off the High Street, put forward by registered landowner Watchingwell Farms, has raised fears it could pave the way for the land to be built on in the future.

Keith Stockman, spokesman for village organisation Residents Against Development In Otford, said: "The Section 106 protects the land from being built on. If they're going to have a variation on that it opens it up to be developed."

Section 106 agreements are tools used by planning authorities to enforce certain conditions when granting planning permission.

Permission was granted to build a herdsman's bungalow at Park Farm in 1994.

When the planning authority, Sevenoaks District Council, gave consent it did so by tying the land to the bungalow and ruling the 150-acre site be used for agricultural purposes. [more]

NEWS ITEM SUBMITTED
Kemsing Singers - This Sceptred Isle
A celebration of English life through words and music. This Saturday 28th March at The Drive Methodist Church, Sevenoaks. 7.30 .Tickets at the door £10

NEWS ITEM SUBMITTED
Road Signs in Otford
At the Otford Society AGM (tonight), Jeff Lee will introduce a new survey on Otford Roads and their Signs, as another contribution to trying to make our roads safer and less cluttered with ugly signs.

Read the report and see sample pictures [ 8.7mb]
View all the photos in the gallery.
Add Your Comment in the Forum

VILLAGE REPORT - KAY DRAKE 522727
Otford Folk Dance Club meet tonight in the Church Hall, High Street, opposite the Bull when David Jex will be calling to recorded music.  The club meets every Thursday from 8pm to 10 pm and all are welcome for a friendly evening of all kinds of folk dancing.  The caller runs through each dance beforehand and calls as the dance progresses   The emphasis is on enjoying the dance rather than technical perfection.  The cost for the evening, including tea/coffee and biscuits, is £1.50.  For more information contact Peter George (01959 522105).

VILLAGE REPORT - KAY DRAKE 522727
Otford Evening WI held their March meeting on Thursday 12th when the speaker was a Canterbury Cathedral guide. With slides he showed the decades of damage done to the fabric of the building due to air pollution, rain, weather etc. and how vital every penny of the Appeal for £50m now is.

Next month they celebrate their 50th  Birthday with a two course sit down meal with birthday cake and enjoy some entertainment in the form of Maurice Tripp talking about "Why the Show Must go on".  On 11th June a member of the team from Plaxtol Nurseries will be speaking about Hanging Baskets and if any visitor would like to join they would be made very welcome. Meetings are in the Memorial Hall starting at 7.30pm. The May meeting concentrates mostly on business so probably wouldn't really appeal to a lay-man/woman. 

VILLAGE REPORT - KAY DRAKE 522727
Otford Methodist Church invite everyone to join them on April 5 for the village Palm Sunday Procession starting at 10.45am from the Methodist Church Car Park to the Village Green for an open air joint service with the other village churches.  You are also invited to join them for a special all age cafe evening at 5pm with Betty's Buddies Puppets when  High Tea will be provided.

They also extend an invitation to all  ladies to a Women’s Breakfast starting at 8.30am April 4 in the church hall. You will be offered a splendid continental breakfast followed by a talk from Phillip Jasper Herbert, who retired in 2002 from a lifetime in fashion and showrooms in Berkeley Square.   The cost is £4.00 on the door or for more information call Margaret Matthews on 01959 522046 or Sue Ward at johnandsueward@btinternet.com.

VILLAGE REPORT - KAY DRAKE 522727
Congratulations to Otford Colts Football team for reaching The Jack Standen Cup Final 2008/2009.  The match will be played at Bromley Football Club kicking off at 10.30am on Sunday April 26 and they hope to lift the trophy for the second year running. 

PARISH COUNCIL - MAR NEWSLETTER
The March edition of the newsletter is now on-line. Read all about: Otford Pond Update, Otford Village Fete- Monday 25th May, Police / Warden Surgery, Yorkshire 3 Peaks Challenge, Otford Society AGM, Indoor Boot Fair, Otford Gardeners’ Spring Show, Girlguiding in Otford, Otford Methodist Church, Otford Oast WI, Otford Afternoon WI, Otford Community Warden, St George’s Day / Shakespeare Birthday Celebration, Otford Evening WI, Sevenoaks DFAS, Otford Allotments Association, Otford Library, Knole DFAS, Hope Quilters Group, Otford & District Historical Society, Otford Methodist Wednesday Afternoons Women’s Fellowship, Sevenoaks Embroiderers’ Guild, Picture of the Month, Aikido in Otford, 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.

NEWS ITEM SUBMITTED
Parish Plan News

Mon 23 Mar 2009
Steering Group Minutes 6 - 20 March 2009 []

VILLAGE REPORT - KAY DRAKE 522727
Otford Gardeners’ Society are holding their Spring Show in the Memorial Hall on Saturday March 28 with Spring flowers, photography, flower arrangements, cookery and junior classes.  The show starts at 2.15, admission is 50p with under 16’s entering free, and refreshments will be available until 4pm.   For more details contact the Society Secretary, Janet Finney, on 01959 523760  email gardeners@otford.net or visit their website www.otford.info/gardeners. 

VILLAGE REPORT - KAY DRAKE 522727
Sevenoaks Embroiderers Guild meet in the Methodist church hall on Saturday March 28 for own work in the morning and Linda Miller in the afternoon giving a talk entitled ‘In Stitches’.  Morning sessions begin at 10am and afternoon at 2pm.  For further information contact Jane Barratt 01732 833588.

VILLAGE REPORT - KAY DRAKE 522727
Otford Society will be holding their Annual General Meeting at 8pm Thursday March 26 in the Memorial Hall and will welcome a speaker from a locally based Charity.  New members are always welcome to go along.  If you would like further details contact Carol Griffiths carolgriffiths@waitrose.com.

VILLAGE REPORT - KAY DRAKE 522727
Otford Oast WI meet in the Memorial Hall this morning  between 9.30 and 11.30am to hear PC Higgins, talk on drugs awareness.  Your first visit is free, second visit £3, and annual membership is £29.  There is a free crèche at every meeting.  Ring Patsy Groom 01959 524156 for more details. 

VILLAGE REPORT - KAY DRAKE 522727
Otford Methodist Church would like to invite all ladies to a Women’s Breakfast starting at 8.30am April 4 in the church hall. You will be offered a splendid continental breakfast followed by a talk from Phillip Jasper Herbert, who retired in 2002 from a lifetime in fashion and showrooms in Berkeley Square.  

The cost is £4.00 on the door or for more information call Margaret Matthews on 01959 522046 or Sue Ward at johnandsueward@btinternet.com.

VILLAGE REPORT - KAY DRAKE 522727
Otford village fete is being held on Bank Holiday Monday May 25 on the recreation ground.  This year the committee have a number of new attractions in mind including a Teddy Bears’ Picnic.  There will be a competition featuring Teddy Bears, costing 50p per entry, including the oldest bear and a bear the judges would like to take home.  Prizes will be awarded for the best in various categories. 

Further information about the Fete will feature in future editions but in the meantime check the village website www.otford.info/villagefete.

VILLAGE REPORT - KAY DRAKE 522727
The Drive Methodist church womens’ fellowship would like to pass on their grateful thanks to everyone who donated wool as a result of the appeal in this column in particular Tony Grogan and Mrs Hallam who gave such large amounts.  They have sufficient wool now to keep them busy for many months to come and appreciate your generosity.

OTFORD' SOCIETY
The March Newsletter is now online, with 'Chairmans Annual Report' from Tony Wiltshire, Otford Fete 2009, St George's Day - Shakespeare's Birthday celebration, a new exhibition at the Heritage Centre 'The Vestry Estate - 150 years of change', 'Traffic matters' with Jeff Lee, Parish Plan - Making things Happen with Rod Shelton, Dates for your Diary, 'In the Steps of Samuel Palmer' with John Lewis together with the latest news from many aspects of the Society in village life.

The Annual General Meeting of the Otford Society will take place on Thursday 26th March at 8pm in the Memorial Hall - do come along.

If you are not a member yet (over 1,100 in Otford), please consider joining the Otford Society, contact otfordsociety@otford.net.

NEWS ITEM SUBMITTED
12 Men In Trunks
Hello All,
As you are probably aware today is Red Nose Day. Jason and the Better Body Shop Team are endeavoring to make a difference to the amount raised this year to go towards many admirable causes.

12 Men In Trunks!!

Tonight undercover of darkness, 12 brave men (Jason included) will venture to the Better Body Shop for a group photo, baring chests and knees, clad only in their trunks! The 12 brave individuals will then embark upon a month long process of healthy eating and rigorous exercise. 4 weeks from now they will meet again for their "after" photo, hopefully showing their transformation into the Adonis of Sevenoaks!! Following this we will produce a calendar from which sales will be donated to the Red Nose Day cause.

Please sponsor our brave men whose pain, although great, will only be minimal compared to the suffering of many individuals less fortunate than ourselves.

Please sponsor their efforts through the official Red Nose Day web page: www.myrednoseday.com/TeamPage
Kind Regards, Alison and the BBS Team. xxxx

Update: the BEFORE picture! A couple of gents were detained at work, so please spot the substitute to make it 10 men in trunks!

NEWS ITEM SUBMITTED
JR's School of Motoring
John Ward ADI your local driving instructor is celebrating 10 years running his own driving school 'JR's School of Motoring' in the village. You can find him in Yellow Pages or contact him direct on: 01959 525260 / 07887 721735.

He offers Manual and Automatic lessons and can pick up from Home, Work or School/College. Also, Pass Plus.

Discount rates available.

NEWS ITEM SUBMITTED
Parish Plan News
Forward dates for the diary are:
Saturday 18th April: At the Memorial Hall Coffee morning: 10-12.30 An opportunity to view and make your contribution to the parish plan questionnaire.
Saturday 16th May: At the Memorial Hall: 10amNeicho [1HL] LHR T5 BA124 Doha - Cumbrae, Britians Lane A/C - 3.30pm The Otford Club and Associations 'Open Day' A chance to meet and talk with all the many Otford Clubs & Associations.

Steering Group Minutes 4 - 20 February 2009 []

VILLAGE REPORT - KAY DRAKE 522727
Macmillan Cancer Support will again benefit from Tony Grogan’s latest hiking challenge. Between September 14 and 19 he will be putting on his hiking boots and joining around 60 people trekking through the remote Carpathian Mountains in Romania. The six day challenge will take them through mountain passes, steep valleys and medieval villages and promises to be extremely testing physically. Every day 821 people in the UK are told they have cancer and two million people in the UK today have a cancer diagnosis. Macmillan continues to shape the future of cancer care and provides the practical and emotional support which makes a real difference to people living with cancer. Tony has to raise a minimum of £2300 and is seeking your support. If you would like to sponsor him, or donate to the charity, he can be contacted at 93 Willow Park, 01959 523649, tony.grogan@homecall.co.uk, alternatively visit his just giving website at http://www.justgiving.com/tonygrogantrek.

VILLAGE REPORT - KAY DRAKE 522727
Otford Evening WI meet in the Club Room of the Memorial Hall on March 12 to hear Karen Gambrell talk about "Canterbury Cathedral", past and present. Otford Evening WI invite you to go along at 7.30pm and join them for the evening.

VILLAGE REPORT - KAY DRAKE 522727
Otford Players remind you to call the box office 01959 525404 to book your tickets for their evening of ‘Pick, mix and allsorts’ Friday March 13 and Saturday 14. Tickets, priced at £6, include light refreshments

VILLAGE REPORT - KAY DRAKE 522727
Hope Quilters who meet in the Memorial Hall are holding a 'Quilt and Textile Extravaganza' on May 1 and 2 between 10am and 5pm. There will be trade stands, demonstrations, a raffle and refreshments. Admission £3 adults, under 16’s free.

Proceeds from this event will go to Breast Cancer Care and Hall Chairs Appeal and further details are available from Sylvia Critcher 01732 462653.

VILLAGE REPORT - KAY DRAKE 522727
Team Ellis final total reached £2,414 for Leukaemia Research. A big thank you to all sponsors for their generosity in raising this fantastic amount.

VILLAGE REPORT - KAY DRAKE 522727
Indoor Boot Fair is being held in the Memorial Hall on Saturday (7) between 9am and 1pm to raise money for a local dance school to purchase costumes for the girls to wear at the forthcoming Blackpool dance competition. For further details contact Clair Pegg 01959525582 or Donna Nicholls 01959 522236.