BILSINGTON - Report to the Community – April 2011
(Web Site - www.saxonshore-kent.gov.uk)
Bilsington Parish Council
PARISH COUNCIL ELECTIONS – The present parish councils’ term of office expires on the 5 May when elections take place for the Ashford Borough Council and local parish councils. It is important for our community that a strong parish council is elected to represent our aspirations to local and national government, public bodies, utility companies and a myriad of other organisations. The parish council also raises moneys, via the precept, to be spent for the benefit of their local community. Have you considered becoming a councillor? Nomination forms must be entered by Monday 4 April 2011.
The parish council has met six times this year with good attendance at all the meetings.
Events and subjects that have occupied the parish council during the past year include:
Contact – Jane Porter 01233 625777
Community Led Plan
The Community Led Plan (CLP) team sent out questionnaires to the 126 households in the Parish of Bilsington on 6 February 2011. The purpose of the questionnaire was to gauge the level of support for developing a CLP for the village.
We have received 16 replies, broken down as follows:
Would support a CLP, would be prepared to help 5
Would support a CLP, would be unwilling to help 1
Would not support a CLP/don’t know 5
Abusive 1
Replies were received from 8.4% of households. These results were disappointing, but not unexpected.
People love the village because:
The people, the setting, the church, the pub, the monument, the village hall. The woods and walks. The friendship and peace/small friendly community, people look out for each other. It’s a country village/picturesque outlook. Their family has lived here for a long time. Availability of the village hall. Its position, history and traditions. It is rural with a charming church, village hall and village pub.
Suggestions included:
Proper off-road parking/more thoughtfulness for pedestrians (parking on pavements).
Improvements to visibility at the village crossroads, including strategically placed mirror(s).
Restoration and maintenance of verges and white lining road edges on feeder roads to the village.
Drainage and improvement on road from Bilsington to Ruckinge/improvements to very narrow part of the road out of Bilsington/Ruckinge.
Permanent repair to grass verge south of Good Intent crossroads.
Speed ‘gates’ at the 30mph speed limits of the village centre to severely restrict speeding.
Improved removal of litter/bins for dog faeces.
Improvements to the public house (White Horse) area/involvement of publican in what locals want from a village pub.
More houses to suit village people – enough houses to warrant a village shop/post office.
A better bus service.
Upgrade/improvements to the village hall.
Facilities for young people/children’s play area.
A community village shop, staffed and run by the community, which could become a self-financing social asset.
Despite these good ideas only 3.9% of households would support and help the development of a CLP and its potential for approaching the available funding bodies in the region. As a result we do not feel justified in pursuing the matter. We appreciate that many people do not have a lot of spare time, but those residents who are willing to help in any small way will be contacted to see if their talents could be put to use for other village projects that may interest them.
Many thanks to those of you who took the time and trouble to consider these matters and complete the form.
Contact Hugh Webb - hughwebb1107@live.co.uk
Bilsington Ladies Afternoon Club
The Bilsington Ladies Afternoon Club meets in Bilsington Village Hall on the second Thursday of the month at 2.15 pm, for social intercourse between ladies of the parish and beyond. Attendance remained steady throughout 2010 with speakers arranged for most meetings, including "Pot Holes, Pigs & Paradise by Penny Harris in May and Heather Chanther presenting "Why Dungeness is Special" in November. Outings are occasionally arranged, to places of interest. All Ladies are welcome.
Contact – Eileen Mills 01233 720566
The Monument continues to be a significant landmark above Romney Marsh. The restoration work, completed in 1999, is now nicely mellowed and visitors from far and wide gaze out admiring the views across Romney Marsh. Currently the trustees are Libby Lawson as Chair, Robert Boutwood as Secretary, Terry Tarrant as Treasurer and Mike Lay who looks after the site. Donations given over the past year have secured the trusts financial position for the next few years.
Contact Terry Tarrant 01233 720404
Bilsington Tuesday Afternoon S ewing Group (Hassocks)
We continue to meet every Tuesday afternoon at Cross House, Bilsington. Further monies were raised at our Christmas 2010 coffee morning to buy more materials and another will be held this coming November. We are assisting the Bonnington ladies starting to stitch hassocks to commemorate the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton.
Our numbers continue to dwindle, despite repeated requests for new members. Everyone in our group joined us as a total beginner and we would be really pleased to show anyone how simple it really is to do. Many examples of our work can be seen in the Church of St Peter and St Paul, Bilsington.
Contact Stephné Mytton 01233 720311
The Royal British Legion Women's Section
This Branch, which meets in the Aldington Village Hall every Thursday afternoon, serves all neighbouring villages and beyond - we have members from Hamstreet, St Mary's Bay and Hythe for instance. Twice a year we meet at our President's home (Mrs Stephne Mytton) in Bilsington. There will be a Bridge Drive on Monday 3 October and a Christmas Get Together on Thursday 15 December – both at Cross House, Bilsington. We arrange lifts for our non-driving members to attend all our local and county events.
Once a year we provide wreaths to be laid in the Parish Churches on Remembrance Sunday. Like every other organisation we would welcome new members to join in all our enjoyable fund raising etc. - you DO NOT have had to have been an ex-member of the armed forces (or relative of) to join us.
Contact Stephné Mytton 01233 720311
The Bilsington Society
The Bilsington Society had reached a ‘decision point’ last year - whether to continue or to disband. No final decision has been made, we feel that the parish needs a Bilsington Society, but with fresh ideas and a new committee. The society was set up some 25 years ago as an amenity group. It has had to cancel two meetings; one because many stalwart members were unavailable and the second because the speaker cancelled. It is becoming more difficult to find speakers on subjects of interest to the parish at an economical fee. Attendance at meetings has gradually diminished and the committee members remain much the same as the founding members some 25 years ago. These evenings are open to all at no cost.
On a more positive note, further copies of the Society’s two books, “Bilsington People 1800 – 1900” and “Bilsington People 1900-2000” have been reprinted. So also has Mary Webb’s Millennium Map of Bilsington to supply a steady demand for copies prompted by their presence on the web site. The society’s financial position remains sound.
Bilsington People books and Map - Contact Terry Tarrant 01233 720404
Meetings - Contact Eileen Mills 01233 720566
Neighbourhood Watch
Bilsington remains relatively crime free compared with other nearby rural communities. However, we have suffered from several thefts of oil from central heating tanks. The method of the thieves seems to be that they will follow a legitimate delivery to an address and then return with a tanker to empty the newly filled tank, either by night or day. Most tanks can be locked, but now that most are plastic I fear the thieves will merely hack the cap off. Vigilance is the best defence.
We also have anecdotal evidence of telephone scams, sometimes suggesting that the victim is entitled to some sort of tax, or council tax, repayment – followed by a request for the victim’s bank details. Financial institutions NEVER ask for your bank details – NEVER give them out over the telephone (or to anyone calling at your door).
For more details, or if you wish to receive regular reports of local crime, please contact Hugh Webb at hughwebb1107@live.co.uk or on 01233 720818.
Contact Hugh Webb - hughwebb1107@live.co.uk
Bilsington Flower and Vegetable Show
Residents exhibiting at last year’s show were less than usual; we hope that at this year there will be more entries as we have moved the date forward to early August when more produce should be available for showing. The schedule of entries is being modified to make it even more attractive to enter. The show will take place on Saturday 13 August in the village hall and we hope many green fingered villagers will take part. This show welcomes all abilities and all age groups.
Contact Charlotte Kerr 01233 720878
Bilsington Village Hall Committee
A change of helm after many years has seen a fresh approach to The Village Hall, and as a result of the hard work that The Committee has put in, we have seen a notable increase in use, and a proposed program of renovations put in to action. There have been various fund raising events in aid of the Hall notably a talk by the head gardener of Great Dixter, Fergus Garratt , who’s generous donation of his valuable time, a fascinating talk, and overwhelming local support resulted in the committee raising in excess of £600 towards the proposed repairs. Another £400 was raised by the Bilsington Art Group by raffling at their annual exhibition a painting donated by Mrs Beryle Bell. Mr Roy Jefferson has offered to carry out these renovations free of charge which is also greatly appreciated.
Contact Liz Webb 01233 720818
Bilsington Art Group
The Group continues to meet every Monday with the exception of Bank Holidays and the Christmas / New Year break. The group is now in its 25th year.
The October 2010 annual exhibition was very successful. The number of paintings sold compared well with previous years and greeting cards, produced by members from their paintings, were extremely popular. There was a steady stream of visitors over the two days. In addition, the raffle of a painting by Miss Bell, the Group’s tutor, raised a considerable sum for Village Hall repairs.
The exhibition was opened by Fergus Garrett, the head gardener of Great Dixter Manor House and Gardens. Fergus also kindly donated a talk in February 2011to raise more funds to improve the Village Hall. More than ninety people attended the talk in the Village Hall which raised more than £600.
Our Annual Exhibition will be held on the 22 and 23 October 2011.
Contact Beryle Bell 01233 732963
Bilsington Cricket Club
We are a friendly club that consists of two teams. Our Saturday team play friendlies and our Sunday team play in the Kent Village League Division 4. Last season we came fifth.
We have good fun and keep in contact all year round. To raise funds for the club we run one or two quiz nights through the season and sponsored walks. This year instead of a pre-season dinner we are having a fancy dress party and at the end of season we have a club day where we have competitions amongst ourselves plus tombola stalls and a Bar-B-Q. All good fun! We also have a Christmas meal usually in the White Horse.
We have in the past taken a team to Estonia and Latvia to play ice cricket on a frozen lake against other clubs from England. In Estonia we made it to the semi-finals and in Latvia the BBC were filming and we made a brief appearance on a Saturday morning sports programme.
We are looking out for new players to come and join us. If you are interested come and contact us at one of our home games or telephone Graham Samson on 07711570321.
To help us get ready for the season ahead we do winter nets from the end of February until the beginning of April.
The season starts on Sunday 17 April 2011 with a friendly away to Mersham.
Why not visit our web site at www.bilsingtoncc.co.uk to find out more?
Contact Graham Samson 07711570321
St Peter's and St Paul's Church
Administrative Information
The parish priest was Revd Richard Love until end of May 2010. Rev Canon Roger Martin is now looking after the parish. The churchwardens are Linda King and Terry Tarrant. The affairs of the church are run by an elected group called the Parochial Church Council (PCC).
PCC Meetings: The PCC met 4 times during 2010.
Church Attendance: There are 17 parishioners on the Church Electoral Roll. The average normal service attendance was 19 with an average of 18 communicants. Numbers attending joint services and festivals varied and 50 attended the Blessing the Crib service on Christmas Eve.
Services during 2010: Services of 1662 Holy Communion with hymns were held at 9am on the 2nd and 4th Sundays of the month during the year.
Occasional services were also held:
The PCC's priority last year was to maintain the running of the parish after Rev Richard Love left.
Events: A hugely successful Open Garden event was held in June 2010. It raised funds for the church and for the Daisy Garland Trust.
The PCC run a monthly coffee morning on the first Saturday in the month. During 2010 the coffee mornings ran from April through to December and will start again in April 2011.
Thanks: The PCC would like to thank all those who have given their time to assist with the running of the church, its services, keeping it clean, decorated with flowers and maintenance of the building and churchyard.
The Coming Year
The PCC will be engaged in managing the transition process where Bilsington, along with Bonnington and Aldington join with Ruckinge, Hamstreet, Warehorne and Kenardington to form a new group of churches with Rev Rod Whateley as Team Rector. Rev Canon Roger Martin will continue as Parish Priest when we join this group.
Contact Linda King 01233 720554