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4 December 2008 The
Cottage, Hartley, £699,995 (Dartford Times, p22) Picture
feature on the house in Hartley Bottom Road and 0.6 acres of land
on sale with Hartley Estates.
No half measures (Dartford
Times, p9) Resident of Dickens Close calls for scrapping of Dartford
Crossing tolls.
27 November 2008 These
boots are made for walking (Dartford Messenger, p18) Picture
feature of the 37 attending the latest Sevenoaks Council walk in
Hartley.
Players on form (Dartford
Messenger, p18) Positive review of the latest Hartley Players' production
"Off the Hook"
13 November 2008 Day
Nursery planned for Turnagain House (FHC) Sevenoaks Council
have just received a planning application (08/2907)
to convert the Ash Road home into a day nursery (7.30 - 6.30 Monday
- Friday) for 58 children with 14.5 staff. According to the
statement from the applicants it was a home for 8 children aged
6-16 with severe behavioural problems but has since ceased operating.
They say that the home had an exemplary record, but inevitably
there were complaints about disruptive behaviour and noise and the
police had been called 140 times in 2007. They propose 19
parking spaces and an in-out facility to drop children off.
6 November 2008 Cars
damaged by vandals (Dartford Times, p7) Scratches or damage
to wing mirrors at Caxton Close, Porchester Close and Wellfield.
30 October 2008 Demolition
man told to fill hole (Dartford Messenger, p2) Sevenoaks
Council's order to demolish house in Church Road overturned by planning
inspector, but owner is told they would have to conceal basement.
Top award for ugliness (Dartford
Messenger, p6) Longfield Academy wins award for Kent's ugliest pumpkin
(picture)
23 October 2008 When
we read the book we recognised ourselves (Dartford Messenger,
p3) Locals say "Stig of the Dump" by Clive King is based
on memories of Butler's Place, Ash in the 1930s, when the author
lived at Oliver's Farm in Butchers Lane.
16 October 2008 Sevenoaks
Council has £1 million invested in Landsbanki Sevenoaks
Council was one of the UK councils to have money invested in Icelandic
Banks. According to their list
of investments as of 31 March 2008, they have £1 million
invested in Landsbanki, who also traded under the name Icesave.
The investment was due to mature on 25 June 2009. It
could have been worse as a further £3 million invested in
Icelandic Banks matured earlier this year. The council has
£21 million spread over 17 institutions, mostly UK building
societies, but it also included money invested in 2005 in Northern
Rock.
Speedy Leigh, 9, is beating
adults (Dartford Messenger, p9) Picture feature on young
athlete from New Ash Green. He is pictured with Dame Kelly
Holmes
9 October 2008 Man
in court in stab case (Dartford Messenger, p3) 26 year old
man from Reading charged with wounding with intent and other offences
at Manor Drive on 21 September 2008.
Children fighting for their
survival (Dartford Messenger, p7) 23% of children in Hartley,
14% in Longfield and 21% in Fawkham live in low income families,
according to the Campaign to end Child Poverty. The figures
represent the number of children in families where no-one works
for more than 16 hours a week or are on working tax credits. The
average for Dartford Constituency is 32%.
Double yellow lines for
Church Road? (Dartford Times, p45, Sevenoaks
website) Sevenoaks Council propose double yellow lines in Church
Road between Copperdene and Middle Farm, and for a short distance
in the entrance of Stack Lane and in Woodland Avenue from the Church
Road entrance to the Croft. Consultation ends 3 November 2008.
Junior Ministers (Dartford
Messenger, p2) Mayor of Dartford presents badges to New Ash Green
Primary School council members (picture feature)
Wait for woodland report (Dartford
Messenger, p9) Brief notice of public enquiry about the village
green application for Hartley Wood.
25 September 2008 Child
kidnapped and man stabbed in Hartley (News
Shopper website) 21 year old man taken to hospital after being
stabbed in Manor Drive at about 8.15pm on Tuesday 23rd. Child
kidnapped but later returned unharmed.
9 September 2008 Rain
has final say as Hartley lift crown (News
Shopper website) Hartley Country Club win the 2008 Kent Cricket
League Premier Division, after deciding match with Bromley was rained
off.
4 September 2008 Magnificent
effort at care home (Dartford Messenger, p6) Picture feature
on first fete run by Fairby Grange, raising £800 for residents'
activities.
Woman punched in face by
stranger (Dartford Messenger, p3) A woman in her 20s was
attacked in the car park behind the shops in Cherry Trees around
9pm on the 26th. Attacker seen running towards Manor Drive.
28 August 2008 Court
for cheats (Dartford Times, p5) Woman guilty of fraud
(Dartford Messenger, p4) Penenden resident given community order
over receiving benefits while in work.
Recycling centre will be
hi-tech (Dartford Messenger, p4) Pepper Hill recycling centre
to reopen on 1 September, expected to receive 300,000 visitors annually.
Motorbike accident (Dartford
Times, p 7) 40 year old man taken to Darent Valley hospital after
crash on Brands Hatch Road, Fawkham on 21st August.
31 July 2008 Cream
team (Dartford Messenger, p10) Picture feature on walk and
cream tea organised by Friends of Fawkham Church.
Badge of honour for scout leader (Dartford Messenger,
p13) Hartley Scout leader awarded Chief Scout's Long Service Decoration.
Another leader of the group given silver acorn award (picture).
Scout and about (Dartford Messenger, p5) Picture feature
of event at Hopehill featuring scouts from Longfield and New Ash
Green.
24 July 2008 Death
on rail leaves passengers stranded (Dartford Messenger, p5)
40 year old man from Orpington died after walking onto the line
at Longfield at 5.30pm on 19th July. 100 passengers on train
led to safety, local restaurants Taste of China and Zara thanked
for the help they gave.
17 July 2008 Intruders
leave charity shop flooded out (Dartford Messenger, p9) Stock
at Oxfam shop in New Ash Green damaged after thieves broke in and
damaged sprinkler system. Manageress saddened at the loss
to the charity saying "there are so many disasters happening
in the world, there are a lot of people who could really use the
money".
Double figures (Dartford
Messenger, p9) New Ash Green Primary School celebrates its 10th
anniversary (picture).
A big thanks to education
chiefs (Dartford Times, p9) Capelands mum writes to thank
Greenwich University and Kent Awards Scheme for enabling her to
obtain a "life changing" first class degree in Sports
Science.
10 July 2008 Swings
can only get better (Dartford Times, p61) Feature on the
European Open Golf tournament at the London Golf Club, South Ash,
attended by 57,000 over 4 days.
Nightmare for demolition
man (Dartford Messenger, p11) Church Road homeowner still
waiting for result of appeal against Sevenoaks Council's plans to
demolish his house. In the meantime he has made a complaint
against the council alleging maladministration (picture).
Shane does it his way (Dartford
Messenger, p13) Local performer Shane Hampsheir to star the Woodville
Halls, Gravesend.
3 July 2008 Festival
fun hits right note (Dartford Messenger, p5) Photo feature
on Longfield Festival.
Just desserts: teachers
learn students are not to be trifled with (Dartford Messenger,
p8) Photo feature on Milestone School summer fair.
Bus pass reverts to 9am
start for holders (Dartford Messenger, p12) Thanks to KCC
funding local bus pass holders can now use the bus for free earlier.
Cycle rally (Dartford
Messenger, p12) Picture feature of New Ash Green Primary School's
cycling event.
26 June 2008 Sugar
anyone? Popping in for tea (Dartford Messenger, p13) Picture
feature of Thursday's Pop In Parlour at All Saints' Church Centre,
which has been running since 1995.
Development on the cards
for Church (Dartford Messenger, p7) Plans have been submitted
for 8 flats on the former United Reformed Church site in Ash Road.
19 June 2008 'Exhausted'
parents accept assurances - and an apology (Dartford Messenger,
p5) Further developments in the academy proposals at Axton Chase,
the parents the paper interviewed claim to have changed their minds
from opposition. In another development, the head Kevin Stokes
has resigned and in his letter he said he was in favour of the academy.
Mystery shutdown of village
classes (Dartford Messenger, p5) Fawkham CofE and Steep Hill
Schools get enquiries from parents after Fawkham House Independent
School in West Kingsdown announces its closure.
School fair (Dartford
Messenger, p9) Picture feature of Langafel School fair which raised
over £4,000.
Peace and quiet for a good
read (Dartford Messenger, p9) Opening of reading garden at
New Ash Green library.
5 June 2008 Parents
step up fight against academy plan (Dartford Times, p7) Parents
cling to hopes of Future for children (Dartford Messenger, p7) Interview
with parent from Penenden, New Ash Green who sets out the case against
an academy for Axton Chase School - class sizes, ending comprehensive
education and lack of accountability if things go wrong.
Solving the case of TV
policeman's home (Dartford Messenger, p8) County Councillor
David Brazier, who is selling his home in North Ash Road, asks for
any information concerning the actor Jack Warner, who is said to
have lived there.
Map offers insight into
past hardship (Dartford Messenger, p12) The Friends of Ash
Church have agreed to pay for the preservation of the 1839 Tithe
map of Ash (picture and feature)
How Heidi became Queen
of the Green (Dartford Messenger, p25) Picture feature on
New Ash Green May Queen event, which raised £1,800 for the
Primary School.
26 May 2008 12
hour power failure hits much of Hartley (FHC) A problem with
a high voltage cable led to a power cut for 2,300 homes in the Hartley
area from 5.15am. It was partially restored at 6am to part
of Hartley (believed to be the south of the village), but power
to the remainder was not restored until 5.10pm. Added to this
was the fact that it was the wettest day of the year with 1.6 inches
of rain falling on Hartley - exceptional even for a Bank Holiday!
In spite of rain and power
cuts the Roman Catholic fete went ahead in the school hall and was
well attended. Those in all electric households welcomed the
chance of a hot drink.
22 May 2008 You
can call for delay, angry parents are told (Dartford Messenger,
p5) Leader of KCC, Paul Carter, said he was in favour of the proposals,
but would ask the secretary of state for a delay if consultation
showed that is what parents wanted. Many concerns raised at
well attended public meeting. CEO of the Leigh Academy apologised
to Longfield parents for some comments he had earlier made, but
felt "we are stronger together than alone".
Youngsters show off their
singing talents (Dartford Messenger, p14) Picture feature
on Stars in their Eyes event at Hartley Primary School, raising
£1,200.
15 May 2008 Academy
anxt (Dartford Times, p3) Interview with protestors against
academy status for Axton Chase School. Parents from Bazes
Shaw, Coltstead and Caling Croft interviewed, one said "if
I wanted my children to go to an academy witn no involvement in
the way it is run, then I'd send them to Leigh City. But I
don't, I want my children to go to a school we all have an involvement
with and are educated the way we want them to be".
Thousands sign against
polyclinics (Dartford Messenger, p7 & FHC) Concerns that
the opening of a "supersurgery" in North Kent will lead
to local closures, led thousands to sign a petition against, including
many at the Kent House Surgery, Longfield.
Baker
raises cash (Dartford Messenger, p2) Henry's Bakery joins
national doughnut week to support The Children's Trust.
Horse race needs more pink
riders (Dartford Messenger, p17) 150 riders already signed
up to the 10 mile ride for life for Cancer Research UK at Speedgate
Farm on 7 June, but they are looking for 200.
8 May 2008 Academy
scheme upset (Dartford Messenger, p4) Parents and pupils
protest at Academy plans for Axton Chase School. They object
to the possible loss of the respected headmaster Kevin Stokes and
class sizes of up to 60, which the Leigh Academy use. The
Chief Executive of the Leigh claims Axton would still be a separate
school, although there may be one governing body. KCC councillor
David Brazier thought no-one objected to the academy just "some
forms of its baggage" and the way they had been told.
Celebrating a year of walking
back to health (Dartford Messenger, p24) Picture feature
on New Ash Green Wednesday walk.
1 May 2008 Parents
to see £25m school rebuild plans (Dartford Messenger,
p4) Plans for Axton Chase school in Longfield are to rebuild it
as an academy spealising in science and the arts in 2010/11. Sponsors
would be KCC, University of Kent and Leigh Technology Academy.
24 April 2008 Scouts
pay for their own running costs by flogging some bargains (Dartford
Messenger, p2) Picture feature of Longfield and Hartley Scout Jumble
sale, which raised £1,000.
Sporting fun for children
with fitness theme (Dartford Messenger, p10) Picture feature
of activity programme which visited New Ash Green in the half term
Scouts' collections raise
money for group (Dartford Messenger, p13) Picture feature
of Scout paper collection at Hemesley's Yard, Ash Road on the first
Saturday of the month.
17 April 2008 Drugs
'ban' will hit quality of life (Dartford Times, p5) Hartley
resident speaks out about ban on prescribing Aricept in early stages
of Alzheimers Disease. He said his wife has visibly improved
since taking the drug (picture)
Dog steals the limelight (Dartford
Messenger, p27) Hartley resident stars in Dartford Amateur Dramatic
Society's production of Anything Goes.
10 April 2008 Diesel
spill as car and lorry collide (Dartford Messenger, p5) Accident
on Hartley Road, Longfield at 6.45pm on the 5th. Fifty litres
of diesel leak from lorry.
Active participation (Dartford
Messenger, p10) Hartley Primary School raises £300 for sport
relief (picture).
Poor would pay for benefit
of the rich (Dartford Messenger, p14) Two letters from Hartley
residents pointing out problems with the parish Council's village
green application: (1) Village Green status would mean unlimited
access threatening the ancient woodland and nature conservation
importance; (2) Is it fair for a poor borough like Southwark to
subsidise a rich area like Hartley?
3 April 2008 Midnight
call to blazing barn (Dartford Messenger, p7) Fire crews
from Dartford, Thameside, Swanley and Swanscombe battle blaze in
barn at Speedgate Hill, Fawkham.
Vicar says a fond farewell (Dartford
Messenger, p12) The rector of Hartley and Fawkham, Rev Richard Worssam
is moving to Otford. He said Hartley "is a really happy
parish with a good feel to it".
Can do: Green shoots are
sprouting (Dartford Messenger, p12) Picture of "Gary
the Gardener"'s visit to New Ash Green Primary School, as part
of their drive to get eco-status.
Business brains (Dartford
Messenger, p24) Sevenoaks Council's finance team wins Local Government
Chronicle finance award for increased efficiency. Picture
of finance team and Hartley councillor Ramsay.
27 March 2008 Class
Act (Dartford Times, p12) Feature on New Ash Green Primary
School, including picture. Description of school and its clubs.
Competition Win puts shop
among the big fish (Dartford Messenger, p23) Heaver Tropics
in Ash Road, Ash wins £12,500 refit in competition. Business
started 27 years ago. Picture of owner.
20 March 2008 Profit
from reading (Dartford Messenger, p8) Picture feature of
charity readathon by New Ash Green Primary School.
Ramblers take a stroll (Dartford
Messenger, p12) Picture feature of regular Wednesday walk from New
Ash Green, attended by about 40.
6 March 2008 Armed
robbery ordeal (Dartford Messenger, p2) Armed robbery at
Hartley Post Office on 3rd March, where robbers threatened staff
and ran off with contents of till. They fled to car parked
in Broomfields.
A pound investment (Dartford
Messenger, p7) Picture feature on "Seed Project" at Hartley
Primary School. Pupils are given £1 each by PTA to learn
how to become entrepreneurs.
Villagers vent fury over
shop concerns (Dartford Messenger, p8) 300 attend meeing
in New Ash Green to discuss the state of the shopping centre, most
of which is owned by foreign registered companies. Sevenoaks
District Council criticised by several people at the meeting.
28 February 2008 Saving
lives when those early minutes matter (Dartford Messenger,
p5) Feature on the South East Coast Ambulance service "Community
Responders". They are local volunteers trained to get
to emergency cases quickly and treat them before the ambulance arrives.
Interview with volunteer from New Ash Green.
Link to press
release.
24 February 2008 Childhood
obesity report (NHS
Information Centre) Results for weight checks of reception class
children in the West Kent PCT area (which includes our Dartford
area) found that 12.7% were overweight and 9.1% were obese. For
year 6 pupils the figures were 14.5% overweight and 16.1% obese.
Most of these are a little below the average for England and
Wales.
21 February 2008 Fence
safety call after rail death (Dartford
Messenger, p4) Woman killed by train after fall (Dartford
Times, p2) Calls for improved fencing after 85 year old Longfield
Hill woman falls to her death in cutting. Network Rail says
it is in hand.
Singer goes from shoe boy
to sole sensation (Dartford Messenger, p9) Singer Shane Hampsheir
from Ash Road, Hartley appears on compilation CD "You raise
me up", which also has contributions from Elton John and Katie
Melua. He sings the song "Home" originally by Michael
Buble.
Shane
Hampsheir website; Myspace
Music (including concert dates)
Man injured (Dartford
Messenger, p9) 22 year old man taken to hospital after accident
at Church Road/Ash Road junction, Hartley.
Golf legends set to tee-off (Dartford
Times, p11) European Open to be staged at London Golf Club,
Ash in July.
Class Act (Dartford
Times, p12) Picture of Year Two Sycamore Class of Hartley Primary
School.
14 February 2008 Gunman
threatens bank staff in raid (Dartford Messenger, p14) A
£25,000 reward for information is offered, after Lloyds Bank
in New Ash Green was held up for the 3rd time since 2002 (picture).
Robot fun (Dartford
Messenger, p2) Picture feature of Steep Hill School's day with robots.
8 February 2008 Three
thousand trees for all at Jeskyns (Forestry
Commission Press Release) Longfield and Hartley Beaver Scouts
among 600+ children involved in tree planting at the new community
park at Jeskyns Farm near Cobham.
7 February 2008 Chicane
danger claim, as children injured in crash (Dartford Messenger,
p6) Some local residents complain that chicanes in Longfield Hill
cause accidents, after three children suffered minor injuries when
two cars collided at one. They were introduced in 2002, and
KCC say they have reduced accidents.
Manager takes gun attack
in his stride(Dartford Messenger, p8) Gunman hunted
(Dartford Times, p13) Coral betting shop
in Longfield held up by man with gun and knife. He fled empty
handed.
31 January 2008 Family
terrified as thieves steal lead from porch (Dartford Messenger,
p11) Lead from from porch in Hoselands View stolen leaving family
traumatise family. Other attempted thefts in Hoselands View
and Wellfield (picture).
Rail crime crackdown looks
to be paying off (Dartford Messenger, p10) Number of offences
at Longfield station has fallen from 33 in year ending April 2007,
to 14 in the first 8 months of this year (equivalent to 21 annually).
Six years for teen who
raped girl in woods (Dartford Messenger, p2) Man of no fixed
abode given 6 years at Maidstone Crown Court for rape in Bowes Wood,
New Ash Green. He was arrested at the scene after a neighbour
called the police.
24 January 2008 Academy
'may affect morale' (Gravesend Reporter, p7) NUT union claim
the proposed Axton Chase Academy in Longfield would have to operate
selection and teachers would have worse pay and conditions. All
of which was denied by Kent County Council.
Heating system sparks fire
fears (Dartford Messenger, p6) Dartford Fire Brigade attend
overheating system at Millfield, New Ash Green.
Edwardian feel to this
family home (Dartford Messenger, property p1 and 8) Feature
on new house in Manor Drive called Larch Green, on the market with
Remax for £695,000.
17 January 2008 Yobs
caged for savage stabbing (Dartford Times, p5) 20 year old
man from Farm Holt, New Ash Green jailed for 4 years for stabbing
man from Coltstead with bottle in September 2006. Court also
shown video of fight in New Ash Green Shopping Centre on 1 January
2007 where accused was seen on video. However a 22 year old
man and a 20 year old man from Olivers Mill were acquitted of the
September attack.
Villagers celebrate new
supermarket (Dartford Messenger, p4) Picture of opening of
Co-op store in New Ash Green. All 37 Budgens staff were taken
on by the new store.
The Rev Worssam (Dartford
Messenger, p22) Hartley's rector is moving to become vicar of Otford.
An evening of dance and
laughter (Dartford Messenger, p22) Picture of West Hill Morris
Dancers at New Ash Green Woodlands Group Wassail.
10 January 2008 Bollard
and pod for safer cash machine (Dartford Messenger, p10)
Waitrose supermarket has applied for planning permission for a cash
machine.
In sympathy (Dartford
Messenger, p13) Much loved former local GP Dr James Lowther Jenman
died just before Christmas.
Scout paper success (Scouts'
Press Release) The monthly paper collection at Hemesley's Yard has
raised £3,000 for the Scouts in 2007.
3 January 2008 Only
supermarket is saved from axe (Dartford Messenger, p11) Budgens
store to be reopened as a Co-op (picture)
Branch will reopen after
ram-raid (Dartford Messenger, p7) New look Nationwide Building
Society in Longfield to reopen in March after being damaged in ram-raid.
Drier future in store for
flood-risk villagers (Dartford Messenger, p6) KCC have allocated
money to try and deal with the flooding problem, that has plagued
Springcroft since 1968. The county council has done works
already, but residents say it hasn't helped (pictures).
Teenage driver in horror
crash (Dartford Messenger, p2) 17 year old driver had to
be cut free by Dartford Fire Brigade and taken to hospital, after
his car overturned in Redhill Wood and demolished a wall.
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