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A team of voluntary drivers take people wherever they need to go: doctors, dentists, hospitals, shopping etc., enabling them to maintain independence.  To be eligible for the service clients must live in the Maidstone Borough Council area and be unable to manage on public transport.  Further information is available from HERE

 

Did you know that you can now contact the Maidstone Borough Council outside of normal hours. All MBC customers are now able to report all emergencies to a single number on (01622) 602243.
This single landline will be cheaper as well as more convenient for customers. All calls to this number will be routed directly to the Housing Call and Repair Centre, which operates 24 hours a day. The team has been trained to deal with all likely calls.

 

Did you know that the MBC have issued a Guidance Note on the storage, movement and use of poultry manure.
There have been many plagues of flies affecting properties within the Borough of Maidstone over the past few years. These flies have caused immense distress and disruption to the lives of local residents.
Investigations have shown that most of this nuisance has been due to the inadequate treatment and lack of control over the disposal, storage and dispersal of poultry manure.
In order to prevent further nuisance the Council have drawn up this Guidance Note in consultation with the Industry, to clarify the responsibilities of any person involved in the production, treatment, carriage, storage and disposal of poultry manure.
For the purposes of the Guidance Note the word flies includes flies, eggs and larvae of flies.
1) The producer should ensure that all possible measures are taken to ensure that manure is free from flies or their larvae whilst in storage prior to removal.
2) Operators must ensure that the movement of poultry manure is carried out so as to minimise all nuisances. This may include the covering of trailers, but must include the removal of any waste falling onto the highway during transit.
3) Unless used to top dress pasture or standing crops all poultry manure should be deep ploughed into land within 48 hours of its arrival on site. Recent experience has shown that incorporating the manure with heavy discs is not sufficient to prevent emergence of flies.
4) Poultry manure should not be stockpiled near watercourses, including ponds, ditches and rivers or close to domestic dwellings or business premises. All stockpiles should be monitored regularly and covered with black polythene, suitably weighed down whenever there is an imminent risk of flies living and breeding on the stockpile.
This Guide will assist in the prevention of fly infestations. Failure to follow it may be used as evidence in any enforcement action. For further information please contact the Maidstone Borough Council Pollution Section on (01622) 602202.

 

Did you know that a memorial window is now installed in the Parish Church of All Saints dedicated to the late Reverend Trevor Vickery, Rector of Staplehurst from his installation on 21st December 1951 to his retirement on 29th September 1991, the longest serving Rector since the establishment of the Rectorship in 1245. 'For what he achieved in this Parish, we give thanks today'. So said the then Rector of Staplehurst, Canon Brian Barnes, when dedicating the Memorial Window at a special Advent Sunday service in the Parish Church of All Saints on 2nd December 2001. Trevor was affectionately known as Trev the Rev and was a very proud Welshman. The window, with its Welsh theme, has in the centre light, St David, Patron Saint of Wales, with other Welsh symbols, including the dragon, daffodil and leek. The arms of the Vickery family and that of HMS Conway, the training ship to which Trev the Rev gave wartime service as Chaplain, are in other areas of the window. Created by local stained glass artists, Keith and Judy Hill, from a design brief provided by the Vickery family, this is the third memorial window they have made for the Parish Church in Staplehurst, all situated on the south wall of the South Aisle. Funding for the memorial came from the Vickery family, donations from Parishioners, friends and the Parochial Church Council.

 

Did you know that you can read all about Staplehurst on the Kent Messenger kent-online website? Go to http://www.kent-online.co.uk/  for the latest news contributed by the KM Village Correspondent Ron Hegarty who can be contacted HERE.

 

Did you know that in Staplehurst there is a magnificent display of historic farm equipment used in the 20th Century and before? Did you know that at the same place there is a museum containing many artefacts from Staplehurst's past? You will find these at a working farm, itself having a 14th century moated farm house, at Brattle Farm, Five Oak Lane.
The farm is owned by Brian and Anita Thompson and is open to the public, but you do have to make your visit in an organised group by appointment.
Group organisers can contact Anita and Brian on (01580) 891222 to arrange a visit in the evening or at a weekend, on any day throughout the year.

 

Did you know that trained volunteers are available to check, clean and re-tube hearing aids, supply batteries and to give advice and information. This service is provided at McCabe Centre, McCabe Close, Staplehurst on the first Thursday of each month between 14:00 and 16:00.
If you cannot get to the above clinic and would like a home visit please contact Volunteer Co-ordinator, Hi Kent, 18 Brewer Street, Maidstone, Kent. Tel. (01622) 691151.

 

Did you know that Maidstone Borough Council is promoting a Cavity Wall Insulation Discount Scheme with support from the Energy Savings Trust. A special rate has been negotiated so that up to £200 of the cost of insulating your cavity walls can be saved. In addition an extra £75 each can be saved when your home is insulated as well as that of a friend. It is understood that discounts are also available for new boilers. Full details of your nearest approved installer are available from Maidstone Borough Council on: (01622) 602762.

 

Did you know that responsibility for street columns in the parish is shared amongst the Parish, Maidstone Borough Council and Kent County Council? Through the annual upgrading of some of the parish streetlights (all of which are nearing the end of their useful life) the Parish Council is then able to pass the future responsibility of the lights onto Kent County Council. The Parish Council is currently paying nearly £4,000 per year for Parish Street Light Energy, Maintenance and Repair costs. Please notify the Clerk if you notice any street light that needs repairing. By reporting to the Clerk the exact location of the column and reference number (if it has one) will ensure speedy repair by the responsible authority.

 

Did You Know why your road names were called Oliver, Stanley, Reeves, Pope, Jeffrey and Butcher? The Wealden Estate, built by Wimpeys, was completed in 1973 just as the County Primary School was celebrating its centenary. It fell to the Parish Council to give the road names - and those of Head Teachers and others associated with the school over the past century were approved.

 

Did You Know that the Memorial at Cuckold's Corner, the traffic-light junction of the A229 with Marden and Headcorn Roads, is not the Village War Memorial, as some may think? It is a memorial to the Marian Martyrs burnt at the stake for supposed witchcraft and other misdemeanours, in the oppressive days of Queen Mary. It was placed on land donated by Mr W. Brooks in April 1905. It consists of 16 tons of Aberdeen granite, has a commemorative bronze plaque in place at its base mounting and is rail fenced. Since 1978 the memorial has been cared for by the Staplehurst Society, who carry out annual cleaning, in conjunction with the National Providence Alliance.

 

Did You Know that Staplehurst once had a public house for each day of the week? There were seven pubs along the main road, of which only four still exist as public houses. From Station Road there was the South Eastern Hotel (now converted to apartments), The Railway Tavern, The Royal Oak (now The Pride of Kent), The Crown (a coaching inn now converted to private dwellings), The Kings Head, The Bell Hotel and The Lamb on Church Hill (now a private residence).

 

Did You Know that Staplehurst Parish Council is one of the original Parish Councils, founded in December 1894? During its existence and still flourishing, to provide the best for the residents of Staplehurst, it has had only 15 Chairmen, including three ladies. It is, perhaps, unique in that only 9 Clerks to the Parish Council have served since the creation of the Parish Council in 1894. The longest serving Clerk was the first, Mr Thomas Reeve, who gave 37 years to his duties. The shortest period was one meeting attending by a Mr Curtis, who demanded payment much more than the Council of the day would provide! The present holder of the office is Sue Bassett.

 

Did You Know that traffic control at Cuckold's Corner (A229 junction with Marden and Headcorn Roads) has been the subject of request since traction engines first used the village streets around 1895? In 1923 Kent County Council were asked to place a "Danger" signal north and south of the main road. Traffic Stop signs were requested of KCC in 1934 considering the number of accidents experienced at the crossroad. Double yellow parking restriction lines were put in place in 1968. A traffic survey carried out in January 1979 did not justify provision of traffic lights at the junction. When the Lime Trees development was first applied for in Mid 1990, the Parish Council insisted that, as part of the planning approval, the developers had to provide and pay for traffic control at the cross road. Traffic lights came into operation at the end of the summer of 1999.

 

These services are financially supported by KCC and provide security services to households across the County. Services are generally provided free of charge, although in some cases a small charge will be made.