|
 BMRA Newsletter - April 2016
At last the cold and rain are easing up and Spring is starting. The
bluebells are coming out in the local woods – make the time to go and look
as they are usually stunning, particularly in Andrews Wood across the M25
motorway.
BMRA ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
7:30 pm for 8:00 pm start
The Residents Association will be holding its Annual General Meeting
in the Memorial Hall on Thursday May 12th from 7:30 pm for an 8:00 pm
start. Wine, soft drinks and nibbles will be provided. The outline agenda
is attached. Please let the secretary know of any additional points you
wish to raise. Are there any volunteers for the committee? Nominations can
be made in advance through the secretary, or can be made at the meeting.
Christine Donovan. Secretary 534293
Lyndhurst, Badgers Road
SUMMERTIME REMINDERS
Many people are out and about in their
gardens – good exercise, good for the mind and you might even grow some
vegetables. Some general points to minimise clashes:
 Bonfires –
please don’t light them such that they spoil a neighbour’s washing or
barbeque, or allow thick smoke to obscure a road. We won’t be giving any
prizes but the police might if an accident occurs…
Garden waste –
We live in a forested area with a significant build-up of potential fuel
for wildfires. So far we have been lucky (and had a couple of wet summers)
but Ide Hill had a scary near miss fire a few years ago. Don’t dump garden
rubbish over the back fence, it will become a potential fire hazard and
you could be prosecuted for fly-tipping. Far better, take it –
 and any
other waste – to the Sevenoaks Dunbrik disposal site which is a mile or so
to the West of Sevenoaks on the A25, opposite a garden centre. Its open 7
days a week and free to non-tradesmen. The gentlemen there are very
helpful; note that there is a vehicle height limit of around 6 feet so
most SUVs/4x4s should be OK but not Transit type vans. They can only take
small trailers so leave the artic lorry at home.
Dog waste bins – a
resident was recently seen dumping some unidentifiable but noxious stuff
by a bin. These bins are for dog waste only and the contractors do not
take general waste. If you want to leave bagged dog waste for collection,
please label it ‘Dog waste’ so there is no mistake.
ROAD SAFETY
UPDATE
 We have a number of residents who need mobility aids or who
are pushing push-chairs. For their sakes, could you all avoid parking on
the path? This equally applies to other forms of blocking such as building
supplies.
Horses: Please be aware that some horses have been
ridden dangerously on our roads. There was a recent near miss when horses
were cantering up Milton Avenue and nearly collided with a resident
tending their garden. The residents involved are raising the problem with
our PCSO.
If you have any contact with local stables or riders who
frequent our neighbourhood, please impress on them the dangers of fast
movement on narrow roads where small children may run out or dogs may
spook horses. Of course, this applies to car drivers as well!
Note
that only Badgers Road is classified as a Bridleway i.e. for horse use.
FLY-TIPPING
Please don’t leave rubbish on the verge for a
significant period of time. One lot of dumped rubbish attracts additional
dumping and we already have a major fly-tipping problem on the smaller
roads. If you see fly-tipping in progress, ring the police on 101 and tell
them where it is, if possible the registration number or other
identification marks such as sign-writing on the sides, the type (e.g.
van, estate car), colour, make and model if known.
PLANNING
Elite Motors, Orpington Bypass : The most significant planning application
in Badgers Mount for a few years has just been submitted to Sevenoaks
District Council (SDC). It is for the replacement of the Elite Motors
garage, car sales and car wash with a 60 bed elderly nursing home. The
proposed building will be of similar height to the existing garage but
built of brick with a tiled roof. The proposers held a consultation
display on 24th March in the Memorial Hall, and following comments made
they have amended the design to provide 2 more car parking spaces and
reduce the bulk of the building and its impact on neighbours. This site
has been in SDC's long term development plan for residential use for some
years, and this proposal will also provide employment.
Shepherds
Green, Highland Road : An application has been submitted for the
replacement of the present roof comprising two pitched roof areas and two
flat roofs with a unified pitched roof over the whole bungalow, together
with internal alterations to bring it up to modern standards.
There
have also been a few applications for small extensions which do not affect
the appearance of properties from the roads.
HOUSE NAMES & LETTER
BOXES
Have you had problems with deliveries? We know that a lot of
drivers have trouble in finding houses in our quirky neighbourhood. It’s
useful to ensure that your house name/number is visible from the road. The
BMRA website has a house location page.
Could you also spend a few
moments checking out your letter-box? Some are so low that people have to
get on their knees to put anything in, and others have such stiff draught
excluders that it is very difficult to deliver anything, such as this
newsletter, without screwing it up!
FACILITIES
Did you know
Badgers Mount has a milkman? They even deliver other essentials such as
bread and eggs all before 5am! For more information go to
milkandmore.co.uk or call 0345 606 3606.
POLICE CONTACT POINT
Instead of PCSOs holding surgeries in the village halls etc., the
police are now having contact points at various locations throughout their
area. Our local one is at Polhill Garden Centre. This is listed on the
Police website as a "Mobile Police Station", but usually consists of a
PCSO (not necessarily our own) sitting in a large marked van in the car
park. The current schedule is for visits on alternate Wednesdays between
12.00 and 1.00 pm, the next dates being 4th and 18th May. When visited
recently, the PCSO was very lonely and said that she rarely has anyone
speak to her. How about popping in and making a PCSO’s day, particularly
if you have any worries.
F M CONWAY UPDATE
The BMRA
representative and a resident continue to meet regularly with both the
site and management personnel to discuss any local issues or concerns
raised by residents concerning FM Conway operations.
Day Time Noise
from the Site - A resident raised this issue in relation to loud banging
on the 11 Feb 2016. Upon investigation it was identified to be when they
were lifting and loading "portacabins" onto low loaders and the noise was
caused by the chains clanging with the load during the lift. They have now
set in place actions to avoid this reoccurring.
Parking in
Shacklands Road - Procedures are in place where it should not be necessary
for any Conway vehicle to park or wait in Shacklands Road. However, this
problem was caused mainly by Polhill Garden Centre showing the post code
of the F M Conway site on their web site instead of their own, resulting
in some Polhill deliveries waiting for the ‘Back Gate’ to open which, of
course, is not in operation. This has now been resolved by the Garden
Centre
We would remind all residents FM Conway will not tolerate
loud bangs (tailgate banging) under Health and Safety rules. So if you
hear these, please inform the BMRA with the date and time.
ENTERTAINMENTS
Quiz night March 5th: 6 teams had a very enjoyable
contest. It was a great night with a lovely ploughman’s and the
competition was tight with 3 possible winners as we went into the final
round. The winning team was the longstanding runners up Bitter and
Twisted!
Easter egg hunt 2nd April : The sun shone and 15 children
searched around Badgers Mount looking for pictures of eggs and a variety
of questions to answers. All the families that came along had an enjoyable
hour or so with their children fully engaged running from egg to egg,
although some parents were stuck when it came to the harder questions! All
children returned safely and were rewarded with a prize.
FORTHCOMING
Walking Treasure Hunt SATURDAY 18th June start 2pm at
Badgers Mount Memorial Hall.
We are now looking forward to the walking
treasure hunt for all ages, a planned walk around Badgers Mount, with an
option to do half the route. Along the way you will be asked to look for
clues, answer puzzling riddles about your surroundings and be very
observant. There will be suitable activities for the younger children as
well as the very competitive adults!
We start at the village hall at
2pm and on return there will be tea and cake.
Residents are welcome to
join us just for the tea and cake, and to see the teams as they return.
Donation towards the refreshments on the day and any cakes will also be
welcomed.
Events co-ordinator Zena Belton
zbelton@live.com
Badgers Mount Ramblers!
1st Sunday of the month meet at the hall at 10
o’clock
Badgers Mount Residents Association Annual Garden Party
from 2 pm on SATURDAY 9th July 2016
An enjoyable afternoon for all
the family in the garden of Dr Mary Bliss. It is taking place at Oaklea;
turn Left at the top of Badgers Road and Oaklea is on the Right just
before entering the woods.
There is a rambling garden to explore,
lots of swings, a lawn for playing croquet or simply kicking a ball about,
and a tennis court for practising your serve or seeing who can produce the
longest rallies.
There will be a marquee tent in case of rain and
Children are very welcome.
Tea, coffee and drinks for children
will be provided over the afternoon. If you are able to bring a cake or
savoury snack it would be very much appreciated.
We are looking
forward to seeing you.
Please send enquiries to Christiane Ohland:
ccoo@btinternet.com
BADGERS MOUNT RESIDENTS
ASSOCIATION
THE 52nd ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
WILL TAKE PLACE
ON THURSDAY, 12th MAY 2016
IN THE MEMORIAL HALL, HIGHLAND ROAD at
8.00 PM prompt
Refreshments and nibbles available from 7:30 pm
AGENDA
(1) Apologies for absence.
(2) Minutes of the
51st Annual General Meeting held on Thursday, 21st May 2015 to be agreed.
Minutes are available on the BMRA website and some hard copies will be
available for study before the meeting.
(3) Matters arising from
the minutes and not covered elsewhere.
(4) Presentation of the
Chairman’s Report including.
a. Report on FM Conway Ltd matters
(Trevor Simmons).
b. Report on Planning matters (Gordon Plumb).
c.
Report on Entertainment matters (Zena Belton).
(5) Presentation of
the Accounts, Treasurer’s Report and appointment of the Auditor.
(6)
Discussion of and voting on a Proposal concerning the F M Conway Fighting
Fund from the outgoing committee as follows:
’Individual donors may
apply to the Secretary in writing before the 30th September 2016, should
they wish the unspent portion of their personal donation be refunded on
the pro rata calculation of 36.2p for every £ donated. After the 30th
September 2016 any residual monies left in the site specific Conway
Fighting Fund shall be renamed ‘The Community Protection Fund’ with the
wider remit to oppose all unacceptable developments within the community'.
(7) Appointment of the Committee:
Chairperson, Vice-Chair,
Secretary, Treasurer and minimum of 4 members.
(8) Any Other
business.
BMRA CONTACT DETAILS
Full contact details on the BMRA Committee
page.
News Archive - started Summer 2000
Local businesses supporting the Badgers Mount website:
|
