Happy New Year to you all!    May we extend a warm welcome to all new residents.

COMMITTEE NEWS

Committee members who have not yet had time to collect the annual subscriptions will be calling in the near future.

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

Our AGM will be on 10th May, starting at 8.00pm. Full details will be in the next newsletter, but please make a note in your diary now. As Paul Smith has now moved, he can no longer stay on the committee. This means that we are now short of at least two committee members, and particularly with no resident from Badgers Rise, Crest Close or Old London Road - 25% of the houses of Badgers Mount! If you would like to volunteer to be co-opted onto the committee now, or to stand for election at the AGM, please contact Tracey (534471) or Gordon (534279) for more information.

SOCIAL EVENTS

Over 40 people enjoyed the Family Christmas evening. This year was somewhat different from previous years, with a mixture of traditional carols accompanied by a talented young quartet of piano duet, violin and flute, and amusing readings and jokes. Our thanks go to Rachael & Charlotte Dallimore and Christopher & Ben (grandsons of Albert & Daphne Thomas) for their musical accompaniment.

Once again, the New Year's Eve Party proved successful. Those present enjoyed an evening of dancing to music provided by Steve Eales - our thanks to him for compiling the varied music programme for the night and ensuring that it ran smoothly.

By popular request, we will be arranging a Barn Dance this year as it has been a while since we last held one. We are trying to organise this for a Saturday evening in April/May. Full details will be in the next newsletter.

ENERGY SAVINGS
Coffee Morning, 1st February

You will see in the Shoreham Post delivered with this newsletter that grants are available for upgrading home insulation. In February, Sevenoaks District Council is targeting our area. Louise Shrubsole, the SDC Energy Conservation Officer (01732 227155) will be coming to the weekly coffee morning in the Memorial Hall, Highland Road, between 10.30 am and 12 noon on 1st February to talk about all aspects of energy conservation, either collectively or on an individual basis. She could also attend another, possibly evening, meeting later in the month if there were enough requests. Please contact Gordon, Tracey or send an email to the website if you would like us to try to arrange such a meeting. It is estimated that many homes could save up to £200 on their annual fuel bills by being more energy efficient. For example, how much insulation is there in your loft - 50 or 75mm, or the now recommended 250mm?

SPEEDWATCH AND ROAD SAFETY

The new speed watch camera is now available, and will be in use on Old London Road in the near future. This may help to curb some of the excessive speeds which have been observed recently. In one incident, which occurred last September but has only recently come to our notice, a group of children who had just got off the 402 bus opposite Badgers Rise were nearly run down by a speeding car as they crossed the road. If you hear of any similar occurrences wherever they happen, please let us know so that we can follow them up, and it will help our overall efforts to improve safety on our roads. Without such information, the authorities won't believe there is a problem, and won't do anything until there have been serious injury or fatal accidents.

OVERGROWN HEDGES

There has been an increase in the number of overgrown hedges obstructing roads and footpaths. We would remind you that you are responsible for ensuring that your hedges do not cause a nuisance, and ask you to cut them back, particularly where sight lines are compromised.

IDENTIFICATION OF HOUSES

Most houses in Badgers Mount are named and not sequentially numbered. This makes it more difficult for people unfamiliar with the area, delivery drivers etc. to find a particular house. It is not unusual to see vehicles crawling up and down our roads searching for houses, some of whose name boards are not very clear. To aid such drivers, emergency services etc. please ensure that you have identification clearly visible.

SHOREHAM YOUTH CLUB

The Youth Club continues to go from strength to strength. The club is also open to all Badgers Mount children aged 11 to 17 during term time, for an entry fee of £1 per attendance. For more details contact the Badgers Mount representative, Christine Gray on 01959 532946 (evenings only).

BULKY REFUSE COLLECTION

The next bulky refuse collection is scheduled to be on Saturday 17th February. The vehicle stops at the end of Highland Road between 11.15 and 12.00. You are reminded that you must not leave items unattended in advance of the vehicles' arrival.

SHOREHAM AT WAR BOOK

Free copies of the Shoreham and District Historical Society book are still available. Additional copies can be purchased if you want to give one to friends.

COFFEE MORNINGS AND MOBILE LIBRARY

If you are free on Thursday mornings, why not come along to the Memorial Hall between 10.30 and 12.00 for coffee or tea and biscuits and a friendly chat with your neighbours. Police surgeries are also held during the coffee mornings.

The mobile library van comes into the Hall car park alternate weeks between 10.45 and 11.20, the next visits being on 18th January and 1st February. In addition to a range of adult and children's books, including large print and tapes, videos can also be hired. Anyone can join this free service by enrolling with the staff in the van. There are no fines for overdue books!

CONTACT DETAILS

Gordon Plumb – 534279
Tracey McCartney – 534471