What’s happening where you live...

and time constraints, but would continue as a reserve member of the committee. Cllr Alan Smith was elected chairman of the committee. 16/505279/ADV at Tesco Stores, Farleigh Hill, advertisement consent for three non-illuminated fascia signs, three delivery signs, two disclaimer signs, two freestanding Click and Collect panels, two promotional banners, one Hello/ Goodbye pole sign, one internally illuminated gantry, two directional signs, one No Entry sign, three flag signs, one externally illuminated totem, four aluminium panels, one entrance totem, one Welcome sign (woodtex wall) and three aluminium/vinyl signs. Cllrs agreed to recommend refusal for the following reasons: although most of the 30 signs are acceptable, councillors were opposed to the two promotional banners on the edge of the site facing Farleigh Hill. Councillors felt these would be detrimental to the street scene and present an over-commercialisation of what is mainly a residential area. In addition councillors were concerned that the sign G51 at the entrance to the site would detract from the visibility splay for drivers leaving the site. Should the borough nevertheless decide to approve the application, councillors would wish to see a condition imposed that ensured the two illuminated signs were only illuminated while the shop was open and not left on all night. 16/503691/FULL at 1-2 Little Abbey Gate, Stockett Lane, erection of a single storey side extension and a side extension to the double garage and the addition of a chalet style roof to accommodate a work from home office above. Councillors agreed to recommend approval with a condition that the extended garage building should not be later converted to living accommodation. 16/505685/FULL at 1 Caernarvon Drive, erection of a two bedroom bungalow (revised scheme to the refused application 16/501013/ FULL). No comment. 16/505599/ FULL at The Cow Shed, Cave Hill, demolition of shed and the erection of a pitched roof extension above and to the rear of the flat roof garage. Recommend approval with comments to remind officers that the site does fall within the Loose Valley Conservation Area. If the borough approves the application, a condition should be imposed to ensure the new storage room on top of the garage block is not later converted into living accommodation. Correspondent: Christine Byron Tel: 01622 812023 Footpaths walk: The village’s informal footpaths group will meet on Sunday, August 7 at the village hall for a local walk leaving sharp at 2.30pm. All welcome including dogs on leads. Please note that the August walk meeting point is different from that advertised in the village magazine. Tea for two: Home-made cakes and scones can be enjoyed at the church on Thursday August 11 from 2-4pm. Correspondent: Maureen Jopson, 68 Stockett Lane, Coxheath, ME17 4PY Tel: 01622 746086 joplot8@ hotmail.co.uk WI: The Farleighs WI is holding a Murder Mystery evening on Saturday, August 6 at 7pm for a 7.30pm start, at the WI Hall, Forge Lane. Tickets, costing £8, available from Pam Lindon on 01622 726337. The next monthly meeting is on Wednesday August 10 at 7pm for a 7.30pm start at the WI Hall. This month will be fun and games as an Indoor Sports Day. New members are always welcome. For information, contact Diane Scott on 01622 814476. Correspondent: Jenny Scott Mob: 07785 974951 jscott@ cfsbroadband.co.uk Baptist service: On Sunday August 7, at 10.30am, morning service with Treasure Seekers Sunday school will be held at the Baptist Church. Men’s breakfast: The men’s breakfast has been postponed from Saturday, August 6 to Saturday, August 13 starting at the usual time of 7.30am in the church. Another controversial and topical subject will be discussed at length by men with opinions who are ready to share them. Call Jeremy after August 8 for details on 01892 730910. Churchyard working party: The churchyard working party known as The Vandals will be on duty in the churchyard on Saturday, August 6 from 9.15am. Turn up to give them a hand or to find out more, call Paul Mahoney on 814420. Memories of Sheila: Roma Farrier turned back the clock to 2008 last week when she held a cream tea event in her beautiful garden. In the days of Roma leading the Yalding branch of the RNLI Lifeboat Guild, this was an annual event, at which Sheila Lister, who died earlier this year, would always be helping. The tea was held in memory of Sheila and in aid of the RNLI, and was as lovely as we all remembered those of the old days. A lovely touch was that Sheila’s family had donated much of Sheila’s huge collection of crockery, which was used for the occasion and which visitors were able to take away for a donation to the Lifeboats. Now many of us have something on the kitchen shelves to remind us of a lovely long time Yalding lady. God bless, Sheila. Parent/toddler group: Yalding Toddlers group is excited to announce that it will be continuing to run its Wednesday morning sessions right through the six week school holiday this year. So on Wednesdays from 10am-noon, pre-school children, parents, carers and expectant mums are most welcome to go along to the village hall for lots of play for the youngsters and tea or coffee with biscuits for the adults. Watercolours at WI: On Tuesday, August 9 at 7pm, the monthly WI meeting will feature a talk on watercolour painting by Alan Colladge. The competition is for a small jug. New members and visitors are always welcome. Call Vivien Peters on 01622 871152 for details. Flood worries: A shock indeed for flood victims to hear last week from the Environment Agency that there are to be no new flood defences for the village, or for Laddingford and Collier Street. The flood storage areas widely talked about for the rivers Teise and Beult are not to happen. Apparently new software shows the number of homes that would be protected by the scheme is minimal. So, two years on we are exactly where we were at the time of the Christmas 2013 flood. It is not good enough. Good, if not welcome information is available by emailing the Medway, Beult and Teise flood group on flood@yalding.com Arts/crafts afternoon: Following the Train and Transport day at The Chequers on Saturday August 6, the Chequers marquee will once again be the venue for the arts and crafts afternoon on Monday August 8 from 2-4pm. Take along a project and share ideas and experience with others. Tea and cake will New art exhibition: The Riverside Gallery new exhibition for August, aptly called Community Matters, had a preview evening last week. The exhibition will be on until the end of the month on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays from 2-5pm. Along with Yalding Art Group work, there are Hadlow Pottery exhibits from learning disability adults and Kenward Trust wood craft. Kenward is a charity for tackling alcohol and substance misuse. There really is some stunning work on display. Don’t forget that for August you can visit Yalding Art Group in action on Thursdays from 10am-noon. Summer playscheme: I visited the playscheme on the second Monday of the three week scheme at The Kintons where all of the children were happily playing on the play equipment. The group of 32 children (just four from capacity) were with leader Linda Gilbert and her team. Among the volunteers was Emily Cramp, who first came to the playscheme at five years old. She is now in Year 10 at Maidstone Girls Grammar School and loves to spend a week of her summer break helping out. Also Alison Neate, whose mum lives in the village. On the first day, rules and chosen activity lists had been negotiated with the children. Then followed a week of indoor and outdoor games, papier mache modelling and painting, and a visit from Jaws ‘n’ Claws. Each morning the children cut up fruit for their snack and then eat their packed lunches at 12.30pm. Most days end with a visit to The Kintons. On Friday August 5, the parish council is providing a barbecue for the group. The scheme runs until Friday, August 12 at Yalding School from 11am-3pm. For information, call Linda on 07970 981794.