Profile of District Councillor, Gary Williamson
Hello I am Gary Williamson. I was born and grew up in Knockholt. As a child I lived
over the family shop in Old London Road and attended Ryecroft School which was
located behind the old post office. Since then I have lived in Pound Lane and Rushmore
Hill.
I have served terms of office on the Parish Council as a Vice Chairman and Chairman.
I helped during those periods to secure the recreation ground and to obtain a
Sports Council grant to purchase the football field in Ivy Lane. I then moved onto
Sevenoaks District Council where I have served for over 15 years on Planning,
Environmental and Housing committees. Currently I am the Chairman of the
Planning Committee for Sevenoaks District Council.
I live with my wife and two teenage children in Watercroft Road, Halstead where I can be contacted if anyone needs me.
2014 Knockholt Carnival
As we get closer to this year’s Carnival, your committee is pleased to announce that preparations are
well underway for our usual spectacular Carnival and Parade.
We have heard from several local groups who are planning their ever more spectacular floats. If you
would like to join in the Parade please contact Jill Fullegar, our Parade Coordinator on 01732 465660,
who will happily send you a form. A couple of Main Arena events this year include an amazing performance by Little and Large, a shire horse and matching, in all but size, Shetland pony. In addition we
will be entertained by Bromley Gems, a gymnastic cheer leader team who compete nationally.
Once again we will be judging local houses decorated in accordance with this years theme of Books
Galore, please contact us if you want to enter this fun event.
We realise that Knockholt Carnival is really two fold; to enhance our local community spirit and to raise
money for charities & local good causes. This year our designated charities are our local Age UK and
The Maypole Project based in Green St. Green which offers support to children with life limiting illness
and their parents.
If any of you wish to have a stall at carnival this year, or have any other questions, please contact me on
01959 533117 or e.mail [email protected]
In addition to Carnival we also hold fun events every couple of months. On Easter Bank Holiday Monday, we are holding our second mystery scavenger Hunt. Leaving the village at 1pm, you should be
back for a barbecue by about 4pm. To book your group & car, please contact me at the above addresses.
Hope to see you all soon, best always for our village, Gill Storey – Chair Knockholt Carnival Charities.
European Elections, 22nd May 2014
When you start meeting representatives of a political party at Knockholt Station at 7 o’clock in the
morning you know there is an election in the offing! On Thursday 22nd May we have the opportunity to
elect 10 MEPs to represent the South East of England at the European Parliament so whatever views
you have of the European Union this is your chance to have your say and use your vote.
How to report potholes and other problems
The recent appalling weather has resulted in the usual crop of pot holes. Our road steward is very
good and will inspect any pot holes reported to Kent Highways and mark them up for repair. There
are two ways in which you can report them:
1) To our Clerk by telephone or e-mail (details in this news letter or on our website)
2) By going to the Kent Highways site, www.kent.gov.uk › Roads and transport and following the
instructions there for reporting road problems.
If you spot any street lights which are not working these should be reported to the Clerk except for
those in Bond Close and Waylands Close which are the responsibility of Kent Highways and can be
reported in the same way as potholes via their website.
World War I Commemorations
Plans for the commemoration of the centenary of the start of World War I are progressing well. There
is to be an exhibition of artefacts from the war in the lecture theatre at Coolings Garden Centre, Rushmore Hill on July 4th, 5th and 6th. Children from Knockholt and Halstead primary Schools will attend the opening. On Sunday 6th July there will be a service in St. Margaret's Church in Halstead
followed by a lunch in the Halstead Village Hall, featuring a wartime type menu prepared by the WI.
The Halstead players are doing a special performance in June. It is hoped that there will be something similar in Knockholt later in the year.
Crime — If you suffer it, report it
We are fortunate to live in a relatively 'low crime' area, but such a designation does incur some drawbacks. The main one is a 'low Police presence'. It is, therefore, most important that if you do become
the victim of crime you report it and make sure that you obtain a crime book number. Failure to report
a crime, however small, gives Police a false impression of the necessity to patrol the area.
The prevalent crimes in Knockholt appear to be break-ins to out buildings and sheds resulting in the
theft of garden machinery etc., theft of and from motor vehicles and instances of burglary. The Parish
Council would urge you to secure your property and if possible mark it for future identification.
Knockholt Royal British Legion
Due to the recent resignations of the Branch Chairman and Secretary a Special General Meeting of
the Knockholt Branch will be held at the Village Hall on Monday 24th March, commencing at 11 am,
in an attempt to find their successors. All members are urged to attend this very important meeting.
If we are unable to fill these two vital positions it is inevitable that the village will lose its branch, an
important part of the community. Anyone who is not currently a member of the Legion but is willing
to join in order to fill one of these roles is more than welcome to attend the meeting as is anyone else
who may wish to become a member and support the branch. Members do not have to be ex-Service
If you are interested but cannot attend this meeting please call Pamela Holmes on 01959 5332338.
Planning
Applications Received:
SE/13/03267/HOUSE – Clouds Hill, Brasted Lane, Knockholt, TN14 7PJ
Conversion of the loft space into two bedrooms and two en-suite shower rooms. The addition of six dormer windows to the roof in a matching style to the
existing.
SE/13/03754/LDCEX – New Stables Farm, Rushmore Hill, TN14 7NS
Conversion of stables into dwelling.
SE/13/03781/CONVAR - Coolings Nurseries, Main Road, TN14 7LJ
Variation of condition 1 (Temporary permission) of planning permission SE/11/02230/CONVAR to extend the planning consent beyond the five
years. This is in respect of the Rainbow Pre-School.
SE/13/03643/FUL – Land adjacent to Rushmore Hill Farm, Rushmore Hill, Knockholt TN14 7NJ
Change of use of adjacent strip of land (west side of house) into residential curtilage.
SE/13/03830/HOUSE – Inushuk, Pound Lane, Knockholt, TN14 7ND
Removal of internal trusses and struts in loft to create art studio with kitchenette and shower room. The installation of ten roof lights in loft to front
and rear elevation.
SE/13/03847/FUL – Bowmans Orchard, Burlings Lane, Knockholt, TN14 7PF
Demolition of existing two storey dwelling and erection of replacement two storey dwelling.
SE/13/03706/FUL – Land adjacent to Rushmore Hill Farm, Rushmore Hill, Knockholt
Landscape plan with two ponds, tree and shrub planting
SE/14/00113/HOUSE – Halfacre, 3 Hunters Walk, Knockholt, TN14 7NS
Erection of single storey rear extension, 1st floor rear extension. Two storey front extension, 1st floor extension incorporating dormer window. Two storey front
extension to bedroom and TV room. Porch extension.
SE/14/00133/FUL – Ashgrove Cottage, Chevening Lane, Knockholt, TN14 7LA
Demolition of existing 2 storey house and erection of new dwelling.
SE/14/00268/HOUSE – Lannacombe, 1 Harrow Road, Knockholt, TN14 7JT
Formation of a basement with 2 storey rear extension above and single side extension.
SE/14/00460/HOUSE – Little Rascals, Pound Lane, Knockholt, TN14 7ND
Addition of opening window in the first floor extension (front & rear elevations).
Applications Granted:
SE/13/01950/HOUSE – Homefield Coach House, Blueberry Lane, Knockholt
Erection of single storey side extension to existing garage, with the formation of a balcony above the proposed extension on the first floor, existing hipped ends of
garage roof changed to gabled ends, changes to external fenestration and re-cladding of the garage.
SE/13/02952/LDCEX – Little Washneys Road, Orpington
Change of use of land to north, east and immediately south east of dwelling as residential garden within curtilage and use of outbuilding and access for ancillary
residential purposes.
SE/13/03643: Land adjacent to Rushmore Hill Farm, Rushmore Hill.
Applications Refused:
SE/13/02945/FUL – Woodmere, Rushmore Hill
Demolition of existing dwelling and the erection of a replacement house with basement.
SE/13/02229/HOUSE – Rocks Forge, Main Road, Knockholt TN14 7LS
Applications no longer valid/withdrawn:
SE/13/03119/FUL – Bowling Green, Main Road, Knockholt
Removal of condition 4 (parking restrictions) of planning permission SE/84/00627 to allow access to the bowling pavilion and green from Main Road Knockholt
via Ivy Lane and creation of a parking Area on Parish Land adjacent to the Bowls Pavillion.
Enforcement notices:
Land at 1 Singles Cross Cottages and adjacent Land. An appeal has been lodged against this decision by the applicant.
Appeals:
SE/13/02945/FUL; Woodmere, Rushmore Hill, Knockholt, TN14 7NL
SE/13/02229/HOUSE; Rocks Forge, Main Road, Knockholt, TN14 7LS
Land at 1 Singles Cross Cottages and adjacent Land.
Who to Contact
Chairman
Vice-Chairman
Alan Hildrew (532432)
Doreen Jones (532150)
Finance
Amenities
Nick Manton (532176), Alan Hildrew, Carole Moody (532949)
Rita Radford (533162), Mandy Hewitt (533125), Joe Malzer (532030),
Sue Fowler (533260) John Crick & Sabrina Little (Co-opted)
Doreen Jones, Alan Hildrew, Rita Radford, Nishwan Shaboo (533181)
Planning &
Transportation
Publicity &
Website
Sports & Leisure
Police Liaison &
Speedwatch
Doreen Jones, Mandy Hewitt, Alan Hildrew, Nick Manton
Joe Malzer, Nishwan Shaboo, Carole Moody, Sue Fowler
Doreen Jones, Joe Malzer
Police Contact Numbers:
Emergencies and where a crime is in progress
General
999
101
Parish Clerk:
Adrian Murray
(01732 700205)
No 59
March 2014
Website: www.knockholtparish.org.uk
Details of the 2014/15 precept request
The Parish Council precept is a tax charged
on each property in the parish to fund all the
activities that the Parish Council undertakes
for the benefit of the community. This year
the timetable for setting the precept was
delayed as we awaited a decision by Sevenoaks District Council as to whether they
planned to pass on to us (and other parish
councils) the Local Government Support
Grant.
Whilst the precept request for 2014/15 is a
1.5% increase in the Parish Council’s precept compared to 2013/14, the charge per
household will not change.
Kncockholt PC Expenditure
Cha ri table Ca uses,
4
Street Li ghting, 6
Admi n, Publicity &
Ins urance, 38
Eventually, after much deliberation on the
part of Sevenoaks District Council, they
decided not to pass on any of the grant (they
are one of two district councils in Kent not
doing so). Consequently, the Parish Council
had to adjust its 2014/15 budget to reflect
this.
A detailed analysis of our income and expenditure was completed by December and
by careful control of projected costs a precept of £35284 was subsequently approved
by the Parish Council at a meeting on 21st
January The pie chart opposite illustrates the
percentage distribution of expenditure in the
five main areas that are under the direct control of the Parish Council.
Ameni ties &
Projects , 24
Sports Facilities,
28
This is because there are slightly more properties in the parish on which the precept can
be charged now than was the case a year ago
(611 v 602).
Date for the Diary: Annual Parish Meeting—10th April 2014
Published by Knockholt Parish Council
Parish Clerk: Adrian Murray, Maresfield, Bough Beech Road, Four Elms, Edenbridge TN8 6NE
e-mail: [email protected]
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KNOCKHOLT
PARISH COUNCIL
Newsletter
The Annual Parish Meeting will be held in the Village Centre on Thursday 10 th April at 8pm.
As customary there will be guest speakers and an opportunity for parishioners to raise any
topic of interest to the village.
@Knockholtpc