Rail company makes another bid to replace Otford railway crossing with footbridge

OTFORD STATION FOOTBRIDGE: Network Rail is again trying to close the footpath crossing close to Otford Station in order to build a 62-step footbridge. Two years ago, a KCC enquiry into the closure unanimously voted to retain the level crossing instead of building a footbridge but Network Rail are making a final appeal to the Secretary of State.

If you want to object, please write to Mrs Yvonne Oddy, 3A Eagle Wing, The Planning Inspectorate, Temple Quay House, 2 The Square, Bristol BS1 6PN or email: yvonne.oddy@planninginspectorate.gov.uk quoting Ref Footpath SR49, Pilgrims Way (Otford Kent) Rail Crossing Division Order 2019.

OTFORD PARISH COUNCIL: The next meeting of the Parish Council is at 7.30pm on Monday 13 January in the village Memorial Hall. Please check out the new parish council website at: www.otfordpc.kentparishes.gov.uk.

OTFORD TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT PLANS are now available on the Parish Council website at www.otfordpc.kentparishes.gov.uk – select ‘Traffic Management’. Paper copies are available in the Parish Council Office. The traffic plans are also on display in the Heritage Centre between 2-10 January. The centre is open from 8am to 12.30pm. If you wish to comment on the drawings please email: clerk@otfordpc.co.uk – deadline for comments Friday 10 January 2020.

HALL ON DISPLAY: The Trustees of the Otford Village Memorial Hall are holding an Opening Event on 18 January to show off the new refurbished main hall. The Hall will be open from noon until 4pm and you are invited to meet the Trustees, see the extent of the refurbishment and have a glass of Bucks Fizz or Orange Juice with some nibbles. This is a drop-in event and is free to Otford Residents.

OTFORD OAST WI next meets at 9.30am on Thursday 16 January in the Memorial Hall for a talk given by Helen Kendall-Tobias on Pearls and Princesses. New members are welcome and your first visit is free. For further information email: otfordoastwi@mail.com

BURNS NIGHT: St Bartholomew’s Church in Otford is hosting a Burns Night in the church centre on 25 January. You can look forward to a hearty supper, a tot of Whiskey, traditional readings, a table quiz and some Scottish themed entertainment. More details to follow in a later column.

LOOKING BACK IN HISTORY: Three history groups meet regularly in the Otford village Memorial Hall, the Otford and District Historical Society (ODHS), the 1940s Society, and the North-West Kent Family History Society (NWKFHS). Meetings of all societies are open to the public. ODHS annual membership for nine meetings is £10 per adult, or £3 per meeting. The 1940s Society has six meetings per year and admission is £3 per meeting. Annual membership for the NWKFHS is £10 and visitors are asked for a contribution. Refreshments are available at all meetings. Doors open at 7.30pm and the talks generally start at 8pm.

CHRISTMAS POST:  Otford Brownies and Guides would like to thank everyone who supported their Christmas Post Service in December. This was the 37th consecutive year of running the post which raised the sum of £226 from the sale of stamps. This year the money has been donated to SERV Kent – Bloodrunners, a charity that provides emergency courier services transporting blood products, samples and other essential items for major hospitals and hospices in Kent out of normal working hours. Thanks as always to Lorraine in Otford library, Sharon and Sue in the Parish Office and Yvonne’s in Telston Lane who sell the stamps  and Gerry and Craig who print the stamps and posters.

CHRISTMAS TREE RECYCLING: Sevenoaks District Council is offering a free collect and recycle your real Christmas tree service throughout January. The council will collect trees with a trunk of up to 90mm (3.5inches) in diameter through its Garden Waste Collection Service until the end of the month. Simply leave your tree by the boundary of your property where you’d usually put your refuse and recycling sacks by 7am on the day the Council’s Garden Waste Collection service visits your road. If your tree is too big for this service you can take it to one of Kent County Councils Household Waste Recycling sites, call KCC 03000 417373 for locations and opening times or visit: www.kent.gov.uk

THANK YOU to all past contributors. If you would like to be featured in this column details of events can be sent to me at drake_kay@hotmail.com making sure you enter Community News in the subject heading box or call 01959 522727. The My Sevenoaks Community village news page is a great way of getting your event, club, organisation free publicity. Please let me have your details as early as possible to ensure inclusion.

The Otford village news is compiled by Kay Drake. If you have any news or events you would like her to consider for the My Sevenoaks Community village column you can email her at: drake_kay@hotmail.com