The scheduled closure of the North Farm Household Waste Recycling Centre (HWRC) and Transfer Station in Tunbridge Wells has been postponed. It was due to begin on July 16. This decision has been taken to allow further evaluation of the required works to ensure the closure period is kept to a minimum. The site remains…
The annual Armed Forces Day was marked with a flag-raising ceremony at County Hall, Maidstone, attended by military personnel, British Legion veterans and KCC members and staff. David Brazier, the Chairman of KCC, welcomed attendees and explained the relevance of the event. “The occasion is a national show of support for Britain’s Armed Forces past,…
Work is progressing steadily on the Southborough Hub project in London Road. The former town council offices, Royal Victoria Hall and toilet block have now been demolished, making way for the new community hub, containing a hall / theatre space, council offices, library and a café / bar. A theatre consultant is advising on specialist…
A schoolgirl from Tonbridge has written to Kent County Council to ask for help with protecting the environment. So dismayed by litterbugs, Charlotte Flower, nine, penned a letter to KCC’s waste department to ask for some “litter picker uppers” to help her and her friends keep their school grounds clean. In the note, the Sussex…
The Chairman of Kent County Council has paid tribute to Countess Mountbatten, who died earlier this week at the age of 93. David Brazier said: “The Countess was a distinguished and highly-respected resident of Kent. “She was one of the first two female Deputy Lieutenants appointed in the county in 1973 and was involved in…
The nominations for the Dementia Friendly Kent Awards 2017 are now open. These awards aim to recognise and celebrate the hard work and dedication undertaken during the last year to improve the lives of people living with Dementia in Kent. There are six categories as follows: Most inspiring Dementia Friendly Community Award Any community which…
A heatwave warning has been announced for Kent, leading to advice by health experts to help vulnerable residents stay safe and well. The level two alert has been triggered by a Met Office forecast of a 70 per cent chance of temperatures reaching heatwave conditions over the weekend and into Monday. As most heat-related deaths…
Kent County Council’s Early Years and Childcare Service has scooped a second nationally recognised award for one of its innovative products, the ‘Enhancing Family Involvement in Children’s Learning (EFICL) Toolkit – Pathways to Excellence’. In 2016 the EFICL toolkit was also awarded the Nursery World Award for ‘Best Staff Resource’ and we are delighted that…
A ground-breaking scheme to help military personnel access public services has secured £321,000 in funding after KCC joined forces with six other councils, the NHS and forces charities around the South East. The grant from the Ministry of Defence is aimed at making it easier for servicemen and women, as well as reservists and veterans,…
Kent County Council is delivering a ‘good’ service to children and families. Leaders and senior managers have responded purposefully and methodically to service weaknesses, resulting in strengthened services and improved outcomes for children. Twelve Ofsted inspectors spent more than three weeks visiting KCC children’s service centres and meeting staff, parents and children across the county…
A decision was made by Kent County Council in February 2016 to sell Wayfarers Care Home in Sandwich as a going concern and a purchaser has now been selected. Using the services of a specialist agent who is experienced in selling care homes, multiple offers were received and evaluated by senior staff in Kent County…
Kent County Council is launching its summer drink-driving campaign with new figures revealing around one in six of all road deaths involves drink drivers. A new study shows that over the last three years there have been 654 crashes and 951 casualties as a result of a driver being impaired by alcohol. Kent Road Safety…
Shoppers, visitors and workers in the county town will benefit from a new 250-space car park from tomorrow (Thursday), following the acquisition of the former Royal Mail site near Maidstone East rail station by KCC and Maidstone Borough Council. One hundred of those spaces in the Sandling Road car park are in the “under croft”…
Registration for Kent Test (11+) is now open for any parent of a year five child who would like them to be considered for a place in a Kent Grammar school for 2018. Parents have until 3 July to register for the test. These will take place after the summer break on 7 September for…
The number of people killed or seriously injured (KSI) on roads in Kent and Medway has gone up by more than a third. The latest figures for 2016 show that KSI figures have risen from 707 to 978 – a 38% increase, which appears to be similar to the national picture. Broken down, the number…
Kent County Council has successfully prosecuted a mother and father for allowing their son’s school attendance to drop to just 10% while Kent schools’ average attendance rate is well above 95%. The couple have been found guilty and fined £1,240 each by magistrates. The parents, who failed to appear in court, had told KCC they…
Youngsters at Willesborough Junior School now have a safer and cleaner walk to their classes following the resurfacing of a long and muddy footpath. The path, which runs alongside the village cricket club off Hythe Road, is also used by Norton Knatchbull pupils going to the playing fields and connects residential areas to the Willesborough…
