Remembrance Sunday, 8th November 2020

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Sadly, for the first time in history, Services of Remembrance nationally will be closed the public, in line with the Government’s latest advice.  This means that the Remembrance Sunday event at the Aldington, Bonnington & Hurst War Memorial will be much reduced this year, in order to comply with national guidelines and to keep everyone safe.

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Instead, members of the public are urged to remember all those who paid the ultimate sacrifice, our veterans and all our Armed Forces by coming together for a national moment of silence at 11am on the doorstep of their own homes. The service from the Cenotaph will be broadcast nationwide on BBC One, Sky and ITV.

At our own Memorial, after the two minute silence is observed, the Last Post will be sounded and wreaths will be laid by an invited group, observing strict social distancing measures.

You are invited to show your support by replicating the Clap for Carers at the end of The Last Post.

It would also be nice to join in the national suggestion of using our windows  to display support for the War Veterans and Armed Services.  We invite everyone to show their respects by displaying a poppy in your window and by joining in the one minute silence at 11.00am, Sunday 8th November on your doorstep, alongside your neighbours.

You can download a Poppy Poster, or an outline Poppy Poster for children to colour in from the Royal British Legion website in return for a small donation. The Royal British Legion need support from online donations this year, because they have not been able to organise collections in the usual way.

Aldington Churches Together will lead our Remembrance Day ceremony as follows:

  • Two minute silence at 11.00am
  • Sam Loader will play The Last Post
  • Wreath laying by an invited group – unless government advice changes.

Fittingly, in time for Remembrance Day, commemoration of the 49 men and one woman honoured on the Aldington, Bonnington & Hurst War Memorial is now online – in a new section of the Parish Council website that is launched today. The phenomenal dedication of David Hughes has not only brought us the Memorial itself, but also, through his research, the stories behind each individual. The poignant history of enlistment, the Great War and Second World War battles and the tragedies that local families endured is told here.

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COVID-19 Helpline

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If you need help during lockdown, or in order to self-isolate;

Telephone : 01233 721838  or 07802 776779

or contact the volunteer group on FaceBook via the Aldington and Bonnington’s Action and Support Group for the Coronavirus

Ashford Borough Council support can be accessed via the dedicated website section.  Anyone having difficulty please contact Councillor Linda Harman; tel: 07820 776779.

Further helpful information and links to more on our COVID-19 Support page :https://aldingtonandbonnington-pc.gov.uk/covid-19-support/

Keep safe everyone.

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Quarry Pond – update.

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The pond on Quarry Field has been temporarily fenced off and the entrance up to Quarry Field from Quarry Wood is closed for a short time. img 0552This is due to damage to the ground surrounding the pond during mechanical clearance of reeds and parrot weed this week.  The area is extremely muddy following heavy rain, so please keep clear.  We realise that many people enjoy walking around the pond area and apologise for the inconvenience whilst works are carried out. We very much hope that the ground will recover quickly to enable removal of the fencing.

img 3495Many thanks to Darren Godden and Martin Boulden for their support in achieving this first stage of a conservation and improvement plan. The parish council are working with Martin Newcombe, professional ecologist and founder member of the East Kent Badger Group with support from the Kentish Stour Countryside Partnership.

This autumn, the centre part of the pond has been mown and cleared to increase the free water area and reduce vegetation.  Next autumn, further reed will be removed after which it is hoped that annual hand clearing will be able to keep vegetation under control.

Ponds provide a rich and very natural habitat for a wide range of threatened freshwater species such as: Great Crested Newt, Natterjack Toad, Pillwort, Starfruit, Marsh Clubmoss and Medicinal Leech.   We hope that through conservation work we will be able to make the pond on Quarry Field a biodiverse haven.  Next year we will be forming a working party to get involved in projects to expand the diversity of species found in the pond and Quarry Woods area.  In the mean time we hope that you will bear with us.

 

 

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Responses from Questionnaire 1…..

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Read more

Planting memories at the War Memorial

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Read more

New Parish Councillor brings team back up to nine

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We are delighted to welcome Stephen Wagstaff to the Aldington & Bonnington Parish Council.  Stephen has lived in Postling Green at the end of Roman Road for 8 years.

It being mid term for the current electoral period, Stephen was co-opted onto the Council by the remaining 8 councillors. Co-option is a process whereby councillors select a person to join the parish council.

Residents elect 9 Parish Councillors every four years; 7 from the Parish of Aldington and 2 from the Parish of Bonnington. The Parish Council elects its Chairman each year at the Annual Parish Council Meeting which is held in May.

The Council reports to residents at the Annual Parish Meeting held in April.

Parish Councillors are holders of public office but are not paid for their services, they commit to three main responsibilities; decision-making, monitoring and getting involved locally.

The next elections are scheduled to take place in May 2023.

Look out for the Neighbourhood Plan Questionnaire 1

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The first questionnaire from the Neighbourhood Planning team is now on its way to you. This survey will identify the issues that you think are most important for our Neighbourhood Plan to address. Your answers will shape the Vision and Objectives of our Plan and identify the topics for  workshops and, ultimately, our planning policies.

You can complete Questionnaire 1 on one of the paper copies that are currently being distributed to every property, or online. Everyone’s view counts so please encourage each household member to return a questionnaire to us. If you prefer paper but do not have enough copies, you can request more by emailing clerk@abpc.org.uk or lindaharman@abpc.org.uk – or pick one up from the Post Office or Walnut Tree Pub where you will also find Questionnaire Returns boxes too. Alternatively you can download the attached ‘Print at Home’ version.

Click here to complete Questionnaire 1 online

Please return by Friday 18th September.

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Your community needs you!

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Parish Councillor Vacancy

Aldington and Bonnington Parish Council currently has a vacancy for a member of the public to become a Parish Councillor for Aldington.

If you feel you would like to get involved in making decisions about your local community, local issues and make a significant contribution to the area in which you live or work, then this is the position for you!

Do you have an interest in your local environment, local transport, local government finances, amenities, planning and housing issues, community events, anti-social behaviour and policing, and want to make a difference then please apply!

  • You must be aged 18 years and over, eligible to vote and have lived or worked in the parish of Aldington for 12 months or more, or within 3 miles of the parish boundary.

Please apply in writing to:

Peter Setterfield PSLCC, Clerk to Aldington & Bonnington Parish Council
The Mission Hall
Forge Hill
Aldington
TN25 7DT
Email: clerk@abpc.org.uk

Closing date for applications: 7th September 2020

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Notice of Vacancy

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NOTICE OF VACANCY

IN OFFICE OF COUNCILLOR

PARISH OF ALDINGTON AND BONNINGTON

(ALDINGTON PARISH WARD)

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN

that due to the resignation of Christopher Fowler, a vacancy has arisen in the Office of Councillor for the Parish Council within the above ward.

If by 11 June, 2020 (14 days* after the date of this notice) a request for an election to fill the said vacancy is made in writing to the Returning Officer at vote@ashford.gov.uk or, Civic Centre, Tannery Lane, Ashford, Kent TN23 1PL, by TEN electors within the above ward of the said Parish, an election will be held to fill the said vacancy, otherwise the vacancy must be filled by co-option.

If an election is called it will take place, on 6th May 2021, in accordance with Regulation 6(1) of the Local Government and Police and Crime Commissioner (Coronavirus) (Postponement of Elections and Referendums) (England and Wales) Regulations 2020.

Dated 21 May, 2020

Clerk to the Parish Council

Mr P Setterfield

The Mission Hall

Forge Hill

Aldington

Ashford

Kent TN25 7DT

* In computing any period of time for this purpose, a Saturday, Sunday, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Good Friday, a bank holiday or day appointed for public thanksgiving or mourning must be disregarded.