News May - June 2025
Published in news · Wednesday 18 Jun 2025 · 8:00
01 May 2025 - Morrisons shop worker threatened
Balaclava clad robbers hold up Morrisons in New Ash Green on 24 April.
Gravesend & Dartford Messenger
Balaclava clad robbers hold up Morrisons in New Ash Green on 24 April.
Gravesend & Dartford Messenger
08 May 2025 - Reform stun Tories to take over KCC with sweeping election win
Result of KCC Election: Reform (57); Libdem (12); Cons (5); Green (5); Lab (2)
Gravesend & Dartford Messenger
Result of KCC Election: Reform (57); Libdem (12); Cons (5); Green (5); Lab (2)
Gravesend & Dartford Messenger
08 May 2025 - Castle Hill and Valley Road closures
2 day closure in May announced for BT Openreach works
Gravesend & Dartford Messenger
2 day closure in May announced for BT Openreach works
Gravesend & Dartford Messenger
08 May 2025 - Liverpool men due in court after Morrisons raid
As a result of enquiries, Police in Merseyside arrest 2 men aged 34 and 44.
Gravesend & Dartford Messenger
As a result of enquiries, Police in Merseyside arrest 2 men aged 34 and 44.
Gravesend & Dartford Messenger
12 May 2025 - Hartley Parish Council: Audit
Internal auditor had reminded council of the requirement to add supporting documentation to the agenda on their website. PC said it was too much work, and if anyone wanted a copy they should ask the clerk. Councillors also have to use a .gov.uk email address.
Hartley Parish Council
Internal auditor had reminded council of the requirement to add supporting documentation to the agenda on their website. PC said it was too much work, and if anyone wanted a copy they should ask the clerk. Councillors also have to use a .gov.uk email address.
Hartley Parish Council
12 May 2025 - Hartley Parish Council: Annual Accounts
2024/25. Balance brought forward: £265,501. Precept £188,797 (+ 18 per cent); other receipts £49,781. Minus Staff Costs £102,923, Loan payments £651, other payments £124,505. End year balance to reserves £276,000 (+ 4 per cent).
Hartley Parish Council
2024/25. Balance brought forward: £265,501. Precept £188,797 (+ 18 per cent); other receipts £49,781. Minus Staff Costs £102,923, Loan payments £651, other payments £124,505. End year balance to reserves £276,000 (+ 4 per cent).
Hartley Parish Council
12 May 2025 - Hartley Parish Council: Payments
Payments of £17,564 for May were agreed. This included £1,340 for invoices related to VE day event (not total cost).
Hartley Parish Council
Payments of £17,564 for May were agreed. This included £1,340 for invoices related to VE day event (not total cost).
Hartley Parish Council
15 May 2025 - Greatly missed' pub could return
New owners Alchemy Estates (Holywell) Limited have submitted an application to build a pub that looks like a house, with 6 bed and breakfast flats above. Cautious welcome from local politicians
Gravesend & Dartford Messenger
New owners Alchemy Estates (Holywell) Limited have submitted an application to build a pub that looks like a house, with 6 bed and breakfast flats above. Cautious welcome from local politicians
Gravesend & Dartford Messenger
15 May 2025 - The cheapest and most expensive areas in Kent to buy a house
Hartley and Hodsoll Street ward the 5th most expensive to buy a house in Kent with a median price of £600,000. Most expensive is Sevenoaks West and Chevening at £1 million.
Gravesend & Dartford Messenger
Hartley and Hodsoll Street ward the 5th most expensive to buy a house in Kent with a median price of £600,000. Most expensive is Sevenoaks West and Chevening at £1 million.
Gravesend & Dartford Messenger
15 May 2025 - Driver on wrong side of road after fleeing from cops
Woman from West Shaw, Longfield, fined £280 plus costs and had 12 points added to licence for several motoring offences.
Gravesend & Dartford Messenger
Woman from West Shaw, Longfield, fined £280 plus costs and had 12 points added to licence for several motoring offences.
Gravesend & Dartford Messenger
20 May 2025 - Longfield Parish Council: Streetlighting
Price increase of 4 per cent. Annual maintenance contract £2,306.
Longfield Parish Council
Price increase of 4 per cent. Annual maintenance contract £2,306.
Longfield Parish Council
20 May 2025 - Longfield Parish Council: Long Valley Hall
Repairs to hot water tank, new timers installed.
Longfield Parish Council
Repairs to hot water tank, new timers installed.
Longfield Parish Council
20 May 2025 - Longfield Parish Council: Annual Parish Meeting
No members of the public attended
Longfield Parish Council
No members of the public attended
Longfield Parish Council
25 May 2025 - Hartley Parish Council: Manor Field
(1) Pavilion - showers cost a lot to maintain and only Cricket club have a league requirement to provide them. Consideration to be given as to whether NAGCC should take them over. (2) Complaints from other hirers that footballers are parking near pavilion when training. Committee decide time has come to replace bollard at entrance. In the meantime clerk given authority to close it if the bollard becomes damaged. (3) Pavilion. Hire charges from 1/7/2025 - weekdays £13 (formerly £12), weekends £15 (£14), regular hirers £11 (£10). (4) Kitchen boiler repaired at cost of £283.
Hartley Parish Council
(1) Pavilion - showers cost a lot to maintain and only Cricket club have a league requirement to provide them. Consideration to be given as to whether NAGCC should take them over. (2) Complaints from other hirers that footballers are parking near pavilion when training. Committee decide time has come to replace bollard at entrance. In the meantime clerk given authority to close it if the bollard becomes damaged. (3) Pavilion. Hire charges from 1/7/2025 - weekdays £13 (formerly £12), weekends £15 (£14), regular hirers £11 (£10). (4) Kitchen boiler repaired at cost of £283.
Hartley Parish Council
25 May 2025 - Hartley Parish Council: Football
Hartley De Sales have 3-4 teams training there. NAG FC have U9 and U11 teams this season. Will be allowed to train in summer so long as doesn't clash with Hartley de Sales.
Hartley Parish Council
Hartley De Sales have 3-4 teams training there. NAG FC have U9 and U11 teams this season. Will be allowed to train in summer so long as doesn't clash with Hartley de Sales.
Hartley Parish Council
25 May 2025 - Hartley Parish Council: Allotments
A couple of fruit cages were permitted. Rents to increase by 5 per cent from 1/10/26.
Hartley Parish Council
A couple of fruit cages were permitted. Rents to increase by 5 per cent from 1/10/26.
Hartley Parish Council
25 May 2025 - Hartley Parish Council: Cricket
NAGCC asked for freeze in £1,392 hire fees due to lack of showers. Council put them up by 5 per cent to £1,462 but then gave £70 discount.
Hartley Parish Council
NAGCC asked for freeze in £1,392 hire fees due to lack of showers. Council put them up by 5 per cent to £1,462 but then gave £70 discount.
Hartley Parish Council
25 May 2025 - Hartley Parish Council: Gorse Wood
Two residents of Caxton Close asked for overhanging trees to be cut back. Tree surgeon said the ash trees were not a risk, so residents told they can lop them to their boundary if they wish.
Hartley Parish Council
Two residents of Caxton Close asked for overhanging trees to be cut back. Tree surgeon said the ash trees were not a risk, so residents told they can lop them to their boundary if they wish.
Hartley Parish Council
25 May 2025 - Hartley Parish Council: Playgrounds
Quote of £822 to repair medium risk items at Woodland Avenue (kick wall, picnic table, bucket swing). Other items repaired at all playing fields.
Hartley Parish Council
Quote of £822 to repair medium risk items at Woodland Avenue (kick wall, picnic table, bucket swing). Other items repaired at all playing fields.
Hartley Parish Council
25 May 2025 - Hartley Parish Council: Hartley Wood
Reports of motorbikes in woods. Network Rail to be asked for permission to set up CCTV cameras on their land.
Hartley Parish Council
Reports of motorbikes in woods. Network Rail to be asked for permission to set up CCTV cameras on their land.
Hartley Parish Council
31 May 2025 - Hartley Crime Report
Theft - 1 (Gorse Way); burglary of outbuilding - 1 (Church Road); Criminal Damage - 1 (Church Road)
E-Watch
Theft - 1 (Gorse Way); burglary of outbuilding - 1 (Church Road); Criminal Damage - 1 (Church Road)
E-Watch
31 May 2025 - Longfield Crime Report: September and October
Theft - 1 (Main Road); Criminal Damage - 1 (Main Road)
E-Watch
Theft - 1 (Main Road); Criminal Damage - 1 (Main Road)
E-Watch
09 June 2025 - Hartley Parish Council: Ash Road
A member of the public attended to complain about speeding on Ash Road. They said 3 vehicles had hit their wall in last 13 months. PC to arrange meeting with KCC highways.
Hartley Parish Council
A member of the public attended to complain about speeding on Ash Road. They said 3 vehicles had hit their wall in last 13 months. PC to arrange meeting with KCC highways.
Hartley Parish Council
09 June 2025 - Hartley Parish Council: Land Sales by SDC
Sevenoaks have put 3 plots of land up for sale. PC say they want them to remain as green spaces. They are not sure whether Sevenoaks owns two of them.
Hartley Parish Council
Sevenoaks have put 3 plots of land up for sale. PC say they want them to remain as green spaces. They are not sure whether Sevenoaks owns two of them.
Hartley Parish Council
09 June 2025 - Hartley Parish Council: Rubbish Collection
Parish council heard that Sevenoaks is changing bin collections, following direction they must collect food waste and glass in future also. Weekly food caddy collections from April, but this means the other collections will now be fortnightly. From June each house will have two wheelie bins for recycling and residual waste. Local residents in favour of bins and Health and Safety Executive have raised concerns about sack collections. Bins will cost £7m, partly offset by £650,000 government grant.
Hartley Parish Council
Parish council heard that Sevenoaks is changing bin collections, following direction they must collect food waste and glass in future also. Weekly food caddy collections from April, but this means the other collections will now be fortnightly. From June each house will have two wheelie bins for recycling and residual waste. Local residents in favour of bins and Health and Safety Executive have raised concerns about sack collections. Bins will cost £7m, partly offset by £650,000 government grant.
Hartley Parish Council
09 June 2025 - Hartley Parish Council: Payments
Payments for June of £20,604 were agreed. This included annual insurance premium of £2,915 and £2,600 for rent of parish office.
Hartley Parish Council
Payments for June of £20,604 were agreed. This included annual insurance premium of £2,915 and £2,600 for rent of parish office.
Hartley Parish Council
12 June 2025 - Former teaching assistant sent nude photos to teenager
Woman from Porchester Close referred to Woolwich Crown Court for sentencing after admitting offence. She had been given a suspended sentence last year for a road rage incident.
Gravesend & Dartford Messenger
Woman from Porchester Close referred to Woolwich Crown Court for sentencing after admitting offence. She had been given a suspended sentence last year for a road rage incident.
Gravesend & Dartford Messenger
16 June 2025 - Main Road, outside Longfield Academy, closed by South East Water for repairs
Two pipes repaired by South East Water on 14 June
Dartford Messenger
Two pipes repaired by South East Water on 14 June
Dartford Messenger
17 June 2025 - Fawkham residents angry at Sevenoaks District Council’s plans to sell treasured green space at Small Grains
Sevenoaks Council propose to dispose of a number of plots of land which they own which were not transferred to the West Kent Housing Association when it was set up in the late 1980s (according to the agenda they think it will generate capital receipts and reduce running costs. In Hartley they propose to dispose by auction land at back of 2-12 Northfield, land at the junction of Bramblefield and Hawthorns, land north of Woodland Avenue Park and land between 8 and 10 Porchester Close. Article relates to amenity land by Small Grains in Fawkham Green which they propose to sell for social housing if possible, or auction if not. A quarter of the residents of Fawkham have objected and the paper interviews a number of those opposed. Fawkham Parish Council have offered to take the site for amenity land. For their part the Council point out that Sevenoaks has the poorest provision of affordable homes in the county.
Sevenoaks Messenger
Sevenoaks Council propose to dispose of a number of plots of land which they own which were not transferred to the West Kent Housing Association when it was set up in the late 1980s (according to the agenda they think it will generate capital receipts and reduce running costs. In Hartley they propose to dispose by auction land at back of 2-12 Northfield, land at the junction of Bramblefield and Hawthorns, land north of Woodland Avenue Park and land between 8 and 10 Porchester Close. Article relates to amenity land by Small Grains in Fawkham Green which they propose to sell for social housing if possible, or auction if not. A quarter of the residents of Fawkham have objected and the paper interviews a number of those opposed. Fawkham Parish Council have offered to take the site for amenity land. For their part the Council point out that Sevenoaks has the poorest provision of affordable homes in the county.
Sevenoaks Messenger
24 June 2025 - Longfield Parish Council: Long Valley Hall
Car park supposed to only be used by hall hirers, members of social club or field users, but is being used by others. Problems of anti-social behaviour there reported to police.
Longfield Parish Council
Car park supposed to only be used by hall hirers, members of social club or field users, but is being used by others. Problems of anti-social behaviour there reported to police.
Longfield Parish Council
26 June 2025 - Biker dies after crash with car in Main Road, Longfield, near Dartford
Accident occurred about 5am at junction of Main Road and Station Road. Later report on 8/7/25 says the victim was a grandfather in his 60s.
Dartford Messenger
Accident occurred about 5am at junction of Main Road and Station Road. Later report on 8/7/25 says the victim was a grandfather in his 60s.
Dartford Messenger
30 June 2025 - Longfield Crime Report: June
Criminal Damage - 1 (Station Road); Theft - 2 (Fawkham Road, Gorsewood Road)
E-Watch
Criminal Damage - 1 (Station Road); Theft - 2 (Fawkham Road, Gorsewood Road)
E-Watch
30 June 2025 - Hartley Crime Report: June
Attempted Break in - 1 (Church Road); Attempted Car Theft - 1 (Church Road)
E-Watch
Attempted Break in - 1 (Church Road); Attempted Car Theft - 1 (Church Road)
E-Watch
At risk of development? Open space at Brambledown and Hawthorns
26 June 2025 - Biker dies after crash with car in Main Road, Longfield, near Dartford
Accident occurred about 5am at junction of Main Road and Station Road. Later report on 8/7/25 says the victim was a grandfather in his 60s.
Dartford Messenger
30 June 2025 - Longfield Crime Report: June
Criminal Damage - 1 (Station Road); Theft - 2 (Fawkham Road, Gorsewood Road)
E-Watch
30 June 2025 - Hartley Crime Report: June
Attempted Break in - 1 (Church Road); Attempted Car Theft - 1 (Church Road)
E-Watch
