News 2003
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4 December 2003
Climber's charity talk
(Dartford Times, p14) Everest climber Doug Scott (pictured) gave talk to capacity audience at All Saints' Hall to raise £950 for Community Action Nepal.
Girls sew to heal rift with US
(Dartford Times, p15) 3rd Hartley Brownies make quilt to exchange with Brownies in Jacksonville, USA (picture).
Hanged man found in wood
(Dartford Messenger, p11) 41 year old man found hanging in Hartley Woods, police are not treating this as a suspicious death.
Make a dream come true competition
(Dartford Messenger, p24, 25) Competition to "win your wedding day" features Keith Best and Sarah Bolton of Hartley, and Glenn Hope and Laura Smith of Hartley (pictured).
20 November 2003
Crime rate here among the worst
(Dartford Messenger, p14) Kent Police figures reveal Gravesend (110 crimes per 1,000 population) and Dartford (104) are the worst parts of the county for crime. County average is 83 crimes per 1,000.
Song-and-dance competitors mix with Maffia
(Dartford Times, p3) Rap star Lisa Maffia visits Axton Chase School, Longfield (pictured).
(Dartford Messenger, p2) Lisa Maffia gets so solid reception
Births
(Dartford Messenger, p17) Donna Roberts of Hartley is pictured with her new twins.
New Ash Green burglaries
(Dartford Times, p 11) Gang of 3 broke into 3 flats in sheltered housing at Turners Oak.
13 November 2003
Connex at end of Line
End of the line for Connex
(Dartford Times, p 13), Dartford Messenger, p7) Local Rail Company Connex lost its franchise at midnight last Sunday. Trains to be run by a public firm South Eastern trains until it is awarded to another private company.
Property News
(Dartford Messenger, p 24) 2 bed semi in Larksfield advertised for £265,000. 3 bed bungalow in Woodlands Avenue advertised for £245,000.
Farmers' £100m Trash Bill
(Dartford Times, p7) High cost of illegally dumped rubbish in the countryside. Interview with Stephen Billings of Oncaland Ltd (they own land off Downs Valley in Hartley).
It's Scrooge who operates our concessionary bus scheme
(Dartford Times, p8) Letter from J Jones of Swanley protesting about the threatened cuts to concessionary bus fares. See 30 October for previous correspondence.
6 November 2003
MP is driving message home
(Dartford Messenger, p 10) Dartford MP Dr Stoate advertises his surgery details on the 423 bus to Hartley (picture).
Tories select candidates
(Dartford Times, p6) Dartford Conservatives pick ex-Bexley councillor and former Dartford Grammar School pupil, Gareth Johnson, to fight seat in next election.
30 October 2003
Beautician beats rivals hands down
(Dartford Messenger) Hayley Wood (pictured) of Perfect 10 Nail Salon in Cherry Trees wins acrylic category in national competition.
30 October 2003
Protests continue over threat to scrap pensioners' bus pass
(Dartford Messenger, letter from Jim Jones of Swanley) He says he presented a petition asking for the 20p bus pass in 1995. The Labour/Liberal Council introduced one in 1996, costing £8. He adds that since the Conservatives regained control of Sevenoaks Council the price has risen to £12 (2000), £20 (2001) and £25 (2002). As well as the effect on the elderly he fears cuts in bus services if they are less used as a consequence.
See 16 October for more news on this subject
Property News
(Dartford Messenger, p 36) House in Cherry Trees cul-de-sac on market for £299,500.
25 October 2003
KCC proposes changes at Milestone School
(Consultation Document) Milestone School is on the site of the former New Ash Green Middle School, but is in the parish of Hartley. At present it takes 145 pupils from 2 to 19 years old, with severe, profound and multiple learning difficulties and autism. They propose it be expanded to cater for 179 pupils with similar needs of ages 5-16 and also have an unspecified number of students aged 16-19. They would be drawn from Dartford Borough and part of Sevenoaks district. This is part of a county wide review and KCC plan implementation in September 2005.
For background reading see www.kent.gov.uk/e&l/docs
16 October 2003
"Do not scrap elderly fare"
(Dartford Times, p11) The popular 20p bus pass is likely to be axed by Sevenoaks District Council, according to the Conservative leader, Mrs Alison Cook. She cited the cost of £90 to administer each pass, compared with £24 for the less generous half price permit. The plans were condemned by Swanley Active Retirement Association and the Labour Group leader.
(Additional information) The scheme was launched in 1996. At present pensioners and the disabled can choose to have the 20p pass for £25 per annum, or the half price pass for free. The 20p pass means pensioners can travel to Dartford for 20p, instead of the normal single fare of £2.50. In Sevenoaks District (2001) 4,359 chose the 20p pass and only 101 the half price pass. However Sevenoaks council's reserves are dwindling, and they do need to decide whether to spend less or raise council tax in the near future. The winning conservative candidates in last May's election promised "to give support through... concessionary fares".
9 October 2003
Creditors' meeting of Hartley Haulage Company
(Dartford Times, p20) Public notice of creditors' meeting of Ellerby Top Soils Ltd to be held on 17 October "for the purposes of having a full statement of the position of the Company's affairs.... and for the purpose, if thought fit, of appointing a liquidation committee."
(Additional Information) From the last company accounts to 31 May 2002, the company made a small loss on its profit and loss account, but did spend much more than that on new assets.
2 October 2003
No relief yet from blackspot
(Dartford Messenger, letter from Dr N Sikdar) He has lived in the area for 17 years and seen the volume of traffic getting greater. He mentions problems of getting in touch with the highways department at Sevenoaks
25 September 2003
Property News
Feature item on 5 bedroom house on market for £730,000. Also houses advertised for sale in Cherry Trees (£325,000) and Broomfields (£339,995). In the previous week's paper, Hartley Estates had a plot of land for sale in Culverstone with planning permission for a bungalow, which gives an idea of the value of building land locally. It is 200' x 60' (0.28 acre) for £200,000. From this it would appear that building land is worth £¾ million per acre.
25 September 2003
Football
(Dartford Messenger, p 92, 95) Hartley De Sales (pictured) defeat Battle of Britain 4-2 in round 1 of North Kent League's Reporter Cup. The club also hosted at Hartley Country Club a match between Charlton Veterans and Gillingham Veterans, Gillingham winning 3-1.
Property News
(Dartford Messenger, p38 and 43) House for sale in Cherry Trees (even number side) for £325,000, and in Broomfields/Culvey Close for £339,995.
18 September 2003
Aisle be on time
(Dartford Messenger, p2) Cyclists from All Saints' Church pictured.
New minister for United Reformed Church
(Dartford Messenger (Colin Senneck) p2) Rev Peter Clark has taken over the North Kent group which includes Hartley
Wedding Photos
(Dartford Times, p17) Pictures of David Farrell of Hartley and his bride Lesley-Anne; and also Janette Mayell of Hartley and new husband Andy Whetnall, married at Hartley RC Church
Smugglers are jailed
(Dartford Messenger, p6) Longfield company director jailed for 21 months for his part in plot to smuggle 1.4 million cigarettes into UK on Dutch lorry. see also 21 August
14 September 2003
Opposition to moving Hartley from Dartford Constituency
(Boundary Commission) Dartford Council, the Conservative Group on the county and the Sevenoaks Liberal Democrats all oppose plans, which involve the moving of Hartley from Dartford to Sevenoaks Constituency. It was also opposed by the Friends of Hartley Countryside, Horton Kirby parish council and many residents in Hartley and Horton Kirby. The Labour party wants the Dartford Constituency to be co-extensive with the borough.
By contrast the move is supported by Hartley Conservatives, one of whose members was the only one allowed to address the parish council before they came to the same decision by a majority vote.
Because of the number of objections a public enquiry will now be held.
10 September 2003
New Rail Times
(Connex timetable) Some minor changes to times, presumably to accommodate the Channel Tunnel trains. The 07.53 Longfield to Blackfriars train will now run 8 minutes earlier (but will only be 5 minutes earlier at London), while passengers are unhappy that the 17.27 Blackfriars train in the evening has been retimed to run 3 minutes earlier, which will mean passengers cannot connect at Bromley South.
Some journeys are much slower, for example the 0730, 0750 and 0811 all have 4 minutes added to the arrival time at Victoria
Times Longfield to London
(Monday to Friday) 0611, 0631, 0713, 0730, 0745 (B), 0750, 0811, 0833, 0848, 0927, 0946, 1033 then 03 and 33 past the hour until
1833, 1904, 1934, 2034, 2134, 2234, 2336
(Saturday) 0556, 0633, then 03 and 33 past the hour until 2033, 2133, 2233, 2333
(Sunday) 0703, then 03 past the hour until 2303
Times London to Longfield
(Monday to Friday) 0532, 0616, 0641, 0705, 0740, 0810, 0838, 0908, 0941, then 11 and 41 past the hour until
1541, 1603, 1623, 1641, 1706, 1724 (B), 1750, 1811 (B), 1841, 1911, 1941, 2011, 2041, 2104, 2141, 2248, 2341
(Saturday) 0541, 0641, then 11 and 41 past each hour until 1841, 1904, 1941, 2004, 2041, 2104, 2141, 2241, 2341
(Sunday) 0741, then 41 past the hour until 2341
All trains run to/from Victoria except (B) to/from Blackfriars
4 September 2003
Planners under fire
(Sevenoaks Chronicle, Ian Read) Complaints to Ombudsman about local planning department in year ended March 2003 up from 10 to 15, but he thinks it is not a cause for concern.
4 September 2003
Tragedy on Hoselands Hill
(Dartford Times, p4 ; Dartford Messenger, p1; Sevenoaks Chronicle, p 5) At the junction of Hottsfield and Hoselands Hill, many bunches of flowers mark the spot of a tragic road accident when a lorry carrying pots fell on a transit van delivering newspapers. The driver died at the scene.
A few days later Ash Road was resurfaced, while at the parish council there were calls for action on road safety by residents and councillors alike.
Donations towards the driver's family can be made at Sumners the local newsagent
(Dartford Messenger 11 September 2003, p8) "When will road be made safe". Letter from Martyn Fribbens: "We have fought off radio masts and new developments, now is the time to really get behind a local campaign that can make a real difference."
4 September 2003
Graffiti youth fined
(Dartford Times) Hartley youth fined for daubing buildings in Dartford with graffiti.
4 September 2003
Property News
(Dartford Messenger, p36) Houses advertised for sale at Billings Hill Shaw (£335,000) and Larksfield (£265,000)
Summer 2003
Hartley's nature reserve keeps improving
(Countryside News - NW Kent Countryside Project newsletter) Local community's involvement said to be vital, to this site which is home to over 200 species of wild flower. Project officer Samantha Jacobs is pictured along with local volunteers Julia Brudenell, Roy Glover and Peter Mayer
28 August 2003
Howzat!
(Dartford Messenger - Colin Senneck) Cricketer Charlotte Edwards, who plays for Hartley Country Club, is currently playing for England Ladies against South Africa.
28 August 2003
House for Rent
(Dartford Messenger - Your Move advert, p46) Bungalow in Gorse Way for rent at £850 per calendar month
25 August 2003
Press release from Connex South Eastern
(Upfront - Connex Magazine, p29-36) Connex say there will be timetable changes for Longfield station in the autumn timetable to accommodate the Eurostar trains, when they run to Fawkham junction. But most space taken up by the loss of their franchise at the end of the year. A publicly owned interim company will take over for now, and some of comments printed in the magazine suggest that many people would like things to remain that way, although the Strategic Railway Authority want to contract services out again. Connex's managing director, Michael Holden, acknowledged the company was not popular but reminded people the inherent problems will not go away. The letters page had four letters, only one wholly in support of the company, another said "it goes to show that no matter how much spin you put on something, the bare facts will speak for themselves."
21 August 2003
Cigarette gang face sentence
(Dartford Times, p11) 10 men found guilty of cigarette smuggling, which were loaded onto a lorry in Longfield on 9 July.
(Dartford Messenger 18 September 2003, p6) Longfield man sentenced to 21 months for his part.
14 August 2003
Quads Go
(Gravesend Reporter) Two quad bikes stolen from Hartley Hill.
14 August 2003
We're in the Record Books
(Gravesend Messenger - Sarah Lee) Highest ever UK temperature of 100.6 degrees Fahrenheit recorded at Gravesend on 10 August. Weather station is at Broadness, near Swanscombe
Also "100.6 degrees F" (Gravesend Reporter)
12 August 2003
Heatwave Hartley
(Friends of Hartley Countryside) Hartley's nearest weather station at Gravesend sets all time temperature record of 100.6 degrees Fahrenheit at about 2.30pm on Sunday 10th. Of course this is a shade temperature, the temperature in the sun was over 120 degrees at times. Don't forget our website homepage receives daily updates from the Gravesend weather station at 4am, 10am, 4pm and 10pm.
(Dartford Messenger - Colin Senneck, p24) The Hartley sign on the village green has been refurbished.
5 August 2003
Census Figures for Hartley Published
(Friends of Hartley Countryside) The results of the 2001 census are now available on the Office for National Statistics website. Local information is done at council ward level, that is, the new Hartley and Hodsoll Street ward.
Highlights from the statistics:
Source: Office for National Statistics. (Crown copyright material is reproduced with the permission of the Controller of HMSO and the Queen's Printer for Scotland.)
24 July 2003
Sir Mick Jagger at 60
(Dartford Times, page 2) Includes supportive comments from Bernard Perry of Hartley (pictured)
24 July 2003
Houses for sale
(Dartford Messenger, page 36) Houses advertised for £305,000 (Berrylands) and £129,995 ( Porchester Close)
24 July 2003
A Safe Place to Live?
(Dartford Messenger, page 8) Report from Home Office finds crime in NW Kent area has increased by 7.5% from last year, including a 43% increase in violent crime and a 2.4% increase in burglaries. But brighter news is that road traffic casualties have fallen by 30%
24 July 2003
On the market for years
25th anniversary of Longfield WI Market. Interview with Jenny Roberts of Hartley, secretary (pictured)
17 July 2003
New job for Hartley MP
(Dartford Times, p3) Dr Stoate appointed Parliamentary Private Secretary to Arts Minister Estelle Morris
Soaring Success!
(Dartford Times, p10) Hartley Art Group exhibit at Kent County Show.
10 July 2003
Horticultural Society
(Dartford Messenger - Colin Senneck, p 21) Winners include Mr R Richards (most points for Flower & Veg), Mrs J Roberts (most points Horticultural), and Helen Roberts (Children's classes)
3 July 2003
Village Officers to go on beat
(Dartford Messenger - Christina Qvistgaard, p12) New Ash Green to get one of the new rural community wardens.
3 July 2003
Meat raid was to feed drug habit
(Dartford Messenger, p18) Man convicted of theft from Longfield Co-op
3 July 2003
Dartford and District Photographic Society
Annual competition judged by Brian Tremain of Hartley
3 July 2003
Church Funds
(Dartford Messenger - Colin Senneck, p26) £5,000 raised at Fawkham and Hartley church fete
30 June 2003
Parliamentary Question - Mobile Phone Masts
(Hansard - House of Commons) Eric Pickles MP asked how many representations the government had received from Local Authorities since May 2002. Keith Hill for the government said it was 24 and included Hartley Parish Council, Sevenoaks District Council and Kent County Council.
26 June 2003
House for sale
(Dartford Messenger, p32) House in Billings Hill Shaw advertised at £317,500
12 June 2003
Open Studio
(Dartford Messenger - Colin Senneck, p24) Local jewelry maker Cynthia Martin's work on display.
5 June 2003
1½ acres of land at Gorsewood Road sold for £50,000
(Clive Emson, Auctioneers) Auctioneers sell 1.6 acre plot in Gorsewood Road, just over the boundary in Longfield parish. It is said to have a frontage of 200 feet to the road, buyers were advised to check planning matters with Dartford council. This was double the auctioneer's estimate and over 10 times its intrinsic value as agricultural land (farm land in England fetched an average £3,000 an acre in 2001)
5 June 2003
Houses for sale
(Dartford Messenger, p34) Houses advertised at £385,000 (Parkfield) and £355,000 (Church Road)
5 June 2003
Bank thwarts gang bid to raid church account
(Dartford Times - Margaret Davis, p4) Sharp eyed cashiers spot forged request to move RC Church funds. Interview with Father Bridge and picture of church
29 May 2003
Thieves steal toys from playgroup
(Dartford Messenger - Christina Qvistgaard, p3) Break in at Saplings Nursery, New Ash Green (pictured).
29 May 2003
New chain gang man replaces the old 'rusty link'
(Sevenoaks Chronicle, p5) Retirement of Cllr Ron Bailey of Fawkham and Hartley ward.
29 May 2003
Houses for sale
(Dartford Messenger, p32) Houses advertised for £300,000 (Ash Road) and £325,000 (Billings Hill Shaw)
15 May 2003
Resounding victory
(Gravesend Messenger - Colin Senneck) Hartley First group wins all parish council seats. Main surprise was failure of popular farmer Roy Glover to win either election.
8 May 2003
Proposals for Parliamentary Constituency Boundaries in the
Counties of Kent and Medway
A press release from the Boundary Commission announces proposals to change which Parliamentary constituency Hartley belongs to.
At present we are in Dartford Constituency, but they propose that Hartley and Hodsoll Street ward be placed in Sevenoaks Constituency. The reasons they give are "to bring the electorates of the Dartford and Sevenoaks seats closer together, and to improve the shape of both seats, the whole of the divided Sevenoaks District ward of Hartley and Hodsoll Street has been included in Sevenoaks CC rather than in Dartford CC".
Under their scheme Dartford Constituency will have 68,028 electors, while Sevenoaks will have 71,237.
They now invite people's views which must be sent by 15 June 2003 to Boundary Commission for England, PO Box 31060, London, SW1V 2FF or by e-mail alan.banister@ons.gov.uk.
8 May 2003
Tories
win over half of seats
(Sevenoaks Chronicle) Conservatives win 32 of the 54 seats, Labour 9, Liberal 8, Independent 2. Conservative gains wiped out by setbacks elsewhere. Picture of count at Sevenoaks Sports Centre is that of Hartley.
8 May 2003
Make a Wish
(Dartford Messenger - Colin Senneck) Pat and Mike Brown of Gorsewood Road raise £4,060 for the charity.
1 May 2003
Sad loss of a true public servant
(Dartford Messenger - Alastair Irvine, p5) Obituary of former Hartley MP Bob Dunn (pictures)
10 April 2003
Fitting Tribute
(Sevenoaks Chronicle) Plaque in memory of Councillor John Sandeford unveiled (picture)
27 March 2003
Pupils Take Action
(Gravesend Messenger, p7) Three Hartley Primary School pupils redesign playground (pictured with headteacher Carole Turpie).
13 March 2003
Council chairman's car goes up in smoke
(Gravesend Messenger, p4) Cllr Gaywood loses £55,000 jaguar in garage fire.
13 March 2003
Ash and Ridley WI
(Gravesend Messenger - Sandra Coales, p20) Local farmer Roy Glover gives interesting talk on local history to WI
6 March 2003
Well Done Hartley Players
(Gravesend Messenger - Colin Senneck, p19) Favourable review of "Charley's Aunt".
27 February 2003
Stop this year round nuisance
(Gravesend Messenger, p8) Hartley resident calls for greater control on sales of fireworks.
27 February 2003
Village calls over policing
(Gravesend Messenger - Sarah Lee, p14) Calls at a packed meeting by residents of New Ash Green for action to deal with local crime and anti-social behaviour.
12 February 2003
Standards Board dismiss complaint against Councillor Eileen Tucker
(Standards Board for England website) The Board, which deals with complaints of misconduct by councillors, had received a complaint against Cllr Eileen Tucker of Hartley Parish Council on 22 July 2002. At a meeting Mrs Tucker had said the council's insurance covered kite flying on Northfield in spite of the presence of high voltage cables. The case officer found that the insurers had not been properly informed of the hazard by the council, but as Mrs Tucker said she thought the clerk had done this, they "could not conclude" that she had intended to mislead people.
6 February 2003
'Gentleman' Junkie says sorry
(Dartford Times, p1) Conviction of man for holding up Nationwide in Longfield and Lloyds in New Ash Green.
6 February 2003
Recycling Scheme all set for launch
(Dartford Times, p12) Sevenoaks council to introduce kerbside recycling in Hartley from October 2003.
30 January 2003
Mystery leaving its mark
(Dartford Messenger - Lauren Abbott, p10) Feature on local dene holes, including pictures of those at Cherry Trees and Northfield.
9 January 2003
Residents get that sinking feeling
(Dartford Times, p17) Dene hole discovered at Cherry Trees, pictured with local archaeologist Gerald Cramp
9 January 2003
A hole lot of trouble
(Dartford Messenger, p5) Cherry Trees dene hole (pictured)
3 January 2003
Snatchers target women's bags
(Dartford Times, p12) Public warned of a gang of bag snatchers operating in Longfield and New Ash Green etc (pictured).