Primrose project

Jenny Blackburn, RVA Chair, introduced the Rusthall Primrose project. The project is based on an amenity garden site at Rusthall allotments. The facilities include several polytunnels as well as the main growing area. It will be used to produce fruit, vegetables and flowers. The project, run by The Pepenbury organisation, provides a range of therapeutic activities for adults with learning disabilities, based around horticultural work.

Pepenbury’s Forward2Work scheme will also be using the Primrose Project as a base to provide horticultural training. This is available to 16-25 year olds with learning disabilities. The training programme is a 13-week course which leads to a City & Guilds NPTC accredited qualification ‘Skills for Working Life’.

Candidates will also receive training in Health and Safety Awareness, which is valid for three years.

There will be an open day later in the year and Rusthall residents are asked to attend to support the efforts being made. Produce will be available for purchase.

Rusthall Elms

The Rusthall Elms/Middlefield housing development planning application was decided on Wednesday 18 June at 2.00pm in the Council Chamber at the Town Hall. The voting was 8 for and 0 against, despite the opposition from Langton Green. Thank you to everyone in Rusthall who supported the plan. We will try to keep you up to date with progress.

Grange Gardens Community Garden

Work here is progressing slowly. Sally Hunter of the Town and Country Housing Group is obtaining quotes for replacing the fence and clearing the ground.

Simmonds Court

The last resident at the Simmonds Court site has moved out and the building boarded up. Simmonds Court will be demolished (as it is in need of extensive repair) and will be replaced with another facility for the elderly. The process will involve a bid for money from the Housing Corporation. Come along to the URC Church on Saturday morning 28 June from10-12, see the designs and talk to the architect.

The old garage/Victory Place

Victory Place is the name selected for the houses on the site of the old garage along the High Street. This is in honour of Mr and Mrs Robert Doe who ran the business there; Mr Doe had an active role in the RAF during WWII.

Christmas lights

During 2007, Councillor Barry Edwards and chairman Jenny Blackburn campaigned for Christmas lights for the village. Lights were acquired from Tunbridge Wells Council and only two were positioned for the festive season. The aim is to refurbish two further lampposts this year to hold more lights for Christmas 2008. A total of around £1,100 will be required to acheive this goal. RVA gave the Councillor a cheque for £100 to part reimburse him for his personal spend on the project during 2007.

The RVA will need to apply for a grant from TWBC to fund the work. It may also be possible to approach local businesses or large companies with an interest in Rusthall to support the idea financially.

High Street changes

The Chippy has been sold and has reopened following refurbishment. The junk shop lease comes to an end in September and the shop will close then. Two of the Venture ironmongery shops remain for sale.

Village sign

The village sign project has been put on hold for this year.

Graffiti

Rusthall has been the victim of a spate of graffiti. The tags were visible along the High Street, Erskine Park Road and Parsonage Road. The paint was rapidly removed and it is hoped that the perpetrators were caught on CCTV. Carly Telford, PCSO for Rusthall will be reviewing the tapes.

Speeding

Some drivers are speeding along the High Street and Edward Street, particularly during the evening. Carly Telford and Community Warden, Ariana Sutton, are investigating.

It may be possible to borrow the Radar gun from Speldhurst Parish Council. However, this would require the training of five or six people to operate the gun.

Southwood Road

The redevelopment of the Southwood Road recreation area as a neighbourhood equipped area for play (NEAP) is progressing with the design set to start in August, with completion by December and soft landscaping due to finish in March 2009.

Ian Johnstone, Conservation Officer for the Kent High Weald Project writes:

At the beginning of the year Tunbridge Wells Borough Council asked the Kent High Weald Project if we would like to be involved in a project to develop part of the Rusthall Recreation Ground, Southwood Road.

After submitting a proposal we were delighted when it was accepted and are now looking forward to planning out works for next autumn and winter which will involve managing some of the hedges around the area.

We have identified some areas where new hedges can be planted and others where there is a need for some coppicing and gapping up. It will also be a great time to clear out some of the rubbish, which has accumulated in the hedges over the years.

The aim is to make the hedges more attractive to wildlife as well as the eye and encourage their native species element to grow. Details of the tasks and dates will be determined later in the year and may include a bit of hedge laying, which is a satisfying skill to learn. We are hoping to involve the local community in the task days and so support from the RVA members will be gratefully received.

We look forward to working with you in the near future - Ian Johnstone, Conservation Officer, Kent High Weald Project

Parking

It appears that the new signs warning drivers to think before parking on the High Street are having little effect. The signs may be positioned too high and may be easy to miss. We are waiting for the figures related to parking tickets handed out for an indication of their effectiveness.

Community roots

The youth allotment, Rusthall Roots, recently suffered damage to its fence. But the project continues to go well and an open day is planned during 2008.

Commons

The new owners of The Commons have raised prices at the car park, but they are likely to provide increased lighting on the site.

They have also offered to assist Rusthall Cricket Club by paying the legal costs associated with building toilet facilities at the Cricket Club site and providing money towards the construction.

Hope 2008 – church week

Churches across the UK will be involved in Hope 2008, a weeklong event from 14 July where parishioners provide services for their community. The Rusthall event will culminate in a service on the Common. Activities suggested so far include gardening, visiting the elderly and litter picking. If you have any suggestions please contact Jenny Blackburn.

Tunbridge Wells International Music Festival

Jane Gomm, a Rusthall resident and organiser of the Tunbridge Wells International Music Festival, spoke of her musical career and the success of the Festival. This year’s offerings included a concert from the City of London Sinfonia, a jazz evening featuring Sir Richard Rodney Bennett and a literary lunch with Radio 4’s James Naughtie.

Rusthall Dates

The St Paul’s School fete is to be held on June 28.

The Oddfellows Friends Society has a meeting on 25 June at the Working Men’s Club and a BBQ at The Beacon on 10 July. There will also be a ramble and pub lunch on 10 August, meet at S t Paul’s church at 10.00am.

RVA MEETING DATES FOR 2008

17 July
25 September
27 November

General Useful Numbers

Jenny Blackburn, Chair 01892 546520
Town Hall (switchboard) 01892 526121       Tunbridge Wells Police (non urgent) 01732 771055
Ariana Sutton, Community Warden 07813 695872       Carly Telford, PCSO 07772 226054
Fly tipping/abandoned vehicles 01892 548154