Here is our monthly look at some of the local stories making the headlines in Sevenoaks.
KENT ON FILM
Kent has seen an enormous boost in the county’s economy, which has been revealed by the council’s initiative Kent Film Office. In almost five years, the film industry have spent around £30million on the county’s resources. Gabrielle Lindemann, film officer at Kent County Council explains “The money gets spent directly with residents and businesses and of course the healthier the economy is, the better it is for the county”. One of the most popular sites used by film crews is the beautiful Penshurst Place.
LONG STAY
New plans are underway to provide a new 80 bedroom hotel on the existing Sennocke car park site in Sevenoaks. However, before the hotel can be built, the council intend to increase car parking in the area, to help make up for the car park. Leader of the Council, Cllr Peter Fleming, says: “This is the beginning of what promises to deliver a much needed hotel as well as increasing car parking capacity for commuters and future users of the hotel and it’s hoped that the extra spaces will reduce long stay parking in residential roads around the station.” The proposals are being put into place to support the local economy, in particular the tourism sector, while easing pressure on residential roads where commuters park.
HEALTHY MIND
Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council has agreed to sign up to a new Mental Health Charter for Sport and Recreation with the aim of helping to tackle the stigma that surrounds mental health issues through the power of sport. Every year, one in four people will experience a mental health problem and it’s widely recognised that sport of physical activity can play an essential role in both the prevention and treatment of mental health problems. Cllr Maria Heslop comments “we are proud to be signing up to the Charter and will do everything we can to help tackle the stigma often attached to mental health issues and raise awareness of the sports activities, health programmes and support services available locally.”
TREK AMBITION
A Sevenoaks woman whose family have been affected by Alzheimer’s has taken up the challenge of trekking for a week around the Great Wall of China to raise vital funds for Alzheimer’s Society. Ellen Tout, 25, hopes to raise over £3,000 for the charity prompted by her granddad, who is living with dementia. She says: “I have experienced first-hand how scary, challenging and life-changing the disease can be. I passionately want to raise as much as possible for the charity and would appreciate any support from local businesses and people.” To raise funds, Ellen will be hosting a pamper evening event at Jo & Co Salon, The Limes, Sevenoaks on March 4.
HORTICULTURAL HADLOW
Hadlow college played host to the long-running BBC Radio 4 programme, Gardeners’ Question Time. The celebrated panel of gardening experts were on hand to tackle all manner of perplexing horticultural questions put to them by local gardening enthusiasts. Stephen Harmer MA, Landscape and Horticulture Lecturer at Hadlow College and a teacher of garden history at RHS Wisley, said: “We were thrilled to have the Gardeners’ Question Time team here at Hadlow. It was a great opportunity to show the college’s close connections to the horticultural industry.”
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