March 2024
I would firstly like to wish all parishioners a “Happy Easter”
The rain has continued to fall in biblical amounts and it has been confirmed that we are having one of the wettest winters on record. Certainly around Temple Ewell all ground seems to be pretty waterlogged and both Bushy Ruff and Russell Gardens lakes have flooded as have parts of the Alkham Valley. As previously reported, we have had additional problems with flooding at houses and gardens in the Templeside area of the village. There has been a recent clearing of the drains and soakaways in this area by KCC following extensive lobbying by Parish Council intended to prevent future problems. KCC have also been asked to address the large volume of water from the Singledge Lane area of Whitfield, which runs down Green Lane after heavy rain. We hope to be provided with a long term solution to this excess water that like so many other things in this day and age appears to be down to a combination of new housing development and climate change!
Templeside has also suffered recently from HGV’s trying to find their way through this part of the village. It is an infrequent but dangerous problem often taking place at the dead of night. Any photographic evidence that residents can provide would be useful in our discussions with KCC to help eliminate this problem in the future. We have plans to have additional signage installed at the bottom of Templeside to reinforce that the road is unsuitable for such vehicles.
Our search for new villagers to join Parish Council continues. We have 5 vacancies; the role provides an opportunity to help the community and really make a difference to the running of our village. It only takes a few hours each month and does not require any special skills, just a willingness to be involved. Anyone who would like to join should contact our clerk Andy Howard-Grigg on templeewellpc@outlook.com.
Some unfortunate news received recently was that the grant of £ 20,000 that we had been awarded from the Rural England Prosperity Fund to enable the Dragon Wood Car Park to be refurbished with a tarmac surface and effective drainage, has been withdrawn! We currently cannot afford to pay for this work but will be searching for alternative funding.
The bench that we had ordered as a memorial for the late Marian Middlebrook has arrived. This was in recognition of her bequest which funded the new path in the King George V Playing Field installed last summer. A suitable position in the field has been identified and is being prepared to allow installation in the very near future.
The Annual Parish Meeting will be held on Tuesday 30th April (7.15pm) in the small village hall. All villagers are welcome to this event where there will be a summary of the past 12 months from various village organisations preceded by a presentation from Rob Philpott of the Dover Beekeeping Association.
A reminder that Councillor David Prescott has offered to help establish a Temple Ewell Speedwatch Group to monitor and report traffic speeds within the village. Volunteers are still required to help with this. We confirm this is purely monitoring of speed and does not involve any confrontation of motorists. Anyone who would like to help should contact Dave on Dave.202Prescott@BTInternet.com
Organisation continues for various events in the village this summer and fuller information will be circulated once we have confirmed activities for the commemoration of the 80th Anniversary of D-Day on the 6th June and for the proposed car boot sale and summer fair where funds will be raised for the school.
Glenn Mousley, Chairman of Parish Council, Temple Ewell