Benenden Parish Council

28/08/2026

PUBLIC MEETINGS REGARDING WATER SUPPLY IN BENENDEN

The Water for Benenden action group has arranged a public meeting at the Centenary Hall in Benenden School at 6.30pm on Monday 7th September.

The SE Water CEO, John Halsall, and his team will be attending along with residents, farmers and businesses such as Benenden Hospital.

This will be an opportunity for the action group to explain what has been achieved so far to solve our water supply problems, and what we can expect SE Water to commit to in the future. While our water supply is back on for now, we do expect outages to occur again, and we want SEW to commit to improvement plans and dates that can be monitored and held to account by Benenden Parish Council.

SE Water have committed to deliver the following by 7th September:

An explanation of how our water works and why it fails, see video link: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1366646065554528 )
A more effective communication mechanism than residents having to repeatedly phone to report a problem.
A short-term plan for sustaining water in Benenden and the surrounding area.
The 2030 investment cycle plan for sustaining water in Benenden (they have £1.9bn to spend 2025-2030 and you can learn more about this at: https://cdn.southeastwater.co.uk/SewHousehold/Documents/WEB_V1_SEW_Comms_26_089_Delivery_plan_2025_to_2030_Progress_report_AUGUST_2026.pdf)
This will be followed by a Q&A session to quiz SE Water representatives on matters that need further explanation, or you feel have been overlooked.

Following this meeting, any outstanding matters will then be followed up at the meeting to be held at 7pm on 24th September in the Memorial Hall when the CEO and his team are here again. The Parish Council will pick up the monitoring of SEW’s actions moving forward, with the Water for Benenden group on standby for high energy protests if our water supply is disrupted again.

The Water for Benenden group has managed to get a lot of collaboration going across the village communities and with SE Water. Whilst bad news creates headlines, maybe it is time for "good community action can get a result”. Here’s to 100% of taps running 100% of the time!

27/08/2026

CHARITY BALL 26TH SEPTEMBER

Benenden Pre-School is hosting a charity ball, with 3 course dinner, auction and raffle, on 26th September at Benenden Girls School.

All proceeds will help Benenden Pre-School relocate to its new home.

27/08/2026

Due to the weather forecast this Saturday's JAZZ & BLUES event has been moved from Iden Green to Benenden Village Hall

29th August, 1.30pm - 6pm

There will be a bar and barbeque and tables and chairs provided for your picnic. 💃

20/08/2026

South East Water has shared an explainer video giving an overview of the local water supply system and explaining some of the recent issues

20/08/2026

Representatives from South East Water will again be at Benenden Village Hall today from 12:00 to 18:00 to answer questions about the recent water supply issues and support anyone still experiencing problems at home.

19/08/2026

SOUTH EAST WATER

Benenden Parish Council will be facilitating a public meeting on Thursday 24th September, 7pm, venue to be confirmed.

SE Water has confirmed that John Halsall, CEO, and Douglas Whitfield, Water Supply Director, will be present along with other senior officials at the meeting on 24th September.

Representatives of SE Water will be available this afternoon from 2pm in the main hall at Benenden Village Hall to meet with residents.

Whilst SE Water is working hard to fix the problems in the area, they realise how important it is that everyone impacted has the opportunity to talk to them face to face.

17/08/2026

Benenden Village Trust would like to appeal for assistance
from members of the public in tackling the ongoing problem of
dog owners allowing their dogs to foul in the public spaces
around Benenden.

Whilst encouraging everyone in making use of our open spaces and children’s play areas, it is disappointing
that there has recently been an increase in dog mess that
owners have not cleared away.

Reports of dog fouling can be made to Tunbridge Wells Borough
Council on their website or by telephone on 01892 526 121.

10/07/2026

24/06/2026

Wye Walking Group is looking for help from a keen walker who knows the Benenden footpaths.

Brian Roberts from the group is looking to meet with someone in the next day or so to carry out a recce of footpaths before the group comes to Benenden on July 5th.

If you can help please contact Brian directly on 01233 813350 or 07729 797827

28/05/2026

WATER DISRUPTION IN BENENDEN AND CRANBROOK

From Tunbridge Wells Borough Council :

The latest update from South East Water is that the Cranbrook reservoir has not replenished overnight sufficiently to allow pumped supplies to return to those properties on higher ground or the extremities of the network.

SEW state that approx. 200 properties are off supply in the Cranbrook area, and 50 in the Benenden area.

Bottled water will be available at the Weald Leisure Centre from 11am.
The Weald Leisure Centre will be available for residents to access shower facilities.

Deliveries of bottled water will be made to customers on the Priority Services Register. Customers can register for the PSR at https://www.southeastwater.co.uk/help/priority-services/

SEW expect intermittent or non-supply to continue until demand on the network reduces, their reasonable worst-case scenario is supply disruption until Monday.

Our aim at South East Water UK to be the water company people want to be supplied by and want to work for. Manage your water account online 24/7 – View your bills, manage your move, make payments and manage your Direct Debit.