Benenden Parish Council

06/06/2026

🌟 We Need You! 🌟

Looking for a way to give back, meet new people, and make a real difference in your community?

Join our amazing team of volunteers and help us support local people when they need it most. Whether you can spare a few hours a week or more, your time and skills can have a lasting impact.

💚 Be part of something bigger
💚 Support your community
💚 Learn new skills and make new friends
💚 Help create positive change

Together, we can build a stronger community.

📩 Get involved today and find out how you can become a volunteer.

05/06/2026

PARISH COUNCILLOR VACANCY

Following the recent uncontested election and the resignation of Cllr Russell Cruse, the Parish Council is able to fill a current vacancy by co-option.

Local councillors are the champions of their community who invest time in local projects and issues to the benefit of residents and the neighbourhood.

Parish Councillors, in collaboration with the County and Borough Councils, help make decisions on local needs, services and facilities, comment on planning applications, manage budgets, and represent the views of residents.

To become a Parish Councillor you must be at least 18 years old and a British citizen, qualifying Commonwealth citizen, or citizen of the Republic of Ireland, and meet at least one of the following criteria:
• Registered as a local government elector for the parish
• During the whole of the preceding twelve months occupied as owner or tenant, any land or premises in the parish
• Principal or only place of work during the preceding twelve months has been in the parish
• During the whole of the preceding twelve months resided in the parish or within 4.8 km of it

No previous experience is required, just a genuine interest in the community, a willingness to work as part of a team, and time to attend meetings and support council activities.

If you are interested in being considered for co-option, please submit a short written expression of interest outlining:
• Why you would like to join the Parish Council
• What skills or experience you could bring to the role
• Confirmation that you meet at least one of the eligibility criteria above

Written submissions can be sent via email to the clerk, [email protected], or posted to the Community Office, Benenden Village Hall, Benenden, Cranbrook, Kent, TN17 4DE to be received by 10th July 2026. The Parish Council will consider applications at its meeting on 20th July.

For further information or an informal discussion about the role, please contact Nicola Thomas, Chair, [email protected].

Benenden Parish Council encourages applications from all sections of the community and welcomes anyone who is passionate about supporting the parish.

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.

27/05/2026

The new term starts on 1st June with classes at Benenden Village Hall on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. We are excited to announce the relaunch of pre school ballet and jazz/acro (age 2.5+), mini ballet and jazz acro for years R-2, and musical theatre for ages 5-10.

3 week trial £15.

For booking trials: https://www.thinksmartsoftwareuk.com/ocr/single_class_listings_view.php?c=5ABB608934C66&p_id=1&t=dancebiz&set=yes

There will also be a performance at the Benenden Village Fete at 2:30 pm on Saturday 13th June – please come along and see us.

27/05/2026

💚 BENENDENS NEEDS YOU! 💚

We’re looking for a Part-Time Sandwich Maker to join our amazing team and help make a difference in the community.

🥪 Craft fresh, delicious sandwiches
🤝 Work with friendly people
🌟 Gain valuable experience
❤️ Support your local community

Why join us?
✔ Be part of something bigger
✔ Flexible part-time role
✔ Friendly and supportive team
✔ Opportunity to learn new skills
✔ Make a real impact every day

If you’re reliable, enthusiastic, and enjoy working with people, we’d love to hear from you!

📩 Apply today: [email protected]
Together, we can build a stronger community 💛

21/05/2026

The Village Annual Assembly takes place on Saturday 23rd May, 2pm, Benenden Village Hall.

Parishioners are invited to hear reports from the Parish Council and Village Organisations.

Refreshments will be available.

AGENDA

1 Apologies

2 Parish Council Chair’s Report

3 Presentation of KALC Community Award

4 Parish Councillor Reports

 Highways
 Wildflower meadow
 Planning
 Village Tidy

5 County and Borough Councillors

6 Benenden Village Trust

7 Benenden Magazine

8 Benenden Community Shop

9 Benenden Village Hall

10 Benenden Allotment Association

11 Benenden Bonfire Society

12 Iden Green Pavilion

13 Gibbon and Buckland

14 Gardening Club

15 Benenden Almshouse Charities

16 Benenden Players

07/05/2026

Local author Zoe Arena will be visiting Cranbrook library on Friday 29 May to read her picture book 'Mandy is Still a Banana'.

07/05/2026

📣 Have your say on the future of local schooling 📣

The Support Weald Schooling (SWS) group is inviting the community to help shape a proposal that will be submitted to the Department for Education.

To show that this is a genuine community led need, SWS has created a short survey where you can select up to three reasons explaining how a new school would benefit our community. There’s also an “other” option if you’d like to share a different view.

The survey is being shared with residents, businesses, and organisations across 13 local parishes within our notional catchment area, and it takes just a few seconds to complete.

👉 Take part here:

Be heard, collaborate, and share ideas—make meetings and classes more engaging with real conversations.

01/05/2026

Hawkhurst library - local history talk

Wednesday 13th May 2.30pm

Local historian Joanna Davis returns to Hawkhurst library with another fascinating talk - Hawkhurst Houses

A short, illustrated talk, on a selection of the vast houses, estates and people moulding old Hawkhurst into a destination of wealth and beauty.

Places are limited, so booking is required.

For more information talk to a member of staff or email [email protected]

30/04/2026

The Heart of Kent Hospice is currently celebrating its 35th Anniversary, three and a half decades of providing specialist care to families across Kent! To mark this milestone, the Heart of Kent Hospice has launched a "£35,000 in 35 days" appeal.

35 years of Care - Anniversary Appeal
https://we.tl/t-VBs95JQCASePj9WS

Beyond its clinical care, the Heart of Kent Hospice is also looking to expand its Compassionate Neighbours initiative. This befriending service pairs individuals living with terminal illnesses who may be socially isolated with local volunteers. It is a wonderful way to build genuine friendships.