Boxley Parish Council

27/05/2026

19/05/2026

Sent on behalf of Openreach Limited

OPENREACH LIMITED - Temporary Road Closure - Yelsted Road Yelsted - 19th June 2026 (Maidstone District)

Due to works planned to be undertaken by OPENREACH LIMITED, it will be necessary to close part of Yelsted Road, Yelsted, from 19th June 2026 with estimated completion by 22nd June 2026.
Yelsted Road, Yelsted, will be closed approximately 15 metres North of the drive leading to Frost Orchard. To the extent indicated by signs and barriers on site.

The alternative route for any through traffic is via Yelsted Road, Lower Hartlip Road, A2 Hartlip Hill, A2 London Road, A2 High Street, A2 Boyces Hill, A2 Keycol Hill, A2 Key Street Roundabout, A249 Maidstone Road, A249 Sittingbourne Road, Aerodrome Approach, Bimbury Lane, Yelsted Road and vice versa.
Pedestrian access will be maintained during the works.

The closure is required for the safety of the public and workforce to allow telegraph pole replacement works to be carried out, works are undertaken by OPENREACH LIMITED.

For the most up to date information on these works please visit: https://one.network/?tm=GB149468076

For information regarding this closure please contact OPENREACH LIMITED on 08000 282 229, who will be able to assist with the scope of these works.
The Kent County Council Highways Helpline phone number is: 03000 418181

Imagery © 2026 MapTiler | Imagery © 2026 Hexagon | © MapTiler © OpenStreetMap contributors
This bulletin contains public information and can be forwarded to any other road users who may be affected. Every care is taken to ensure the accuracy of the information, but no liability can be accepted for any changes or errors.
Road names are taken from the National Street Gazetteer, which can be viewed on one.network, with alternative names given where known.

For details of roadworks, please see One.Network

Regards,
Streetworks West Central Team
03000 418181 (9am - 5pm Monday-Friday)
03000 419191 (all other times)

18/05/2026

SENT ON BEHALF OF MY COMMUNITY VOICE:-

Rogue Trader Fraud
There has been an increase of Rogue Trader activity across West Kent!

Rogue Traders often target residents using high pressure tactics to persuade them into unnecessary, poor quality, or overpriced work.
👷‍♂️ What are Rogue Traders? 👷‍♂️
Rogue traders are doorstep criminals who:
• Claim they have "noticed something wrong” with your home
• Offer building, gardening, driveway or maintenance work
• Pressure you into agreeing to work immediately
• Offer “special deals” if you pay now (often in cash)
• Overcharge for simple jobs or work that isn’t needed
• Ask for upfront cash payments and never return to complete work.
They frequently:
• Provide leaflets with only a mobile number
• Drive unmarked vehicles,
• Falsely claim they work “for the council”
• Refuse to leave when challenged.
🛡️ How to protect yourself 🛡️
• Check vetted traders — Use Kent County Council Trading Standards Checked (tschecked.kent.gov.uk) the only KCC approved scheme for reliable, vetted tradespeople.
• Ask for ID — Note vehicle details and never rely on a mobile only contact.
• Get written quotes — Never agree to extra work on the spot.
• Never pay upfront — Avoid cash; use bank transfer if you proceed.
• Take your time — Genuine work is rarely an emergency.
• Consult family or friends — A second opinion can prevent fraud.
• Trust your instincts — If something feels wrong, close the door.
📢 Report Fraud or suspicious activity 📢
• Report to Report Fraud (National Fraud & Cyber Crime Reporting Centre)
Website: www.ReportFraud.police.uk Telephone: 0300 123 2040 (Monday - Friday 08:00am - 08:00pm)
• Report to Kent Police (Non emergency: 101 Emergency: 999)
• Report to Trading Standards Via Citizens Advice Consumer Helpline (Website: Trading Standards - Kent County Council)
Stay Alert – Protect yourself & your community
Rogue traders rely on pressure, fear, and confusion. By staying informed, using vetted traders, and reporting concerns, you can help protect yourself and your neighbours!

Have a lovely weekend, stay safe!

Report Fraud UK is the place to report, prevent, and learn about cyber crime & fraud

18/05/2026

https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/UKMBC/bulletins/417c8ae

Maidstone Borough Council Environmental Newsletter - May 2026 Maidstone Borough Council sent this bulletin at 18-05-2026 10:05 AM BST View as a webpage / Share Environmental Services NewsletterMay 2026 "Recycling is what we do when we are out of options to avoid, repair or re-use the product. Firstl...

18/05/2026

Environmental Services Newsletter
May 2026
________________________________________

"Recycling is what we do when we are out of options to avoid, repair or re-use the product.
Firstly, reduce - don't buy what you don't need"
(Annie Leonard, author)

Simpler Recycling
You may have heard about 'Simpler Recycling': the national initiative that standardises recycling collections across the country, helping to reduce confusion about what can be recycled.
For Maidstone residents, there will be very little change. The only significant update is that Tetra Pak cartons can now be placed in your household dry recycling bin.
All other parts of the recycling and food waste service remain unchanged.
As with all recycling, please ensure cartons are empty and placed loose in your recycling bin.
You can check what you can recycle in Maidstone on our website

If you are unsure about how to recycle an item, please contact us at [email protected]
________________________________________

Garden Waste
Garden waste collections are a paid-for service.
We have now started sending out invoices for the service period up to June 2027.
Permits are issued in batches after payment has been received.
Please remember that every garden waste bin presented for collection must display a valid permit.

Sign up for garden waste collections
__________________________________
Garden Bin - Contamination

As we start to approach the summer months, your garden will be producing more garden waste. Your garden waste gets taken to a facility at Blaise Farm on the A228, where it is treated, and turned into compost.

In the past month, we have noticed an increase in contamination being reported by the crews, mainly in the form of soil, turf or hardcore waste.
There have also been reports of logs, tree stumps, pet bedding, soiled cat litter, and an occasional load of food waste!
These items cannot be disposed of in your garden bin and some do risk damaging vehicles.


Please only put the following in your garden bin:
• Flowers and plants - shake off the soil stuck to the roots and reuse it on you garden.
• Grass cuttings - no turf please!
• Hedge trimmings and prunings
• Leaves and small branches - shouldn't be thicker than 3cm
• Weeds - again please shake off the excess soil.
Thank you.

Quick Quiz

One full food waste caddy can save enough energy to:
1. Boil a kettle three times
2. Charge a tablet up to five times
3. Power an LED lightbulb for 24 hours
The answer is at the bottom of the newsletter.

Food Caddy Data Download
This month, we are looking at data collected from our recycling and waste service, focusing on food caddy deliveries to residents during the year ending March 2026.
The chart shows the number of food caddy starter packs and individual 23 litre food caddies delivered to Maidstone residents by our contractor between April 2025 to March 2026:

Key facts
• A total of 7,191 deliveries were made across the year.
• This averages around 600 deliveries per month.
• July 2025 was the busiest month, with 756 deliveries.
• November had the lowest number of deliveries, with 445.
________________________________________

Food caddy replacement
Maidstone Borough Council will replace your 23-litre black and orange food caddy free of charge if lost or damaged.
Please request a replacement using the website.
Log an issue with your food bin here

No Mow May
No Mow May is an annual campaign, led by Plantlife, encouraging gardeners to avoid mowing their lawns during May to support biodiversity. This often leads to more people maintaining part of their garden as a permanent wildflower area.
Key benefits include providing vital nectar for pollinators such as bees and butterflies, creating habitats for wildlife, increasing carbon capture in the soil, and strengthening grass root systems to improve resilience to drought.
MBC encourages residents to take part. Across its own land, the Council supports this approach to grounds maintenance and has wider policies in place to enhance biodiversity and create habitats for wildlife. These include:
• Retaining wood from essential tree works within park areas
• Dedicating up to 20% of land to wildflower growth
• Planting hundreds of trees each year
A quick question, how many trees do you think there are, in Mote Park ?
1. 6,700 2. 11,500 3. 30,000
Answer at bottom of the newsletter

We have been asked, can you recycle this?

Pill blister packs
Unfortunately, pill blister packs cannot be recycled through Maidstone’s recycling service.
Some specialist recyclers accept them, and certain pharmacies offer collection schemes. Please check locally for any options available.

Shredded paper
Yes, shredded paper can be recycled.
To help with processing:
• Shred only what is necessary.
• Place shredded paper inside an envelope or small cardboard box before putting it in your recycling bin.
This prevents it from spreading during sorting.

See what you can recycle in Maidstone
________________________________________

More useful links

Ocean Clean Up - an international not-for-profit organisation working to clean the seas

Woodland Trust - dedicate a tree and support woodland conservation

Ever wondered how your paper is recycled?

We are here to help

Community Groups and Recycling Talks

Are you a member of a coffee group, lunch club or other community group?
Our Maidstone Borough Council Waste Management Team would be happy to visit and explain how recycling works in the borough, while answering your questions about waste services.
We are now taking bookings from September.
Contact the team here



Allington Household Waste Recycling Centre
Reuse Shop
The Reuse Shop at Allington Household Waste Recycling Centre opened in September 2025 and supports local causes across Kent.
Items donated to the shop are reused, helping to reduce waste while providing affordable goods to the community.
The shop is open every day, and no booking is required to visit.
Find out more on the website

________________________________________
And the Quiz Answers are.

1. Food caddy
The correct answer is all of them.
This information is based on data from WRAP website, for more infromation on food waste reduction see below.
2. Mote Park
There are over 30,000 trees in Mote Park.

Food waste: big wins from little bins - UK Government blog

Food waste reduction - The Conversation

Reduce food waste - WRAP

________________________________________

Look out, for Shake it out!
Advance notice for our newsletter readers, this sticker is heading to recycling bins around the borough.
We are encouraging everyone, to leave their dry mix recycling loose in the bin.

What happens to the recycling that we collect from you

________________________________________
If you have any questions, or if you have a recycling or waste subject that you would like us to cover,
please get in touch.
[email protected]
________________________________________

Thank you for reading our Environmental Services update
If you enjoyed reading this month's newsletter, please forward to friends and family, so they can sign up as well.
Other newsletters from Maidstone Borough Council include:
Climate Change and Biodiversity – everything to do with sustainability
What’s On in Maidstone – for all events
News – to keep up to date
Consultations – share your views
Visit Maidstone – the best places to visit and stay
Business in Maidstone – workshops, events and business support
Planning – updates on recent planning decisions
Maidstone Museum - news, updates and events from Maidstone Museum
Subscribe Here

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14/05/2026

________________________________________



5 KFAS Fraud Alerts

Please find attached 5 KFAS fraud alerts for your attention.

Feel free to share with family and friends and via your social media etc.


________________________________________
Attachments
14052026 - Updated Kent Fraud Alert System.pdf

12/05/2026

SENT ON BEHALF OF UTILITY DISTRIBUTION NETWORKS LIMITED

Please note, new dates have been agreed for these works. Start date is 25th May 2026, with estimated completion by 29th May 2026.

Utility Distribution Networks Ltd. - Temporary Road Closure - Westfield Sole Road, Lidsing - 12th January 2026 (Maidstone District)
Due to works planned to be undertaken by Utility Distribution Networks Ltd., it will be necessary to close part of Westfield Sole Road, Lidsing, from 12th January 2026 with estimated completion by 30th January 2026.
Westfield Sole Road, Lidsing, will be closed approximately 120 metres Northeast of Bredhurst Business Park. To the extent indicated by signs and barriers on site.
The alternative route for any through traffic is via Westfield Sole Road, Lidsing Road, Yelsted Lane, Boxley Road, Walderslade Woods Roundabout, Westfield Sole Road and vice versa.
Pedestrian access will be maintained during the works.
The closure is required for the safety of the public and workforce to allow cabling works to be carried out, works are undertaken by Utility Distribution Networks Ltd.
For the most up to date information on these works please visit: https://one.network/?tm=GB146455227
For information regarding this closure please contact Utility Distribution Networks Ltd., who will be able to assist with the scope of these works.
The Kent County Council Highways Helpline phone number is: 03000 418181

Imagery © 2025 MapTiler | Imagery © 2025 Hexagon | © MapTiler © OpenStreetMap contributors
This bulletin contains public information and can be forwarded to any other road users who may be affected. Every care is taken to ensure the accuracy of the information, but no liability can be accepted for any changes or errors.
Road names are taken from the National Street Gazetteer, which can be viewed on one.network, with alternative names given where known.

For details of roadworks, please see One.Network

07/05/2026

SENT ON BEHALF OF MY COMMUNITY VOICE:-

Our News May 2026 is here!

Hello Neighbours,

We have another bumper crop of interesting news from the network to share this month. We are cramming so much in, I’m genuinely considering going to a fortnightly format. I wonder if shorter newsletters every other week, might be easier to read. If you have strong views either to keep this monthly, or to move to fortnightly updates, please let me know in this very basic straw poll.
Highlights this month include
• The police have new powers to tackle antisocial behaviour
• New guidance advises using passkeys rather than passwords online
• Get a sneak peek of the Neighbourhood Watch podcast – coming soon!
• NW updates from Blackpool and Suffolk
• Learn how community grants are being used in Nuneaton
• Catch up on our knife crime webinar
Crime and Policing Bill receives Royal Assent, giving police new powers
The Crime and Policing Act has over 70 measures including tougher police powers to crackdown on antisocial behaviour and retail crime by introducing Respect Orders so police can ban repeat offenders from town centres and other locations. Other measures include new legislation on the sale of knives and introducing an offence for assaulting a retail worker with a possible sentence of six months in prison. Find out more on our website.

National Cyber Security Centre: leave passwords in the past
Overhauling decades of security practice, the National Cyber Security Centre, a part of GCHQ, has taken the decision to no longer recommend individuals use passwords where passkeys are available because passwords lack the relative resilience to modern cyber threats. We’re working with experts on updating our guidance at Neighbourhood Watch but you can find out more from NCSC here.

Get a sneak peek at the Neighbourhood Watch podcast
We’ve finished recording the first four episodes of the Neighbourhood Watch podcast, hosted by BBC Radio 4’s Alfie Moore. It’s shaping up to be a fascinating series, talking to a range of celebrities about the communities they grew up in and their experiences of crime. Get a sneak peek of Andy Bush talking about how his parents were scammed online, here.

Fundraise while you shop online
Did you know that when you buy things online, you could be raising free donations for Neighbourhood Watch Network? 8,000 retailers, including eBay, Argos, John Lewis & Partners, ASOS, Booking.com and M&S, are ready to donate, and it won’t cost you a penny! Each time you shop online, visit the easyfundraising site first, to find the retailer you want. After you’ve checked out, they will donate to Neighbourhood Watch Network at no extra cost to you. Go to Easyfundraising and join for free.


Summer is coming – make sure you are covered before you travel
We’ve partnered with Staysure, the UK’s favourite travel insurance provider with over 20 years’ experience and more 5-star Trustpilot reviews than any other provider. Their cover includes options to suit different trips, with 24/7 emergency medical assistance and cover for pre-existing medical conditions. Having the right protection in place can help you travel with confidence. Find out more. - Ad

Neighbourhood Watch Community Grant update
Nuneaton Neighbourhood Watch helped raise funds for bleed kits so they could be placed around the area to help someone in need. Chris Ellis, who lost his son Tom in a knife attack in 2024, presented bleed kits to the local community in a bid to save others' lives. Brian Stansfield from Neighbourhood Watch said the kits will be given to local businesses and schools. He added: “We all know the terrible incident that happened in Nuneaton town centre and are making it our mission to prevent further needless loss of life.” Read the BBC news story here.



Heading off on a long weekend trip this bank holiday?
It’s important to remember to properly protect your home while you’re away. Sumier Foster-Shah, Customer Service Manager at ERA, shares the simple steps that you can take to make sure you have peace of mind while you’re away from your property, and enjoy your holiday, read more here – Ad.

Say it with flowers!
Want to say a big thank you to a local hero, friend, neighbour, or community champion? We've partnered with Flower Station to celebrate the spirit of community with a stunning Neighbourhood Watch bouquet, perfectly reflecting our iconic brand colours. Flower Station will donate 10% of the sale proceeds to supporting community grants. Check out the Neighbourhood Watch shop to find out more.

Knife Crime awareness webinar
We were very grateful to Anoushka Dunic from the Ben Kinsella Trust for hosting a webinar on knife crime to mark Stephen Lawrence Day on 22 April. The session covers sensitive topics but it’s a very practical insight into the drivers of knife crime and violence, how to support young people and where to go for support. Catch up with the webinar here.

Neighbourhood Watch Lottery update
Last month one of our lucky NW lottery players won £224.16, congratulations! The lottery generates a steady source of income for us to deliver national projects, support our volunteers and make more of an impact. You too can support Neighbourhood Watch and be in with a chance to win up to £25,000 a week. Play One Lottery here.

Tougher measures targeting antisocial behaviour become law
The Crime and Policing Act has now received Royal Assent. This means that people who wreak havoc on local communities face tough new restrictions under new laws. New measures include Respect Orders that will let police and councils crack down on persistent adult offenders. Police are also being handed tougher powers to seize vehicles linked to anti-social behaviour. Find out more.



Volunteer spotlight - Blackpool
Nathan Burrell, a Coordinator from Blackpool, took part in a local community outreach event to celebrate the Muslim festival of Eid. It was held at the Bispham community centre and brought together a whole community to support each other and celebrate. Nathan also helped organise a crime prevention event at Barclays in Blackpool, with police and staff promoting scam awareness to local bank customers.

Association spotlight - Suffolk
Tony Spall and Nick King recently shared the incredible work being done by Neighbourhood Watch in Suffolk. For over 30 years, Neighbourhood Watch in Suffolk was run by the local police, but it’s been successfully managed by volunteers since 2016. They are currently running two funded projects: ‘Working for a Safer Suffolk’ and ‘Suffolk Connected’. Find out more about their impact on the Suffolk Neighbourhood Watch Association website.

Learn about online grooming in children and young people
Breck Bednar was just 14 when he was groomed online. After being manipulated for a year, he was lured to a flat, where he was murdered by his online groomer. Breck’s mother, Lorin, founded the Breck Foundation so no other family should suffer the same fate. They provide information and education on how to spot the signs of grooming and keep young people safe. Find out more about the Breck Bednar foundation.

Neighbourhood Watch Week
Is just a month away, and we’ll be offering Communi-Tea event packs in our shop soon. We got the whole team involved in packing, look at this teamwork! Each pack will include event posters, invitations, balloons, stickers, leaflets and tea. They will be available in the Neighbourhood Watch shop soon, watch out for updates in your inbox.

And that is all for this month. If you’d prefer to have an online version of the newsletter to print, you can find that here. As ever, I love to know what you think, what could be better. It's always so helpful to have feedback.