Bearsted Parish Council

02/06/2026

https://www.mycommunityvoicekent.co.uk/Alerts/A/450190

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01/06/2026

01/06/2026

Volunteers Needed

Medway Valley Countryside Partnership will be back at Meadow Bank Nature Reserve this Thursday, clearing the footpaths to ensure this valuable open space is accessible for all our residents.

If you have some free time and would like to join the team of volunteers please pop along anytime between 10:30am and 3pm for as little or as long as you like. Tools will be provided so no need to bring your own.

01/06/2026

Kent Downs Management Plan Consultation

Open until 19th June 2026

Why this matters
The Management Plan guides long-term priorities for the Kent Downs, including:
• Nature recovery and biodiversity
• Farming and land management
• Climate resilience
• Access, recreation and tourism
• Planning and sustainable development
It is used by local authorities and partners to help shape decisions affecting the landscape.

The Kent Downs National Landscape partnership is seeking your views on the draft Kent Downs Management Plan 2027–2032 and the Landscape-led Design Handbook. The Kent Downs is a truly special and varied place: a landscape of drama and intimacy. From ancient woodlands and

01/06/2026

https://www.mycommunityvoicekent.co.uk/Alerts/A/447674

We are aware that many people in our community hold valuable information about crimes, incidents, or...

30/05/2026

24/05/2026

PARISH OFFICE CLOSURE

Please note the Parish office will be closed from Tuesday 26th to Thursday the 28th May.

For non emergencies please email: [email protected]. These will be answered the week commencing 1st June.

For emergencies only please call 07435 117966

20/05/2026

Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN)

PSTN will be fully switched off by the end of January 2027, with all landline services moving to digital alternatives such as VoIP or Digital Voice.

Why is PSTN Being Switched Off?

The PSTN network is aging and increasingly fragile, with parts no longer manufactured, making maintenance difficult. Service incidents have risen sharply, and the network cannot meet modern communication demands. Switching to digital networks using Internet Protocol (IP) allows for clearer calls, additional features like three-way calling and anonymous caller rejection, and greater resilience to severe weather. The transition also aligns with the broader move toward fibre broadband infrastructure.

Timeline and Impact

Switch-off date: End of January 2027 for all PSTN and ISDN lines.

Consumer impact: Most users will continue to have landline service via digital alternatives. Phones can be connected to Wi-Fi routers, or special adapters can be used for existing handsets.

Business impact: Companies relying on PSTN or ISDN must migrate to All-IP or digital voice services to avoid service disruption.

Vulnerable users: Providers are required to support at-risk customers, including those using telecare devices, alarms, or other essential services connected to landlines

Key Considerations

Digital voice services will not work during a power outage, unlike traditional PSTN lines.

Users should contact their provider to confirm migration plans, especially if they have devices dependent on a landline.

Providers are obligated to ensure that emergency calls remain possible and that vulnerable customers are supported throughout the transition.

In summary, the PSTN switch-off is a nationwide move to modernise the UK’s telephone network, replacing ageing copper-based systems with digital alternatives. All users, both residential and business, need to prepare for this change to ensure uninterrupted phone service by January 2027.

For more information please visit:

What the retirement of analogue phone lines, also known as the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), means for you.