Category: Environment

Categories
Environment Waste Collections

Rollout of reusable recycling bags this autumn

Refuse operative holding a large green reusable recycling bag
New reusable recycling bag

From 23 September 2024, Sevenoaks District Council (SDC) is phasing out clear recycling sacks and introducing ‘Reusable Recycling Bags’ to most households.

The new recycling bag is weighted, waterproof and resealable. When full, it is approximately 600mm (2 feet) wide by 600mm (2 feet) deep and 900mm (3 feet) high. It holds 190-litres of recycling, about three full clear sacks worth of materials, and folds up for easy storage.

Reusable bags are already being used by 130 councils across the UK and in trials, it’s been found that people tend to recycle more with these bags than they would with clear sacks.

Introducing the reusable bag will save SDC driving 30,000 miles every year to deliver clear sacks to every household, reducing carbon emissions. By discontinuing clear recycling bags, it also cuts down on single use plastics.

The change will also save around £200,000 a year, helping to protect frontline services.

The new bags will be delivered to properties up until the end of the year and can be used straight away. SDC is asking residents to write their house name or number on the bags with a permanent marker.

For operational reasons, SDC is unable to include flats and properties using communal bins. SDC will be writing to households who will not receive a reusable recycling bag.

All the information about the new bag roll-out, including a series of questions and answers, can be found on SDC’s website: www.sevenoaks.gov.uk/recyclingbags.

Reusable recycling bags information leaflet
Categories
Environment Waste Collections

Bulky waste collection – Saturday 21 September

The bulky waste freighter will be coming to Edenbridge on Saturday 21 September. This service is funded by Edenbridge Town Council and provided by Sevenoaks District Council (SDC).

It’s a great opportunity to conveniently dispose of your large unwanted items for free!

Church Street (the Plat junction) 9.15 am – 9.45 am
Skeynes Road (by the green) 10.00 am – 10.30 am
Stangrove Estate (Park View Close) 10.45 am – 11.15 am
Spitals Cross Estate (Fircroft Way near Farmstead Drive) 11.30 am – 12 noon

Not Accepted:
  • Electrical appliances
  • Metal
  • Hard core
  • Compostable garden waste
  • Large panels of glass
  • Oil or paint
  • No commercial/business waste allowed
FLY-TIPPING IS ILLEGAL
Fly-tippers face large fines and a criminal record.

Please wait with your items until the vehicle arrives. Don’t miss this opportunity to declutter responsibly!

household waste recyling centre/”the tip”
Categories
Environment Waste Collections

Bulky waste collection – Saturday 22 June

The bulky waste freighter will return to Edenbridge on Saturday 22 June. This service is funded by Edenbridge Town Council and provided by Sevenoaks District Council (SDC).

Following repeated incidences of fly-tipping and some residents having to wait longer with their items due to the large amounts being left, we recently asked SDC to review the service. While the pick-up locations and times will remain the same for now, two refuse trucks will be used to try and ensure that all bulk items can be collected on time.

PLEASE WAIT WITH YOUR ITEMS UNTIL THE VEHICLE ARRIVES.

Items must be under 6ft long. The service cannot take electrical appliances, metal, hard core, compostable garden waste, large panels of glass, oil or paint. No commercial/business waste allowed.

Thank you for your cooperation.

Categories
Consultations Environment

Thank you for taking part in our dog-fouling survey

Thank you to everyone that completed our recent survey about dog fouling and possible dog-walking restrictions in Edenbridge. Your feedback has been really valuable and is going to help councillors with any future decisions they need to make to tackle irresponsible dog ownership and improve our open spaces.

At the Open Spaces Committee in November, councillors discussed the results and comments at length, which had produced 256 survey responses revealing that opinions were divided for and against the possibility of introducing dog-walking restrictions on the Council’s open spaces. Though there was a clear majority who agreed there was a problem with dog fouling at Town Council open spaces, there was no evidence that a dogs-on-leads policy was overwhelmingly supported or would solve the problem.

Your comments have provided many constructive ideas and suggestions, which councillors will continue to explore alongside other considerations. For now, the Council will be looking at making improvements to signage as well as continuing to remind people that Council litter bins are now dual-use and can take bagged dog waste.

VIEW DOG SURVEY RESULTS
One of two new litter bins recently installed at Stangrove Park
Categories
Community Safety Environment

Stay prepared for winter weather such as Storm Ciaran

With heavy winds and high rain due to arrive on Thursday 2 November as a result of storm Ciarán, now is a good time to think about general preparations for winter weather. You may find the following the information helpful:

Visit the Kent Prepared website for lots of useful advice about staying prepared during flooding, high winds, extreme cold and snow.

View our Contacts List to get emergency numbers and contact details for utility providers: What We Do & Contacts – Edenbridge Town Council

Read our Flood advice: Flood advice and information – Edenbridge Town Council “Floodsax” are available to purchase from the Council office at Doggetts Barn, 72A High Street, Edenbridge. A pack of 5 can be purchased for £25

UK Power Networks (UKPN)

The UK’s electricity network is built to be resilient but strong winds and heavy rain can bring down branches and trees, damaging overhead power lines. Where this happens UKPN works to restore power as quickly and safely as possible.

They have organised for additional staff in their contact centre and more engineers on the ground, particularly for Storm Ciarán, to be available to help customers whose electricity supply might be affected by the predicted weather.

You can find regular updates and information about individual power cuts on their website www.ukpowernetworks.co.uk They will also be posting general updates on their social media @UKPowerNetworks .

Anyone experiencing a power cut should:

•           Visit www.ukpowernetworks.co.uk to view the live power cut map, with details of individual power cuts or to report a power cut

•           Call 105 free of charge to report damage to the network or speak with a customer service representative

•           Tweet @UKPowerNetworks to report a power cut or to receive updates

People are advised to stay clear of power lines and report damaged power lines immediately by calling 105 free from either a landline or a mobile phone. If you see an electricity lines that is down or causing significant risk to the public you should call 999.

Extra help is given to customers on the Priority Service Register during a power cut.  Households with people of pensionable age, those with a health condition, have children under five living with them, or someone in the household who uses medical or mobility equipment that requires electricity, as well as those who may be in vulnerable circumstances during a power cut, can join the register. You can find out more information about the Priority Service at www.ukpowernetworks.co.uk/priority

*Edenbridge Market is cancelled on Thursday 2 November *

Categories
Consultations Environment Open Spaces

Complete our survey – dogs on lead consultation

COMPLETE SURVEY

Edenbridge Town Council manages a number of parks and open spaces for the use and enjoyment of the whole community. From sports, to playgrounds, exercise and dog-walking, these spaces are used for many activities that benefit our health, social and mental wellbeing.

The Council wants to ensure that these spaces remain inclusive, safe and clean for everyone, so it’s important that we manage these sites effectively by balancing the needs and views of all users.

We want to hear whether you think there is a problem with dog fouling in Edenbridge and if you believe we should implement dog-walking restrictions in the Council’s parks and open spaces.

Currently, dogs are permitted at all the Council’s open spaces off leads, apart from playgrounds, and at Blossoms Park where there is already a no dogs policy except for on-leads around the perimeter only.

Please tell us what you think by taking part in our short survey. It should take less than 5minutes to complete. A paper copy of the survey can be picked up from our office at Doggetts Barn, 72a High Street TN8 5AR.

Thank you for your time – the results will be presented to the Council’s Open Spaces Committee and help councillors with any decision-making. The results will also be published on our website.

Deadline: 11.59pm on Sunday 22 October

COMPLETE SURVEY
Categories
Environment

Edenbridge takes home Silver-Gilt awards at In Bloom ceremony

Edenbridge Groundsteam Left & Right
In Bloom awards ceremony

We are thrilled to have picked up two prestigious awards at the 2023 South and South East in Bloom awards ceremony.

For the first time, the Town Council entered two sites under its management, with both winning recognition – Stangrove Park and Edenbridge Cemetery. The judges said:

“A local Town Park of very good quality where maintenance levels are high.” Stangrove Park

“Particularly good first-time entry. Excellent site, professionally managed by the Town Council and the maintenance team.” Edenbridge Cemetery

The South & South East in Bloom campaign is the largest horticultural campaign in the region involving hundreds of communities each year. It is part of the larger Britain in Bloom campaign where participating communities create lasting improvements to their local environment for the benefit of those that live, work and visit. Judges/assessors visit communities throughout the year and awards are presented to recognise the entries’ achievements.

Councillor Angela Baker, Chair of the Council’s Open Spaces Committee, said: “This is another fantastic achievement for Edenbridge and comes just only a few months after receiving recognition for the quality of our football pitches at the Recreation Ground.

“It’s the first time we’ve taken part in In Bloom, and we were only a few points off from achieving Gold for Stangrove Park, so next year we will definitely be raising the bar by taking on board some of the suggestions the judges recommended!”

“Well done to our Groundsteam and thank you to the whole community for your efforts in helping us to keep our open spaces clean and respected,” she added.

Earlier this year we received recognition for the quality of our football pitches at the Recreation Ground following a PitchPower assessment.

Categories
Environment Waste Collections

Bulky waste collection – Saturday 7 October

The bulky waste vehicle will be doing the rounds in Edenbridge this October for the final collection of your large unwanted items this year.

Collections will be made on Saturday 7 October from:

Church Street (the Plat junction) 9.15 am – 9.45 am
Skeynes Road (by the green) 10.00 am – 10.30 am
Stangrove Estate (Park View Close) 10.45 am – 11.15 am
Spitals Cross Estate (Fircroft Way near Farmstead Drive) 11.30 am – 12 noon

Items must be under 6ft long. The service cannot take electrical appliances, metal, hard core, compostable garden waste, large panels of glass, oil or paint. No commercial/business waste allowed.

Please wait with your items until the vehicle arrives. The collection areas will be closely monitored in advance for fly tipping.

Categories
Environment Open Spaces

Land sought to help Kent plant more trees

Calling local landowners – do you have some spare land on which a new, small wood or a community orchard could be planted? 

Kent County Council is looking for help with its Kent Plan Tree project, seeking sites of up to half a hectare (about 1.25 acres) to increase the county’s tree cover. Funding is available from the government’s Local Authority Treescape Fund for this year and 2024, which will add to the millions more trees the UK needs to reach the carbon net-zero target for 2050.

The aim in Kent is to establish a new tree for every resident – 1.5 million of them. They can be planted as wildwoods, avenues, windbreaks, or small forests, on areas outside existing woodlands ranging in size from a tennis court to a football pitch, to a maximum 70m x 70m.  Kent intends to work with local community groups and volunteers to prepare sites, organise a planting event, and provide aftercare watering and weeding, for at least three years after planting. 

If you have a piece of land which may be suitable, with access to a water supply, please get in touch with us.

Email information@edenbridgetowncouncil.gov.uk  or call 01732 865368

Categories
Environment Open Spaces

School children learn about their food during allotment visit

Plot holders at our Forge Croft allotments hosted a visit by children from Chiddingstone Primary School this week. They enjoyed their time at the allotments, where they were introduced to some chickens, and learned a great deal, according to their teacher.

children at allotment


Leading into their science lesson the children have seen the practical side of growing food, and are starting to think about how things are grown, and the importance of good soil, a strong ecosystem, and seasonal eating.

What a wonderful experience for the children, and maybe families might like to consider tending to their own plot together.

Our allotment site at Swan Lane is full, but we still have some plots available at Forge Croft.

forge croft allotment details
Contact the Council to start renting a plot
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