Edenbridge Town Council

John Scholey’s Memorial Service will be on Monday 25 October, 2.30 pm at the Parish Church of St Peter & St Paul.

The family would like to invite friends and colleagues to join them at the Memorial Service to pay special tribute to John’s life. This will be followed by a reception at Rickards Hall.

Click here for the Council’s obituary to Cllr John Scholey.

Parish Church of St Peter & St Paul
Church Street
Edenbridge
TN8 5BD.

The following planning application has been withdrawn from the agenda for Monday 20 September until the Committee has had an opportunity to fully review the application documents. A new public meeting will be confirmed when the Committee will consider its recommendation.

File No: 21/02825/FUL
Site: Tonys Corner Shop 18 Cedar Drive Edenbridge KENT TN8 5JL Description: Creation of seven off-street car parks; the erection of 13 dwellings; an extended replacement to the existing shop and associated landscaping improvements.

The Town Council has contacted Go-Coach to ask whether the Edenbridge Bus Service could be extended to include stops at Four Elms and Marsh Green. Go-Coach are looking in to the viability for this. Go-Coach would like to remind residents that they are still operating their bus taxi service, whereby you can call Go-Coach on 01732 469800 and book a bus to pick you up at your nearest bus stop at an agreed time. Please note, when calling to book your return journey the bus times can vary depending where the bus has to come from. Whilst there may at times be a bus not too far from you so it will get to you quickly, they can sometimes have to come from Sevenoaks  to pick you up. Co-Coach offers a really a good service for residents in Edenbridge and aims to be able to accommodate all of the bookings.

A vacancy has arisen for a councillor at the Town Council for the Edenbridge North and East Ward.

Residents have until 4 October to write to the District Council should they wish an election to be held, and if ten or more do so, an election will be held.  If not, the Council will consider residents who are interested for co-option, and formally consider them at a Council meeting. Click here for Notice of Vacancy

Edenbridge Town Council is working with Sevenoaks District Council to assess whether there might be a need for “local needs” housing in Edenbridge so that residents who cannot afford to buy or rent locally, are not forced to move away.  It also helps those who have already had to move away make a return to their family support networks and contribute to the local community.  To identify whether a need for this type of housing exists in our community, a Housing Needs Survey will be delivered to every household during September.  Please do look out for it; we would like to hear from as many residents as possible.  The survey will also ask older residents of the parish who might need to downsize or move to more suitable housing to respond, whether they need affordable housing or housing to buy on the open market.

The survey has been commissioned by Edenbridge Town Council and is being undertaken by the Rural Housing Enabler from Action with Communities in Rural Kent; please look out for it in your post.

For more information contact Action with Communities in Rural Kent on 01303 765 645

Details on how to apply are available on the website click here 

A copy of the Guidance and Procedures for CIL and proforma are via the the above link.

Bids can be submitted by the Town Council Councillors, community groups and infrastructure providers for projects that will benefit Edenbridge and meet the requirements in the guidance notes and CIL regulations.

Bids will be validated after the closing date Monday 27 September 5.00 pm. Bids that make it through the validation stage, are presented to the CIL Board. Its next meeting is on Monday 11 October.

Contact the Town Council for any questions: townclerk@edenbridgetowncouncil.gov.uk  or call 01732 865368

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It is with great sadness we announce that Cllr John Scholey passed away on Sunday (22 August).

John was dedicated to local government ensuring a better community and putting this ahead of his personal life, though he was a very much a family man and proud father to 4 children and 9 grandchildren. John was a man of integrity, was honest and did his very best for people. He was a scientist and had a long career with Unilever until his retirement.

John first became a Town Councillor in 1999, serving for over 22 years. He was Chairman of the Council from 2005 to 2007, and also served as Chairman of the Finance and Open Spaces Committees for several years. He had a remarkable head for finances being a key driver ensuring the Council’s finances were in safe hands and properly maintained. He developed the 5-year forward plan, budget planning and audit controls.  He was a supporter of the town’s open spaces having a significant impact including the footpaths and Millennium Wood, and maintaining the Green Belt. His knowledge on planning policies and Sustainable Drainable Strategies (SuDS) was invaluable and key to the flood risk management and defence improvements for Edenbridge.

In 2007 John was elected as a District Councillor and remained in office until 2019.  He was heavily involved in the new Mont St Aignan by-pass and was Finance Portfolio holder for SDC for a number of years. He was hugely respected at District Council and served on the Cabinet as one of its five members.

John was involved with a number of local organisations including Scouting, the Eden Valley Museum, Friends of Edenbridge Parish Church, and Tonbridge and Malling Conservative Association.  He had a love of walking with his wife Gill and tending their allotment and garden, his surplus garden produce was often donated to the Edenbridge Food Bank. As a supporter for the retired he served on the Occupational Pensioners Alliance and Committee of Unilever Pensioners.

John leaves a fabulous legacy. He provided knowledgeable counsel to other councillors and officers, giving them confidence to go on to further their abilities, and some to become district councillors.  We all have our own fond anecdotes of John and hold him affectionately in our heart.

Christine Lane worked with John for 18 years as RFO and Town Clerk and said, ‘he was a man of extremely high calibre, and I learnt a lot from him, especially his skills in handling difficult situations’.

Peter Lake, former Kent County Councillor, summed up John perfectly, he ‘was a thoroughly good egg, the nicest of persons, and a font of all wisdom’.

John was an extraordinary person as well as an exceptional councillor, and someone who touched not only everyone at the Council but also in the Community.

There will be private cremation service for the family.  A memorial service will be held at a later date, further details to be advised.

Edenbridge Town Council is looking to redevelop the existing playground area creating a new toddler and younger years play area and a juniors play space.  This will include the removal of the existing swings and toddler equipment, the installation of the new equipment, and the installation of appropriate safety surfacing. A brand-new activity area for teenagers (secondary school ages) is to be created providing an additional facility. 

Details have been published on Contract Finder, click here. The deadline for tenders to be received is Monday 4 October 2021, 5.00 pm.

The project is hoped to be completed by early spring 2022.

Each tendering firm will be supplied with a specifically marked envelope in which the tender is to be sealed, and will remain sealed until 12 noon the day after the closing date (or other date that is selected to open all tenders received). Electronic submissions will not be accepted as all tenders received will be opened on the same date.

Enquires can be made via email: townclerk@edenbridgetowncouncil.gov.uk or telephone: 01732 865368.  A site visit is recommended.

Edenbridge Town Council is proposing to select one contractor and issue a single works order for the playground refurbishment and creating new teenager area.

A full tender specification document will be provided to each contractor expressing interest to tender, together with a marked envelope. Contact the Town Clerk for a tender pack. Electronic submissions will not be accepted, but an electronic specification can be emailed to the tenderer.