Cameron Clark

New Village Hall Kitchen

Bovis Homes helps village celebrate 50th birthday

New Ash Green Village Association is celebrating its 50^th birthday with the opening of brand new kitchen facilities at its Village Hall, thanks to local resident Bovis Homes and kitchen supplier Moores.

The new facilities were officially unveiled at a special event attended by members of the local community, as well as representatives of Bovis Homes, Moores Kitchens, who donated the equipment, and the Village Association. Councillor David Brazier, Chairman of Kent County Council, also attended the unveiling.

The old kitchen, which had been in situ since 1975 no longer met the needs of the many users of the Hall. The new facilities, which have been extended to almost twice the size, include a brand new oven and grill, flooring, sink and utility area.

The celebrations coincide with New Ash Green’s 50^th anniversary, with the village having first been created as an innovative design project in 1967, with many of the homes, and the Hall being built by Bovis Homes. The company is still a big part of the community, with its national headquarters and its Southern and Eastern regional teams situated at The Manor House on North Ash Road.

Pat Kirtley, Administrator of New Ash Green Village Association said: “We’re extremely grateful to Bovis Homes for their generosity. The new kitchen is a huge improvement and will bring real benefit to all the local people who use the Hall.

“It’s nice to think that 50 years after it first donated the hall to the residents of our village, Bovis Homes has once again made a wonderful contribution to the community.”

Bovis Homes Group Finance Director, Earl Sibley, who also presented the Village Association with a plaque to commemorate the occasion, said: “We’re delighted to have been able to support the Village Association with these new facilities, and thank our suppliers Moores for their support in this. New Ash Green is a big part of Bovis Homes’ history and we’re proud to be part of the community here.

“With the village celebrating its 50^th year, it’s great to see that such a strong sense of community has grown in that time, and the village hall is very much at the heart of that.”

Building of New Ash Green began in 1967 and was completed by Bovis Homes in the early 1970s. It is now home to more than 7,000 people.

As part of its unique design, the village is made up of 24 ‘neighbourhoods’ of between 16 and 183 homes. The Residents Society of each specific neighbourhood manages the land within it, including greenlands, paths, trees, sewers; additionally it organises the four-yearly external house repaints.

Power cuts – Priority Support

Do you or someone you know need extra support during a power cut? Although power cuts don’t happen very often when they do they can be worrying. UK Power Networks is the electricity network and it provides a ‘Priority Services Register’ for people who might need extra help in a power cut. Older people, families with very young children, and people with specific medical conditions are among the many people who are eligible to register for free support. You can find more details and register by visiting ukpowernetworks.co.uk/prioritysupport or calling 0800 169 9970.

Ring 105 for electricity problems

A national phone number 105 has been launched if you need to report or find information about a power cut in your area.

Key points to note about this service are:
·         Dialling 105 will put customers through to their local electricity network operator – the company that manages the cables, power lines and substations that deliver electricity into homes and businesses in their area.
·         105 is just one of the ways that customers can contact their electricity network operator. They can also contact them by phone or via their website, and most network operators are on social media too.
·         105 is a free service for people in England, Scotland and Wales.
·         Customers can call 105 no matter who they choose to buy electricity from.
·         Customers can also call 105 if they spot damage to electricity power lines and substations that could put anyone in danger. If there’s a serious immediate risk, they should call the emergency services too.

But if you see problems with street lighting in New Ash Green, contact the Residents’ Society or Village Association first.