The official Biddenden Parish Council website
Meetings are held at the old village hall on the second Tuesday of each month at 7.30pm.
Kent Village of the Year 2011 commendations
Kent Village of the Year commendation: Environment
Kent Village of the Year commendation: Economy
The floral crown was designed and made by the Biddenden Horticultural Society for the 2012 Jubilee celebrations.
Biddenden in Kent is a typical Wealden village with one of the prettiest main streets in the county.
The first recorded mention of the name is in a 10th century charter concerning a den, or swine pasture, in Bydyngden. Pottery of the Romano/British period has been found near the old railway line, north of the village.
Biddenden is rich in timber framed and brick buildings from the 1400s, and from Tudor and later periods, many of which were the result of wealth created when the broadcloth industry flourished in the Weald. The much-photographed houses along the south side of the High Street were built in the 1600s, when the cloth industry was in decline, possibly where cottages occupied by weavers once stood. Many of the houses on the north side of the street are of timber construction but were later given brick fronts. The West House restaurant is one of the oldest, though legend tells of a soldier returning from Agincourt in 1415 to set up the Red Lion public house.
The village is famous for the story of the Biddenden Maids, a story which rests on legend as well as on fact. Two sisters, whose true names and dates remain uncertain, are believed to have left about 20 acres of land to the church wardens so that the rent from farming it could pay for a dole of bread and cheese to be given at Easter to the most needy villagers. This charity was given High Court approval in 1656 and has continued its work ever since. The dole is now managed by the trustees of the Consolidated Charities and is given out on Easter Monday morning from the old workhouse on the Sissinghurst road.
All Saints Church was mainly built in the 1200s, though there was probably an earlier Saxon church here. After the decline in the cloth industry, the village continued its life as a busy agricultural community with a population which never fell below one thousand inhabitants, and was often nearer 1500. Today it is over 2,500. Several modern industries thrive: PK Produce and Biddenden Vineyards, and the Chart Hills Golf Club hosts international events on its 18-hole course.
The Biddenden Local History Society has published Biddenden in Pictures (on sale from the Post Office) and the Story of Biddenden (on sale from the church). Biddenden in Pictures is also available from YouByYou Books
*Text courtesy of Pru Stokes
News
Lengthsman - Vacancy
A vacancy has arisen for the position of Lengthsman. From 10 to 16 hours per week.
The New Waste and Recycling Service 2013
Coming soon! Click here for the complete and finalised answers to all your questions...
News in Kent April 2013
Parish News for April.
Hedges on Roads and Paths
Spring time Hedges and Borders - Your obligations
Ashford Borough CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU Newsletter Spring 2013
Benefits are changing
Welfare reform is coming – are you prepared?
Information from Ashford Borough Council
Council Tax Benefit
the changes...
Advice Services Transition Fund
The Big Lottery Fund and the Cabinet Office have launched a new
£65 million grants programme; the Advice Services Transition
Fund.
Grants of between £50,000 and £350,000 are available for local
not-for-profit providers of advice services to continue to give vital
help to people and communities in the areas of welfare benefits,
debt, housing and employment.
Non-emergency Police phone number 101
Call 101: The new non-emergency Police phone number
Chalara dieback of Ash (Chalara fraxinea)
For further information in respect of reporting cases of Ash Dieback disease please visit the Forestry Commission's website here.
Informatiion specific to Kent in respect to Ash Dieback disease.
Temporary Ashford Household Waste Recycling Centre opens 29 Oct
A temporary Household Waste Recycling Centre in Ashford will open from Monday 29 October 2012, while the main site is closed for redevelopment to increase the capacity of the site for the future and cut queues. Find the location details here.
Information about Bonfires
Planning a bonfire? Find out more here.
Rogue Telephone Calls purporting to be from the CAB
Trading Standards Alert: members of the public are being telephoned by someone pretending to be from CAB and offering debt advice. Citizens Advice never call a member of the public without them having first contacted the CAB and giving permission for a call back.
Members of the public are reminded that they should never give personal details, banking information or other data to anyone who cold calls them. They are also reminded that the Citizens Advice Bureau do not charge a fee for the advice they give.
Di Sandy
Administrator
Ashford Borough Citizens Advice Bureau
No Golf on the Gordon Jones Playing Field
A large number of golf balls have recently been found on the Gordon Jones Playing Field, tennis courts and bowling green. No golf or golf practice is allowed on the Gordon Jones Playing Field as it is an area heavily used by dog walkers and children. Golf presents serious health and safety issues because of the possibility of personal injury to others using the area. If you wish to practice or play golf, please visit either a local golf course or golf practice facility.
ATTENTION DOG OWNERS!
Red dog waste bins are provided around the Gordon Jones Playing Field and Millennium Field area. Most people make good use of these bins but a few do not. Please do not allow your dog to defecate in public areas without clearing up afterwards and disposing of it in the red bins provided. Bags are available, free of charge, from the Post Office.
Please note that if you do not pick up your dog waste, then you may find yourself picking up a fine instead.
RECYCLING PRESENTATION 27 Feb 2012
A presentation was given by ABC on the future of recycling and waste disposal. Read more here.
VOTE NOW FOR BETTER BROADBAND
We are committed to securing better broadband for businesses and communities in Kent.
Our ambition is for 90% of homes and businesses to have superfast broadband access by 2015, and for everyone to have access to a service of at least 2mb. Kent County Council and the Government are investing over £20 million to help make this happen. VOTE NOW!
Localism Act received Royal Assent on 15 November 2011
This is a key piece of legislation which gives greater recognition and more power to local councils.
A plain English guide to the Localism Act.
FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT REQUEST FORM
Any Freedom of Information requests for the BPC should now utilize this new form: Click here for further information...
Biddenden Parish Plan 2005
To provide the Parish Council with an action plan for critical issues, as identified by the Steering Group through parish-wide consultation (click for details).
Biddenden Parish Plan revisited 2009
The initial 2005 Biddenden Plan revisited and updated for 2009 (click for details).
Biddenden Parish Council Information Publication Scheme
Updated 8 Jan 2013: Information about: who and what we are, what we spend and how we spend it, what our priorities are and how we are doing, how we make decisions, our policies and procedures, lists and registers, the services we offer, additional information. Model Publication Scheme 2013:
Biddenden Parish Risk Assessment
Risk Assessment dated 8 Jan 2013:
Useful Information
Concessionary Free Travel Scheme for Senior Citizens and Disabled People