The Swanley & Dartford Chronicle October 2008

Chronicle 40p Where SoldT h e Vo i c e o f S w a n l e y Swanley & Dartford Your Local! NEWS • MOVIES • THEATRE • MOTORING • LIFESTYLE 26 Movies20 Motoring16 Competition OCTOBERwww. bexleychronicle. com October 2008 CARROLL CARPETSDomestic & Commercial Flooring Specialists • Competitive Rates • Free estimates • Free Fitting FREEPHONE 0800 317452New Showroom open 6 days. 11-13 Station Road, Swanley, Kent All types of Carpets• Vinyl • Laminates • Wood Flooring Call free 0800 163 186 53 The Oval, Sidcup, Kent, DA15 9ER 5 Lessness Ave. , Bexleyheath, Kent, DA7 5SH *Autumn Specials* on Alternators, Batteries & Starter Motors Cutting the cost of Winter repairs Batteries for every make of car BRAKE DISCS AND DISC PADS AT LOW PRICES Aldi New look store - see back page Emma in the pink Emma Goodrich of Dartford beat cancer of the lymph gland twice. Treatment included a stem cell transplant and a bone marrow transplant. Emma used her positive mental attitude to help her beat cancer, plus she taught spin classes at Horizones even through her treatment, defying her consultants, clients and managers. Emma was treated and is raising funds for Darant Valley Hospital’s Cancer Fighting Fun. Emma runs a hair salon and also now a wig shop in Swanley Kent for cancer suffers and others requiring wigs. In October 2008 Birchwood Park Golf Centre have a pink balloon release with Mayor of Dartford and Wonderbra model Tanya Rowe, plus local school children. Other events include George Michael tribute night and charity auction. The month starts with a fitness launch at horizones health & fitness club; BodyPump 67 launch, Pink legs warmers circuit and the ultimate workout with the eleven pink ladies of Horizones. The golf will be donateding all ladies green fees to charity and all our staff will be in pink, plus all the flags and tee’s will be pink! BUY YOUR BALLOONS NOW FROM BIRCHWOOD PARK GOLF CENTRE, Birchwood Road, Wilmington, Dartford, Kent, DA2 7HJ: 01322 664 500. www. horizones. net for full details Lose weight in Swanley? Residents from the Swanley area who want to take control of their lifestyle by balancing a healthy diet with regular exercise can take advantage of a new, free programme that launches this month. The ‘Why Weight’ Plan is a 12 week programme, open to residents of Sevenoaks District, and offers weekly weigh-ins, advice on food and diet and practical solutions to losing weight. Each ‘Why Weight’ session also has an optional 30 minute motivational exercise class for all fitness levels, and the continuing support and motivation by ‘Why Weight’ dieticians throughout the 12 week programme will help participants manage their weight effectively. The ‘Why Weight’ Plan, which is already running successfully at Edenbridge Leisure Centre, will begin in September with a 12 week course at White Oak Leisure Centre, Swanley. If you are overweight and would like to sign up to this free programme just speak to your GP, practice nurse or any health professional. Alternatively if you would prefer to contact a ‘Why Weight’ dietician directly just call 01322 622132. BENEFIT CHEAT GETS COMMUNITY PUNISHMENTA New Ash Green woman who falsely claimed benefits she was not entitled to was sentenced to 100 hours of unpaid community work at Sevenoaks Magistrates’ Court earlier this week. Mrs Claire Harvey, 36, of Penenden, New Ash Green was found guilty of two charges relating to offences under section 112 of the Social Security Administration Act 1992 on Tuesday (19 August). An investigation, conducted by Sevenoaks District Council, established that Mrs Harvey had falsely claimed Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit for a period during 2006 and 2007 by failing to declare to the relevant benefit authorities that she was in paid work. As a result of her actions Mrs Harvey received £1,261. 90 in Housing Benefit and £107. 81 in Council Tax Benefit which she knew she was not entitled to. At court, Mrs Harvey was sentenced to a community order for a period of 12 months. During this period, she is required to carry out 100 hours of unpaid community work. Mrs Harvey was also ordered to pay legal costs of £450. Sevenoaks District Council has taken appropriate action to secure the repayment of the Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit debt. • If the public wish to report any instances of benefit fraud they can do so, in confidence, by calling the Council’s 24 hour benefit fraud hotline on 01732 227445. Be prepared! Residents are being urged to make sure they know how to protect themselves in the event of a major emergency. Even though major emergencies are rare, residents armed with knowledge about how to best deal with an emergency situation are more likely to fare well compared with those who are less well informed. Residents can find out how to prepare for an emergency by logging onto www. sevenoaks. gov. uk/emergencyplanning. The pages on Sevenoaks District Council’s website include practical advice for a range of emergency scenarios, how to find out information during an emergency and details of the local emergency responders including councils, utility companies and emergency services. Cllr Keith Loney, Sevenoaks District Council’s Cabinet member with responsibility for emergency planning, says: “Whilst serious emergencies are thankfully exceptional events, there is a mounting body of evidence that suggests you can markedly improve the protection of people and property if you know what to do in such a situation. It’s easy to find out about what to do in the event of an emergency and it could make a difference between life or death. Either log onto the Council’s website or call HM Government Preparing for Emergencies hotline. ” Further information is available the Government’s ‘Preparing for Emergencies’ website www. preparingforemergencies. gov. uk or the flooding pages on the Environment Agency’s website www. environment-agency. gov. uk/flood. • The 70% of readers without Internet access can receive a copy of the booklet ‘Preparing for Emergencies What you need to know’ which is available from HM Government by calling 020 7276 1234. New look store Special Creative New Menu (only available on Wednesday) TAKE AWAY SERVICE AVAILABLE Telephone 020 8298 9233 258 Sherwood Park Avenue Sidcup. Kent