First Friday Forum
We have no plans to run further First Friday events for the forseeable future.
On 1st April 2011 we launched the start of our First Friday Meetings in the Star and Eagle and have held sessions every First Friday since then, moving to our new location in Week’s Bakery in late 2011 and subsequently to other locations in the Parish, depending on our priorities.
Each session has turned out to be very different from every other one and we have discussed a range of ideas and issues affecting the community and local businesses. However, all attending found it both useful and rewarding to meet different folk from the Parish and share their ideas and issues with others there. We have also used the sessions to test some of the ideas for the broadband project – which has been very helpful.
We have strong links with the Parish Council to focus on retaining and attracting businesses into the Parish, as well as finding ways for the Parish to save money on energy, broadband and other utility bills and even discussing interesting ideas for starting up new companies.
Aside from understanding more about the subject, we discuss issues for people who:
- want to find out more about social media and business
- work from home;
- run a business in the Parish;
- want to find a local job or want to get back to work; or
- have retired but have skills that you can offer to current businesses in our community
……and even if you don’t fit any of the above, but would still contribute, you are most welcome!
Whilst we have put a hold on the meetings for the moment, whilst the neighbourhood development plan is underway, if you have any comments or ideas, please post them in the box below.
{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
I can’t find any information on the status of this superfast braodband rollout. Has it happened in Kilndown as I don’t see superfast speeds?
Thnaks
Simon
Simon,
We recently heard that the grant for the upgrade to the broadband in the Parish has been given to the local ISP, Callflow Solutions. They are now designing the network and we should be announcing more news in the next few weeks.
Best,
Lorne
Loren, Callflow tell me that I can’t get their super fast fibre service at my location on Church Road Kilndown. I thought that the grant we won was for the Parish. What can be done to include all residents?
Simon, The grant was won from KCC by the Parish. However, Callflow’s winning tender has focused on a FTTC solution for those on the Goudhurst exchange and a wireless solution for others in the Parish. Some in Kilndown already get the service. We are looking at Phase 2 to provide more service to Kilndown – but still have no dates for this. If you would like to come to our next meeting on 5th September 10.30 to 12.00 in Weeks the Bakers you can find out more about the next phase – where we are trying to extend coverage to as many residents of the Parish as possible. Hope that answers your question.
Simon,
The grant was to unbundle the cabinets off the Goudhurst exchange and put a wireless overlay network from St Mary’s Church. These first two phases are now complete. The third phase is to provide service to Kilndown, Curtisden Green and other parts of the Parish. We have just started the survey for this phase – which will need further funding (which we also need to find). I will update the site when we know more about what is possible in what timescales.
Hello
I was delighted to see a community based organisation operating in the village.
I am enquiring about reasonably priced services ie electricians/plummers /car repairs and other skilled technicians. My shower has developed a fault and is unable to be turned off at present so the enquiry is pretty urgent! As a low income single parent family I have perennially found in the twenty years I have been living in Goudhurst that when the need for repairs to my home occurs I have no reliable and affordable contacts to draw upon. Instead of an easily resolvable problem it becomes a dreaded expense. If Goudhurst community set up a database of reasonably priced reliable services for those on reduced incomes such as the elderly and those who are not financially affluent to use I am sure these services would benefit everyone concerned. The unrestrained and exponential increases in private service charging for any services is a national problem for the low paid.