Bank holiday party gets neighbours up in arms
A VILLAGE street party has been given mixed reviews following a row between organisers and homeowners.
While some Sundridge homeowners have raved about the community event over the bank holiday weekend, others say it has divided the village.
Mark Webb contacted police during the party, held outside his home in Church Road on Sunday, and has since accused organisers and Sundridge Parish Council of leading a "sustained attack of intimidation, harassment and bullying" against householders.
He claims his wife and two young children were reduced to tears, when partygoers banged on his front door and windows, made rude gestures and smoked drugs outside their house.
"When I walked down the road I could smell a strong smell of cannabis and people were drinking all over the street," said Mr Webb.
"Of course there were lots of people at the party who were enjoying themselves and not causing any trouble.
"But for others it has been a nightmare. We feel the parish council forced through the idea without even asking people if it was what they wanted.
"Rather than bringing the community together, they have divided it."
Mr Webb explained his wife had called up organiser John Banbrook during the party to complain about the music being too loud.
Mrs Webb then took the children to the recreation ground to get away from the noise.
But Mr Webb said: "When she opened the door someone actually fell into the house because they were pressed up against the door. My five-year-old was crying because he was so scared.
"We contacted Mr Banbrook looking for an apology but he has repeatedly refused."
Organisers defended the event, branding it a success, and accused the Webbs of being abusive towards parish councillors.
Mr Banbrook reported the couple to police but refused to comment on the Webbs' allegations.
He said: "I will not talk about personal circumstances, but I was very pleased with the day and despite the rain most people seemed to have a very happy time.
"We wanted more social cohesion in the village and generally it seems to have achieved that."
Parish councillor John Jolley received a letter from Mr and Mrs Webb he described as "threatening".
He also said the couple acted aggressively when they banged on his door at around midnight after the party, demanding to know where Mr Banbrook lived.
14 Comments
View all
by Mike, Sundridge
Friday, September 17 2010, 11:41AM
“John Jolley - I was there as the noise was so bad that I felt obliged to join in and watch people make fools of themselves.”
by John Jolley, Sundridge
Wednesday, September 15 2010, 10:00PM
“MIKE - You know the truth but you were not at the street party??”
by Mike, Sundridge
Monday, September 13 2010, 7:32AM
“It was interesting to see that John Banbrook didn't deny the allegations when asked. It tells you what you need to know.
Knowing how the village works and how the organisers had meetings following this event to cover their tracks I for one know them to be true to some extent.
What is evident is that the reporter has sensationalised the incident to sell papers as they generally all do. Unless Mr Webb wrote to the paper she can write what she likes and later claim that it is what she was told.
I have spoken to several people who witnessed some stupid behaviour by a few people which could be called harrassment or bullying. Unfortunately it appears that the cowards and bullies will continue to hide in their herd to defend each other. This is more than evident when they all state they were there at the end-is this when it all happened? It makes one wonder.
OH yes I forgot to mention that I am a killjoy for knowing the truth.”
by Mike, Sundridge
Friday, September 10 2010, 11:25AM
“Mark you are right in saying our community is divided. On one side you have the decent, honest members of society and on the other you have the bullies and cowards who enjoy inflicting misery on others, knowing that the rest of their herd will back them up without asking questions. Welcome to Sundridge.”
by Mike, Sundridge
Friday, September 10 2010, 11:22AM
“I am sorry to say that Sundridge is divided between those honest and decent people who get frustrated by the antics of others but are unwilling to intervene for fear of reprisals, and the bullies/cowards who inflict varying degrees of bullying and intimidation on others knowing that the rest of their herd will support them no questions asked. Sorry Mark but this is the world we live in now.”
by Kevin, Sevenoaks
Tuesday, September 07 2010, 11:25AM
“>>Maybe if you showed more humanity and social cohesion towards your neighbours, you would gain their respect enough for them not to blare their TV's and music.<<
So you're saying that courtesy and common decency have to be earned by getting to know your neighbours first, and shouldn't be routine behaviour? I'm glad I don't live next door to you, otherwise I'd have to pop in for a cup of tea before you'd consider turning your Phil Collins cds down.”
by Ranter, Sevenoaks
Monday, September 06 2010, 4:36PM
“Responder, I'm baffled by your second sentence. It is completely idiotic. Straight out of 'Little Britain'. Come on, take a deep breath, pause for thought and try again.”
by Responder, SUNDRIDGE
Monday, September 06 2010, 2:41PM
“I write in response to the comments by the 'Ranter' from Sevenoaks. Maybe if you showed more humanity and social cohesion towards your neighbours, you would gain their respect enough for them not to blare their TV's and music. You were clearly not in attendance at the Sundridge Street Party and therefore not invited, unlike the goodwilled people you mentioned from Sanderstead who not only had an invitation from their family (who are Sundridge residents) but who were also substantial benefactors to the charity raffle. There is not enough community spirit these days and this writer along with some others on here are an unfortunate example of this.”
by Theresa, Main Road
Sunday, September 05 2010, 6:46PM
“I would like to say that I am ashamed that I walked away and ignored a scene I witnessed at the end of this otherwise fun event. Whilst there is always likely to be an element of drunken exuberance with alcohol involved, a group of grown men and women goading and tormenting a visibly distraught resident and waving their bottoms at a window of someone¿s home is just plain wrong. There always seem to be a few bad apples on these sorts of occasions, but for once it wasn't our troubled youth, but middle-aged people who should know better.”
by Ranter, Sevenoaks
Sunday, September 05 2010, 4:44PM
“What was the point of this party? Ah, I see, 'social cohesion'! What meaningless socio-babble. Social cohesion is easily obtained when all residents respect each other's right to enjoy their space without inflicting their 'enjoyment' on others. These days people have their surround sound TV's blaring out into the garden, have theri radios/stereos on loudly, enjoy their gardens so much that their neighbours can't enjoy theirs and so it goes on. If it was a village/street party why were a load of people from outside involved like from Sanderstead? I can believe the Webb's version of events as boorish behaviour is the norm these days even in genteel areas surrounding Sevenoaks. There are little pockets of Little Britain everywhere (and I mean Little Britain and not Little Englanders - there is a difference). How nice it would be to enjoy a peaceful bank holiday without having to be forced to enjoy things - the whole thing souinds a nightmare and the various rebuttals sound a little too defensive.”