DownsMail In touch with your parish


Bredhurst Council Bus stop stays


IT WASreported that the bus stop could not be moved to the village green as there was a driveway at this point. Neighbourhood Watch co-or- dinator John Tice would carry out a trial opinion survey on the Doorstoppers scheme with resi- dents in Forge Lane and the re- sults would be discussed at the next meeting. County Cllr Paul Carter had indicated that he would support the funding of the road closure and building of a chicane in Dunn Street. With this and the parish council funding, the work could now go ahead. Kent Highways was to be asked for a start date. It was decided to write to Maidstone Council outlining the arguments against the loss of the concurrentfunctions grant.


Members agreed that pansies would be planted in the troughs again this year.


Broomfield and Kingswood Council


Cabin offer


A RESIDENT had offered to buy the portable cabin at the sports field if councillors were to con- sider removing it. The original price in 2004 was £4,000. It was agreed to review the sale at a later date when the final deci- sion from Maidstone Council was received about proposed cost-cutting measures. A letter of objection had been received from a resident regard- ing a planning application for the erection of a detached house with garage at land adjacent to Micklewood in Gravelly Bottom Road. It was agreed that the proposal should be opposed on several grounds including that it it would be an unjustified ad- dition to the sporadic develop- ment in the countryside and harmful to its character. Jon Lawrence, planning en-


forcement officer at Maidstone Council, had implemented a breach of condition notice at the Nine Oaks Court develop- ment, Lenham Road, after it was reported that trees had been il- legally felled at the site. All ground works and excavations within the root protection area had ceased and the ground lev- els restored. Several residents had thanked


the parish council for its speedy response to their concerns. Mr Lawrence would be contacted again regarding the change of levels causing running water and drainage issues for neigh- bouring properties. Councillors requested infor- mation on any traffic manage- mentplan for The Brambles


54 East


development in Ulcombe Road, Langley, as it was likely to cre- ate traffic flow problems. The clerk was to contact the Langley Council clerk for details. The clerk was asked to write


to Maidstone Council raising concerns about the funding re- ductions and consequent re- moval of the concurrent functions grant. Councillors approved draw-


ings of the proposed new signs for the sports field but raised the question of whether the height bar should include met- ric as well as imperial measure- ments. It was agreed to continue with


the application to KHSfor a footpath at Lenham Road.


Detling Council Solar ideas


A PRESENTATION was given by Solawise, a Kent-based com- pany that installs solar heating, with a view to using the village hall to generate its own electric- ity and sell any surplus back to the National Grid. A planning application had


been submitted for Woodside. There were no objections to demolition of an existing bun- galow and outbuildings and its replacement with a five-bed- room house with a detached garage and swimming pool. A response on the new parish website queried the proposed banning of the left turning com- ing down the A249 and into the village during the rush-hour. The council noted that this would not affect any other turn- ing movements at the junction and the chairman asked county Cllr Jenny Whittle how, if Kent Highways progressed this in order to save the rat-running through the village during the morning peak times, it could be enforced. Many positive comments had


been received about the new website. It would not have an interactive blog but all queries received through the website would be discussed at the next parish meeting and answered through the minutes. The council had requested


confirmation from the borough council as to when East Court would be included in the vil- lage conservation area. The removal of overhead


wires along The Street was being investigated. Ahighways meetingwas to be


held in the village hall on No- vember 17 to discuss the A249 and the effect of the show- ground traffic. PCSO LindsayWoods said lit-


tle had happened during the previous month. The police would be undertaking speed checks along Hockers Lane and parking problems at the junc- tion next to Pennies Nursery


were being investigated. It was explained that the vil-


lage gateways had still not been installed, despite the parish having paid for them, as Kent Highways was waiting for other parishes to complete their or- ders. Arrangements for the Remem- brance service at Detling Church were discussed. A rubbish bin had been re- quested at the Scragged Oak viewpoint. It was agreed that a recent quote to repair 100 me- tres of missing hedge along Church Lane was too expensive. It was noted that lorries were increasingly speeding down Hockers Lane and action was needed. Residents were asked to record incidents. A new editor was still needed for the parish magazine.


Downswood Council Spot of delight


CONGRATULATIONSwere re- ceived from members of the public regarding the landscap- ing of the Orchard Spotround- about.


Parking at Mallards Way con- tinued to be a problem when football matches were taking place. The clerk explained that the suggestion of double yellow lines had already been ex- plored. Further vandalism had dam-


aged the Foxden Drive notice board. The bottom rail had been broken but further repairs would not be necessary at pres- ent.Acouncillor expressed con- cern that an incident he witnessed and reported to po- lice had not appeared in the crime report. The clerk was to check with the PCSO. Urgent matters included: the


litter bin by Foxden Drive bus stop was hanging off and the bench needed replacing, litter was in evidence again at the BMX cycle area in Old Spot Lane and discarded vegetation in Old Church Road needed clearing.


Maidstone Council’s propos-


als to provide a third residential waste bin were discussed. While it was agreed that landfill was a real problem, this was not the only parish with properties having insufficient room to house three bins. Several prop- erties had no rear access and a very small or no frontage. For these reasons, MBC had previ- ously agreed certain households could continue to use black sacks. Comments that meat waste was unlikely to be per- mitted in the bins would be checked. It was resolved to accept the


quote for £1,830 plus VAT for the Christmas illuminations. The clerk was to apply for a li- cence to permit the placing of attachments to county-owned


To contact Downs Mail just phone 01622 630330


street lights as instructed by KHS.


Leeds Council Lorry pledge


THE CHAIRMAN had been in touch with Norbert Dentressan- gle, who are keen for their driv- ers to abide by lorry weight restrictions. Residents were asked to continue to take regis- tration numbers and send them to the clerk so that firms could be contacted. Robust discussions took place


about ways to solve the issues of speed, weight and volume of traffic through the village. A highways paper written by Cllr John Govett was agreed by councillors and handed to County Cllr Gary Cooke, who would report back on the possi- ble solutions Kent Highways would consider. Several traffic calming meas-


ures were available to local councils but now that costs were being cut and projects can- celled, councillors agreed to find out what realistic options there were to solve these prob- lems. Suggestions included speed restrictions, speed cam- eras and gates at the entrance to the village. Cllr Gary Cooke ad- vised that the impact on neigh- bouring villages should also be considered. The old bridge atCaring Lane


had been damaged, probably by an HGV, and this had been re- ported to Kent Highways. There were now 21 regular players for the Saturday morn- ing football sessions. The club was looking to apply for grants to help with running costs and equipment. Residents were asked to contact Glenn Aitken if they can help. Five crimes were reported in


the previous month: theft of a catalytic converter from a vehi- cle in the church car park, theft around Southern water works, theft of both number plates from a vehicle, and theft of hub caps and glass from wing mirrors. Amember of the public raised concerns about parking during football matches on Sundays as there was overspill onto sur- rounding roads. The football team coaches would be in- formed. An appeal was made to busi-


ness for sponsorship for the planters. Dog mess had been found


around the village, including on the new paving stones at the pavilion.


Lenham Council Orchard deal


THE council agreed in principle to take on the freehold of the nine-acre Cherry Orchard Pic- nic Site, off Rayner’s Hill. KCC offered to pay three years’ main-


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