Boxley Parish Mail CHAIRMAN: Martin Pepper CLERK: Pauline Bowdery Parish Office, Beechen Hall, Wildfell Close, Walderslade, ME5 9RU


Tel and Fax: 01634 861237 email: bowdery@boxleyparishcouncil.co.uk Website: www.boxleyparishcouncil.co.uk Contact details for parish councillors can be obtained from the parish office, the Useful Contact Details leaflet or the website


Residents get month to put their case


RESIDENTS of Grove Green, protesting about plans for an adult outdoor gym near their homes, have been given a month to try to persuade councillors to drop the scheme. The parish council had already agreed to


the idea in principle and were due to dis- cuss specific items of equipment. But 21 residents with a 70-signature peti-


tion attended the monthly meeting to ask members to think again. The council had invited the protesters to


visit similar projects in Aylesford, Walder- slade andWeavering Heath where they had been successfully introduced. But the resi-


Steps taken over mini crime wave


PCSO Andy Hawthorn was un- able to attend the last parish council meeting – rescheduled because of the weather - but sent a report which included details of a “mini crime wave” inWalderslade. Police were aware of the


likely culprit and steps were being taken to stop him. High visibility patrols were


being carried out following tractor and cable thefts. Crime prevention advice had


been given to victims of bicycle theft.


Members expressed their support for the PCSO and voted to continue the council's arrangement with Kent Police for funding half his salary for the next financial year.


Scourge of the


quad biker THE council has been notified that in the recent bad weather a quad bike had been ridden on the Round Wood roundabout and it has probably destroyed recently-installed flower beds. Damage has also been caused in the woods and other areas. Cllr Wendy Hinder had used


her devolved budget for the work and she said: “What wan- ton destruction. I cannot be- lieve the mentality of some people.”


dents said none of these was comparable to the Grove Green situation. Among their comments were: There were already anti-social incidents which had not always been reported. “We are being discriminated against because we are dealing with the problem ourselves,” said one protester. The borough's crime reduction officer


had agreed that the new facilities would at- tract youths even though the equipment was intended for adults; It would attract more traffic, litter and vandalism to the area; and


THE chairman had attended the official opening of the reno- vated farmhouse belonging to the KentWildlife Trust at Tyland Barn. It was a major project for the trust to restore the building to its original state and preserve its his- torical integrity. The building


had been derelict since 1987 and its last occupants had been invited to the opening to see their old home in its new state.


THE parish council has been successful in getting roads in Walderslade and Lordswood added to the snow clearance roster of the local farmer. Kent Highway Services now


has contracts with local farmers and it agreed to amend the list to include the areas identified by the council. During periods of heavy snowfall residents will see the farmer’s tractor taking off the snow, allowing residents safer and easier access to main roads which are gritted. Chair- man Martin Pepper said: “This will be an improvement and while it may not be possible to have the tractor visit all closes at once, if we can get major linking roads cleared it gives


BOROUGH and parish councillorWendy Hinder had visited Weavering Heath at the request of a resident concerned about the number of saplings growing behind properties in HarrowWay. She met an officer from the parks department


who agreed the saplings needed to be removed and other tidying-up was required. However, Cllr Hinder was “appalled” to find


that some residents had been fly-tipping their gar- den refuse over the back fences and she was con- sidering using some of her devolved budget to


20 East The trim trail at Weavering Heath was


close enough for any adults wanting to use such equipment. Chairman Martin Pepper said the council


was trying to cater for a much wider area of Grove Green than just the streets closest to the site. He said there had been initial opposition


to facilities being installed at the other sites mentioned, but all had proved successful with no or very few problems. “Exercise and fun are not just for the young – they are for all ages.” Cllr Pepper told the Downs Mail that the


Trust restores farmhouse glory


Bob and June Corner had lived there for 46 years. The event marked the com- pletion of nearly 20 years of effort to refurbish the complex of farm buildings. Dating from the late 16th century, they comprise the barn, a splendid set of stock build- ings and two


joined cottages - the Farm- house. The two cottages have been converted into a suite of modern offices.


Snow clearance schedule boost


residents a fighting chance to get out.” It is hoped that by clearing Forestdale and other linking roads it will stop 30-40 vehicles being parked on Walderslade Woods Road, which is causing problems for people trying to safely get out of the junctions. Clerk Pauline Bowdery said:


“The list needs a little more work and in shifting the snow the driver cannot go completely down to the surface so residents need to also help out.” It is hoped that residents will


not take out their frustrations on the tractor driver as, unfor- tunately, some snow will be de- posited at the end of some residents’ drives.


Plea to residents about fly-tipping over rear fences


have this removed. But she felt residents also needed a “discreet” reminder that such dumping was not acceptable and the parish council agreed. Drains in Forstal Road and the surrounding area


are to be cleared and an enforcement notice had been served on a resident to tidy up the area around his house. Cllr Hinder said work would also take place around Stream Cottages, which should help alle- viate the flooding problems.


original idea of installing a youth shelter had been deferred in favour of the gym equipment which was the point contained in the advice from MBC about attracting anti-social behaviour and perhaps the residents had misunderstood the context of the advice. Cllr Tony Harwood said he


had spent much of his adult life protecting the area and would support nothing that might harm it. But he did not believe the equipment would attract the trouble suggested. Several other members spoke in sup- port of the project. Cllr Pepper decided to leave


the issue for another month to allow any four councillors to present a resolution to recon- sider the issue. Subsequently, four councillors submitted such a resolution.


‘Horse-trading’ over MBC grants


MEMBERS received an update on the discussions between the borough council and its parish councils over the proposed cuts in the concurrent functions grants. Cllr Bill Stead said that after


“a lot of horse-trading”, the bor- ough had agreed to reduce its cut in the next year from 50% to 30%. This was due to be dis- cussed at the full council meet- ing the following evening, and a report of that meeting can be found elsewhere in this edition of the Downs Mail.


Grant warning VICE-chairman Pat Brooks re- ported on the annual meeting of the Vinters Valley Park Trust, which seemed to be in a stable financial position. However, the trust was aware


that, following the reduction in the borough council's grants, Boxley might not be able to support it to the same extent as previously.


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