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covering this issue well. Cllr Clayton raised his concerns, stating he believed one of the duties of parish councillors was to ensure vulnerable people in the village were looked after. There was due to be a walk- through survey of HorishWood following the proposed route of a water pipeline from Hockers Lane to the bottom of Harple Lane. The council discussed the ad- vantages of mailing information about future parish elections. Cllr Gavin McLaggan said mail- ing a list of candidates was “a good way to get the democratic process going”. KCC Cllr Jenny Whittle was to


be contacted about the situation regarding the proposed plan to convert the old school block to a short-term break facility for children and young peoplewith learning disabilities. The site had remained unused for quite some time and its state of repair was raised as an issue that could prevent it from being fit for use. The council welcomed the


news that John Faller is the new editor of Detling News.


Downswood Council Lunch donation


THE Co-op had donated £500 towards a Christmas lunch for the elderly at Madginford Hall. Borough Cllr David Marchant


had been approached by a resi- dent requesting a handrail for the steps at Willow Rise/Old Church Road. He would be willing to assist with funding and the clerk was to investigate ownership of the path. A contribution towards the £2,600 cost of replacement fencing on the zig-zag path at Mallards Way had been re- quested from the parish council by the borough. The clerk was to ask for specification for the work. Work was now complete on


the Orchard Spot roundabout and it was “looking lovely”. No recent parking problems were reported. The Foxden Drive play equip-


ment was reported as “looking tired”. It was noted that Bearsted


Youth Club was continuing at present with Downswood youths still attending. Donations of £110 each were approved for St Nicholas’s Church choir and Victim Sup- port.


Councillors stated they could


not see the logic in keeping the Joint Parishes Group going un- less there was something spe- cific to fight for. They would like any outstanding donations returned now the aim of the group had been met. The clerk reported that faulty street lights next to the Foxden


Drive play area had at last been carried out by the borough’s contractors. However, a com- plaint that the light was shining into a bedroom window had re- sulted in a shield being re- quested from the borough. Vandalism to the Foxden


Drive notice board had resulted in repairs having to be carried out to replace broken beading. The loose bin had been reat-


tached but the borough had ad- vised that there were no plans to repair/replace the bench near the Foxden Drive bus shelter.


Harrietsham Council Lane completed


IT was reported that the filter lane to the school had been completed and any further street lighting would be linked to the Crest Nicholson develop- ment. A meeting had taken place


with MEP Keith Taylor on the motorway noise issue. It was hoped that he would be able to force the Highways Agency to resurface the motorway through the European Union. Sound au- dits would be required to assess how bad the noise is. All coun- cillors were in favour of pro- gressing the M20 Noise Action Group. A meeting was to take place


with the Steel Fabrication Com- pany and Southeastern to dis- cuss parking around Station Road and the industrial site. It was agreed that £675 would


be spent on the Christmas lights.


Members agreed that light re- freshments at a cost of up to £100 should be arranged for the Mayor’s visit in January. With regard to future partici- pation in the Joint Parishes Group, it was agreed to offer a positive response but to ask what the likely financial impli- cations would be.


Meadows plan


Hollingbourne Council


COUNCILLOR John Cobbett re- ported on a meeting ofmembers of Hollingbourne Meadows Trust and the parish council. It was agreed that the council should join forces with the trust by raising funds to acquire a further plot of land. The clerk confirmed she was waiting to hear back from the Ramada Hotel as a possible venue for a fundraising event. The chairman asked for nom- inations/suggestions for a fete co-ordinator as Mr Bryan was unable to take on the role again next year due to work commit- ments. KCC Cllr Jenny Whittle was


still awaiting a follow-up by the police with regard to the results


from the speeding survey she had commissioned. MrWard reported that he was


in the process of actioning works to the play equipment and Cardwell Pavilion. Work had been undertaken on the outside lighting to the pavilion, which was now much im- proved. Complaints received about


the rusticgate and stile re- placement at the footpath (KH202) to Greenway Court Road were passed to John Pel- ham, who would speak to the landowner regarding possible improvements. There was due to be more resurfacing along PilgrimsWay to replace damaged surfaces. Steps from Manor Lane to PilgrimsWay were to be built. New waymarking had been completed. Thanks were extended to


KCC rights of way officer John Pelham for his achievements in Hollingbourne.


Leeds Council Highways fund


IT was agreed that an allocation of £5,000 should be placed in the next financial year’s budget for a highways project and for further consideration by mem- bers. The council was due to hold an open morning in the village hall to enable residents to raise budgetary issues. Council chairman Cllr June Harrison reported that the bin at the playing field had been found, although it had been damaged. Cllr Alan James stated that he


and Cllr Cutler were currently looking into a village commu- nication system for the parish. Cllr Harrison spoke about


having regular HGV operations carried out within the parish. KCC Cllr Gary Cooke reported


that KCC was hoping to include a 20mph zone along with the crossing at the school. He also hoped that the signage at Leeds would form part of a KCC re- view on HGV use. Cllr Harrison spoke regarding damage to the Caring Lane bridge. A general discussion took place regarding the meas- ures that could be put in place to prevent further damage. Cllr Fort said she had sought quotations for village planters at a cost of £300 each and she was still looking into this mat- ter. It was agreed that the parish council would wish to remain a member of the Joint Parishes Group.


Football appeal Otham Council


A SPECIAL parish council meeting was to be arranged once the appeal date for the


Bearsted FC application had been determined. The club had appealed against Maidstone Council’s decision in June last year to refuse planning permis- sion for floodlighting and two covered stands at its ground in Honey Lane. A letter was to be sent to the planning inspec- torate confirming the parish council’s strong feelings against the application. Subject to availability, the chair of Protect Kent (Richard Knox-Johnston), Cllrs Page and Marchant would be speaking at the appeal and would request two further speakers. It was agreed in principle to


financially assist the Otham Village Hall, which was report- edly making a loss of around £400 per year – partly due to re- duced pre-school numbers re- sulting in 20% less income. The pre-school had a new owner who was looking at ways to expand the business, but it was likely to be some time be- fore results were produced. Kent Highway Services had advised that the signage re- quested for the Otham Lane/Ashford Road junction was not permitted by the traffic signs regulations. However, KHS was working on the issue of lorry management in Kent with a view to “promoting a more intelligent information led solution such as improved lorry route mapping for drivers and Sat-Nav mapping suppli- ers”.


Peter Bonner was co-opted


onto the parish council. It was reported that a number


of KCCmembers were ensuring that plans for an urban exten- sion of Maidstone, which would mean new housing in the Otham parish, do not progress. A salt bin had been delivered


to Simmons Lane and one to Stoneacre in error. KCC Cllr Gary Cooke apologised for the error and confirmed it would be moved as quickly as possible to the village green. Photographs of conservation


signs were to be taken for dis- cussion at the next meeting. Two of the pine verge posts


on the village green had rotted away and had been replaced with ones made from oak. Cllr Cooke was to investigate whether an initiative to have 20mph speed limits outside certain schoolswould be appli- cable for the village hall for the benefit of the pre-school. The clerk was to consult with Maidstone Council to establish whether it would empty the proposed additional litter bin in the play area. Cllr Cooke was to enquire whether white lines would be possible for Otham Lane, as they may help to demonstrate the true narrowness of the lane.


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