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Broomfield and Kingswood Council Thanks to Beth


PARISH chairman Cllr Beth Hendy tendered her resignation and councillors expressed their appreciation of the work she had undertaken over the past eight years. PC Brian Waghorn was now


the permanent parishneigh- bourhood officer, replacing PC Steve Older. It was reported that Kent Highway Services had reversed its previous proposal, made in July last year, to remove the lau- rel hedge in Gravelly Bottom Road. The hedge and road situ- ation would be monitored by KHS and reviewed in Septem- ber 2011 when, if necessary, it would be cut back to being in line with the front of the adja- cent footway. An email had been sent to


KHS requesting the four parish salt bins be refilled. KCC Cllr Jenny Whittle had urged the council to try to identify a loca- tion for jumbo salt bag storage as it had worked well in other local parishes. Flooding was reported in Chegworth Road, creating prob- lems for motorists. Resident Steven Adamson emailed a request for full-size goalposts at the sports field. Members agreed that there would be no change to the ear- lier decision by the Sports Field Committee and that seven-a- side posts would be installed if and when funding became available. The clerk had applied for


£500 funding from KCC Cllr Jenny Whittle towards the cost of replacing the damaged/stolen signs at the sports field. The clerk had received no


reply from the Langley Surgery since Cllr Bowker’s report of al- leged poor service to an elderly and vulnerable patient and the surgery’s failure to provide a home visit six weeks previ- ously. A village resident had written


for the support of the parish council regarding a parking fine issued in Maidstone. It was agreed that the council could have no input in this respect but the clerk should respond advis- ing the resident to contact bor- ough Cllr Peter Parvin for advice.


Chart Sutton Council Pavilion protest


MR R Adams handed in a peti- tion signed by 108 residents who are against the proposed replacement pavilion. A meet- ing would be arranged between the pavilion committee and parishioners. PCSO Richard Chainey re-


24 South


ported three crimes during the last month – criminal damage in Mercer Way and at Ashurst Farm, and theft of a motor vehi- cle. The community warden re-


ported that padlocks had been stolen from a container in Green Lane. A blue lighting unit/gen- erator had been stolen from Sut- ton Valence Preparatory School playing field, and an incident of fly tipping was likely to go to court. With regard to Little Acre,an


email from Alan Howell (plan- ning enforcement) had advised: “This is considered to be a ‘car- avan’. Basically if it’s 60ft x 20ft and capable of being moved from place to place, which this is, whether or not it is in two parts, it is a ‘caravan’. I did see the building on site and it does comply etc”. Members re- quested confirmation of whether the concrete base on which the caravan was sited re- quired planning permission. It was reported that following


a call from a resident, planning enforcement officers were con- tacted with regard to a ‘big building’ being erected on the traveller site at Chart Paddock (next to the Lord Raglan Pub). Mr Howell was aware of the structure but believed it to be a wooden cabin (classed as a car- avan, the same as on the Little Acre site) which was permitted. He would bemaking a site visit. The chairman reported that he


and other members had at- tended the funeral of former parishclerk Vikki Stancombe, which was a very sad occasion. It was reported that the light-


ing problem in the village hall and committee room had now been rectified. It appeared that an animal had chewed through the wiring. Quotes were being sought to change the system to two circuits. Members agreed to set the precept at £16,000 for 2011/12; however, as a final decision had yet to be made on the concur- rent functions grant, the budget would be finalised at the next parish council meeting in Janu- ary.


Coxheath Council Fit youth


THE council was to underwrite the costs of a 12-week ‘box fit’ programme to be organised by the Kent Youth Service. It fol- lows the successful music workshops and was hoped to be the fore-runner to creating a vil- lage youth club. Further coppicing work was


to be undertaken between the Beacon Field and neighbouring training area, where a number of dead and dying trees had been identified. The parish council had contracted Tanton Tree Surgeons to undertake the


work. The council approved its


draft budget for 2011/12, de- spite the threat of the cut in con- current functions grant funding by Maidstone Council. Most of the council’s concerns regarding the approved applica- tion for the redevelopment of the Londis shop/Bird in Hand pub had been addressed. Alternative funding sources


were being pursued to pay for the introduction of dropped kerbs at the junction of Ams- bury Road and Westerhill Road to facilitate pedestrian access to The Beacons. Members had held meetings


with local residents and devel- opers to ensure that future maintenance management of the Avante site meets accept- able standards. A jumbo salt/grit bag had


been located in the car park to the rear of the Bird in Hand pub to provide facilities for shop- keepers to grit areas in the cen- tre of the village during periods of snow and ice.


E. Farleigh Council Horse objection


THE council objected to a retro- spective application for change of use from agricultural to equestrian and proposed forma- tion of a ménage on land adja- cent to Wilson’s Lane. Several members of the public had raised issues and, although the council could see no problem with the grazing of horses, it had to make its decision based on the plans in front of it. In view of the proposed re- duction of the concurrent func- tion grant by 30% and the fact that the parish council had used some of its reserves over the past 12 months, it was agreed that a budget of £31,375 was the minimum needed to look after the parish. The council interviewed and


then agreed to co-opt a new councillor, Malcolm Ramsey, of Kilnbridge Close. PCSO Jo Watts reported that


Tom Mepstead would be taking over from PC Gary Shaw as East Farleigh’s police representative from January.


East Sutton Council Passing places


KCC member Cllr Jenny Whittle reported that she had met a local resident and Kent High- way Services officer Richard Emmett to discuss the funding of a passing place in Pleasure House Lane. Parish council chairman Cllr Tim Turnill said the views of the resident were not necessarily those of the parish council. Cars had been seen parking in the passing places, with no knowledge of the occupants, thus rendering


the spaces unusable. The pro- vision of passing places could potentially create additional problems in terms of providing parking places for lorries and commercial vehicles. Cllr Whit- tle stated that vehicles needed to be deterred from parking in these places. PCSO Siobhan De Burca re- ported that the largest number of crimes in 2010 took place in April, with six in total. Since then, there had been a maxi- mum of one crime per month, with none in July or October. A letter had been sent to East


Sutton Park Prison requesting action on the prison wall. PCSO De Burca was to bring a sample of the Smart Water property-marking equipment to the next parish council meeting. A pothole at the junction of


Court Broomes and Church Lane, and two potholes at the junction of Church Lane and Charlton Lane would be re- ported.


Headcorn Council Fence repairs


A QUOTE for the repair of the fence at the Traders car park would be passed to the land- lords of the site. The HAT late night shopping evening was postponed due to the bad weather. However, it did take place the following week and the council would write to HAT congratulating them on their efforts and for the erection of the lights in the vil- lage centre. There had been 26 reported crimes in the previous month. With regard to the Sandy Bruce-Lockhart tree, it was re- ported that following the recent distribution of the newsletter, many donations were now being posted in the various col- lecting boxes and Plane & Sim- ple had generously offered to donate a surround seat for the tree.


The following planning ap- plications were considered: Sil- ver Birches, New Road, Headcorn, demolition of dwelling and erection of re- placement with integral garage - would wish to see approved; Little Tilden, Ulcombe Road, Headcorn, extension to existing garage to form swimming pool enclosure - would wish to see approved; 12 Wheeler Street, Headcorn, variation of condi- tions to alter fencing and boundary treatment to extend front and side gardens of plots 1,2, and 3 - would wish to see approved; 13 Millbank, Head- corn, two-bedroomed bungalow (re-submission) - would wish to see approved; 1 & 2 Foremans walk, High Street, Headcorn, change of use of building from A1 (shop) to A3 (cafe) - would


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