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
Gym scheme goes ahead despite fears
THE parish council has reiterated its deci- sion to install an adult gym in Grove Green, despite hearing fears from the members of the public about a possible increase in anti- social behaviour. In November last year, Boxley councillors
voted in favour of an outdoor gym on green space behind Camomile Drive. But four councillors presented a resolution to recon- sider the issue so the full council was obliged to debate and rule on it again. About 15 residents attended to object to
the scheme, mainly over concerns that the equipment would cause them more aggra- vation. One man, who said he had lived in
Number of NHW volunteers grows
THERE are now 31 Neighbour- hood Watch co-ordinators in Boxley – and this number is likely to grow further. PCSO Andrew Hawthorn,
who is being part-funded by the parish council to remain the area’s dedicated officer for the next 12 months, said the rising interest was a result of leaflet drops he had undertaken in areas where crime was on the rise. People in those places were signing up to be co-ordi- nators, he said. For details on becoming a co- ordinator, log on to
http://www.kent.police.uk/ad- vice/community_safety/initia- tives/
nwatch.html
Anniversary orchard
scheme praised A PROJECT to develop an or- chard behind Penshurst Place was described as a “fantastic vi- sion” by Cllr Ann Spain. The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee an- niversary project was coming along well, the meeting heard. The council will be placing information on its website and in the Downs Mail as theWork- ing Group developed the ideas. The council was in discus-
sion with MBC about leasing the land.
Camomile Drive since it had been built, said: “Anti-social behaviour has been going on here for 18 years. Installing this will cre- ate even more misery.” When pressed by members on what con- stituted anti-social behaviour, residents cited observations of youths slinging bottles on the road, setting fire to bins and driving recklessly. Sue Rogers claimed to have been told by police crime reduction officer John Grant that the location was not ideal and that he wanted the parish council to consider other sites.
However, chairman Cllr Martin Pepper
ACTION has been taken to re- lieve regular flooding problems at a cottage in Forstal Road, Sandling. The Downs Mail reported last
April the difficulties endured by Raymond and Mary Relf fol- lowing a recent deluge. Cllr Wendy Hinder, with the
help of borough Cllr Malcolm Greer, managed to get work done to clear the culverts. She said: “It was raining heavily when I went there and it was almost unbelievable to see the difference this work has done to the area. The water is now running freely through the culverts and there is no evi- dence of any flooding. “The residents who first brought this problem to my at-
MEMBERS heard that the farmer clearing snowinWalder- slade had been supplied with the priority list for road clearing in Lordswood andWalderslade. A reminder would be put on
the salt bins that the grit was for public roads only, as some resi- dents were taking it for their own paths. Chairman Martin Pepper thanked the residents who had cleared the areas outside their homes and appealed to drivers to park away from the junc-
MEMBERS voiced their dismay at the apparent steep increase in the cost of installing a crossing in ProvenderWay, Grove Green. The council was led to believe that the project
would cost between £30,000 and £35,000 and was confident of reaching the target with £15,000 from its reserves, £16,000 from KCC member Paul Carter and St John’s School providing £5,000. However, an email from Kent Highway Services suggested that the project could cost as much as £70,000. Council chairman Cllr Martin Pepper said he was “staggered” by the new figure.
20 East
The newly cleared culvert (left) close to the foopath next to the Relfs’ home
tention are so pleased and, as they told me, they can now sleep at nights when it rains in- stead of constantly worrying about their house getting flooded, plus the area now looks much better.”
Priorities for snow clearance
tions. Inconsiderate parking meant lives were being put in danger as drivers’ vision was being restricted. It was accepted that many people were concerned about the legal implications of clear- ing roads and paths and resi- dents were recommended to visit the KCC website as its highways section had details of recent government guidance. Potholes needed to be re- ported via the KCC website or on 08458 247800.
Chairman ‘staggered’ by £70K cost of crossing Cllr Kevin Perry said: “It is very dangerous
there. How can they be so far out in their figures? I am concerned that someone has been sitting in an office coming up with the figure by writing on a few bits of paper.” Councillors generally agreed about the impor-
tance of the scheme, but decided to request de- tailed costings from KHS. Cllr Wendy Hinder, who is also a governor at
the school, said: “I would hate to see a child killed there for the sake of a few thousand pounds.”
said there had been no objection from Kent Police. The councillors who wanted to revisit the
decision raised similar concerns, while Cllr Kevin Perry felt the £7,182 outlay for the equipment could be better spent elsewhere: “We are having to cut back on a lot of proj- ects, such as atWaldersladeWoods and Vin- ters Valley. “These places are great for recreation and
the environment and it’s our responsibility to protect them, not to stick lumps of metal in a field. “If money was no object, then fine, but we
Flooding problem is resolved
are in a recession and we shouldn’t spend money on this.”
Cllr Alan Springate was against the scheme: “Anti-so- cial behaviour creates fear in individuals. They see it, they hear it, they experience it. The next time they see it happen they worry about it and live their lives on tenterhooks.” However, Cllr Geoff Smith
took a defiant tone, suggesting that residents report all in- stances of crime to police and the parish council: “We can’t let fear dictate our lives. We have to fight it by standing up for what we believe is right.” The decision to proceed with
the project was passed by seven votes to five, with two absten- tions. The council’s recommen- dation will be sent to the cabinet member for leisure and culture, Cllr Richard Ash, who will have the final say on the scheme as Maidstone Council owns the land.
Small increase in council precept
THE Boxley parish precept will rise by just £1 per year per Band D property. The council resolved to in- crease the overall precept by 5%, from £78,015 to £81,916, which will see the Band D resi- dents billed £21.05. There was a suggestion that raising the precept by 10% - constituting a £2 increase per year – might help the council undertake projects, but mem- bers mainly felt that the coun- cil had to send out a message of austerity in tune with many parishioners. Council chairman Cllr Martin Pepper said: “We are still mak- ing progress in the parish be- cause of the money we have already got in the system. “It is important we use public money for the benefit of the public, rather than let it just sit in the bank.”
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