store the one tonne bag of salt supplied by Kent Highways and had spread it as and when re- quired. A number of favourable comments had been received regarding the improved gritting and clearing of parish roads, in- cluding Kingswood village, dur- ing the snow. A letter of thanks would be sent to Mr Schroeder. A number of large potholes which had reappeared follow- ing the snow, particularly in Gravelly Bottom Road and Ul- combe Road, would be reported to KHS. Aplanning application for the


DownsMail In touch with your parish The clerk was to request a


plan of the proposed fencing in Mallards Way. It was resolved that, in view of recent cutbacks, the parish council would be able to offer a contribution of only £500. KCC was checking the owner-


ship of the relevant land and would advise on the handrail for Willow Rise/Old Church Road in due course. Quotes were to be obtained


change of use from farm shop to mixed use farm shop and café and revised access at Orchard Farm Nursery, Chartway Street, Sutton Valence, was recom- mended for approval with con- ditions. An alleged planning breach involving stables at the rear of the premises and signage on Chartway Street would be re- ported. With regard to amended plans


for a detached dwelling and garage on land adjacent to Micklewood, Gravelly Bottom Road, members recommended refusal and requested consider- ation by the planning commit- tee.


The clerk was asked to estab-


lish how soon the parish coun- cil would be asked to verify the applicants’ local connection in respect of the affordable hous- ing development. It was reported that the tree- felling at Nine Oaks allegedly in breach of planning control was being considered by Maid- stone Council enforcement offi- cers. Concern was expressed regarding perceived dangerous signage at the entrance to the development, particularly when accessing Chartway Street from the site. Cllr Parvin would make enquiries. Councillors agreed a precept of £33,000 – an increase of 3%.


Downswood Council Precept freeze


MEMBERS agreed to accept the draft budget proposals and freeze the precept for 2011/12 at £22,000, which is £25.28 per Band D property. No objection was raised to the proposed erection of a single storey side extension and con- version of existing garage to habitable accommodation at two properties in Kings Acre. However, it was stressed that the parish council was gener- ally opposed to planning appli- cations that convert garages into living accommodation, due to the loss of parking. December’s Christmas carols


and lights ceremony was deemed a very successful event, despite the inclement weather. Fireworks were to be consid- ered for the 2011 ceremony.


for the refurbishment of play equipment at the Foxden Drive play area. An overgrown bush in the walkway between Monkdown and Murrain Drive was causing visibility problems along part of the pathway. A sapling by the play area in MallardsWay had been broken in two. Railings in the middle of the


road, to assist crossingWilling- ton Street to Mote Park, had still not been repaired. A replacement seat was re- quired by the Foxden Drive/ Longham Copse bus stop.


Converter theft


Hollingbourne Council


PCSO Lindsay Woods reported the theft of a catalytic converter from a vehicle and the theft of a gas cylinder from a commercial premises. Police had under- taken speed checks, particularly near Godfrey House. The checks confirmed there was a speeding issue within the vil- lage.


The Ramada Hotel had of-


fered a function room at a re- duced rate for the council to hold a fundraising event for the Meadows Trust. A date would be discussed with the hotel. Following crop damage caused by quad bikes, Green- way Court Farm had installed gates to deter casual users, but the gates were not locked. The request for a salt bin at Hollingbourne Hill had been re- jected as it was already part of a primary salting route. A similar request for Big Allington Farm had been rejected but county Cllr Jenny Whittle was request- ing a one tonne bag of salt. The pre-school management committee had reported van- dalism to equipment left out in the play area and to a squirrel- feeder. The clerk had been un- able to identify these incidents on CCTV because of a lack of accurate times. The council was concerned that a squirrel-feeder had been placed so near the building, given the damage that squirrels can do, especially in a roof space. No objections were raised to


the following planning applica- tions: Lime Trees, PilgrimsWay, erection of a replacement


dwelling; land adjacent to Clay- gate House, 3 Claygate, erection of detached dwelling with ac- cess and double garage; Pil- grims View, Pilgrims Way, erection of detached garage and conversion of integral garage to workshop; The Granary, Smiths Farm, alterations to windows and doors and conversion of garage.


Lenham Council War event


THE council agreed to keep an eye on the events planned in Folkestone in 2014 to mark the centenary of the beginning of WorldWar One. It was felt this was relevant to Lenham as many of the 10million soldiers who travelled to Folkestone on route to fight in mainland Eu- rope would have passed through Lenham. It was sug- gested that, at the very least, the cross off Pilgrims Way, which commemorates those who lost their lives in combat, should be upgraded. The council was seeking


more information on the appli- cation to build a seven-bed- room home in Liverton Hill, as the proposal was only just out- side the parish boundary. It was reported that a mini- motorbike, without registration plates, had been used in Pil- grimsWay. The council asked that Maid-


stone Council’s dog warden should investigate “serious” dog fouling in Ham Lane and Robins Close. It was felt that pruning was required for about 30 trees at the Cherry Downs Picnic Site. A representative of Age Con-


cern Maidstone raised the idea of organising a community- based hub in Lenham. The emergency plan, fundraising activities and the need to iden- tify vulnerable people to access community support provision were discussed. Cllr Nick Os- borne suggested using a room in the community centre for a central communications base and also contacting the Focus magazine to advertise the facil- ities available. Community warden Martin Sherwood informed council- lors that there had been inci- dents of windows being broken in Robins Avenue and the area was being patrolled. Mr Sherwood suggested pur- chasing a SmartWater kit for use within the parish. The idea of reigniting interest in the Neighbourhood Watch scheme was discussed. John Bone was co-opted onto


the parish council. It was revealed that mainte-


nance of land outside 73 High Street was the responsibility of Hill Reed Developments, who were to be contacted by the


clerk regarding grass cutting provision. Cllr Sarah Goodwin and bor-


ough Cllr Tom Sams had dis- cussed the implications of future budget cuts on the provi- sion of recycling sites in the parish and suggested concen- trating on one site. Future maintenance of the site at Old Ashford Road would have to be considered. Improvements to the layout and the possibility of a wider entrance were sug- gested. Cllr Mark Crutcher of- fered the use of land (subject to agreement) at the White Horse, Sandway. It was noted that KCC had granted planning permission to replace fencing at the primary school. Ameeting to discuss the com- parison of motorway noise lev- els through the parish was due to be held. Cllr Nick Osborne and Cllr Richard Greenwood were to or- ganise a site meeting to decide on the position of planting of trees in and around GroomWay and the community centre. Councillors agreed that a bin should be ordered for the Ham Lane play area as soon as pos- sible.


Extension dissent THE council objected to a pro- posed two-storey rear extension at Candle Cottage, The Street. It was felt that the development would cause an unacceptable loss of daylight to the kitchen and patio of neighbouring prop- erty Street Court and was a rad- ical change from the original design concept of the carefully positioned group of buildings approved by Maidstone Coun- cil in 1998. Site meetings had been held


Ulcombe Council


with Parsons Ltd and Brooks Security Ltd to discuss lighting options for the play area and car park. Both had sent quota- tions, which would be dis- cussed and referred back to the parish council for a decision. Funding to improve the bur-


ial path would be investigated in due course. It was reported that a sign at


Innshoes, Pye Corner, was lean- ing into a hedge. A sign at Crumps Lane/Head-


corn Road had reportedly twisted. Further information was awaited regarding the blocked culvert in Lenham Road, caus- ing water to run into Fair- bourneWoods. A nameplate at Crumps Lane needed straightening. A damaged nameplate was reported in Lenham Road. A pothole south of Constance


Villa, Pye Corner, had been re- ported.


You can e-mail the Downs Mail — info@downsmail.co.uk East 47


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