DownsMail In touch with your parish


Bird scarer noise THERE had been complaints about the volume of a bird scarer being operated in the vicinity of Lenham Road. It was agreed to establish ownership and liaise accordingly. The launch of the cold calling


Broomfield and Kingswood Council


zone would take place on Satur- day May 7, by kind permission of the organisers of the village hall coffee mornings. Informa- tion, leaflets and door stickers would be provided to residents. Borough Cllr Peter Parvin had spoken to Steve Goulette at MBC regarding the ongoing roads issues at Gravelly Bottom Road. Cllr Parvin had also been advised that the sign outside the Nine Oaks development that was restricting drivers’ vision, would be removed shortly. The clerk had met residents


and KHS, including drainage engineer Jamie Finch, about on- going flooding and drainage is- sues at Gravelly Bottom Road. Mr Finch undertook to make relevant local enquiries of land owners and to take action to re- solve the issue once and for all. KHS had attended the previous day to clear out the gullies dur- ing which time it was estab- lished that some could not be unblocked. MBC had attended the following week to clear the build-up of surfacemud and de- bris.


The clerk had reported vari-


ous potholes and sunken drains to KHS, some of which had since been rectified. It was re- ported that a resident had sus- tained a split tyre as a result of driving into a large pothole, since filled in, on the hill in Gravelly Bottom Road. The clerk had thanked resi-


dent Rob Schroeder for taking delivery of the one tonne bag of sand (KHS having run out of salt), and the gritting he had done during the Christmas snow. Due to the difficulties and inconvenience he had experi- enced with KHS in regard to a further delivery, he no longer felt able to continue and the clerk had cancelled further de- liveries. Village hall committee mem-


ber and resident Sonya Roberts would be organising an event for the royal wedding on April 29.


Following the closure of the


Kingswood branch surgery, the Orchard surgery in Langley had confirmed that any patient that was frail and housebound and had genuine difficulty in getting to the practice, would be con- tacted by the duty GP and arrangements made for a home visit where appropriate. Complaints had been received


about rubbish and dog mess in the alleyway linking Holly Tree


30 South


Close to Lenham Road. MBC and KHS would be contacted. It was reported that the dog


waste bin in Chestnut Drive was missing.


Coxheath Council Way to slow down


THE council reported that an exhibition to seek support for alternative


traffic calming


measures in Heath Road was to be organised. Details were to be distributed via the village web- site -www.coxheath.net - parish council noticeboards and leaflets to village residents. The consultation exhibition would take place on April 8-9. The cost for replacing the tod-


dler swing seats in the village hall play area was accepted. It was reported that work on


the base and raised footway for the new bus shelter next to the school playing field in Heath Road had been completed. The council reported that it would be seeking authority to determine how section 106 funds, resulting from the Londis/Bird in Hand develop- ment, were spent for the benefit of residents. Permission was granted for


the installation of a salt/grit bin on the forecourt of the shops in Hamilton House. It was agreed to contact the community payback scheme about refurbishment and rub- bish clearance tasks in the vil- lage during the spring and summer. It was also agreed to contact Maidstone Borough Council about additional road sweeping in Heath Road where grit and debris accumulates. A donation of £500 was to be


made towards refurbishing the Scout Hut toilets. Members heard that incoming Maidstone Mayor, Cllr Brian Mortimer, was to open the an- nual parish meeting in the vil- lage hall on May 26.


Flooding on lane


East Farleigh Council


THE flooding and resulting large mud deposits in Vicarage Lane were discussed and the council would pursue KHS to clear the road and try to solve the drainage problem. PC Richard Chainey reported


six crimes in the village for the month. These were a burglary and two thefts in Dean Street, a burglary in Lower Road, theft of a motor vehicle from Wilson’s Lane and theft of oil from tanks. PC Chainey reported that bur-


glaries to outbuildings were still increasing. Those with oil tanks were ad-


vised to secure their property as best they can. If anyone sees suspicious vehicles around the village or on their properties, they should note the numbers


and ring 01622 690690 or PC Chainey on 07989992424. With regard to the Old School


Hall, a survey had been done and the District Valuer had sub- mitted his report. The council was awaiting a reply from the church officials on their posi- tion before deciding how best to proceed. The missing guard rail on the footpath in Vicarage Lane was discussed further, following consultation with Kent High- ways and Yorkes. The council felt the work was the responsi- bility of KCC and would pursue the matter vigorously with them.


Headcorn Council Toilet reversal


THE door to the men’s toilet had been reversed in order to stop it being kicked in and the auto- matic lock being broken. A sewer blockage had been quickly dealt with by Martin Selby, and the council thanked him for his help. Village parking restrictions


were approved, following a meeting with the Joint Trans- portation Board. The new re- strictions were expected to be implemented in April and would be closely monitored. Notices advertising the parish surgery have been distributed around the village via notice- boards, church magazine, the council’s website and on the What’s on in the Weald Face- book page. A letter about the removal of poppy wreaths from the war memorial had been received and it was agreed that the wreaths remain in place until mid December. It was noted that Cllr David Fox maintains a flower tribute at the memorial all year. A letter from Headcorn Parish Church had been received about sponsorship for floral arrange- ments for its Let’s Celebrate Summer Flower Festival, from June 24 to 26. It was agreed to find out more about the festival. It was reported that Playscheme staff hours would be increased to four hours a day (9am-1pm) and that hourly rates of pay would be: managers, £6.95; qualified assistants, £6.20 and assistants, £5.95. The youth forum had a dedi-


cated web page - www.head- cornyouthforum.co.uk. The youth bus to Lenham had at- tracted only two participants but nine youths had been at- tending the weekly music work- shops in the Green Room. The emergency plan group


had met and local residents Tanya and Shane Alvis had agreed to act as group leaders to steer the project forward. Members heard that the Sandy Bruce-Lockhart memo- rial tree was ready for planting


and that Toms Tree ties had do- nated a protective tree cage. Wording for the plaque was still to be finalised. A dedication ceremony would be arranged for May. It was reported that a meeting


had been held with Kent High- ways, the Environment Agency and Southern Water to discuss Moat Road sewage. It was agreed that Southern Water would refurbish the pumping station and carry out a CCTV as- sessment. The Environment Agency agreed to test the sewage before it goes into the watercourse. A total of 13 crimes had been reported during January. The meeting heard that the police special units team was to patrol Headcorn on various shift pat- terns. It was also reported that police focus would be on at- tending crime related calls only and not on calls that could be dealt with by civil agencies. It was reported that grass still needed to be removed from the play area. It was agreed that Insp Jerry Prodger would be invited to the annual parish meeting in April to talk about rural policing, which would allow parish- ioners to raise any issues.


Langley Council Precept agreed


IT was agreed to accept the clerk’s draft budget recom- mending a precept for 2011/12 of £18,406. One crime was reported – a


theft at Heathfield. There were on average 38 vis-


itors to the website per day dur- ing December, resulting in 1,182 for the month – almost 100 more than in November. It was agreed to continuewith


the fortnightly farmers markets as planned. Meanwhile the clerk was to ask the Village hall Management Committee if there were any available dates throughout the year to consider holding a Sunday market. It was agreed that the clerk


would make an annual check on the village sign for wear and tear. It was agreed to accept a quote


to repair the street light outside St Mary’s Church and that the old fitting be returned to the parish council. The village hall representative reported that the carol service was well attended, new ideas were being sought for the 2011 fete, a barn dance was planned for April, the hall floor was now complete and looks good and the CCTV wiring problems were being investigated. Pat Sayers had resigned her chair- manship for personal reasons and Mike Newman had taken over until the next meeting. The clerk was requested to re- port the condition of the public


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