DownsMail In touch with your parish


right of way through Butlers Farm to KCC. A letter would be sent to Na-


talie Penfold and her superiors thanking the team for all their efforts in running the youth bus and to report that Langley’s an- tisocial behaviour was at an all- time low. It was established that the parish council had a full team to enter for the quiz night.


Linton Council Officer report


THE new PCSO Richard Chainey was welcomed and presented his report. There had been two crimes in the Linton area – a vehicle interference at premises in Redwall Lane and a burglary atWykeham Cottages. Anumber of shed break-ins in


and around Linton had been re- ported and attention was drawn to the theft of heating and diesel oil. There had also been an in-


crease in the theft of 4x4s from farms and secluded areas. Thanks and good wishes for


the future had been sent to PC Gary Shaw on his retirement. Sites were being identified for additional


Neighbourhood


Watch signs, suggestions would be welcomed. Attention was again drawn to


the number of “white stones” which were appearing in grass verges (on Linton Hill, Wester- hill etc. Whilst it was under- stood why residents were taking action there was concern expressed about the legality/li- ability of this and the difficul- ties that would be experienced by Kent Highways as and when they maintained the verge which was their responsibility. It was agreed to speak to the res- idents.


Concern was again expressed


about the HGV vehicles (mainly foreign) accessing and having difficulties in Westerhill Road. Not Suitable For HGVs notices (in English) were in place at the top of the road but were not being followed.This was not a new problem, but a problem which was difficult to solve. Notices in Spanish or another foreign language would help. The positioning of the notices would also need to be looked at. Notices were also required at the southern end of some of the other lanes. It was agreed to contact Kent Highways. It was agreed to raise the pre-


cept by 5p to 26p per Band D property, rising to a total figure of £6,945. Attention was drawn to a


copy of a parish plan obtained from a small parish comparable with Linton. It was accepted that to produce such a plan was a time-consuming exercise and not a job for the parish council as such but for a group of parishioners supported by the


parish council. Marden Council Byway snub


KCC HAD refused a request for a claimed byway between Tilden Lane and public right of way KM229 and it was under- stood that Marden Society Foot- path Group had appealed against the decision. The clerk reported that Action


for Communities in Rural Kent had been contacted for informa- tion about a survey on afford- able housing. A reply was still awaited and the matter would be followed up. Work on the parish website


was continuing. It was proposed that the pre-


cept for 2011-2012 would rise from £61,000 to £65,000 – an increase of 6.85%.The rise was mainly a result of the shortfall in Maidstone Borough Coun- cil’s concurrent functions grant. It would mean Band D proper- ties paying £40.07 per year on their council tax – an increase from £37.50 the previous year. Following an email from a resident regarding snow clear- ance, it was noted that there were no resources for clearing snowfrom estate roads and that the village caretaker cleared only the main footpath from the High Street to the station. Concerns were raised about changes to Marden train serv- ices following an email from Nick Chard of KCC. The clerk was asked to write to Mr Chard drawing his attention to the fact the Marden was a rural service centre. The clerk had written to


Vince Lucas of Southeastern trains asking for a report regard- ing the timetable changes.No response had been received. It was reported that British Legion would be holding a Poppy Party Weekend on June 10-12.


Bus headache COUNCILLORS expressed con- cern at a possible reduction in service if KCC removed the con- cession of allowing bus pass holders to start their journeys at 9am rather than the national remit of 9.30am. It was felt that the change would adversely af- fect passengers from this and neighbouring parishes. Mem- bers agreed to support the exist- ing scheme through lobbying County Cllr Eric Hotson by let- ter. A fun fair request was agreed


Staplehurst Council


for the weekend of either July 30 or September 3, provided the field was in suitable condition. Residents around the field would be consulted by letter drop before a final decision. The caretaker had reported


that a number of vodka bottles had been dumped at Surrenden


playing field. The community policing team had been in- formed. It was agreed to accept the re-


vised quotation of £999 for the parish website revamp 2011 work. After discussion, councillors agreed not to pursue the regis- tration of village green status but to negotiate and assess the cost and responsibilities of a long lease with Golding Homes. It was reported that a new


caretaker, Nigel Burnes, had been appointed at Staplehurst Primary School. Cllr Peter Spearink reported


that the noticeboards he had made had now been attached to the northbound bus stops at Vine House and High Street. The public rights of way offi-


cer had agreed to install a handrail to protect walkers from the drop beside the nar- rowed access to the field at the bottom of Bell Lane. Representatives of the parish


council, KHS and MBC would meet to consider a resident’s complaint of damage to verges in Marden Road, allegedly caused by the refuse lorry. It was noted that two new salt


bins had been installed by KHS at The Parade and Lodge Road.


Closing toilets


Sutton Valence Council


AS the toilets had been van- dalised for the second time this year, it was decided to close them and review in six months. It was reported that a parish-


ioner was willing to open his garden for a garden party at Boyton Court on July 10. Coun- cillors Roger Peverett, Eve Poulter and Barry Armstrong were organising this. All pro- ceeds to go to the War Memo- rial play area. Barry Armstrong was co-


opted onto the council, leaving one further vacancy. A street party was being held


for the royal wedding and pro- ceeds would go to the play area. Five large bags of compost


had been requested from ring- fenced funds for tree planting at a cost of less than £50. The tree planting day had been set for March 27. Cllr Eileen Riden stood down


as chairman of the Jubilee sub- committee and Cllr Poulter was elected. Because of lack of support,


the police band concert would not take place this year.


Yalding Council Sign vandalism


A SIGN erected by the parish council at the end of December to help protect children from traffic as they walk to and from the back entrance of the pri- mary school, had been van-


To contact Downs Mail just phone 01622 630330


dalised three times in six weeks with black felt pen, then black paint and now coloured varnish. PCSO James Austin had spoken with local residents but nobody could shed any light on the incidents and the culprit was still at large. The sign was to be replaced by the parish council. Following Medway Valley


Countryside Partnership’s sug- gestion regarding a series of small seasonal ponds, the chairman toured The Lees and identified the ponds. She will circulate a paper for a future meeting. The winning trees from the


Men of Trees competition had been planted at The Lees car park. With regard to desilting of the


River Beult, some councillors were concerned that distribut- ing gravel on The Lees would raise the level of the flood plain. The Environment Agency would be asked if there was anywhere else the gravel could be used. The clerk had ordered a high visibility jacket for the odd job man. The Yuletide Market made a


net loss of £826, which was partly the result of the snow be- forehand, but particularly be- cause of the heavy rain in the final hour. The War Memorial Trust confirmed it was willing to ex- tend the grant into the summer months. The “1939 to 1945” stone had broken off the main stem and was beyond repair. The parish council needed to decide whether to replace it or change it.Asite meeting would be held. It was confirmed that Pat Birkby could place a bench at The Lees car park in memory of her husband, Joe. Her son had kindly offered to install the metal bench that is stored at The Forge on The Lees at the same time. It was reported that some teenage girls had asked for extra lighting on the Windmill path. It was agreed in the first instance to obtain a price to in- stall a higher wattage bulb in the existing street light. A community payback team


had been offered every Satur- day for the foreseeable future. Members were informed that


the play scheme would run for three weeks from August 1. Charges were agreed at last year’s level. KCC Cllr Paulina Stockell agreed to give a £500 grant as Yalding welcomed children from other parishes within her ward at no extra costs. All councillors were now happy with the taller pole in the High Street to improve CCTV. The cost was around £746.


South 31


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